Student Life

Seven of the undergraduate student residences are situated on either side of the Olive Walk near the southeastern end of the campus. The original four—Blacker, Dabney, Fleming, and Ricketts—were built in 1931 from the plans of Mr. Gordon B. Kaufmann, in the Mediterranean style to harmonize with the adjacent Athenaeum. The other three, designed by Smith, Powell and Morgridge, were completed in 1960, and are named Lloyd, Page, and Venerable.

Each of these seven residences is a separate unit with its own dining room and lounge, providing accommodations for between 65 and 100 students, depending on the facility. Each has its own elected officers; a long history of shared governance gives students the ability to represent their needs in their own living environments. Residential Life Coordinators (RLCs) are specially trained full-time university employees specializing in college student development, community building, counseling, and crisis intervention. The RLCs supervise the Resident Associates (RAs) on programming and overall student wellness. The RLCs also assist Housing with the management and daily operations of the residences. Each residence has one or more RA, who are typically graduate students. Mail is delivered daily to the student mailboxes. Students should use their mailbox number, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91126, to facilitate handling of mail at the campus post office. For more information, please visit housing.caltech.edu.

Made possible by a gift from trustee R. Stanton Avery, this undergraduate residence and innovative residential complex was designed by Moore, Ruble, Yudell, and completed in September 1996. Located at the north end of the campus, Avery has an RLC, two RAs, two faculty apartments, and rooms for about 136 undergraduates. Its dining facilities, meeting rooms, lounges, and library are designed to encourage informal faculty-student interaction and to attract all members of the campus community to join in this interaction. Avery hosts programs and social events that facilitate involvement between residents and faculty in residence.

Established in the fall of 2018 and located at the northeast edge of campus, the Bechtel Residence is the first residence to open on campus since 1996. Bechtel is named in honor of Caltech life trustee Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr., the founder of the S. D. Bechtel Foundation.

The 95,000-square-foot residence is a multigenerational residence open to all undergraduates with: 211 student bedrooms arranged as singles and in suites; six RA and one RLC apartments; and two faculty-in-residence apartments. Bechtel was intentionally designed to provide the community with the greatest flexibility to maximize space as well as to encourage broader interaction, engagement, and residential life programming among residents. The facility includes three kitchens; eight common areas/study rooms; several laundry rooms; a 400-seat dining hall and servery; and support spaces.

Caltech will extend a License Contract to those individuals who satisfy the following criteria: (1) they have been approved by the Housing Office and the Undergraduate Dean’s Office; (2) they are eligible to enroll for the upcoming Fall Term by no later than the June UASH meeting; and (3) they are in good standing with both the Bursar’s Office and the Institute overall. Individuals must satisfy this criteria for the duration of the License Contract. If a Caltech student becomes ineligible to enroll, or is no longer in good standing with the Bursar’s Office, or in good standing with the Institute, or in good standing with their Institute-approved summer program, their License Contract will be automatically revoked. UASH meeting dates and petition deadlines can be found at registrar.caltech.edu/current-students/uash.

The Hameetman Center, which opened in 2019, is a new campus center built on the site of the former Winnett Student Center. The Hameetman Center replaces Winnett as Caltech’s central community gathering place. The 24,000-square-foot two-story center is named in honor of the Hameetman Foundation and Caltech trustee Fred Hameetman (BS ’62) and his wife, Joyce, who provided the initial funding to initiate the design of the reimagined campus hub. It features a large public lounge, an expanded Red Door Marketplace, the Caltech Store, music rehearsal facilities, student club rooms, a multipurpose room, and a conference room. The rehearsal facility is made possible thanks to a gift from Emeritus Professor of Theoretical Physics Steven Frautschi and his wife, Mie.

The Office of Student and Family Engagement (SFE) has responsibility for the oversight of Caltech’s residential programs, including programs carried out in the undergraduate houses, graduate student residences, and the Bechtel and Marks-Braun communities. SFE works collaboratively with the Residential Life Coordinators, Resident Associates, the Interhouse Committee, and other groups to ensure that student leaders in all our residential communities are trained and that there are programs in place to support their development. This is part of the shared governance that is central to the Caltech residential experience. The residential experience also includes members of the faculty who live in the undergraduate residences. The Faculty in Residence (FIR) Team establishes an academic life and culture in Bechtel and Avery House. FIRs bridge the classroom experience by hosting regular conversations over dinner and develop specialized academic programing, which can include: extracurricular activities, tours and excursions, cooperative community service projects, special events, and guest speaker programs.

In keeping with Caltech’s values of integrity and fairness, students and recognized student organizations, all including but not limited to student houses and residences, student groups, and recreation and athletic teams, are expected to follow all Institute policies. These include but not limited to, Student Affairs policies, the Honor Code Handbook, and the Caltech Code of Conduct, and divisional policies. These policies, including the review processes that guide corrective actions in the case of alleged violation(s), may be found at deans.caltech.edu/HonorCode

The Student Activities Center (SAC) is located in the basement of the south undergraduate housing complex and is open for student use 24 hours a day. The SAC provides office space for the officers of the undergraduate student government, working space for student publications, rehearsal space for musical activities, and space for many other student-oriented functions.

Whether students are interested in music, publications, student government, gaming, photography, or simply finding a room for their group to meet in, the SAC will probably have what is needed. The center also houses the South House laundry room and has several club rooms, a small library, a shop, and a movie screening room—most are open 24 hours.

Faculty-student coordination and cooperation with regard to campus affairs are secured through the presence of students on faculty committees, by faculty-student conferences, and by other mechanisms.

Each member of the first-year class is assigned a faculty adviser and is a member of a small advising group. The adviser follows the first-year student’s progress and provides advice on any questions or problems that the student may have.

Each member of the three undergraduate upper classes is assigned an option adviser, a faculty member in the option in which the student is enrolled. The adviser takes an interest in the student’s selection of courses and progress toward a degree, and, eventually, in assisting the student toward satisfactory placement in industry or in graduate school. Normally, the association between student and adviser is established before the beginning of the sophomore year and continues through graduation.

Caltech supports an extensive program of competitive athletics. As a member of NCAA Division III and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Caltech participates in intercollegiate competition in 20 sports—10 each for men and women. All teams compete during a regular season, with many also competing or qualifying for the conference tournament in their respective sport. Individual scholar-athletes and teams distinguishing themselves can earn the privilege of participating in NCAA regional and national championships.

Caltech also sponsors vigorous club sports programs and intramural competition. Club sports include Ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, badminton and soccer. Intramural competitions are contested by residence house teams in several sports, including soccer, dodgeball, kickball, Ultimate Frisbee, basketball, volleyball, and floorball. Approximately 25 percent of Caltech undergraduates participate in intercollegiate athletics and over 80 percent participate in some form of organized athletic competition each year.

Outdoor athletic facilities include a brand-new turf mixed-use baseball and soccer field, a second natural grass mixed-use field, an all-weather running track, eight tennis courts, and two 25-yard, eight-lane swimming pools. Indoor facilities include two full-size gymnasiums; four racquetball courts, two squash courts; a 5,000-square-foot weight room, satellite weight room and more than 55 pieces of cardio-respiratory equipment, including treadmills, exercise bikes and ellipticals; and a large multipurpose room for dance/aerobics, martial arts and a variety of group fitness courses.

The department is also responsible for management of Caltech’s recreation programs and physical education curriculum.

More information can be found at gocaltech.com.

The president of each undergraduate house represents that house on the Interhouse Committee (IHC), which helps to handle matters affecting the houses, in conjunction with staff from Student Affairs. Members of the IHC are expected to be enrolled and in good standing, both academically (eligible, and not on probation) and disciplinarily (not on probation), during their tenure in office. The IHC works in conjunction with the Athletics, Recreation and Instruction department to conduct intramural competitions as described above, and conducts its own Discobolus Trophy competition, in which a house may challenge the house holding the trophy to a mutually agreed upon contest.

The undergraduate student body forms the membership of a corporation known as the Associated Students of the California Institute of Technology, Inc., or ASCIT. Governed by a board of directors consisting of six elected officers, it is involved in many aspects of student life; oversees publication of The Tech, our undergraduate student newspaper; the Big T yearbook; a literary magazine called Totem; and the Little t, which provides lots of helpful information to incoming students. A directory, along with other student information, such as campus positions, links to the Interhouse Committee (IHC) and Academics and Research Committee (ARC), and other helpful information is available online at donut.caltech.edu.

Besides overseeing student publications and coordinating activities and policies, the ASCIT Board of Directors administers the corporation’s finances. ASCIT sponsors a wide variety of special-interest clubs and programs. The student government is active in campus affairs. The student members of standing faculty committee ensure that undergraduate opinion is considered seriously. Excellent informal relations between students and faculty and between students and administration promote discussion of mutual concern and goodwill. Student-faculty conferences are held every other year and serve to promote communication mainly around academic topics.

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) is the student government for Caltech graduate students. It is the mission of the GSC to maximize the quality of life for the graduate student community at Caltech. The GSC Board of Directors interacts with the Institute’s administrative bodies and is formed of subcommittees dedicated to academic support, advocating graduate student issues, sharing student news, and organizing social events.

Graduate and undergraduate student leaders who are in either elected or appointed positions must be enrolled and in good standing with the Institute.

The Honor Code and Community Standards

The Caltech Honor Code states “No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community.” This principle is the foundation for community standards at Caltech and extends to all aspects of campus life, including academic and extracurricular activities, engagement among students, and interactions between students, faculty, and staff. The Honor Code is among the most revered traditions held by the student body and has governed campus life for generations of Caltech students.

It is the responsibility of every member of the Caltech community to uphold the Honor Code to preserve a community characterized by trust, collaboration, and accountability. The Honor Code Handbook articulates prohibited conduct and outlines the resolution processes followed by the Board of Control, the Undergraduate Deans’ Office, and the Conduct Review Committee.

The Honor Code is also an important part of graduate student life. The Dean of Graduate Studies is responsible for reviewing and making decisions concerning alleged Honor Code violations with respect to coursework. The Graduate Honor Council (GHC) serves as a consultative resource to the Dean. At their discretion, the dean of graduate studies may request that the GHC investigate and hear a case and provide its recommendations to the dean for final review and decision. All Members of the Graduate Honor Council must be in good standing with the Office of Graduate Studies and must attend a formal training before they may serve on a case. Examples of Honor Code violations include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, violations of the collaboration policy in a class, and/or using resources that were strictly prohibited for homework and/or exams. Incidents that are not handled by the Dean of Graduate Studies include accusations of research misconduct, which are handled by the Office of Research Compliance; grade disputes, which are handled by the office of the provost. Institute Policy violations are handled by the office of the Dean of Graduate studies or the appropriate administrative organization.

The publications of the student body include a weekly paper, The California Tech; an undergraduate research journal, CURJ; a literary magazine, Totem; a student handbook, the Little t, which gives a survey of student activities and organizations and serves as a campus directory; a yearbook, Big T; an online undergraduate research opportunities handbook, UROH; and Caltech Letters, an online campus publication designed to let students talk about their research and their viewpoints on science with the broader world. These publications, staffed entirely by students, provide an opportunity for interested students to obtain valuable experience in creative writing, photography, artwork, reporting and editing, advertising, and business management.

The Institute provides directors and facilities for choirs, concert band, jazz band, symphony orchestra, numerous chamber music ensembles, guitar classes, a theater program, ceramics and studio arts classes. These activities are centered in the Music and Theater Arts houses on Hill Avenue along the eastern edge of campus.

All student clubs must be officially recognized in order to be in and remain in good standing with the Institute. To become officially recognized, the club must annually apply for recognition. You will find details regarding this process outlined in the Student Club Handbook, which is available on the Office of Student and Family Engagement website (sfe.caltech.edu).

Once the club is officially recognized, it may plan on maintaining that recognition for the duration of the current academic year. The details of how to remain in good standing with the Institute are outlined in detail within the Student Club Handbook. These details include club oversight, privileges, responsibilities, finances, and other very important information. A recognized club will receive the following privileges: the ability to recruit members; advertise events; secure funding; conduct officer elections; provide trainings and use Institute facilities for meetings and events. Additional, key elements of club recognition include but are not limited to, having an advisor, an appropriate purpose, and a leadership infrastructure. Note that only recognized clubs will be allowed to participate in the annual Club Fair.

In keeping with Caltech’s values of integrity and fairness, students and recognized student organizations, all including but not limited to student houses and residences, student groups, and recreation and athletic teams, are expected to follow all Institute policies. These include but not limited to, Student Affairs policies, the Honor Code Handbook, and the Caltech Code of Conduct, and divisional policies. These policies, including the review processes that guide corrective actions in the case of alleged violation(s), may be found at deans.caltech.edu/HonorCode

The mission of the CCID is to enhance the experience of all Caltech community members holistically through education, advocacy, cultural exchange, leadership development, and coalition building. We serve as a hub of resources and partner with various stakeholders to advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) at the Institute and within the community.

The CCID hosts various events throughout the year, including affinity spaces, cultural exchange opportunities, cultural holiday celebrations, LGBTQIA+ community celebrations, identity development programs, dialogues, and leadership workshops. CCID programming, support structures, and campus organizations are open to anyone in the campus community, regardless of race, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual identity, and/or any other protected characteristic.

Our CCID signature programs and events are the First-Year Success Research Institute (FSRI), Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF), the STEMinar Speaker Series, the Unpacking Hate Series, the Dine & Dialogue Series, and the annual Celebration of Excellence event.

If you are interested in getting involved with CCID, please visit the center's website at ccid.caltech.edu.

The Caltech Y is a student-driven nonprofit organization on campus. Founded by students for students, the Y challenges the Caltech community to see the world with a broader perspective and a deeper understanding of social issues. Y programs focused on community service and activism, outdoor adventures, social activities, and cultural events encourage students to become active participants in the world. With the help of Y staff, student leaders plan and lead events, trips, and initiatives on campus and beyond. Some of the many Y programs include the Rise tutoring program, the Y hike in the California Sierras, Alternative Spring Break, Make-a-Difference Day, World Fest, the Student Activism Speaker Series, and the D.C. Science Policy Trip. The Y also provides services to the Caltech community, such as low-cost audio visual and camping equipment rentals, discounted tickets, and much more. For more information about student planning meetings, email [email protected] or check out our website at caltechy.org. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/caltechy and Instagram at instagram.com/caltechy.

Caltech has a quiet room for prayer, mediation, quiet reflection and religious observation. The quiet room is located in the Hameetman Student Center. For information about religious clubs, see the Student Clubs website at sfe.caltech.edu.

If you have a dietary restriction that requires a special request, please contact Caltech Dining Services at [email protected]. If your restriction rises to the level of a disability, please visit the Caltech Accessibility Services for Students (CASS) website at cass.caltech.edu to request accommodation.

Student events, including parties, activities, and programs that are hosted by a house, residence, or student club/organization, are a privilege at Caltech and are part of the social framework of the Institute, but must be conducted in a safe and legally compliant manner. We expect the student body to follow laws, polices, guidelines for events, use common sense, and good judgement. All events must be registered per event registration requirements; for additional information and to complete your Student Event Registration online, visit spa.caltech.edu.

The Student Auxiliary Services, Gift & Technology Store (caltechstore.caltech.edu) is located on the first floor of the Hameetman Center. Established in the 2018–2019 academic year with a lead gift from The Hameetman Foundation, the Hameetman Center (formerly the Winnett Student Center) is now renamed in the Foundation’s and Fred Hameetman (BS ’62) and his wife, Joyce’s honor. Owned and operated by the Institute, the store serves the students, faculty, and staff, carrying a stock of Caltech authors’ books, insignia merchandise, gift items, school supplies, computer hardware, and accessories that support Caltech’s educational and research mission. Also located on the first floor of the Hameetman Center is the redesigned Red Door Marketplace that offers freshly brewed coffee and tea, full menu, and bakery items.