Winter and Summer Housing

Winter Break Housing

The residence halls close during each Winter Break between Fall and Spring semesters. Students who wish to remain on campus for any portion of the break period must complete the Winter Housing Agreement in the MyHousing portal, which opens at the beginning of November each Fall semester. 

The Winter Housing Agreement contains all additional policies related to Winter Housing, but several important points are highlighted here:

• The Winter Housing period begins when the residence halls close and continues until the residence halls reopen the weekend before the Spring semester begins. 
• There is an additional housing cost for Winter Housing. In previous years, this cost has been limited to $125. This charge cannot be prorated; students will be charged the full fee regardless of how many days they remain on campus for winter. 
• Campus dining availability varies year to year, and may not be available during the winter break period. Residence Life will often arrange kitchen access and several food-focused programs, but full meal coverage will not be available. Students should budget and plan to buy food during winter break.

Summer Housing

Summer Housing is available to most students during the summer academic terms. Students who wish to remain on campus for any or all summer terms must complete the Summer Housing Application in the MyHousing portal when it is available. The Summer Housing Application typically opens in early April.

Summer Terms

Summer Housing terms are scheduled in line with the College's academic calendar. When students complete their Summer Housing Application, they will select for which dates they are requesting summer housing. For Summer 2024, the academic terms and move in/out dates are scheduled as follows:

• August: There are no August classes, however, students may apply to stay on campus after the July term, until fall move-in. There is an application for this housing term and only students who have no aternative housing will be approved.

Eligibility and Priority

During the summer housing period, students are all assigned to one or two residence halls on campus. For sumemr 2024, Blackstone, Harlan and one floor of Nollen will be utilized. Since there is often a fixed number of available beds, summer housing assignments are prioritized in the following groups:

1. Richter Scholars
2. Students registered for and attending Summer Session courses in person AND are returning to Lake Forest College in the fall or completing work for graduation during the summer
3. Students participating in a College-sponsored research on campus
4. Students participating in a College-sponsored internship or experiential learning program for credit
5. Students working ON CAMPUS for a minimum of 25 hours per week
6. All other students, who can verify ongoing enrollment at the College, based on space availability

Residence Life will verify participation in courses, internships, or other programs to ensure students are prioritized correctly. 

Summer Housing Costs for 2024

Summer housing will cost $504 per term for May and June.

Summer housing will cost $378 for the July and August terms.

Summer Meal Plan Costs

Meal plan selection is optional during the Summer terms. Students may select the meal plan when they complete the Summer Housing Application, or they may decline to select the meal plan when completing the application. If a student wants to cancel the meal plan, they must do it before the term starts. We will not do monthly prorations.

The 10-meal plan will be offered on a term-by-term basis.  The 10-meal plan offers 10 meals per week, Monday through Friday. Swipes may also be used when the Caf is open on the weekends, for special occasions. The cost of the meal plan will be $330 per term for the May and June terms. The July term has an option of three weeks for $247.50 or four weeks for $330. 

There are no Boomer Bucks associated with the summer meal plans. 

Additional meal blocks will be available to students who purchase a meal plan.

10 meals for $90

25 meals for $225

Spring to Summer Transition

Most summer residents may not need to move out when the residence halls close at the end of Spring semester. Instead, summer residents will be scheduled to move into their summer room assignment at a date shortly before their summer term begins. On the scheduled move in day, residents will pick up their new room key and begin moving into their summer space. 

August Housing

The Summer Housing period encompasses all of the academic terms - typically from mid-May to the end of July. The period between the end of Summer Housing and returning student move in in August is known as August Term Housing. The August Term Housing period is not a guaranteed part of summer housing, and is only granted via application to students who have demonstrated need to remain on campus. Residence Life typically only approves students who 1) have exhausted all other housing options and have no other options or 2) are employed by the College to perform essential duties as designated by the College. 

Students should prepare to move out of the residence halls at the end of Summer Housing. August Term Housing approval is not guaranteed.