End of Term: Wishing You a Great Summer from Housing & Dining!

News

Hello everyone from Housing and Dining Services!

As the final stretch of the academic year wraps up, we want to take a moment to congratulate all of our students on completing another incredible term. To our graduating seniors, congratulations! We are so incredibly proud of everything you’ve accomplished during your time at Caltech, and we wish you the absolute best on your next adventure.

Before everyone heads off for break, we have a few critical year end housing deadlines, moving procedures, a celebration announcement, and a sneak peek at what’s coming next.

Housing Updates

Please review these critical procedures for both summer residents and those departing campus to ensure a smooth transition and avoid penalty fees.

For Students Moving into Summer Housing The official Room Move period starts on Saturday, June 13th. You will transition to your summer assignment as soon as your new room becomes available.

  • Wait for Notification: You will receive an email when your new assignment is ready. Do NOT start moving beforehand. You are highly encouraged to pack early, but do not place items in hallways or common areas prior to notification.
  • Check Your Email & PIN: When your new room is ready, you will receive an official “Room Ready” email notification from Housing. Once received, you must log into My Student Documents to retrieve your new room combination or PIN. If you experience any technical issues opening your document, contact the Housing Office immediately.
  • Flexible Timing: Because you are executing an internal room move, you will not be penalized if your move happens after 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 13th.
  • The 2-Hour Move Window: Once you have retrieved your new combination/PIN and gained access, please complete your move within 2 hours so staff can inspect and clean your previous room for its summer resident.
  • Carts & Check-Out: Carts will be available to borrow while the Housing Office is open on Saturday and Sunday. Once your old room is entirely clear, you must immediately submit a paper Check-Out form to avoid a $100 improper room move fee.
    • Form Submission: Bring forms to the Check-Out tables in the Center for Student Services lobby on Saturday and Sunday (June 13–14) from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
    • After-Hours: If moving outside these hours, drop your paper form into the after-hours drop box located to the right of the main Housing Office entrance on Holliston Ave.

For Students Checking Out for the Year The undergraduate housing contract officially ends on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 11:00 AM. To complete your checkout successfully:

  • Clear the Room: Fully vacate your assignment. Remove all personal belongings, including non-Caltech furniture, trash, and debris.
  • Reset Furniture: Assemble and return any stored furniture that belongs to the room.
  • Submit Your Check-Out Form:
    • Before Friday, June 12 at 4:00 p.m.: Submit an electronic form online at housing.caltech.edu/undergrads/undergraduate-moving-out/housing-check-out-form.
    • After Friday, June 12 at 4:00 p.m.: Submit a paper check-out form. If checking out after hours, use the Housing Drop Box outside the front doors facing Holliston Ave.
    • Saturday, June 13 (9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.): Submit your form in person to the Housing Office team in the Center for Student Services lobby.

Important Note on Fees: To avoid fee assessments, ensure your room is completely clear. Damage fees will be charged for missing or unassembled furniture, left-behind trash, excessive cleaning needs, wall damages (paint tears, pin holes, gashes), and floor damages (stains, tears, burn marks). Any items left behind will be discarded at the owner’s expense.

If you have any questions, please email the undergraduate housing office directly at ughousing@caltech.edu.

The Dining Scoop

Midnight Madness is Coming! — As we move toward the final days of the school year, there is still plenty of excitement left on campus. We are edging closer to hosting our highly anticipated, super-secret Midnight Madness event for all undergraduate students! Our team is hard at work preparing an exceptional menu. We can’t wait to host you all very soon with delicious treats, late night favorites, and a much needed chance to unwind and destress together during finals.

Commencement Viewing at Browne Dining Hall — For those celebrating our incredible graduates, we will be broadcasting the Commencement ceremony live inside Browne Dining Hall. If you have family, friends, or guests who aren’t able to secure a seat under the main commencement ceremony tent, or if you simply prefer a cooler indoor environment to watch the milestone, come on by! Grab a seat, enjoy the air conditioning, and cheer on the Class of 2026 on the big screens.

A Fresh Look at Food Choices This Summer — We want everyone to look forward to an exciting new sustainability initiative rolling out during the very first week of the summer term! Organized in proud partnership with the Graduate Student Council (GSC) and Plant-Based Caltech (PB Caltech), this program will introduce a fresh, climate-conscious framework to help our community evaluate daily food choices. We are thrilled to bring this forward-thinking collaboration to campus, so please keep an eye out for our summer launch details!

Summer Hours of Operation — Planning to stay on campus for summer research, housing, or SURF projects? Please be sure to review our upcoming summer hours of operation. Dining schedules, service formats, and open locations will be adjusted from our regular term hours to accommodate the summer campus shift. You can find the fully updated calendar and operational matrix posted on our website at dining.caltech.edu as we head into mid-June.

Connect With Us!

Thank you all for an amazing year. It has been our absolute pleasure serving you, and we look forward to continuing to serve you and welcoming many of you back next school year. Until then, we wish everyone a fun, relaxing, and safe summer!