December Break

December break housing is only open for domestic and international students whose permanent home address is abroad and for students who have hardship getting or going home. There is a $300 fee to stay on campus during this break. This is a flat fee and will be charged to those staying for any part or all of December Break. All students wishing to stay for December Break must register via my.mtholyoke. You will be notified via email about your eligibility and approval. Students approved to stay on campus will be able to stay in their rooms and meals will be open during limited hours every day except on December 25 and January 1. The fee will cover meals, heating and limited building housekeeping. Students approved to be on campus will have access to the halls with Golden Pears if they would like to use a kitchen and cook for themselves. Trips to stores will be coordinated along with some social activities during this time.

Please note that students going on leave, studying away, withdrawing, finishing in December or returning from leave are NOT eligible to stay on campus for any breaks before or after their leave. For example, if you are studying abroad in the Fall semester (August-December), you are not eligible to return to campus for the December Break or January Intersession that follows your leave and must plan to return when the halls open prior to when the Spring semester starts in January.

  • Dining Hours

    This information is currently being updated. Here is what has been available in the past.

    Please check out the dining website for the most up to date information.

    Kendade Grab & Go

    • Closes at 2:00pm on Tuesday, December 12
    • Reopens Tuesday, January 23

    Frances Perk

    • Closes at 2:00pm on Friday, December 15
    • Reopens Tuesday, January 23

    December 19 - Dining Commons closes at 8:00 PM

    December 20- 24

    • Breakfast - Closed
    • Lunch - 11:30am - 1:30pm
    • Dinner - 5:00-6:30

    December 25 - Closed (to-go items available the day before.)

    December 26- December 31

    • Breakfast - Closed
    • Lunch - 11:30am - 1:30pm
    • Dinner - 5:00-6:30

    January 1 - Closed (to-go items available the day before.)

    January 2 - 7

    • Breakfast - Closed
    • Lunch - 11:30am - 1:30pm
    • Dinner - 5:00-6:30

    January 8-20

    • Breakfast- 7:15-9:00
    • Lunch - 11:30am - 1:30pm
    • Dinner - 5:00-6:30

    January 21

    • Breakfast- 7:15-9:00
    • Lunch- 11:30-1:30
    • Dinner- 5:00-10:00

    Regular Hours Resume January 22.

  • Mail & Copy Center

    The Mail & Copy Center hours will be

    • December 18 - 22 - 9am - 5pm
    • December 23- Dec 26 - Closed
    • December 27 - 9am - 3pm
    • December 28 - Closed
    • December 29 - 9am - 1pm
    • December 30-Jan 1 - Closed

    Regular Hours Resume January 2.

  • Transportation to Grocery Stores

    Thursday, December 21

    Shuttle (First come, first serve, 25 passenger capacity) to CVS/Big Y will be departing from Blanchard Bus Stop as follows

    Depart MHC Pick Up CVS/Big Y
    11:00am 11:20am/11:45am
    12:00pm 12:20pm/12:45pm
    1:00pm 1:20pm/1:45pm
    2:00pm 2:20pm/2:45pm

    Saturday, December 23

    Shuttle (First come, first serve, 25 passenger capacity) to Holyoke Mall will be departing from Blanchard Bus Stop as follows

    Depart MHC Pick up at JC Penney
    12:00pm 2:45pm
    2:00pm 4:45pm

    Tuesday, December 26

    Shuttle (First come, first serve, 25 passenger capacity) to Trans World Market/Trader Joe's will be departing from Blanchard Bus Stop as follows:

    Depart MHC Depart Trans Word Market
    12:00pm 1:00pm/1:15pm
    2:00pm 3:00pm/3:15pm

    Friday, December 29

    Shuttle (First come, first serve, 25 passenger capacity) to CVS/Big Y will be departing from Blanchard Bus Stop as follows:

    Depart MHC Pick Up CVS/Big Y
    11:00am 11:20am/11:45am
    12:00pm 12:20pm/12:45pm
    1:00pm 1:20pm/1:45pm
    2:00pm 2:20pm.2:45pm

  • Guest Policy

    There are no guests in the residence halls during December Break. Residence halls are open only to provide living space for students registered for December Break. Non-Mount Holyoke College students and Mount Holyoke College students not registered for December Break housing are not permitted as guests in the halls. Residents may not sublet or increase the occupancy of the room.

  • Counseling  Services

    This information is currently being updated. Here is what has been available in the past.

    The Counseling Service will be closed Wednesday, December 20th at 4:30 pm. The office reopens and urgent care begins Tuesday, January 2nd at 8:30 am. Routine appointments resume Monday, January 8th.

    • 24/7 Crisis Line available during the break(call 413-538-2037 and follow the prompts to be connected with a clinician)

    You may also call Public Safety and Service directly at 413-538-2304 or go to the nearest emergency room (Holyoke Medical Center is closest to Mount Holyoke College). Other sources of support include:

    • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español 1-888-628-9454; Options for Deaf and Hard of Hearing 1-800-799-4889)
    • ULifeline - online resource center for information regarding emotional health
    • The Trevor Project(support for LGBTQ+ folx) at 1-866-488-7386 or text "START" to 678678
    • The Steve Fund (crisis text line for students of color: text "STEVE" to 741741)

  • Health  Services

    This information is currently being updated. Here is what has been available in the past.

    December 20 & 21 Health Services hours will be 9am - 1pm. Health Services will close on December 22, 2023, and will not reopen for clinical services until January 2, 2024.  When Health Services is closed, an on-call service is available for urgent medical concerns. Call 413-538-2242 and follow the prompts. Options for local health care needs include:

    • Cooley Dickinson Hospital Emergency Room: 413-582-2108
    • Holyoke Hospital Emergency Room: 413-534-2500
    • CDH Urgent Care Center (two sites): 413-582-440030 Locust Street, Northampton, MA 01060
      • 30 Locust Street, Northampton, MA 01060
      • 170 University Drive, Amherst, MA 01002
    • Baystate Urgent Care: 413-387-4197
    • 325 King Street Northampton, MA 01060
    • Holyoke Medical Group Walk-In Care Services: 413-535-4800
    • 1962 Memorial Drive Chicopee, MA 01020
    • Med Express Chicopee Urgent Care Medical Center: 413-533-3049
    • 1505 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA 01020

    For medical emergencies, while on campus please call Public Safety and Service directly at 413-538-2304. For true medical emergencies off campus, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.

  • LITS

    LITS Services/Williston Library will be available December 20- December 22 8:30am-5pm; closed December 23 - January 1. More information can be found on the LITS Hours Page.

  • Airport Shuttles to Bradley

    There will be Airport Shuttles to Bradley International Airport as follows:

    Saturday, 12/16

    • departing MHC at 3:00pm

    Sunday, 12/17

    • departing MHC at 9:00am
    • departing MHC at 12:00pm
    • departing MHC at 3:00pm

    Monday, 12/18

    • departing MHC at 9:00am
    • departing MHC at 12:00pm
    • departing MHC at 3:00pm

    Tuesday, 12/19

    • departing MHC at 9:00am
    • departing MHC at 12:00pm
    • departing MHC at 3:00pm

    Please use this Shuttle Sign Up Form to sign up.

  • Airport Shuttles to Logan

    There will be Airport Shuttles to Logan International Airport as follows:

    Saturday, 12/16

    • departing MHC at 8:00am

    Sunday, 12/17

    • departing MHC at 8:00am

    Monday, 12/18

    • departing MHC at 8:00am

    Please use this Shuttle Sign Up Form to sign up.

  • Sports & Recreation

    Kendall Building/Fitness Center Hours

    • Friday, 12/15 7am-8pm
    • Sat, 12/16 10am-6pm
    • Sun, 12/17 12pm - 6pm
    • Mon, 12/18-Thur 12/21 7am-6pm
    • Friday, 12/22 7am-2pm
    • Sat, 12/23-Mon, 1/1 CLOSED

    Open Swim Hours

    • Wed, 12/13-Fri, 12/15 11:30am-1:00pm
    • Sat, 12/16-Mon, 1/1 No Open Swim

  • Events

    More information about events during the break will be emailed directly to registered students. Events are only available to registered students.

    • You can purchase movie tickets for Tower Theaters for just $5 from the Division of Student Life Suite in 205 Blanchard between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 21, 2023 and 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Friday, December 22, 2023. During December break, they will also throw in a free small popcorn! Students may only purchase one ticket for themselves, and they may not purchase tickets for a friend. The student purchasing the ticket must have registered for break by the December 1 deadline. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. There are a limited number of tickets available.
    • Saturday, 12/23/23, 7 - 8pm Pearsons TV Room: Do you wanna build a snowman?
      • Come make your own tiny snowman, enjoy soda and snacks!
    • Tuesday, 12/26/23, 7 - 8pm - Mead Common Room: Movie & Trivia Night
      • Enjoy a movie and some trivia! Prizes for the first three winners! You can fill out this survey to help choose the Trivia topics: Trivia Topics Survey
    • Thursday, 12/28/23, 7 - 8pm - Porter Common Room: Paint & Sip
      • Enjoy soda, snacks, and create your own painting!

  • Blanchard Hall

    • Tuesday, 12/19: close at 8pm
    • Wednesday-Friday (12/20 - 12/22): open 8am to 8pm
    • Saturday-Monday (12/23 - 12/25): CLOSED
    • Tuesday- Sunday (12/26 -12/31): open 12pm to 8pm
    • Monday ( 1/1): CLOSED
    • Intersession (Tuesday 1/2 - Monday 1/15): 8am to 8pm

  • Public Transportation

    The PVTA Route 38 will not operate between December 16, 2023, and January 22, 2024.  R29 Service continues year-round, it does not run on December 25th. B43 Regular, full service will continue through Saturday, December 23. It will follow a No-School Schedule from December 25 through February 4, 2024. More information can be found on the PVTA website.

  • College Closed

    The College will be closed from December 22 at 5 p.m. to January 2. No emails and/or phone calls will be seen or responded to during this time. If there is an emergency, you can reach out to Public Safety and Service at 413-538-2304 and they can assist you or connect you to the Professional Staff On Call.