Check In and Check Out

1. All residents moving into housing must officially check in with appropriate Housing or Residence Life staff during the fall and/or spring check-in periods.
2. Check-in dates, times and deadlines for each term are defined in Important Dates. Check-in dates, locations, and times will be publicized by Housing and Residence Life in advance.
3. Students are considered officially checked in when they have proven their identity with photo identification, been recorded by Housing & Residence Life staff as being present, and received their room or apartment key and check-in paperwork.
   1. Students must return their Room or Apartment Condition Report form to the Housing Office by the publicized deadline to avoid a $25 fine for Incomplete Check-In.
4. Students must officially check in each term prior to the Housing Claim/Check-In Deadline for that term as defined in Important Dates.
   1. Students who cannot check in prior to this deadline must notify Housing & Residence Life in writing in advance for late check-in approval.
5. Failure to officially check in by the Housing Claim/Check-In Deadline without written permission from the housing office will result in a $100 fine and may result in the student’s assignment being cancelled.
6. No residents may check in prior to the official check-in date Opening Day without approval in advance from Housing & Residence Life.
7. Contracted students who know they will not be coming to or returning to Biola must notify Housing & Residence Life in writing by the Housing Claim/Check-In Deadline for the applicable term. Those who do not do so will forfeit their housing deposit and pay one month’s prorated “No Show” Housing Charge. Students must not rely on any office, department or personnel to inform Housing & Residence Life that they are not coming.

1. All residents moving out of housing must officially check out with a designated Housing & Residence Life staff member.
2. Check-out dates, times, and locations will be publicized by Housing & Residence Life in advance. Mid-semester check-out appointments must be scheduled in advance with Housing & Residence Life staff.
3. Failure to properly complete check out as defined below will result in fines issued by Housing & Residence Life, as defined in CHECK-OUT FINES (see below). Students that do not show up for their check-out appointment will forfeit the right to any property left in their rooms 24 hours after their appointment. Such property will be considered abandoned and may be disposed of by university employees.
4. No resident may remain in housing after the official checkout date without written approval in advance from Housing & Residence Life.
5. Residents involved in behavior which violates the Student Handbook or Housing & Food Service Handbook or which is deemed by the Housing & Residence Life staff to be disruptive may be asked to leave prior to the checkout deadlines below.
6. A Biola University staff signature on a checkout form does not release the student from liability for damages or cleaning costs for which the student is responsible.
7. University staff will perform damage inspections after both annual checkouts. Any room or building damage found during these inspections which were not noted as pre-existing damage on the student’s Room or Apartment Condition Report form submitted to Housing & Residence Life at check in will be billed to the responsible resident(s) of the room, apartment, hall, floor, or building.
8. Check outs may only be completed by the contracted student, not by any other party.
9. Students are expected to be physically present to remove their own belongings. A proxy to remove belongings may be designated to Housing & Residence Life in advance in writing if the student is unable to be present for medical reasons.

Move Out/Check Out Procedures

1. See Important Dates for checkout deadlines
2. Residents who are not moving out at the end of Fall Semester are not required to check out.
3. Residents of buildings designated for Summer housing may be asked to check out prior to the check-out deadline to accommodate Summer housing resident check in.
4. Students are considered officially checked out when they have:
   1. Returned their room/apartment key to an appropriate Housing & Residence Life staff member.
   2. Removed all of their belongings and trash from their room and building.
   3. Prepared the room/apartment for the next residents and vacated housing.
   4. Additional required check out procedures will be publicized by the Housing & Residence Life Office in advance.

Check Out Fines

All Housing & Residence Life fines will be processed within 10 days of the end of the term and will be posted to the student's accounts.

1. Students who do not return their room/apartment key at checkout will be billed a rekey charge, at a rate determined by Facilities Management.
2. Students who miss their check-out appointment or who check out after the check-out deadline will be fined at least $25 for improper check out.
3. Residents who fail to complete all check-out terms defined above and in supplemental check-out instructions issued by Housing & Residence Life will be fined at least $50.
4. Residents who fail to check out altogether will be fined $100. Additional fines for rekeying and/or cleaning may also be assessed as applicable.
5. Residents who leave personal belongings, including furniture or trash, anywhere in a university room or building (a) after Spring check out, (b) after vacating Summer housing, or (c) after moving out due to cancellation will be charged $100 per item for removal and disposal.
6. Additional cleaning and/or damage charges will be assessed to the responsible resident(s) of a room, apartment, hall, floor, or building for any damage or required cleaning not noted as pre-existing damage on the student’s Room or Apartment Condition Report form submitted to the housing office at check in.
7. Fines may be increased at the discretion of Housing & Residence Life based on the degree of failure to comply with stated check-out procedures.

1. The Housing Contract goes into effect immediately when the student or their parent/guardian completes and submits the Housing Application.
2. All housing applicants must pay their enrollment deposits and a $250 Housing Reservation Deposit before the time they complete the Housing Application, and must maintain a $250 Housing Deposit balance the entire time during which they live in Biola housing.
3. Incoming applicants to the University who decide (a) not to attend Biola, (b) to postpone enrollment, or (c) not to live in housing may request a refund of the Housing Deposit in writing to the Housing & Residence Life Office by the following deadlines:
   1. Fall applicants: on or before July 1.
   2. Spring applicants: on or before December 1.
4. Failure to give written notice of cancellation or postponement by the dates above will result in forfeiture of the Housing Reservation Deposit.
5. The Housing Deposit will be held by the university while the student lives in housing.
6. Students will receive their Housing Deposit refunded to their university student account within three (3) months of the end of the academic year if they fulfill their Housing Contract for the full academic year and do not reserve housing for the upcoming academic year.
7. Residents who do not fulfill the Housing Contract for the full academic year will forfeit their Housing Deposit.

1. The Housing Contract is for the entire academic year.
2. The expectation is that students who contract for housing will have thought out the legal commitments of signing a Housing & Food Service Contract ahead of time, and will have entered into the Housing Contract with the full intention of abiding by all of its provisions.
3. Cancellations are subject to cancellation fees.
4. Incoming applicants to the university who decide (a) not to attend Biola, (b) to postpone their enrollment, or (c) not to live in housing may request in writing to the Housing & Residence Life Office a cancellation of their Housing Contract without penalty and a refund of their Housing Deposit to their university student account by the following deadlines:
   1. Fall applicants: on or before July 1
   2. Spring applicants: on or before December 1

No Shows

Contracted students who know they will not be coming to or returning to Biola must notify the Housing & Residence Life Office in writing by the housing claim deadline. Those who do not do so will forfeit their Housing Deposit and pay one month’s prorated “no show” housing charge. Students must not rely on any office, department or personnel to inform the Housing & Residence Life Office that they are not coming.

Cancellation Procedures

1. Students cancelling housing are subject to Cancellation Fees.
   1. The Cancellation Fee for cancellations made prior to or during the Fall semester ranges from $1,350 to $2,184 depending on the resident’s room assignment.
      
   2. The Cancellation Fee for cancellations made between Fall and Spring semesters or during Spring semester ranges from $675 to $1,092 depending on the resident’s room assignment.
2. In connection with the Residence Requirement policy, students who contract for housing and who turn age 20 after the first day of Fall classes are required to fulfill their Housing Contract for the entire academic year.
3. Cancellation reasons subject to the Cancellation Fee:
   1. Moving home: Students who want to move to their parents’/legal guardians’ home may request to cancel their Housing Contract. If the request is approved the student must pay the Cancellation Fee in order to be released from the Housing Contract. The Housing Contract is not considered fulfilled and the Housing Deposit will not be refunded.
   2. Moving to non-Biola housing: Students who turn age 20 prior to the first day of Fall classes may request to cancel their Housing Contract. If the request is approved, the student must pay the Cancellation Fee to be released from the Housing Contract. The Housing Contract is not considered fulfilled, and the Housing Deposit will not be refunded.
   3. Reduction from full-time to part-time status: Students who change from full-time to part-time status during the academic year may request to cancel their Housing Contract. If the request is approved, the student must pay the Cancellation Fee to be released from the Housing Contract. The Housing Contract is not considered fulfilled, and the Housing Deposit will not be refunded.
4. Cancellation reasons exempt from the Cancellation Fee:
   1. Withdrawal/Transfer: The Housing Contract is considered cancelled for students who officially withdraw from or are no longer enrolled at Biola University as of the official departure date from the Registrar’s Office. The Housing Contract is not considered fulfilled, and the Housing Deposit will not be refunded.
   2. Study Abroad: The Housing Contract is considered cancelled for students who are confirmed by the Registrar’s Office to be attending a Biola-sponsored semester of study away from campus. The Housing Deposit will be refunded. Students studying abroad in Fall may re-apply for Spring housing if desired.
   3. Marriage: The Housing Contract is considered cancelled for students to legally marry during the academic year. The Housing Contract may be cancelled up to one month prior to the wedding date. The Housing Deposit will be refunded.
   4. Academic Dismissal: The Housing Contract is considered cancelled for students who are academically dismissed from the university. The Housing Contract is not considered fulfilled and the Housing Deposit will not be refunded.
   5. Disciplinary Dismissal: The Housing Contract is considered cancelled for students who are dismissed for disciplinary reasons from the university. The Housing Contract is not considered fulfilled, and the Housing Deposit will not be refunded.
5. Exceptions to the Cancellation Fee:
   1. In the event that a student or his/her family suffers a substantial financial, family or medical hardship after signing the Housing Contract, the student may petition the Housing & Residence Life Office for permission to be released from the Housing Contract without having to pay the Cancellation Fee. Submitting a request does not guarantee the student will be released from the cancellation requirements.
6. Students who do not officially check in by the room claim deadline may have their housing cancelled by the Housing & Residence Life Office and will be treated as moving home, moving to non-Biola housing, or withdrawal/transfer as applicable.

Housing Refunds

1. Students who qualify for and are granted a cancellation of the Housing Contract will receive a prorated refund of housing charges.
2. Housing charge refunds are prorated on a daily basis, calculated as of the date which the student officially withdraws from the university, or properly checks out of housing, whichever is later.
3. Housing charge refunds are given only during the academic year in which the original charges were incurred.
4. All refunds, including Housing Deposits, are applied to the student’s university student account. Students may request refunds of amounts in excess of their account balance from the Accounting Office.
5. Incoming students requesting a Housing Deposit refund must submit their request by the appropriate deadline (see Housing Reservation Deposit).

1. All vacancies in rooms or apartments are available for student assignment at any time at the discretion of the Housing & Residence Life Office. All vacancies are equally available for assignment, and no space is available for “last priority” or “protection” unless the vacancy has been “bought out”.
2. The Housing & Residence Life Office will attempt to notify residents in advance of new roommates, though the notification may be on the same date in which the new student moves in.
3. All furniture assigned to a room must remain in that room for the entire academic year, even if fewer students live in the room than the planned occupancy for that room.
4. Any resident who makes it impossible or undesirable for a new roommate to fill a vacancy in the room through their behavior or attitude or by moving personal belongings into the vacant space will be considered to have “bought out” the vacancy and will be billed retroactively to the date the space became vacant.
5. Students are not expected to fill empty spaces in their room created by student cancellations.