That Time of Year Again

It's that time of year again. School is winding down, the weather is getting warmer, students are getting more antsy to get away from school... Oh, what's that? You need to get out of the dorm 24 hours after your last final?

Oh. Crap.

There are two busy times of the year for ResLife. Opening and closing. For opening, we frantically try to get everyone checked in and settled while allowing them to experience a variety of fall welcome activities. For closing, we get to boot you out. And fast too. In addition to finals, you have to pack and clean your room to high standards and move out.

I got very good at packing and moving out very quickly.

At the end of the year, all CAs get a huge folder full of materials relating to closing: a bulletin board full of closing info, signs that say where to put your trash, take back your microfridge, be out 24 hours after your last final, clean clean CLEAN your room AND bathroom.. etc. It's a lot of info that we have to go over with our prostaff and then go over with our residents in the last floor meeting.

But that is only the beginning. After they are done with finals and cleaning, we have to check them out. We go in and inspect their rooms, document any damages or trash, take their keys, swipe them out of the system and they are gone. Each check out appointment can last between 10-30 minutes. We have to look everywhere and document anything. Residents have to sign up for times that they want to check out. We have discretion to stop all check outs if they room is dirty or the floor is trashed. In order for check outs to resume, they have to clean up. We can also refuse their check out if they are still packing. We just ask they sign up for a later time.

Once they are all gone and the halls are close, all the CAs have appointments with their direct supervisor. We walk the floor and all the room, documenting anything that we have missed, tearing down all the posters and door dec, submit work orders and JAMS if we spot anything illegal... etc. We are exhausted by the end. And after our walkthroughs are done, we are then asked to leave the hall. You see, during our finals and packing, we have to check out residents, work the desk, be on duty and study. It's a lot. But somehow, we do it; each and every year.

This is my last year. I hope it's a good closing.