Moving In

• Sept. 13, 2023: Early arrival for international students
• Sept. 15-16, 2023: Early arrival for student leaders
• Sept. 17, 2023: First-year student (frosh & transfers) move-in day
• Sept. 20, 2023: Start of Fall Contract for returning students

If you are eligible to arrive before your designated move-in day, you must submit an early arrival request form. This form will be sent out to eligible residents.

Fall Season Athletes - Early arrival housing will be available for fall season athletes. The Athletics Department will cover early housing fees for athletes starting on the day that their particular sport begins. For more information on the dates that the Athletics Department will cover housing fees for you, please contact them directly.

International Students - Early arrival housing will be available for new students participating in International Orientation. You may arrive one day before orientation begins.

If you need to send some items in advance of your arrival, you should make all of the following necessary arrangements (do not send it collect) and ship them to the address below.

Any package weighing over 50 pounds should be shipped to the following address:

Your Name
Incoming Student
c/o Shipping & Receiving
391 S. Holliston Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91125

Please Note: Central Shipping and Receiving will hold packages for up to one week, so do not send packages too far in advance. When you arrive and wish to retrieve your items, you should contact Central Shipping and Receiving at 626-395-4893 for pick-up instructions. Business hours are Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM.

Submit the Remote Housing Check In form to confirm your arrival on campus.

Within 7 days of checking in to your new residence, or immediately after completing Rotation or a room change, complete:

On-Campus Housing Room Condition Form

Bechtel Room Condition Form

By completing the form on time, you protect yourself from being charged for missing items or damages that you have not caused. As you fill out the form, look for dust, grease, holes, stains, burns, damages, and wear. Not all items listed are standard for every room.

You and all students have a responsibility to help protect the health and well-being of the entire Caltech community. Learn about the latest COVID-related protocols for housing and dining.

Health and Hygiene Policy

Appliances with heating coils (toasters, popcorn poppers, and hot plates) are not allowed in student rooms for safety reasons. You are permitted to have a small refrigerator (not to exceed 5.8 cubic feet) and a small microwave in the room.

Bicycles are a good means of getting around campus and Pasadena. Cyclists will enjoy the pleasant surroundings of Caltech and the nearby community. For storage, bike racks have been installed around each building. For safety reasons, bikes cannot be stored in corridors, stairways, or other public areas inside the houses and residences. We recommend a U-Lock to secure your bike.

Link to Caltech Campus Map

There are combination locks on most room doors in the North and South Houses. Please do not change your combination. If you would like to have the combination to your room changed for some reason, please submit a request through Facilities Services Request through your access.caltech.edu account or contact the Housing Office at x6176. Please understand charges may apply to change the combination of your room.

For any emergencies requiring immediate assistance from the police, a medical professional or Caltech Security, dial x5000 from one of the campus extension telephones or 626-395-5000 from a non-extension telephone. Calls to 9-1-1 from a campus extension will be automatically transferred to x 5000.

Inform operator:

1) Type of emergency (fire, medical, suspicious/criminal activity, etc.)

2) Location of emergency

3) Your name and the location and extension (or phone number) from which you are calling

The operator will inform the proper Caltech personnel and needed outside agency in order to secure required action. If an emergency occurs while on-campus but outside of buildings, please look for a blue emergency call box. For more information on emergency procedures or services offered by the Security Office, visit their website.

There are smoke detectors and alarm pull boxes in all the houses, which signal the Pasadena Fire Department and ring the building's evacuation bells. After an alarm has been reported, alert anyone in immediate danger. If the fire is small, fight it. Know the locations of the fire extinguishers in your area before a fire emergency happens. It is important to understand that tampering with the alarms and extinguishers is not only illegal but also foolish. This equipment has been provided for your protection. California Penal Code allows for a large fine or 12-month imprisonment for tampering with fire safety equipment.

The Maintenance Office will not remove, store or swap furniture nor provide additional furniture. If you are missing any standard furniture to your room, you may request it by submitting an on-line form through your access.caltech.edu account under "Facilities Service Request." Students will be charged for any missing or damaged furniture upon check-out. Please note that couches are not standard, but left in rooms by other students.

Bechtel thermostats are pre-set to operate between 72-80°F ONLY. System turns off when windows are opened. To adjust Setpoint, press center button until Heat or Cool symbol flashes. Adjust using arrows to desired Cool or Heat Setpoint. Heat Setpoint must be 2° below Cool Setpoint. System takes several hours to reach desired Setpoint.

Please review these helpful tips regarding the South Houses' HVAC system. Any questions or concerns may be addressed to the Housing Maintenance Office.

• The thermostats are extremely sensitive, please touch only the dial. Touching any other part will damage the thermostat.
• Please keep the cover on your thermostat at all times.
• The replacement fee for any damaged thermostat is $125.
• Hearing a slight hiss when changing temperature is normal; if there is a constant whistling sound, please contact the Housing Maintenance Office.
• Air is constantly blowing at 55˚F and cannot be turned off. When the thermostat is adjusted to a higher temperature, coils inside the vent are heated, warming the air.
• Do not cover the vents.
• Temperature is slow to change in the room, as the coils take time to heat or cool.
• It is recommended that you set the dial to 55˚F to cool and 85˚F to warm your room. Once the desired temperature is achieved, set your dial to a moderate temperature.
• Fire alarms shut off all air to the houses. The air should restart within the hour. If the air remains off after this time, please contact the Housing Maintenance Office at x6175.
• When reporting an issue with your HVAC, please be as specific as possible. (Examples: A/C is always cooling/heating and cannot control the temperature with the thermostat, thermostat makes a continuous whistle sound, air is blowing too hard/no air at all, etc).

Communal kitchen and cooking facilities are available in each house for snack and occasional meal preparation. Kitchen facilities include refrigerator, stove and microwave. You may store your food in the refrigerator and/or cupboards, but please label your personal items. Kitchen utensils, tableware, cookware and small appliances that are stored in unmarked shelves are communal property. You may use these items, but they must be washed and returned after use. Persons using kitchens are expected to leave them in a clean and orderly condition for use by others. Cooking is not allowed in student rooms. If you have any questions, please ask the RA or RLC.

Students with a medical need for housing accommodations should reach out to Caltech Accessibility Services for Students (CASS) to register any needs, including Service Animals or Emotional Support Animals (ESAs).

It would be impossible to provide a comprehensive list of everything that you should bring to Caltech. Here are some suggestions from Caltech students:

Wardrobe/Linen

• Bed sheets (twin extra-long)
• Blanket
• Pillow/pillowcase
• Comforter
• Mattress pad
• Towel set
• Bath robe/pajamas
• Bathing suit
• Clothes for special occasions
• Clothes for inclement weather

Desk Supplies

• Calculator
• Pens/pencils
• Computer
• Lamp
• Scissors, staplers, etc
• Notebooks/paper
• Surge protectors

Health and Grooming Supplies

• Blow dryer
• Detergent
• Iron
• Personal care items (soap, deodorant, etc.)
• Plastic carrying case (for shower)
• Shower shoes

Kitchen Equipment

• Few dishes (bowl, mug, plate)
• Few pots and pans
• One or two sets of silverware

Miscellaneous

• Flashlight
• Camera
• Storage containers
• Pictures of family and friends
• Posters or framed pictures
• Small portable musical instrument
• Clothes hangers
• Laundry bag or basket
• First aid kit

Students are permitted to park on campus. Parking and Commuter Services manages parking regulations and passes.

PESTICIDES THAT HAVE BEEN OR MAY BE USED ON THE PROPERTY DURING THE COURSE OF OUR WORK: UNLESS THE PRODUCT IS MARKED WITH AN * EFFECTS OF OVER EXPOSURE ARE SIMILAR TO COMMON SEASONAL ILLNESS COMPARABLE TO THE FLU.

Material EPA Registration #

AVERT COCKROACH BAIT* 499-410

GENTROL IGR CONC. 2724-351

BORID 9444-129-ZA

MAXFORCE ANT GRANULAR 64248-6

CONTRAC BLOX* 12455-79

MAXFORCE ANT KILL G BAIT 64248-6-AA

DELTA DUST 432-772

MAXFORCE FINE ANT GRANULAR 64248-19

DEMAND CS 100-1066

MAXFORCE FC ROACH BAIT GEL 64248-14

DRAX ANT KILL GEL 9444-4A-1

MAXFORCE ROACH GEL BAIT 64348-5

KICKER 432-1145

METALDEHYDE 7.5 G 5481-103-AA

FLY GEL N/A PT 515

WASP FREEZE 499-362

PT565 PLUS XLO 499-374

SUSPEND 432-763

CY KICK 499-304

TALSTAR CA GRANULAR 279-3168

TERRO ANT BAIT 149-8-64405

TEMPO 20WP 3125-377-AA

PRECOR 2724352

TERMIDOR 7969-210

Pets are not permitted in Caltech housing.

Rooms in Avery House and the Bechtel Residence utilize a personal PIN code and ID card entry for student suites and rooms. PINs are unique to individual students and should not be shared. ID cards can also be used to access your unit by holding your card up to the PIN pad.

Caltech does not insure the personal property of students. You may wish to check your parents' homeowners insurance to see if your belongings are covered under their policy or you may secure your own personal coverage.

More detailed information about housing policies and procedures can be found in the Resident Guide.

Authorized housing staff may use a master key to open a room in an emergency. The room shall be locked upon the completion of the visit. Housing Office personnel may enter student rooms during normal working hours for cleaning, maintenance and repair or for purposes of maintaining compliance with health and safety regulations.