Thanksgiving Break (2025)
Thanksgiving Break is from Tuesday, November 25 at 5:00 p.m. through Monday, December 1 at 8:00 a.m. Many of you will be traveling home or somewhere off campus for the duration of Thanksgiving Break. We are excited for you to have this break and a chance to rest and relax before the final weeks of the Fall semester. When you leave campus for Thanksgiving Break, please make sure that the following items are complete before leaving campus:
- Clean your room, apartment, and/or suite including the removal of all trash.
- Unplug all of the items in your room with the exception of your refrigerator/microfridge.
- Close and lock your windows.
- You do not need to take all of your belongings with you, but you are strongly encouraged to take all of your valuables with you.
- Lock your doors.
The residence halls will remain open for the duration of Thanksgiving Break, so if you have a need to remain on campus for any portion of the break, you are able to do so in your own room without applying for break housing. Please keep in mind that although the residence halls remain open, many resources are not available during this time. More details will be available in November regarding what is available during the break period related to campus resources. In the meantime, please note the following:
- The College is closed on Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28. This means that College offices and departments will not be open and available as they would be during a typical week of the semester.
- Campus Safety remains open and is available 24/7 even during the break period when the College is closed.
- Facilities Services can be reached during the break in an emergency (flooding, no heat, etc.) by contacting Campus Safety.
Thanksgiving Break Dining Information
Please refer to the Dining Services website for information regarding dining hours and availability during the break.
Whether you remain on campus or leave for break, please be aware that Facilities or Campus Safety staff may need to access your room during the break period.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Residential Education (Res Ed) at 717-337-6901 or via email .
Winter Break (December 2025 - January 2026)
All residence halls and college-owned fraternities are closed for Winter Break from Sunday, December 14, at noon until Saturday, January 17, at 9:00 a.m. Students should plan to vacate the residence halls during this period of time. Students who are returning for the spring semester into the same room can leave their belongings in their space over Winter Break (but we do recommend not leaving items of high value).
- If you are part of a College-sponsored program (athletics, CPS trip, etc.), please look for housing information from your coach or program sponsor. Do not submit a break housing registration, as your coach or department will submit the registration for you.
- If you are an individual student with a need for break housing for any period of time during the Winter Break, you will need to register for Winter Break housing through CNAV/MyHousing. The Winter Break Registration form will open on Monday, December 1 and you must register by Wednesday, December 10, at 5:00 p.m. Once you have submitted the form, you can consider yourself registered for Break Housing, and access to your space will be coordinated based on your submitted registration dates.
- If you are registered to stay on campus during any portion of Winter Break through a College-sponsored group or an individual request, please keep in mind that you will be staying in your current semester-assigned housing.
- The College is closed from Wednesday, December 24 through Sunday, January 4 and reopens on Monday, January 5. This means that College offices and departments will not be open as they would be during the semester.
- Campus Safety remains available 24/7 even during the break period, even when the College is closed.
- Facilities Services can be reached during the break in an emergency (flooding, no heat, etc.) by contacting Campus Safety.
- Please note that Campus Safety and/or Facilities Services conduct walk-throughs of residence hall rooms during the break period. Please take home any prohibited items that you may have, including candles; do not bring them back to campus when you return for the spring semester.
- Once registered for Winter Break housing, you will receive any needed additional information regarding Break Housing instructions and resources. This email will be sent after registration closes on December 10.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Residential Education (Res Ed) at 717-337-6901 or via email .
Winter Break Dining Information
Dining options and hours will vary throughout Winter Break. Please monitor the Dining Services website for information as it becomes available on locations and hours during the Winter Break period. Students registered for Winter Break housing will have access to kitchen facilities, and additional details about that access will be shared as the break approaches.
If you have any questions regarding the meals over Winter Break, you can contact diningoffice@gettysburg.edu.
Spring Break (2026)
Spring break begins on Friday, March 6 at 5:00 p.m. and ends on Monday, March 16 at 8:00 a.m. During this time period, the majority of students will leave campus and it is encouraged that they do so. There may be a small number of students that need to remain on campus for college athletics or other reasons that do not permit them to leave. Regardless of whether students are leaving campus or must remain over break, please read the following checklists closely.
For students who are leaving campus for Spring Break, please make sure that the following items are complete before leaving campus:
- Clean your room, apartment, and/or suite including the removal of all trash.
- Unplug all of the items in your room with the exception of your refrigerator/microfridge.
- Close and lock your windows.
- You do not need to take all of your belongings with you, but you are strongly encouraged to take all of your valuables with you.
- Lock your doors.
The residence halls will remain open for the duration of Spring Break, so if you have a need to remain on campus for any portion of the break, you are able to do so in your own room without applying for break housing. More details will be available in February regarding what is available during the break period related to dining and other campus resources.
Whether you remain on campus or leave for break, please be aware that Facilities or Campus Safety staff may need to access your room during the break period.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Residential Education (Res Ed) at 717-337-6901 or via email .