Disclaimer
Residence Life recommend students to utilize professional storage facility businesses that can provide secure storage for personal items. Some listings can be provided on the Residential Services webpage.
Please note that Residence Life is not responsible for the misplacement, theft or damage to student’s personal property placed into storage. The residence hall storage is not a deemed a secure storage facility. Students’ items are not placed in individuals cage/locker areas. Students are storing at their own risk.
St Olaf College assumes no liability for items lost or damaged while in storage. Items may only be stored until its collected by date. Anything left beyond that time will be considered abandoned property.
Students are eligible to store their belongings in the residence hall storage facilities if they will be continuing as enrolled students for the upcoming semester for which they are requesting storage. Graduating students and those taking a leave of absence are NOT eligible for storage.
Space is limited in our storage facilities. Because of this, students are limited to six (6) items being stored.
Long Term Storage: Available for students who live 360 miles (permanent address) or more away from Northfield, Minnesota and will not be on-campus for a college program (i.e., study abroad, student teaching, etc.) for a whole term (Fall/Spring). Students who are approved for storage may store their belongings for the term that they are gone and the Summer sessions if applicable. Students do not need to move their belongings to storage if they are just leaving for the Interim Session.
Short Term Storage: This opportunity is for students who are remaining on-campus for the entire term/academic year. Students may store their belongings, regardless of home location, in campus storage.
Example of items that can be stored:
- Transparent plastic bins/containers
- Polyethylene Tote Bags
- Suitcases
- Carpet rolls (must be wrapped/covered) – Only permitted in Ytterboe Hall General Storage on the Carpet Rack
Important notes:
- Colored or opaque bins are not permitted; only transparent bins may be used so staff can easily view contents and ensure safety.
- Suitcases are permitted to provide flexible storage options, especially for long-haul travelers (e.g., international students).
Reminders:
- Maximum dimensions of a storage bin allowed in residential storage rooms are 24 inches (L) x 16 inches (W) x 17 inches (H).
- All items must be sealed and labeled.
Example of items that cannot be stored:
- College furniture
- Refrigerators
- Furniture (including futons)
- Lofts
- Bikes (Excluding Bike Storage in New Hall)
- Any food items (Perishable & Non-Perishable).
Trash bags and cardboard boxes will not be accepted as storage containers.
Furniture storage is available for students who wish to store personal furniture. It is located only in Ytterboe Hall, and space in this room is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Furniture that can be stored:
- Futon (must be broken down and placed in a futon bag)
- Small folding chairs (must be folded and placed in a bag)
- Storage shelves
- Mirrors (must be bubble wrapped/securely packed)
- Electronics are only permitted if they are boxed or securely packed.
Furniture that cannot be stored:
- Couches
- Cloth Bean Bags are not permitted.
- Large sectionals
- Single seat sofas
*This list is not an all inclusive list, Residence Life reserves the right to not store any item. If you have questions if something is approved for furniture storage, please reach out to the Residence Life office (housing@stolaf.edu).
The Step-by-Step Process for Accessing Storage
Looking to Access Storage? Fill Out the Storage Request Form!
Long-Term Storage Request Form
Long-term storage is classified as any items that you will NOT access for the entirety of one or more terms (Fall semester, Spring semester, or Summer). Bicycles cannot be stored as long-term storage and are not permitted to remain on campus during any term in which students are not present.
Short-Term Storage Request Form
Short-term storage is for items that you will access during the term. It’s a convenient way to keep frequently used belongings easily accessible.
Summer Storage Access Form
This form is for students who are on campus during the summer and need access to storage for item intake or removal. This includes students remaining on campus for the summer term, as well as students returning from study abroad, internships, or leave who need to store or retrieve belongings.
Unsure about the Right Storage Form?
Contact the Housing Office at housing@stolaf.edu or visit the Residence Life Office for questions.
Need to Take Your Items Out of Storage?
Students who wish to access storage and retrieve their belongings can visit the front desk of the residence hall where their items are stored during posted Storage Hours. A Community Building Assistant (CBA) will assist you with the outtake process.
Please ensure you pick up your items within your intended pickup term; any items not retrieved by the end of that term will be considered abandoned property.
Storage access will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for returning students on September 9, 2026 (Returning Student Move-In Day).
- Regular Fall Semester access hours will begin on the first day of classes, Thursday, September 10, 2026.
- Storage will be open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Please note that storage intake will be paused until August 3, 2026, to support storage auditing operations; during this time, only storage outtake will be permitted.
Spring 2026 storage hours will remain effective from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. until spring closing period. The hours for spring closing period will be as follows:
Storage Removal*Removing storage items from the building that you currently live in to your current room. |
May 3, 2026 – May 13, 2026 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. All students must remove storage items from their current residence hall storage by May 13, 2026. This is necessary to make space for students to participate in the Transfer Storage Process. |
Transfer Storage*Placing storage in the residence hall that you will live in for Fall 26-27. |
May 14, 2026 – May 20, 2026 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
Furniture Storage*Please read the guidelines on what is acceptable or not. |
May 18, 2026 – May 20, 2026 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
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** Students who are staying on campus for the summer should also remove their belongings during this time frame. You will then relocate your items to your summer residence hall during the spring-to-summer transition period. |
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For students remaining on campus after May 20 (e.g., CURI or Commencement Participation), storage hours will be limited to May 21–May 31 from 9:00–11:00 a.m. To request access during this time, please contact the CBM on-call at 507-838-9634.
For students living on campus during the Summer terms, Summer Storage access will be from June 2nd, 2026 – August 31st, 2026.
Storage will only be available on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and weekends from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. All requests must be submitted through the Summer Storage Access Google Form.
Thursday, August 21 – Wednesday, August 27
- Storage access is available by appointments only.
- Complete the Google Form and allow 48 hours for a response.
Thursday, August 28 – Saturday, August 30
- Storage access is closed for New Student Move-In.
- Please note that Summer Storage is only accessible until Thursday, August 28.
Sunday, August 31 – Monday, September 15
- Storage will be open daily from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- During this period, only storage outtake will be available. No storage intake will be provided.
After Monday, September 15
- Storage will be available upon request only.
- The Storage Form will be live on September 15th.
- To request access, students must fill out the Short-Term Storage Form and allow 48 hours for approval.
Abandoned Property Process
Abandoned Property:
When a student’s personal items remain after they vacate their assigned space or an item remains in a residential storage room past its collect by date, the items are immediately considered abandoned. All items are disposed of no matter their value. Any attempts the department may make to contact a resident is a courtesy.