Staying for Winter Break

Quick links:
building access
food service
parking
Staff assistance
FRONT DESK
mail
guests
health services
bus service

All exterior doors are locked during Winter Break, so keep your MavCARD and room key with you at all times.
Residence halls lock at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12 and reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 9.
If you register for Winter Break Housing, your MavCARD will remain active for normal building access.

On Friday, Dec. 12, only breakfast and lunch will be served in the University Dining Center, which closes at 1:30 p.m.
The first meal of Spring Semester is lunch on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
Retail dining in the CSU will be open during break with limited hours.

Registered residents may park overnight in Lot 14 Stripe or Lot 16 Light Green only.
Overnight parking in any other lot (including Lots 1, 2, and 20A Dark Green) may result in a ticket.
Watch for snow removal notices—vehicles left in posted lots may be towed at the owner’s expense.
Cars left for more than 7 days may also be ticketed or towed.

Residential Life staff are on duty throughout Winter Break.
A Hall Director is available 24/7, and CAs are on duty daily from 4:30 p.m.–8 a.m.
Duty staff names and phone numbers are posted in each community.
University Security offers escorts upon request—call 507-389-2111 for assistance.

Front Desks are open daily from 4:30–6:30 p.m., except on Dec. 24, 25, and 31.
During open hours, you can pick up mail or packages and check out equipment.

Mail is delivered only to residents registered for Winter Break Housing.
It will be placed in your mailbox Monday–Friday on days when the Front Desk is open.
There is no mail service on Dec. 24, 25, 31, Jan. 1, or weekends.

Stadium Heights: Mail follows the U.S. Postal Service schedule.

Guest period: Friday, December 12 – Thursday, January 8

A guest is anyone not living in the residence halls. Residents who did not register for Winter Break Housing may not visit as guests.
You must escort your guest at all times and are responsible for their actions.

Parking:

Validated parking is not required Dec. 12–Jan. 12 (6 a.m.)
Guests may park in Lot 14 Stripe or Lot 16 Light Green.
Stadium Heights residents should contact the Property Owner’s Office for guest parking details.

The Medical Clinic and Pharmacy will be open 8 a.m.–2 p.m. on the following dates:

If you need care when the clinic is closed, visit the link for off-campus urgent care options.

Campus Express and Stomper Express will stop running after the halls close on Dec. 12 and resume Jan. 12.
There is no bus service to Stadium Heights during Winter Break.
Mankato Transit System routes (including Routes 1, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, and 15) will run on their regular schedule, except on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 (no service on holidays).
Route maps and schedules are available at Front Desks, the Residential Life Office, the Campus Hub, or online at mnsu.edu/parking/bus_shuttle.html