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Housing Procedures

Find your move-in date and check-in location, see what to pack, review checkout steps, and get answers to the questions we hear most.

Move In: When Do the Residence Halls Open

Fall 2026

First-Year and Transfer Students

Saturday, Aug. 22. Move-in marks the start of your Orientation experience. Your specific check-in time and location will be posted on the FSC Portal at the beginning of August, and your Orientation Leader will share more details over the summer.

Continuing Students

Sunday, Aug. 23, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Monday, Aug. 24, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details are sent to your Mocs email at the beginning of August.

Spring 2027

New Students

Monday, Jan. 11. Move-in and Orientation take place the same day. Check the FSC Portal for details.

Continuing Students

Sunday, Jan. 10, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Monday, Jan. 11, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Early access to residence halls is not permitted. If you'd like to arrive in Lakeland ahead of time, plan to explore the area with your family before move-in day.

Returning Students: Where Do I Check In?

Your housing assignment determines your check-in location.

New students: your check-in location and time are posted on the FSC Portal.

Jenkins Hall Lobby

Jenkins Hall, Publix Commons (61, 62, 63)

Lake Hollingsworth Apartments Clubhouse

Lake Hollingsworth Apartments

Miller Hall Lobby

Dell Hall; Miller Hall, Hollis Hall

Snake Pit at the Rogers Building

Barnett Residential Life Complex (Nicholas and Wesley), Joseph Reynolds Hall, Allan Spivey Hall, college-owned houses and all apartments except Lake Hollingsworth

What Happens on Move-In Day

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  1. 1

    Head to your assigned check-in location to sign in and pick up your room key.

  2. 2

    You and anyone helping you move in can go straight to your room and start unpacking.

  3. 3

    Your Resident Advisor is an upperclass student who lives in your area and is there to help you get oriented. An RA is on duty every night and weekend.

  4. 4

    This is where you'll meet your neighbors.

Family and friends are welcome to help you move in. Check the FSC Portal for arrival and parking information before you come.

Before Your Arrive

Connect with your roommate.

Contact information is available through the FSC Portal. Introducing yourself early is also the easiest way to coordinate who's bringing what, so you don't end up with two mini-fridges and no floor lamp.

Review your Orientation schedule.

Know what to expect for your first few days.

Check the FSC Portal.

Confirm your move-in date, time, and location, and complete your Emergency Plan information.

Don't worry if you haven't connected with your roommate yet.

Weeks of Welcome events are built to help you meet people and get to know campus.

What to Bring

Bathroom

Bath towels, hand towels, washcloths or loofah, hand soap, toiletries, toothbrush, toothpaste, shower caddy, shower shoes, robe

Linens

Two sets of Twin XL sheets (apartments with single rooms have full size beds), pillows, pillowcases, blankets, mattress topper, throw rugs, sewing kit

Cleaning

Detergent, dryer sheets, laundry basket or bag, dish soap, dish sponge, disinfectant wipes, paper towels, small trash bags, small vacuum or broom

Kitchen

Cups, dishes, cutlery, coffee maker, coffee mugs, chip clips, Tupperware, water filter pitcher, small trash can

Wellness

First aid kit, medications, insurance cards, thermometer, hand sanitizer, tissues, nail clippers, sunscreen, water bottle

Miscellaneous

Fan, floor lamp, extension cord, batteries, flashlight, umbrella, raincoat, storage containers, small suitcase, IDs and personal documentation

What to Leave at Home

Your room already includes a MicroFridge. Residents in residence halls may not bring an additional refrigerator or microwave. Apartments and houses come with a refrigerator, though some apartment communities may require you to bring your own microwave.

Not permitted:

  • Alcohol, chemicals, drug paraphernalia, illegal substances, tobacco, and vapor products

  • Large furniture, including coffee tables, couches, desks, desk chairs, dining chairs and tables, dressers, mini-refrigerators, and sofas

  • Pets, except fish in tanks of 10 gallons or less, one tank per resident

  • Wireless access points, routers, and hubs

  • Extension cords. UL-approved power strips with an on/off switch and surge protection are permitted, plugged directly into an outlet, one per double outlet.

  • Candles, candle warmers, and incense. Wax warmers are permitted if the heat source is not an open flame.

  • Appliances with a heating source, open coil, or open flame in Dell, Miller, Hollis, Joseph Reynolds, Allan Spivey, Publix Commons, Jenkins, Nicholas, and Wesley Halls. This includes toasters, toaster ovens, air fryers, hot plates, and induction burners. Blenders, coffee pots, and Keurigs are fine.

  • Weapons and hazardous items, including firearms, BB guns, bows and arrows, knives with blades longer than 4 inches, martial arts weapons, stun guns, tasers, slingshots, fireworks, charcoal, gasoline, propane, paint, paint thinner, lighter fluid, and tiki torches

  • Personal security cameras such as Ring or Wyze, inside or outside your room

  • Waterbeds and personal mattresses, unless approved through Student Disability Services

  • LED strip lighting longer than 6 feet, multiple strips, or non-strip LEDs

Questions about a specific item? Email residencelife@flsouthern.edu before you pack it.

Requesting an Early Arrival

To request early arrival for fall or spring, email residencelife@flsouthern.edu. Requests are not guaranteed and may result in a charge to your student account.

Athletes arriving for required pre-season practice should contact their coach. Athletes requesting early arrival outside of pre-season practice must submit an Early Arrival Request form.

Your First Few Days

Room Condition Report

Your RA completes a Room Condition Report before you arrive, noting any existing damage. Inspect your room before you fully unpack and report anything you notice within 24 hours of check-in. You'll review the report with your RA in your first few days. Completing it properly protects you from being charged for damage that was already there.

Roommate Agreement

Once you've met your roommate or suitemates, you'll complete a Roommate Agreement together to set expectations for the year. Your RA can help you work through the conversation.

Health and Safety Inspections

RA staff conduct these each semester to review the condition of residential spaces.

Move Out: When Do the Residence Halls Close?

Fall 2026

Communities close Thursday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. for non-graduating residents and Sunday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. for graduating residents.

Spring 2027

Communities close Thursday, May 6 at 10 a.m. for non-graduating residents and Sunday, May 9 at 10 a.m. for graduating residents.

Non-graduating residents check out within 24 hours of their last final.

24-Hour Quiet Hours begin the Friday before finals and run until communities close. Quiet hours are in effect 24 hours a day during midterm and final exam weeks.

24-Hour Quiet Hours

During the final exam periods, the 24-Hour Quiet Hours policy helps maintain a positive community environment while students study.

The Fall 2026 24-Hour Quiet Hour Period is from Friday, December 11th at 9:00 PM to Thursday, December 17th at 1:00 PM.

The Spring 2027 24-Hour Quiet Hour Period is from Friday, April 30th at 9:00 PM to Thursday, May 6th at 1:00 PM.

Non-compliance will result in an Incident Report being submitted and processed by the Office of Student Conduct.

How Do I Check Out?

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  1. 1

    Do this before the posted deadline. Checkout takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Failing to check out properly results in a $50 Improper Checkout fee, plus charges for missing keys or damage.

  2. 2

    • Remove all of your belongings.

    • Leave the room broom clean, and sweep or vacuum.

    • Empty desk drawers, dressers, and closets

    • Wipe down surfaces

    • Remove all wall and door decorations, including tape and putty.

    • Empty wastebaskets and take trash to the outdoor dumpsters

    • Return all college furniture to its original configuration, assembled and in the room.

    • Clean common areas, bathrooms, and kitchens

  3. 3

    Your RA reviews the room's condition with you present. This is your chance to discuss any damage. Return your room key and mailroom key if you have one. A second review takes place after you leave, so scheduling a proper checkout is the best way to avoid unexpected charges.

Damages

Damage noted at checkout, or found by your Community Director afterward, is billed to your student account. Charges are assessed at the end of the academic year or when you vacate the space.

When common-area damage or missing property can't be attributed to specific residents, the cost is shared among students on that floor or in that building.

Storage and Getting Home

Collegeboxes

offers storage and shipping for students moving home for the summer, moving in, or heading abroad.

Airport shuttle service

runs to and from Tampa (TPA) and Orlando (MCO) for breaks throughout the year. Dates, prices, and registration deadlines are posted on the Airport Shuttle Service page.

Can I Stay on Campus Over Break?

It depends on the break. Meal plans are not offered during any break period.

Fall Break

Oct. 19 to Oct. 23

Yes

Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 25 to Nov. 27

Yes

Winter Break

Dec. 17 to Jan. 6

No

Spring Break

March 8 to March 12

Yes

Winter Break. Residence halls are closed. You may leave your belongings in your room if you're returning to the same space. Students may return to campus Sunday, January 4 and Monday, January 5, with move-in times shared later in the fall semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. You and anyone helping you can head to your room after you check in and pick up your key. Check the FSC Portal for parking and arrival information before move-in day.

Parking and arrival details are posted on the FSC Portal at the beginning of August.

Early access to residence halls is not permitted. If you want to come to Lakeland ahead of time, plan to explore the area with your family before move-in. To request an approved early arrival, email residencelife@flsouthern.edu. Requests are not guaranteed and may carry a charge.

Residence hall beds take Twin XL sheets. Bring two sets.

Each resident receives a bed and mattress, a desk and chair, drawer space, hanging clothes space, and in some cases bookshelves. Every residence hall room includes a MicroFridge.

Large furniture is not permitted. Any personal furniture you do bring must be fire resistant with a permanent manufacturer's label attached. College furniture must stay in the room, remain assembled, and be returned to its original configuration at checkout.

No pets are permitted in any residential facility, including apartments and houses. Small fish in a tank of 10 gallons or less are allowed, one tank per resident. Students seeking a Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal should contact the Office of Student Disability Services to begin the review process.

FSC student guests are welcome in your room when escorted at all times. Non-FSC guests are not permitted in residential facilities. Overnight guests require your roommate's approval and a completed Overnight Guest Registration Form. Minors may not stay overnight.

Some communities cannot host overnight guests of the opposite gender because they have common-use bathrooms: Nicholas, Wesley, Dell, Hollis, Jenkins, Publix Commons, Joseph Reynolds, and Spivey.

Quiet hours run from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day, which means keeping noise at a level that doesn't disturb your neighbors. During midterm and final exam weeks, quiet hours are 24 hours a day.

Yes. Laundry is free for all residential students, but bring your own detergent and supplies. If a machine isn't working, submit a service request using the machine ID through CSC ServiceWorks.

Submit a maintenance request through Facilities Maintenance as soon as you notice a problem. This covers college-owned items like your MicroFridge, bed, closet, furniture, desk, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, and A/C unit. Tell your RA as well.

It isn't required, but it's strongly encouraged. The College is not liable for damage to or loss of personal property, or for interruptions to utilities or internet service. Residence Life can provide recommended providers on request.

Room and roommate change requests can be made starting the third week of each semester and end a month before the semester ends. Talk with your RA first; mediation may be required before a change is approved. Changes depend on available space and are not guaranteed. Approved moves must be completed within 48 hours.

Every residential facility has video surveillance on building exteriors, in lobbies, and in the halls of Allan Spivey. There are no cameras inside rooms, suites, apartments, or houses, and personal cameras such as Ring or Wyze are not permitted inside or outside residential spaces.

Spivey, Joseph Reynolds, Nicholas, Wesley, Dell, and Hollis Halls, plus a kitchen on the second floor of the Lake Hollingsworth Clubhouse.

Spivey, Joseph Reynolds, Nicholas, Wesley, Dell, and Hollis Halls.

Yes. Bikes can be stored in your room but not in walkways, hallways, stairways, or entrances. You can register your bike with Campus Safety.

The College guarantees housing for fall and spring. Summer housing is a separate application and depends on availability.