Mid-Year Room Changes

Students interesting in moving to a different room for the Spring semester may submit a Mid-Year Room Change Request.

If you'd like a different room but don't want the hassle of moving out before Winter Break, check out Spring Room Change Requests and/or Direct Swaps instead. Those happen after the Spring semester starts.

Mark Your Calendars! (2025-26 Dates) +

How to Request a Change +

• How to Submit a Room Change Request (PDF)
• You’ll provide ranked preferences for the building and room types you’d be willing to move to.
• Requests are prioritized by class year, so keep that in mind. No guarantees, but we'll do our best!
• Want a specific room? You can write a specific room number on your request. If you've found someone you'd like to ask to swap with, you both need to submit a request form and name each other. Just remember, specific rooms can't be guaranteed.
• Heads up to your roomie! You must let your current roommate(s) know you're requesting a move. This gives them a chance to find a new roommate or request a change themselves.

A few extra things to know:

• Need a housing accommodation not already approved by CARDS? Submit a Housing Accommodation Request by the priority deadline above.
• First Years: You can totally request a room change, but you can only be moved to other First Year housing. No hopping up to upperclass res halls just yet!
• Columbia students: If you're a CU student living in a Barnard dorm, you aren't eligible for this process. You'll need to check in with CU Housing for your options.

The Results Are In! +

We'll email you by 11pm on December 11 to let you know if you've been assigned to a new room. If you are, your new assignment is final and binding which means you have to move.

If you don't get a new assignment, you'll stay in your current room for the Spring. You can always try again with a Spring Room Change Request or look for a 1-for-1 Room Swap.

Moving Out and Moving In: All the Details

Moving Out of Your Fall Room +

• You must be completely moved out by 9am on Friday, December 19. No exceptions!
• Leave your room clean for the next person to move in.
• Turn in your keys via a check-out envelope in your res hall lobby. And scan the QR Code on the envelope to submit the Confirm Check-Out Form.
• You can't leave anything behind in your old room/suite or in common areas over Winter Break. So plan to take all your belongings with you or find a friend who can store them.

Fees to avoid:

• $100 Improper Check-Out Fee
• $100 per key Lock Change Fee (if you don’t return keys)

Moving Into Your Spring Room +

Students who receive room changes will be required to fill out a form by 1pm on Monday, December 15 to indicate when they plan to sign for their room keys. Failure to submit the form means that students will not be able to sign for their keys or move any items into the new room until the residence halls reopen from winter break in January.

Students will two options to sign for new room keys:

Option 1: Get Keys in December

• Sign for new keys 9am - 11am on December 19. Access to Spring room is not available before then.
• If you get your keys on this day, you'll have until 11am to finish moving out of your old room (but no longer!)
• Students should be packed in advance due to the short window of time to relocate
• Your new room will be "as-is" because there's no time for cleaning.
• Students may need to coordinate with someone moving out of their new Spring room or moving into their old Fall room.

Option 2: Get Keys in January:

• If you wait until January, you'll need to take all your belongings home or store your stuff somewhere else over break. There is no storage available on campus.
• But you can request to have your new room cleaned! (see below)
• Sign for new Room keys: 
  • Sat, Jan 17: 10am–2pm
  • Sun, Jan 18: 10am–5pm
  • Mon, Jan 19: 10am–5pm
  • Tue, Jan 20: 9:30am–5pm

If you return to campus during Winter Break, you can sign for your keys during the times below:

• Jan 2 (Fri): 9:30am–5pm
• Jan 5–9 (Mon–Fri): 9:30am–5pm
• Jan 12–15 (Mon–Thu): 9:30am–5pm
• Jan 16 (Fri): 9:30am–3pm
• ⛔ No evening or weekend check-ins are available!

Want Your New Room Cleaned? +

If you're picking up your keys in January, you can request to have your new room cleaned over the break.

• Requests will be part of the same form students must submit by 1pm on Monday, December 15 indicating when they will sign for their room keys.
• Only available for Singles and Doubles where both Fall residents move out
• Mid-year room cleanings are not available for 110th St. Students assigned to new rooms in 110th St will move-in on an as-is basis.
• You must confirm you won't be moving in until January 17 or later
• Otherwise, students will move in to rooms on an "ai-is" basis.

Billing & Meal Plan Info +

First Years: All rooms are the same rate and require the Platinum Meal Plan, so your Spring bill will not change.

Upperclass Students: Most rooms have the same rate, so your Spring bill probably won't change unless you move into a Studio Single or into Hewitt (which requires the Flex 150 Meal Plan). Any changes to your bill will show up on your student account after room changes are finalized.

Questions? +

Check out Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!).

If you have additional questions, stop by the Res Life office to talk to a staff member or email housing@barnard.edu.