We look
forward to your participation in our programs this summer! You will join
over 600 other students from Caltech and from colleges and universities
in the US and abroad.
Getting to Caltech
Getting Settled In
Orientation Activities
Students Working at Caltech
Students Working at JPL
All Non-Caltech Students
Money Matters
Mail and Packages
Health Insurance Reminder
Airport and Shuttle Information
If you are flying to the Pasadena/Los Angeles area, the nearest airports
are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Bob Hope/Burbank Airport
(BUR), and Ontario International (ONT). LAX offers more flight options,
but Burbank is closer and more convenient. Ontario is further from
the campus than Burbank or LAX, but may be more convenient than LAX.
To get to the Caltech campus from the airport: Caltech has negotiated
a discounted rate with Super Shuttle. Please use customer code
L3F94 or book your reservation using this link to receive a 10% discount. You should request to go directly to the Caltech Super Shuttle stop S1, at the corner of Holliston and San Pasqual Aves. This is right near the SFP Office, the Housing Office, and the student houses (dorms). To learn more about
Super Shuttle and to arrange transportation, please visit the Super
Shuttle web site at www.supershuttle.com.
Freeway Map of Local Area
Courtesy of the Caltech Admissions Office: admissions.caltech.edu/visiting/maps
Caltech Campus Map
Courtesy of the Caltech Admissions Office: http://www.caltech.edu/map/
Local Accommodations (For Those Who Need to Arrive Before Caltech Housing
Is Available and for Parents/Others Who Want to Visit)
Courtesy of the Caltech Admissions Office: admissions.caltech.edu/visiting/accommodations
MURF students who will be living in Caltech housing should plan to arrive in the afternoon of Monday, June 13, preferably by 2:00 pm. The Housing Office can check you in starting at 2:00 pm, give you your housing packet, and direct you to your housing assignment. For all MURF students (whether living in Caltech housing or not), there will be a reception for both the MURF and Amgen Scholars students, their mentors, and their co-mentors at 4:00 pm in Dabney Hall (building #40, note that this is not Dabney House). After the reception, all students will participate in an on-campus activity, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. On Tuesday, June 14, you will need to come to the SFP Check-In Fair which runs from 11:00 am - 1:30 pm on the front lawn of the Center for Student Services (building #87). Here you will receive your orientation packet, purchase a summer parking permit (if you are bringing a car), complete all remaining paperwork (including your I-9 form), and ask any questions you may have. You can also pick up your photo ID card. Reminder: You must submit a photo ID via email to the Card Office by May 16.
Additional SFP orientation activities begin at 2:45 pm. So, after you check in with SFP and Housing, you will have some time to settle into your room, take care of any additional administrative details, take a walking tour of campus, and grab some lunch.
If you arrive after 1:30, you should go directly to Housing and get settled in your room. The SFP staff will NOT be available to check you in between 1:30 and 4:00 pm. Between 4:00 and 5:30 pm you can check-in at the SFP office in room #330 of the Center for Student Services. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait until Wednesday morning to finish any check-in details.
SFP orientation activities will begin with a group photo at 2:45 pm on the Beckman Auditorium (building #91) lawn, followed by an orientation session at 3:00 pm in Ramo Auditorium. You should make every effort to attend this session.
At 6:00 pm all SFP summer students, along with their mentors and co-mentors, are invited to join us for our Kick-Off BBQ at Dabney Gardens (building #40).
Orientation for all students in all SFP programs will be held the afternoon of Tuesday, June 14. Here is a schedule of activities:
11:00 am - 1:30 pm - SFP Check-In Fair (front lawn of Center for Student Services)
12:00 - 5:00 pm - Housing Check-In (from 12:00 - 2:00 pm check-in will be located on the front lawn of Center for Student Services and from 2:00 - 5:00 pm check-in will be located in the Housing Office inside the Center for Student Services building room 160)
2:45 pm - SFP Students Group Picture (outdoors, in front of Beckman Auditorium), don't be late!
3:00 - 4:00 pm - SFP Orientation (Ramo Auditorium, enter on south side of Baxter,
building #77)
4:30 - 6:00 pm – Finish check-in, housing move in, get ID card, campus tours, etc.
6:00 pm - Barbecue for students, mentors, and co-mentors (Dabney Lounge and Gardens, building #40 on campus map)
Students working at Caltech:
Students doing their research at Caltech will begin their projects on Wednesday morning, June 15, unless they have made other arrangements with their mentors.
Mandatory Safety Meeting: Wednesday, June 15, 1:30 PM. Locations to be determined.
Students working at JPL:
7:15 AM, Wednesday, June 15: Meet at the corner of San Pasqual Street
and Holliston Avenue. Buses will take JPL students to the Lab for orientation
activities, safety training, and meeting your mentor. In order
to receive your permanent badge, you are required to provide
proof of citizenship. You
must have these documents with you to board the bus.
You will meet your mentor and begin your project on Wednesday
afternoon. You will be issued a temporary badge upon arrival.
All Non-Caltech Students living on campus:
Special Orientation Session: Thursday, June 16, 6:30 PM, Baxter Lecture Hall (building #77). This meeting will introduce you to Caltech and Pasadena and will provide important information to help make your stay on the campus comfortable and enjoyable. After orientation a dinner will be served.
Students who are being paid through the Caltech payroll system: The first check will be issued on Wednesday, June 29. Please keep this in mind when deciding how much money to bring with you. The second paycheck will be issued on Monday, August 1.
Students working at JPL who are being paid through the Caltech payroll system will also get their paychecks on Wednesday, June 29, and Monday, August 1.
For your added convenience, SFP students being paid via the Caltech payroll system are eligible to participate in the Automated Payroll Direct Deposit system. In order to have direct deposit in effect for your first paycheck on June 29, SFP must receive your direct deposit form by May 27. Please complete the direct deposit form here, sign, and submit along with a voided blank check to the Student-Faculty Programs office, Mail Code 330-87, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125.
Non-Caltech students may use the following address for mail and small packages over the summer:
(your name), SFP Student
California Institute of Technology
Mail Code 330-87
Pasadena, CA 91125
If you are living in campus housing, you can pick up your mail in the Student-Faculty Programs office Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to noon and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. (We close for lunch.) On weekdays between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm you can swipe your conference/dining card to enter the main door to the Center for Student Services on the west side of the Building. Mailboxes will be kept on the 3rd floor, just outside the Student-Faculty Programs Office. If you experience any trouble accessing the building, you can call Security at (626) 395-4701 for assistance.
Note that because of the large number of non-Caltech students, we will not be able to inform you when mail has arrived.
If you have not yet secured health insurance that covers you for the duration
of your stay at Caltech, please remember to do so and to provide us with
the Health Insurance Verification form.
**You will not be allowed to
begin your project until this insurance is in place.**
Permit parking is available on campus for summer students. A parking permit is required and will cost $95 for 10 weeks. A representative from the parking office will be present at our orientation day fair so that students can purchase parking permits then. On any other day you will need to visit the parking office. http://parking.caltech.edu
