Ashoka University has announced a significant revision to its winter break residence policy, allowing students to return to campus earlier than scheduled. This decision comes in direct response to widespread student protests and reports of undergraduates being stranded outside the Sonipat campus in cold and foggy conditions.
Policy Reversal After Student Meeting
The change was communicated via an email from the university's Residence Life Office on Monday afternoon, January 5, 2026. The email stated that students wishing to return before the originally scheduled dates of January 17 and 18, 2026, may now do so on or after January 11, 2026. Crucially, the university clarified that no prior approval from the Residence Life Office would be required for returns on or after this new date.
This communication was issued shortly after a critical meeting between the Dean of Student Affairs and representatives of the Ashoka University Student Government (AUSG). The meeting was convened amid escalating criticism from the student body regarding the enforcement of winter-break residence restrictions.
Students Left Stranded in the Cold
The policy shift follows disturbing accounts from several undergraduate students. They reported being denied access to campus despite appeals citing a lack of alternative accommodation in Delhi. In some instances, student access cards were deactivated without prior warning, leaving individuals stranded outside campus gates late into the evening.
For years, students, particularly those from outside North India or abroad, had routinely stayed in their hostels during the winter vacation. This was based on the understanding that hostel fees for the monsoon semester, which runs from August 22 to December 31, covered their residence. However, this academic year saw the enforcement of a new 'Residence Life' policy, which mandated that students vacate campus during the break unless they received special approval through an appeal process.
Precedent Set by Sports Teams
During the Monday meeting with the administration, student representatives highlighted a key inconsistency. They pointed out that sports teams routinely return to campus about a week before the winter break officially ends. Leveraging this precedent, the AUSG argued that all students who wished to return during the same period should be granted similar access. This argument proved pivotal in the administration's decision to revise the return dates.
Earlier, when contacted by The Indian Express regarding student concerns, Ashoka University had stated that the restrictions were being implemented "as per policy." The university's initial position was that only students with pre-scheduled official assignments and all international students were permitted on campus during the break, citing security and logistical concerns.
Student representatives, however, contended that the communication regarding the new policy was often delayed, ambiguous, or entirely absent, leaving many in a precarious situation. The university's latest move to allow an early return from January 11 is seen as a direct concession to these grievances, though broader discussions about the policy's framework are likely to continue.
