Storage FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is storage available on campus for my daughter?
Mount Holyoke College provides limited storage for your daughter during the academic year. Each residence hall has a trunk room available for students to store a portion of their belongings. We encourage students to seek off-campus options, as our storage facilities are not secured or climate controlled. See trunk room policies below. As of the summer of 2005, Mount Holyoke College no longer offers storage over the summer months. This does not change the protocol during the academic year. We are committed to offering a place for trunks, luggage, boxes, etc. during the academic year.

What storage options are available to my daughter for summer months?
To assist students and parents, we are brokering relationships with a number of off-campus storage facilities. The Office of Residential Life maintains a brochure of neighboring storage facilities used by many of our students. You may also want to go to the Web site of MAStorage, a student-run initiative that provides campus pick up and delivery, as well as online scheduling and payment options.

Why isn't storage available on campus during the summer?
Historically, the management and upkeep of trunk rooms has been at problem at MHC. The increase in student population and increase in personal belongings have contributed to a climate that is unmanageable. Over the years we have tried a number of options to tame the flow and volume of items stored in the trunk rooms. Regardless of the innovation and effort put into the program, we are left at the end of the year with carelessly packed rooms and major fire hazards. The most dire concern is the existing fire hazard that trunk rooms pose.

Trunk Room Policies
To access the trunk room, your daughter will need to contact her Hall President or designated hall committee member for the key. She is to store her belongings in the trunk room associated with her current hall assignment. Trunk room storage is intended for a small number of items, typically 4 to 6 per resident for a short period of time. If your daughter's needs exceed this number or she is seeking long-term storage, we strongly encourage her to seek off-campus storage. The Office of Residential Life has a brochure listing names of storage facilities in the area.

When storing items, your daughter will need to clearly mark her name and class year on her belongings. Boxes and containers must be sealed and rugs must be rolled and tied. Refrigerators and microwaves are approved storage items. We suggest she write directly on her storage container versus using a paper sign or labels. In the past, these signs were damaged or have fallen off as other students move their items about.

Items that cannot be stored include:

• Furniture of any kind
• Items stored in large travel bags or garbage bags
• Crates or boxes with no lids
• Bikes
• Floor lamps

Illegally stored items and unlabeled items will be removed. The College assumes no responsibility for securing or protecting stored items. The storage facilities are not climate controlled and are available on a first come first serve basis. There is no summer access to the trunk rooms. The trunk rooms will reopen in the fall upon the arrival of the returning student population.

If you or your daughter have specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact Rene Davis.