Check-in/Check-out

Check-in

When do I move in, and how do I get my keys?

All students assigned to campus housing will be sent an official notification of assignment with specific instructions on checking in.

Check-in Procedure

1. Go to the Office of Residence Life, located in Engstrom Hall.
2. Sign a Key Card and Check-in Certification form, and pick up your key(s).
3. Begin moving into your room/apartment.
4. Assess the condition of your room/apartment online within seven days. To do this, go to home.apu.edu, search for Campus Housing Room Condition using the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner, then click on the top search result.

Notify the Office of Residence Life if you will be arriving later than one week after check-in. If you are required to come to campus early for athletics, music, drama, or other on-campus activities, contact that department for more information. For additional questions, contact the Office of Residence Life at (626) 812-3056 or housing@apu.edu.

Check-out

The check-out deadline for fall is noon on the Saturday of finals week. In addition, read about this season’s Winter Break 2024-25 (PDF). The check-out deadline for spring is 3 p.m. on the Sunday after commencement. Notification will be sent to students and posted as a web announcement. There are two ways to check out of your housing assignment: verified check-outs and unverified check-outs.

Verified Check-out (RA Appointments)

To check out with an RA you must make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. At the designated appointment time you and your RA will walk through your room/apartment to assess any cleaning and damage charges. You will receive a copy of the Room Condition Assessment and will be aware of any charges assessed. This is your opportunity to question and appeal what is documented. At a later time, you will receive an invoice from the Office of Residence Life with the costs of the charges and notification that they were applied to your student account (view a list of Common Check-out Charges (PDF)). You are still responsible for returning your own key (see below). Students living in areas that will serve as summer housing are required to sign up for a verified check-out.

Unverified Check-out

To check out properly using this method, obtain a “Key Return and Check-out Certification” envelope from the Office of Residence Life. Complete the information on the front of the envelope and put your key in it. Completed envelopes can be dropped off at Residence Life in Engstrom Hall. By choosing this method, you understand that you will not be present for the walkthrough and any cleaning and damage charges will be assessed by your RA. By choosing the unverified method, you waive the ability to appeal charges. At a later time, you will receive an invoice from the Office of Residence Life with the costs of the charges and notification that they were applied to your student account (view a list of Common Check-out Charges (PDF)). This method is not available to students who are living in areas that will host summer housing.

Key Return

Every student is personally responsible for turning in his or her own key(s). Keys can be dropped off in the Office of Residence Life in Engstrom Hall. If the office is closed, there is an after-hours self-service drop to the left of the front door. All keys must be returned in a “Key Return and Check-out Certification” envelope by the check-out deadline or within 72 hours of your campus housing reversal or revocation. Those who fail to return or return their key late will be assessed a lock recore cost of $75.

Reminder: Mailbox keys and gate clickers are not returned to Residence Life. Contact Mail Services and/or the Department of Campus Safety for information about returning those items.

Cleaning

Students leaving are required to clean their own personal living space to prepare for the next residents. If everyone in the unit is leaving, everyone is responsible for the cleanliness of the unit, unless otherwise noted during the check-out inspection by your resident advisor (RA). Failure to clean to the extent of the Minimum Cleaning Requirements (PDF) will result in itemized custodial charges to cover the cost of labor in the unit.

Storage and Moving

While APU does not provide moving assistance or storage on campus during the summer, the university partners with Campus Storage to provide students with a solution for moving and storing belongings.

Campus Storage coordinates directly with students to pick up belongings from their campus residence when the academic year ends, and they will drop off belongings to students when they return in the fall. Please note that there are specific pick-up and delivery dates that are pre-approved and coordinated with the university. To check out the services they provide and how it works, visit the Campus Storage website. Please also see their Moving and Storage Made Simple Flyer (PDF) with a special offer.

Internet in the Village

Students in University Village who are utilizing Frontier Communications internet paid for by APU do not need to call Frontier Communications to shut down service. When you move out of the apartment, leave all of the equipment in the unit plugged in. Students who remove equipment will be charged for the replacement as part of the check-out process.

If you have any questions about the check-out process, contact us at (626) 812-3056 or housing@apu.edu.