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Dear Students,
Following the email earlier this week from Mr. Bradley regarding the remainder of the school year, we are writing to provide information on what to do about the belongings in your dorm room.
Late next week, you will receive a link to a "Student Belongings Inquiry Form" you can use to let us know how you would like us to handle your belongings. The form requests detailed information that probably only you can provide. Please review the following options with your family in advance of filling out the form.
For students able to return to campus to retrieve belongings (when permitted):
With the exception of select Buehler residents (who have received a separate communication), belongings will remain in rooms through the end of May. We hope that between now and then, relaxed restrictions on campus access will allow families to return to pack their own rooms and take things home. After May, however, belongings will have to be moved to secure, on-campus storage to allow for regularly scheduled summer work in dormitories.
In this event, packing will be done by a Hotchkiss employee. If returns to campus during the summer months are possible, families will be able to collect belongings. If returns to campus this summer are not possible, or if you simply prefer to store your stuff, you may opt to store your belongings on campus until next school year. There will be no cost for this option. Please note that if you leave things at School until the fall, you will be responsible for moving them from the Hotchkiss storage facility to your new room.
Seniors:
If you anticipate needing to ship your belongings because you will not be able to return to campus by August 1, do not choose this option. The packing provided will not be suitable for shipping.
For students who cannot return to campus to retrieve their belongings (i.e., you live too far from campus):
-
Returning students:
Allow us to pack your room, and we will move your belongings to secure, on-campus storage. A Hotchkiss employee will do the packing. There will be no cost for this option. When you return in the fall, you will be responsible for moving your belongings from the Hotchkiss storage facility to your new room.
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Seniors and students not returning to Hotchkiss:
Use the UPS Store to pack and either 1) ship immediately or 2) store and ship your boxes to your new school later this summer. Costs associated with this service will be paid by families directly to the UPS Store. Please call the UPS Store
before
completing the inquiry form to coordinate this service:
(860) 693-9633.
The FAQs below address a number of topics you may find helpful before making your inquiry form selections.
We thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please contact Dean of Residential Life Heather Perrenoud P'23
should you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Steve McKibben P'23
Dean of Community Life
Heather Perrenoud P'23
Dean of Residential Life
Frequently Asked Questions
There are items I need from my room now (before the packing of my room). How can I get them?
When you fill out the inquiry form, you will be able to tell us which items you need from your room. A Hotchkiss employee will retrieve and pack these items for you. You will be able to choose from two box sizes (16" x 12" x 12" or 18" x 18" x 16"), and the shipping fee will be charged to your student account.
What if I have something valuable in my room that I am concerned about?
There is a place on the inquiry form to alert us to any valuables you have that may need special arrangements (
e.g.,
cash that should be deposited in the student bank, jewelry, etc.).
What about my textbooks?
There are two options for textbooks, which you can indicate on your inquiry form: handle them the same as all of your other belongings
OR
list those you would like to be taken to the bookstore for buyback or recycling.
Click here to read the details regarding book buyback.
What about belongings that are not in my room (e.g., musical instruments, athletic equipment, bikes, scooters, etc.)?
If you have belongings in other locations on campus, will we do our best to secure them or add them to your belongings. Examples: musical instruments, athletic gear, scooters, bikes, etc. Mail/packages that have not been forwarded and E&R items will be delivered to your room for packing. All musical instruments currently in the music wing will be secured in a locked room in the Main Building. (If you have questions or concerns about your instrument, please contact Mr. Witkowski.) There is a place on the inquiry form for you to report information about these items.
What if I left items in another student's room?
There is a place on the inquiry form for you to report information about these items. Our recommendation is to deal with these items directly with your friend. While we will do our best to be helpful, it may not be possible to track down every pair of leggings, t-shirt, video game, etc. For returning students, we ask that you arrange to get these items from your friend when it is possible. For students who are not returning, we will do our best to locate the items and put them with your belongings in your room prior to rooms being packed.
What if I have large furniture items that I do not want or am unable to retrieve?
If there are items you would like to donate, please list them on the inquiry form (couches, futons, area rugs, side tables, TVs/monitors, refrigerators), and we will handle it from there. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to move these items to another student's room or to store them for another student. The one exception to this will be proctor refrigerators, which we will keep in dorm storage for next year's proctors.
What will happen to all of my wall decorations?
We will do our best to remove these items and neatly pack them. This is a time-consuming task, so if you do not need to keep these items, please indicate that on the inquiry form.
I have a shower caddy/shower items in the dorm bathroom. Can I get those back?
Yes. If you describe where it is and what it looks like, we will do our best to retrieve it and pack with all other belongings.
What will happen to food and beverages in my room?
To minimize the possibility of attracting critters, we will donate eligible items to the local food pantry and dispose of anything that cannot be donated.
Prohibited items
If you have illicit substances, paraphernalia, or other prohibited items in your room (e.g.,
"drugs, inhalants, chemical substances, or drug paraphernalia, except as specifically prescribed to that student by a physician; possession or use of any smokeless device which is determined to have been used, at any time, to deliver illegal substances including e-cigarettes or vaping products" p. 42 the Hotchkiss
Almanac),
please email dean of community life, Mr. McKibben, (subject heading: "prohibited items") by
April 24
with information as to what is in your room and where it can be found. He and a security officer will enter your room, secure what you describe, and transport it to security for disposal. He will then communicate what was found to your family, and you and your family can determine next steps.
Mr. McKibben will not communicate this to the School for students who follow these procedures with the following exceptions, which may trigger disciplinary responses:
-
There is evidence of intent to distribute;
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The prohibited items identified raise such health, safety, or legal concerns that the School must ethically or lawfully respond;
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You have not communicated directly with Mr. McKibben, and illicit substances, paraphernalia, or other prohibited items are found in your room.
If you have questions or concerns about how best to proceed, please do not hesitate to reach out to
Mr. McKibben
, who will handle your communication with discretion and work with you to determine the most appropriate way forward.
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