Summer Communication

May 15, 2024

Dear Student,

Welcome to Caltech! We are delighted to be among the first to welcome you to this extraordinary research and learning community and look forward to meeting you and working with you in the months and years to come.

First Year Programs will continue to provide you with information about New Student Orientation throughout the summer. In the meantime, we hope the following information and resources will be helpful as you make plans to begin your time at Caltech.

You have been assigned the Caltech UID number: << Test Caltech UID >>. This will serve as your student identification number while you are at Caltech. You will be receiving information from the Registrar's Office about activating your access.caltech account in the next few days; note that the deadline to activate this account is May 31, 2024.

The New Student Orientation Website provides lots of information for our new students. This site includes links to the summer To-Do List, contact information and the New Undergraduate Student Handbook. Additional information will be added in the coming weeks, so we encourage you to check back often!

We will use this email address for all updates and information from the Institute through June 1; at that point, you will have been officially assigned a Caltech email account and we will begin communicating with you via that channel. If you need to update your email address in the meantime, please email the Caltech registrar at regis@caltech.edu.

If you have a disability and require housing or academic accommodations in the fall, please register with Caltech Accessibility Services for Students (CASS) by June 7, 2024 (for housing) or September 2, 2024 (for academic services). If you require accommodations for placement testing, you should register and send your materials by June 1, 2024.

As we finalize plans for next year's programs and activities, First Year Programs will share updates with you. We will be inviting your family to some family orientation events as well. In order to help us connect appropriately with your family, please let the Deans' Office know if your family contact information changes.

We look forward to meeting you at New Student Orientation, beginning on Sunday, September 22, 2024.

Sincerely,

The Undergraduate Deans' Office Team

Jennifer Jahner

Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Professor of English

Lesley Nye

Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students

Kristin Weyman

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students

Maura McDinger

Director of Conduct and Community Standards

Chris Barragan

Student Affairs Case Manager

Beth Larranaga

Operations Lead, Undergraduate Deans' Office

Sara Loredo

Office Assistant, Undergraduate Deans' Office

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Caltech Undergraduate Deans Office · 1200 E California Blvd · Mc 210-87 · Pasadena, CA 91125-0001 · USA
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Dear New Students,

Welcome to Caltech! My name is Isabel Peng, and I am the Director of New Student Transition Programs and First Year Experience. The First Year Experience team will be supporting you during your transition as a new student, as well as being a resource throughout your first year at Caltech. We are so excited for your arrival in a few months!

Over the summer, we will be sharing regular communication that highlights important deadlines and upcoming events that are designated for incoming students. Communication will be sent to your Caltech email, so be sure to check this email regularly. All copies of the summer communication will also be available online.

Below are some announcements and reminders for June and early July:

● New Undergraduate Student Handbook: This is your go-to resource guide for learning about Caltech and how to make the most of your experience at the Institute. The handbook has been curated to provide you with important information about the first-year experience, campus policies, and an overview of the Student Affairs administrative offices and support services. We strongly encourage you to review this in its entirety prior to your physical arrival to campus.

● Move-in Day (Sunday, Sept 22) and Orientation Week (Sunday, Sept 22 - Friday, Sept 27): Students living in Caltech Housing are expected to move-in on Sunday, Sept 22. Orientation Week is your opportunity to get acquainted with the campus, meet your fellow classmates, and learn more about the resources available to you. We will share additional information, as well as the schedule of events, over the next few months.

● Academic and Student-Services Virtual Info Sessions: The Caltech Library, Hixon Writing Center, Student Wellness Services, Deans' Office, and the Caltech Y are just a few of the many resources available to support your academic and personal success. Each week over the next three months, you are invited to attend an info session over Zoom to hear from different office staff about how they support new students and students have the opportunity to ask questions at each session. The first 5 participants at each session will receive a $15 GrubHub credit (credit will be sent to your Caltech email after the session). Below are three upcoming events, and reminders will be sent closer to each session:

○ Tuesday, June 18 at 12-1 p.m. (PT) | Office of Student Experience | Zoom Link here
Learn about an overview of the first-year experience, New Student Handbook, move-in day, New Student Information and Housing Options form

○ Wednesday, June 26, 1-2 p.m. (PT) | Student Wellness Services | Zoom Link here
Brief overview of Student Wellness Services, health entrance forms, transferring care from home to campus.

○ Tuesday, July 1, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. (PT) | Caltech Accessibility Services for Students | Zoom Link here
Brief overview of the CASS Office, how to register for CASS accommodations and deadlines

Please note, the following items on the To-Do List are due by:

Friday, June 14:

● Add NameCoach to CANVAS

Sunday, June 16:

● Writing Placement Test Information Due by 5 p.m. PDT (Required - First Year and Transfer Students). The FSRI team will be in touch via email regarding deadlines for FSRI students.
Testing window opens Friday, June 7 at 12 p.m.
Contact: writing.placement@hss.caltech.edu

Friday, June 21:

● Complete Course Selection Survey (Required - First Year Students)
Survey will be sent to your Caltech email address on Tuesday, May 28.
Contact: regis@caltech.edu

Friday, June 28:

○ New Student Information and Housing Options Form: Survey will be sent to your Caltech email address on Friday, June 14. Contact: iro@caltech.edu

○ Math Diagnostic Exam: Due at 12:00 p.m. PDT (Required – First Year Students | Transfer Students please email the contact below to sign up for the diagnostic exam, if necessary, based on your transfer credits). The FSRI team will be in touch via email regarding deadlines for FSRI students.
Testing window opens Friday, June 14 at 12 p.m. PDT
Contact: pmaplacement@caltech.edu

○ Physics Diagnostic Exam Due at 12 p.m. PDT (Highly Recommended – First Year Students | Transfer Students please email the contact below to sign up for the diagnostic exam, if necessary, based on your transfer credits).
Testing window opens Friday, June 14 at 12 p.m. PDT.
Contact: pmaplacement@caltech.edu

I look forward to connecting again soon!

Best wishes,

Isabel

P.S. - View the attached flyer for some fun facts about me :)

Isabel - Fun Facts (New Students)

From: Undergraduate Dean of Students

To: Student Affairs - Deans Office

Subject: CS 0 Message from Professor Blank

Date: Monday, June 17, 2024 4:12:10 PM

Hi All,

We are sharing an email from Professor Blank about the new CS 0 courses:

********************************************************************************

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to Caltech! We're so excited to meet you in the Fall. My name is Prof. Blank, and I teach various computer science courses in our curriculum! This year, we will be offering "CS 0", which is an optional summer course for students enrolling at Caltech in the Fall to bolster their programming and computer science skills (or learn programming for the first time without having to worry about grades!). I will be the instructor for all sections of CS 0, and I can't wait to work with you! CS 0 comes in two "flavors", which are meant for differing student goals:

The first variant (which runs from July 15 to August 9), called "CS 0a", incoming first years can choose to work independently on projects intended to help them pass the placement exam. This course is called "CS 0a".

Here is the full course description:

CS 0a: "From AP CS to Caltech CS", is an asynchronous, virtual set of projects designed to help a student who has prior Java programming experience fill any gaps before taking the Caltech CS Placement test. While there are no office hours for this course, course staff will grade everything you turn in and provide feedback in the style of how the placement test will be graded. Students are welcome to take this course without prior Java experience, but they will need to teach themselves Java to complete it. The projects can be completed at any rate during the open interval.

The second variant (which runs from August 9 to August 30), called "CS 0b", DOES NOT require any programming experience. It is intended to meet incoming first years where they are, whether they had the opportunity to try coding already or not. Note that this course is synchronous and requires a (virtual) commitment of three consecutive hours every weekday during the course.

Here is the full course description:

CS 0b: "Computer Science for Everyone", is a synchronous, virtual 3-4 week course that meets in small groups (on discord) every weekday for three hours. This time includes a group work session and office hours! This course assumes no prior programming experience (though, it is definitely still useful to those who have already programmed before). We use Python, because it is the most likely language students will need in other disciplines for their research, but we also cover other CS concepts, not just programming.

If you are interested in enrolling in CS 0a, please enroll using this google form using your Caltech credentials.

Since CS 0b is synchronous, it has limited enrollment; so, we cannot guarantee everyone interested can enroll. We will enroll students on a first-come, first-serve basis. The deadline for asking to enroll for CS 0b is August 1st, and you will be notified if there's a spot available for you by August 5th. To apply for CS 0b, please fill out this google form using your Caltech credentials.

If you are not sure which course is right for you, feel free to enroll in CS 0a and try it out or email me at blank@caltech.edu. If you'd prefer to switch after trying some of it, we're happy to accept you into CS 0b (space permitting).

Once again, welcome to Caltech! Please feel free to email me (blank@caltech.edu) with any questions!

– Prof. Blank

Dear New Students,

Happy Summer! It is a beautiful sunny day here in Pasadena (29 °C/84 °F).

Fun Fact of the Month: Caltech students have a long-standing tradition of elaborate pranks. One of the most famous occurred in 1984 when students changed the Hollywood sign to read "Caltech." Another legendary prank involved altering the scoreboard at the Rose Bowl football game to show "Caltech" as the winner.

Below are some announcements:

Starting July, my letters will be sent to your Caltech email instead of also to your personal email. As a reminder, all copies of the summer communication will also be available online.
Academic and Student-Services Virtual Info Sessions: You are invited to attend info sessions over Zoom to hear from different office staff about how they support new students and students have the opportunity to ask questions at each session. The first 5 participants at the start of each session will receive a $15 GrubHub credit (credit will be sent to your Caltech email after the session). The next session will feature Student Wellness Services, tomorrow (6/26) at 1:00-2:00 p.m. (PT). All sessions will be recorded and available to view online after each session.
- Wednesday, June 26, 1-2 p.m. (PT) | Student Wellness Services | Zoom Link here
  Brief overview of Student Wellness Services, health entrance forms, vaccination requirements, transferring care from home to campus.
I would like to provide some important information for you, your parents and family members about Move-In Day on Sunday, Sept 22 (feel free to share with your family):
- If you are moving into Caltech Housing, check-in hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (PT). Please plan your travel to campus accordingly. International students will move-in to campus early, refer to communication from International Student Programs.
- Orientation programs for new students begin 2:15 p.m.
- While students are in orientation programs starting 2:15 p.m., families are invited to a Welcome Reception at 3:00 p.m. followed by a Student Resources Panel at 4:15 p.m. Many families tend to leave campus after the panel ends at 5:15 p.m. If families are traveling, they are welcome to make lodging accommodations off-campus.
- There is no formal programming for siblings, but they are welcome to attend the Welcome Reception and Resources Panel with parents/guardians.
- Aside from the noted family programming (which will be specified on the Orientation schedule to come), family members are not able to attend other orientation sessions, as those are designated only for students (and we do not have space for additional guests).

Please note, the following items on the To-Do List are due by:

Friday, June 28:

New Student Information and Housing Options Form. Survey has been sent to your Caltech email address on Friday, June 14. (Required – All New Students). Contact: iro@caltech.edu
Math Diagnostic Exam: Due at 12:00 p.m. PDT (Required – First Year Students | Transfer Students please email the contact below to sign up for the diagnostic exam, if necessary, based on your transfer credits). The FSRI team will be in touch via email regarding deadlines for FSRI students.
Testing window opens Friday, June 14 at 12 p.m. PDT
Contact: pmaplacement@caltech.edu
Physics Diagnostic Exam Due at 12 p.m. PDT (Highly Recommended – First Year Students | Transfer Students please email the contact below to sign up for the diagnostic exam, if necessary, based on your transfer credits).
Testing window opens Friday, June 14 at 12 p.m. PDT.
Contact: pmaplacement@caltech.edu

Monday, July 1:

Add Emergency Contact to Personal Information (Required – All New Students)

Wednesday, July 10:

Enrollment/Waiver period begins for Student Health Insurance Plans. Students who do not want to enroll in 2024-25 coverage need to take action to submit their waiver(s).

Monday, July 15:

Math 0 General Start Date – Additional information will be sent to your Caltech email address on July 15.

Until next time! 👋
Best,
Isabel

Dear Incoming Caltech Student,

We are confident that every student we admit is highly capable of succeeding at Caltech. In the past, however, many students encountered difficulties with Ma1a because their high school mathematics courses had not prepared them for the type of mathematics that is done in this class. Most commonly, students, though computationally quite skilled, lack exposure to formal reasoning, writing proofs, and common proof techniques.

To assist you in preparing for Caltech mathematics, Professor Bob Pelayo (Caltech Ph.D., 2007) has designed an online course, Math 0 - Transition to Mathematical Proofs (TMP), for you to take at home this summer before your arrival at Caltech. Most students find the asynchronous, online, self-paced structure of Math 0 to be compatible with their other summer plans.

Math 0 is intended to allow students to gain some experience in mathematical writing and in constructing proofs. It consists of 7 modules, each consisting of a set of video lectures, exercises, and a mechanism for submitting work. In addition, the course offers an introduction to LaTeX, a platform for typesetting Mathematics and scientific writing. Your submitted work will be assessed by teaching assistants, who will provide both quantitative and qualitative feedback. Assessed work will be returned to students electronically and progress will be recorded by the TAs.

The course site will go live on Monday, July 15. It will be hosted on Caltech's Canvas portal, and all new incoming students will be automatically registered for the course. The course is asynchronous and designed so that you can proceed at your preferred pace.

Although you will be automatically registered, participation is entirely voluntary. You will receive no credit for the class, and it will not appear on your transcript. We believe, however, that you will find it worthwhile to participate in Math 0. Students who took the course last summer did significantly better in Ma1a than those who did not. Students who have been placed in Ma 1a, Section 1 and/or Ma 8 should find TMP particularly beneficial, and we strongly urge you to take the course.

More information will be sent in subsequent emails closer to the start of this course. If you have any immediate questions, please contact instructor Bob Pelayo at roberto@caltech.edu.

Sincerely,

Bob Pelayo
Math 0 (TMP) Instructor
roberto@caltech.edu

Hello Caltech Class of 2028,

Welcome to Caltech! We are so thrilled to have you joining our community. I'm writing to introduce you to a new Canvas course that you will be added to this week. The Class of 2028 Canvas course is a new resource that is designed to provide you with information that will assist you as you navigate your first year at Caltech. The course includes a few different components.

First Year Core

The course will include information about each of the core STEM courses you will likely be enrolled in this fall. For each course, you can review:

Overview of information taught in that course
Information about the instructor for that course
Suggested readings/resources, if you would like to do a little extra prep work before the course begins

Academic Resources

In addition to the information about specific courses, you will also find information about some helpful academic resources that you may want to explore such as:

Caltech Honor Code
Regis/Registrar
Caltech Accessibility Services for Students
Student Wellness Services
Undergraduate Deans' Office (known simply as "the deans' office" to you!)
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships

Finally, this course also includes your first assignment! That is the Letter to your Advisor that you'll see under the assignments tab, or directly below the welcome on the modules/home page. Don't worry, it isn't graded. But we hope you will use it as a chance to introduce yourself and your academic goals to your advisor.

This is the first year we're developing this course, and content will be added throughout the summer months and during the school year. We will ask for feedback along the way, so please let us know what's working and what isn't. Please note that because content will be released slowly, most of this information is not currently available. Don't worry, it's coming! Also, many of your questions may be answered via the ARC's Frosh Guide, so please take a look at that while you're waiting for more information to drop in the Canvas course. If you have particular questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the deans' office, or to Isabel Peng in the office of the first-year experience.

To ensure that you receive updates when more modules are added to the Class of 2028 Canvas course, please be sure to enable notifications in Canvas.

We hope this serves as a useful resource. We look forward to seeing you on campus in September!

Your first-year dean,

Kristin

Kristin Weyman | Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students

Caltech | MC 210-87, Pasadena, CA 91125 | (626) 395-6351

Book an Appointment

Dear New Students,

Hope you're having a nice month so far. The countdown is on: 68 days until move-in day!

Fun Fact of the Month: Caltech Ditch Day, an annual tradition dating back to the 1920s, is a highly anticipated event where students participate in elaborate puzzles and activities planned by the seniors. The exact date of Ditch Day is kept a secret until the morning it happens, and there is a famous saying across campus: Ditch Day is (always) tomorrow.

Below are some announcements:

Academic and Student-Services Virtual Info Sessions: The next info session is hosted by Financial Aid and the Bursar's Office tomorrow, July 17 at 11am-12pm (PDT). The first 5 participants at the start of the session (11am) will receive a $15 GrubHub credit (credit will be sent to your Caltech email after the session). All sessions will be recorded and available to view online
- Tomorrow's Zoom link: https://caltech.zoom.us/j/5699348723
The Interhouse Committee (IHC) is Caltech's undergraduate student government. The IHC Chair, Evan Portnoi, wrote a welcome letter (attached) to new students, feel free to review.
Ma 0 started yesterday (Monday, July 15)! We strongly encourage all students to take this course; its completion is correlated with better performance in the first year Math courses. Please review the email sent from Bob Pelayo for additional information.
We will be sending information about move-in, orientation, and the start of the school year to your family soon and want to make sure we have their correct contact information. If you have concerns about family member contact information, or questions about our communications, please let the Deans' Office know (deansoffice@caltech.edu).
Introducing FCCs – what does that stand for?!? First-Year Caltech Connectors (FCCs) are upper-year students and serve as orientation leaders. They are peer mentors and provide guidance, advice and support throughout your first year at Caltech. As a new student, you will be assigned to a small group with other new students and each group will be led by 2 FCCs. You will participate in social and team-building activities throughout orientation week with your orientation group. Be on the lookout for an email from your designated FCCs in early September!

Please note, the following items on the To-Do List are due by:

Friday, July 19:

Math Advanced Placement Exam Due (Ma 1abc, Ma 2, Ma 3) 12:00 p.m PDT (optional - Transfer Students please email the contact below to sign up for the diagnostic exam, if necessary, based on your transfer credits)
Testing window opens Friday, June 28 at 12:00 p.m. PDT
Contact: pmaplacement@caltech.edu
Physics Advanced Placement Exam Due (Ph 1a) 12:00 p.m. PDT (optional - Transfer Students please email the contact below to sign up for the diagnostic exam, if necessary, based on your transfer credits)
Testing window opens Friday, June 28 at 12:00 p.m. PDT
Contact:pmaplacement@caltech.edu
Complete Student Patent and Computer Software Agreement (Required - All New Students: First Year, Transfer, 3-2 and Exchange) & Student Multimedia and Distribution Consent (recommended)
Instructions can be found at https://registrar.caltech.edu/froshreg

Monday, July 29:

Chemistry Diagnostic Exam Due by 11:59 p.m. PDT (Required - First Year Students and Transfer Students)
Testing window opens Monday, July 1. Log into Canvas for test details. (Transfer Students please email contact below to sign up for diagnostic exam.)
Contact: chem1placement@caltech.edu
Chemistry Advanced Placement Test Due (Optional) by 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Testing window opens Monday, July 1 (Available only to students who excel on diagnostic exam.) Log into Canvas for test details.
Contact: chem1placement@caltech.edu

Wednesday, July 31:

Health Forms Due (Required - All New Students: First Year, Transfer, 3-2 and Exchange)
Contact: Student Health Portal or call (626) 395-6393

Have a great rest of July!

Best,
Isabel

Letter from the IHC Chair

Hello everybody and welcome to Caltech! My name is Evan Portnoi, and I am your Interhouse Committee (IHC) Chair. The IHC is a part of student government where all of the presidents of the individual houses come together to communicate with each other and work together to plan events like Rotation.

It is hard to understate the level of importance that the houses have on the undergraduate experience. From large events to meeting friends to doing problem sets together, you can find the fingerprints of the houses in everything. The week of Rotation is your best chance to get a crash-course in everything they have to offer!

The houses offer an immediate, tight-knit community that you get to be a part of. When you choose a house, you are surrounded by 20-30 other first years who also resonated with the culture of that house, and everybody is looking to meet each other. This makes it incredibly easy to meet people and make friends. It also gives you an instant connection with upperclassmen who are eager to give you advice and help you adjust to Caltech

While I know how high-stakes Rotation can feel in the moment, this isn't supposed to be a stressful time. Rotation is just an opportunity for the houses to host things like large events or simple meals to give you a chance to learn about their culture and meet its upperclassmen. You can always change/add memberships after Rotation, but your house does not limit your friends and experiences. Throughout the year, there will be multi-house events, interhouses, ASCIT events, or you can just go hang out with friends in other houses.

At the end of the day, this is supposed to be a time for you to explore the campus and make connections. Rotation is one of the highlights of the year every year. All of the upperclassmen are excited to meet you and welcome in a new class to the house. We are all doing our best to make every house a warm and welcoming environment for you.

You will get more information later in the summer, but please don't hesitate to out to any upperclassman with questions. This is truly a community that cares about giving back to the younger students. You can always reach me via email (eportnoi@caltech.edu) or by finding me on Messenger. The rest of the IHC have their emails listed at https://ihc.caltech.edu/ihc-roster.

On behalf of the IHC and the campus as a whole, I am so excited to see all of you come to campus and become a part of our community!

Sincerely,

Evan Portnoi

Interhouse Committee Chair

Dear Families of New Students,

Welcome to the Caltech community! As parents and guardians to this year's incoming class, you must feel an immense sense of pride—and no doubt a bit of nerves—as your student begins their college journey. I want, first, to thank you for the support, encouragement, and involvement you have given these young people over their lifetimes. One of the great privileges of my role as Dean of Undergraduate Studies is to get to know them now, as they embark on young adulthood and grow into the leaders, innovators, and researchers of the future. You certainly do not need me to tell you that Caltech students are intensely creative, intrepid, and motivated; you helped instill and nurture those qualities. Our role in the Deans' Office is to help them build on this perseverance to realize new goals and ambitions in the years to come.

I hope we have the chance to meet during New Student Orientation, and want to invite you particularly to two events specifically for families on Move-In Day, September 22. My colleagues and I will be hosting a Welcome Reception from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. PDT, followed by a Student Resources Panel Discussion at 4:15 p.m. The panel will feature the Deans' Office staff alongside other Student Affairs colleagues, with a special focus on the support services and resources available to you and your student. This program will be recorded and posted to our website for anyone who is unable to join the live program.

The logistics of move-in weekend and Orientation to Caltech are handled by our Office of Student Experience. Isabel Peng, Director of First Year Experience and New Student Transition Programs, will be sending additional details about your student's arrival to campus on September 22nd in the coming days.

In the meantime, I would ask that you please make sure your student has entered emergency contact information (including phone number) on their Caltech ACCESS account, so that we can reach their emergency contact if needed.

We welcome you to visit the following webpages for more information:

Orientation Website (schedule will be posted later this summer): Orientation.caltech.edu
2024-25 Academic Calendar: https://registrar.caltech.edu/documents/19515/AcademicCalendar2024-25_Updated.pdf
First-Year Experience Overview: https://ose.caltech.edu/llg/first-year-undergraduate-students

Sincerely,

Jennifer Jahner

Dean of Undergraduate Studies & Professor of English

Dear Families of New Students,

My name is Isabel Peng, and I am the Director of New Student Transition Programs and First Year Experience. The First Year Experience team will be supporting students during their transition to Caltech and will serve as a resource throughout their first year.

As your student embarks on this exciting journey of higher education, we recognize the important role you play in their success. Your support, encouragement, and involvement are invaluable. We look forward to working with you to ensure that your student has a fulfilling and enriching college experience.

In addition to Dean Jahner's communication earlier this week, I am excited to share some additional updates with you:

Please take a look at the 2024-2025 New Undergraduate Student Handbook, which has been curated to provide students (and families) with important information about the first-year experience, campus policies, and an overview of the Student Affairs administrative offices and support services. We hope this helps you become more familiar with campus resources, and feel free to reach out to any of the offices listed in the handbook. We are all here to help.
Sunday, September 22 is move-in day for students moving into Caltech Housing. Check-in hours begin 9:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. (PDT). We ask that students and families plan their travel to campus accordingly. The Housing Office will email students with information on where to pick up their move-in packet the week prior to September 22.
- Fall athletes and international students will move-in to campus early, please refer to communication from the Athletic department and coaches, as well as International Student Programs for more information.
On Sunday, September 22, there will be a Welcome Center on campus with photo opportunities, giveaways, and information booths. We also invite families to participate in a complimentary lunch on campus from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Families are invited to the Family Welcome Reception from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. followed by the Student Resources Panel Discussion at 4:15 p.m. We will share additional information about both events in September. There is no formal programming for siblings, but they are welcome to attend the Welcome Reception and Resources Panel with parents/guardians. Orientation programs for students begin at 2:15 p.m. with a class photo. We kindly ask family members to not attend other orientation sessions as those are designated only for students.
Please refer to the Parking website for more information on where to park. Parking is free on campus over the weekend and there are 4 main parking structures. Please only park at designated commuter (unreserved) stalls.
Click here for information on local hotels. Prices are not guaranteed, so please call the hotels directly and inquire about the Caltech rate during your travel dates.
We are hosting virtual info sessions for new students over the summer. These sessions provide students with the opportunity to hear from different offices and to learn about how these offices support new students. Families are welcome to review past recordings here.

We will share another update email in September, and we look forward to welcoming you and your student to campus soon!

Best wishes,
Isabel

Dear New Students,

Happy August!

Fun Fact of the Month: Tournament Park at Caltech is notable in aviation history as the landing site for the first successful cross-country flight across the United States. In 1911, aviation pioneer Calbraith Perry Rodgers completed this historic flight, which began in Sheepshead Bay, New York, on September 17 and ended at Tournament Park in Pasadena, California, on November 5. During orientation one evening, new students will have dinner at Tournament Park!

Below are some announcements:

The orientation schedule will be available through Guidebook (students who attended Discotech may be familiar with this app) in mid-August. Stay tuned for more information on how to download and access the schedule soon!
The next (and last) summer info session series will feature the Hixon Writing Center and Caltech Library, two great academic resources for new students, on Wednesday, August 14, 12-1 p.m. (PT). Zoom Link. If you missed any sessions, feel free to view all the past sessions online.
You will receive additional information about rotation next week from the Director of Residential Experience. As a reminder, rotation begins Wednesday, September 25 and ends Wednesday, October 2. You will be provided your rotation schedule when you arrive on campus.
The Class of 2028 Canvas module is live. Incoming first-year students, please be sure to log in and review the content. Things to note:
- The Letter to Advisor is due Aug 30!
- Core course modules are now live for Ch 1a, Ma 1a, and Ph 1a. CS 1 is coming soon! You can review some information about what courses will cover, and how instructors recommend you prepare, if you are feeling anxious about anything.
Caltech offers excellent opportunities for the study and performance of music, theater, and the visual arts. The Performing and Visual Arts (PVA) faculty are committed to quality in performance and education, and share a dedication to serve students who wish to enrich and broaden their college experiences. Students can receive academic credit for their participation in Art Drawing and Ceramics, Guitar classes, Chamber Music, Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Jazz Band and Improvisation, Glee Club, Theater Production, Storytelling and Improvisation for Scientists!
Large Ensembles will have auditions for new students during the orientation week. Please visit our website for more information.
The Undergraduate Academics and Research Committee (ARC) is the academic branch of ASCIT, Caltech's undergraduate student government. The ARC works to support students' academic experience and distributes a resource called the Frosh Guide to Academics. The 2024-2025 edition is attached here. It contains information about Caltech's academic structure, Core curriculum, specific option (major) related tips, and more.
The ARC's Frosh Guide to Academics 2024-2025

Please note, the following items on the To-Do List are due by:

Monday, August 12:

Bursar's Office - Review your Welcome Letter and Bursar Documents. Contact: bursar@caltech.edu

Friday, August 16:

Deadline to Enroll in or Waive Caltech Student Health &/or Dental Insurance (Required - First Year, Transfer and 3-2 Students)
Information about Caltech Student Health &/or Dental Insurance for 2024-25 will be emailed on July 10 when enrollment/waiver period opens.
To learn more about Student Health Benefits on the Human Resources website.
Submit Photo for Caltech ID Card (Required - All New Students: First Year, Transfer, 3-2 and Exchange)
Contact: cardoffice@caltech.edu
Caltech Rotation Information will be sent to your Caltech email address.
Contact: ose@caltech.edu

Friday, August 30:

Letter to your First-Year Advisor due. (Required First Year students) Visit Class of 2028 Canvas Course. Email with instructions from the Deans' Office sent on July 15.
Survey of New Students (SNS) Due.
Survey will be sent to your Caltech email address in early August. First Year Students, 18 years of age and older will be invited to participate.
Contact: iro@caltech.edu

As always, feel free to reach out if there are any questions or areas I can be helpful with.

Best wishes,
Isabel

Dear New Students,

Below are some announcements before we wrap up the month of August:

Reminder the orientation schedule is available through Guidebook. The app will replace any web-based orientation schedules this year, so be sure to have it downloaded prior to orientation week. Learn how to download the app here.
There are two exciting events happening in early October. Additional info to come but please save the date!
- Saturday, October 5th, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Hike with Professor Asimow at Eaton Canyon (transportation provided)

Ikea Shopping Trip (transportation provided and dinner provided at Ikea)

All new students have been assigned an orientation group and FCCs have been asked to reach out to their orientation group over the past week and into next week. Some students have already heard from their assigned FCCs, but if you haven't heard from your FCCs, don't worry! You will receive your introduction email from your FCCs soon.
Please watch the following two videos prior to orientation week:
- Introduction to the myriad of available library services for Caltech's incoming students: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fANgRjPuwtc
- Introduction to Information Management Systems and Services (IMSS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D0tcTHpJXo
Reminder these two items are due today, Friday, August 30:
- Letter to your First-Year Advisor due. (Required First Year students) Visit Class of 2028 Canvas Course. Email with instructions from the Deans' Office sent on July 15.
- Survey of New Students (SNS) Due. Survey has been sent to your Caltech email address in early August. First Year Students, 18 years of age and older will be invited to participate.
  Contact: iro@caltech.edu

Looking ahead, the following items on the To-Do List are due by:

Monday, September 2:

Performing & Visual Arts complete your interest form: Music Form and/or Theater Arts Form (Optional)
Accept Financial Aid Package
Contact: finaid@caltech.edu
Deadline for incoming students to complete the registration process with Caltech Accessibility Services for Students (CASS) to ensure academic accommodations are in place for the start of Fall 2024-25.
Contact: cass@caltech.edu

Friday, September 20:

Alcohol & Substance Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Prevention Modules Due (Required - All New Students: First Year, Transfer, 3-2 and Exchange)
Instructions will be sent to your Caltech email.

Sunday, September 22:

Writing Placement Test Due by 5 p.m. PDT (Required - First Year and Transfer Students who have not taken placement test.)
Testing window opens Friday, September 13 at 12 p.m. PDT
Contact: writing.placement@hss.caltech.edu

Monday, September 30:

Avoiding Plagiarism Module Due (Required - First Year and Transfer Students)
Check your Caltech email for instructions beginning Monday, September 2.

For those celebrating Labor Day, have a nice and safe holiday weekend ahead! I'll be in touch again soon.

Best wishes,
Isabel

Dear New Student Families:

We are so excited to have you as a part of the Caltech community and look forward to getting to know you and your students. In just a few weeks we will converge on campus for the launch of orientation and hope you will join us for events designated for families on Sunday, September 22. We would like to follow up on information about orientation, rotation, and check-in to help parents and families know what to expect. This information will also be shared with your student. We know this is a significant transition for families and if there is anything we can do to support you, please let us know.

Orientation Information:

We are thrilled to welcome new students to campus and will have a series of programs and activities for them during orientation. The purpose of orientation is to help them transition to Caltech, make friends, and get to know all the staff and faculty on campus that are here to support their educational journeys. It is a special time, and students will be busy -- do not be surprised if they are not as accessible as usual!

The full orientation schedule is available through the Guidebook app. Please see attached instructions on how to download and access the guide. It is a one-stop destination for the calendar of events, parking information, weather, campus map and resources. The Guidebook app will replace any web-based orientation schedules this year.

One important program during the week is Caltech's annual convocation ceremony. Convocation will take place on Monday, September 23 at 10:30 a.m. Convocation marks the Institute's formal and official welcome to all incoming undergraduate and graduate students. For more information about the 2024 Convocation, please visit here. Convocation will be recorded and available for viewing following the program.

Rotation Information:

Rotation takes place shortly after your student arrives on campus from September 25 to October 2. Rotation is a unique Caltech tradition whereby new students visit houses, attend meals, and participate in fun activities. The week allows students to learn more about the houses and the Bechtel residence. Rotation is intended to be fun, engaging, and give new students the chance to learn more about the house system at Caltech and meet their peers. That said, it is not required, and students may engage in rotation at any level that works for them.

At the end of the week, students will rank their housing and membership preferences. On October 5, new students will learn their housing and/or their house affiliation assignment and on October 6, most students will move to their new communities. Upper class students will help with this move and there is no need for families to return to help.

Check-In Day:
On Sunday, September 22, new students will check in and move onto campus. Check-in hours begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. (PDT). Here is an overview of check-in day:

Prior to September 22, your student will receive a housing assignment and information on their check in location. This will be sent to new students in the week of September 16.
If your student has already arrived on campus (athletes, international/exchange, FSRI students), they are still expected to go to their check in location to pick up their orientation packets between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Upon arrival on campus, your student should proceed to their designated check in area. In that area, you will receive information and a warm welcome from members of our community. There will also be student leaders to help your student move to their assigned room. Families are welcome to assist students with moving in.
Students are welcome to spend the morning moving their belongings and settling in. Students may move again after rotation. Some students opt not to unpack everything, and other students prefer to have their belongings unpacked. It is entirely up to the student. This is the number one question we get; you really cannot do it wrong.
After your student's check-in process is complete, come by the Center for Student Services (414 S. Holliston Ave.) to get to know Caltech's student services offices, get some Caltech swag, and take photos next to the Caltech letters. There will also be a coffee bar until 11:30 a.m.
There is a complimentary lunch from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Beckman Mall for families and new students.
Saying goodbye to your students is a unique aspect of the college transition process and can be difficult for everyone involved. Student orientation officially starts with the class photo at 2:00 p.m. and we recommend saying goodbye before orientation launches. Students will be occupied with orientation events well into the evening.
There will be a reception for families (not including students) from 3:00- 4:00 p.m. at Beckham Mall. Light bites and soft drinks will be provided. Students will be attending a different session during that time.
Following the reception, there is a student resources panel discussion (not including students) for families in the Beckman Auditorium. Please refer to this session on the orientation schedule for the list of panelists.

We appreciate there are family members who may be more comfortable speaking in a language other than English. There will be staff who speak other languages available and they will be wearing a name tag indicating other languages they speak to best assist you. In addition, if there are any accessibility and mobility requests, please let us know.

If there are any questions that are not covered here, feel free to reach out. We are counting down the days until orientation begins!

Warmly,
Isabel

Dear New Students,

We are looking forward to move-in day and the launch of orientation in just a few days! I would like to highlight some important information before all new students arrive on campus.

Check-In Day:

On Sunday, September 22, new students will check in and move onto campus. Check-in hours begin 9:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. (PDT). Here is an overview of check-in day:

You should have received an email from the Housing Office with your check in information. Upon arrival on campus, you should proceed to your designated check in area. You will receive your housing packet, as well as orientation bag with your name tag. Keep your name tag in a safe place throughout orientation!
If you have already arrived on campus (athletes, international/exchange, FSRI students), please go to the check-in area closest to where you live (North Houses, South Houses, or Avery/Bechtel) and pick up your orientation bag between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
If you encounter any delays arriving to campus after 2:00 p.m please email ughousing@caltech.edu and rlc@caltech.edu as soon as possible with your expected arrival time so we can help coordinate your housing check-in and transition to orientation programming.
There will be student leaders to help you move to your assigned room. Families are welcome to assist students with moving in.
You are welcome to spend the morning moving your belongings and settling in. You may move again after rotation. Some students opt not to unpack everything, and other students prefer to have their belongings unpacked. It is entirely up to the student. This is the number one question we get; you really cannot do it wrong.
After your check-in process is complete, come by the Center for Student Services (414 S. Holliston Ave.) to get to know Caltech's student services offices, pick up some Caltech swag, and take photos next to the Caltech letters. There will also be a coffee bar until 11:30 a.m.
There is a complimentary lunch from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Beckman Mall for families and new students.
Student orientation officially starts with the class photo at 2:00 p.m. and we recommend saying goodbye to any family members before orientation launches.
If you haven't already downloaded Guidebook, please do so before this weekend! The orientation schedule can be found on the app.
We appreciate there are family members who may be more comfortable speaking in a language other than English. There will be staff who speak other languages available and they will be wearing a name tag indicating other languages they speak to best assist you and your family.

Letter from the IHC

Please see attached letter from IHC President, Evan Portnoi.

Meals during Orientation Week

Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are provided for new students throughout orientation week (Sept 22-27). Brunch is provided Sept 28 and 29.
All student meal plans begin Monday, September 30.
Wear your orientation name tag to ALL meals during orientation week.

To-Do List

Friday, September 20:

Alcohol & Substance Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Prevention Modules Due (Required - All New Students: First Year, Transfer, 3-2 and Exchange)
Instructions will be sent to your Caltech email.

Sunday, September 22:

Writing Placement Test Due by 5 p.m. PDT (Required - First Year and Transfer Students who have not taken placement test.)
Testing window opens Friday, September 13 at 12 p.m. PDT
Contact: writing.placement@hss.caltech.edu

Monday, September 30:

Avoiding Plagiarism Module Due (Required - First Year and Transfer Students)
Check your Caltech email for instructions beginning Monday, September 2.

If there are any questions I did not cover here, feel free to reach out. For students traveling to campus, wishing you a safe journey. See you at the orientation welcome session on Sunday!

Best,
Isabel

Summer Communication

May 15, 2024

June 11, 2024

June 17, 2024

June 25, 2024

July 3, 2024

July 15, 2024

July 16, 2024

Letter from the IHC Chair

July 25, 2024

July 26, 2024

August 8, 2024

August 19, 2024

August 23, 2024

August 30, 2024

September 10, 2024

September 11, 2024

September 19, 2024