We look
forward to your participation in our programs this summer! You will join
over 700 other students from Caltech and from colleges and universities
in the US and abroad.
Getting to Caltech
Amgen Move-In and Welcome Activities
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
Parking
JPL Students
Additional Questions
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 Prime Time Shuttle Service. Please use profile number 272792 to book your reservation. Their toll free number is 800-733-8267 and their website is http://www.primetimeshuttle.com. You should request to go directly to the corner of Holliston and San Pasqual Aves. This is right near the SFP Office, the Housing Office, and the student houses (dorms). To be sure you receive the discount, please show the driver the email message from your program coordinator informing you of your selection to your program.
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
Amgen students may move in to Caltech housing starting at 2:00 pm on Monday, June 17. At 4:00 pm, we will hold a joint Amgen/MURF welcome reception in the Main Lounge at the Athenaeum (building #61). Here you can meet other students in your program as well as mentors and co-mentors. After the welcome reception, the Amgen students will walk to Lake Avenue for dinner and to get more acquainted with each other. Please be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
On Tuesday, June 18, your first order of business is to come by the SFP Check-In Fair, which runs from 11:00 am – 3:30 pm on the front lawn of the Center for Student Services (building #87). Here you will receive an orientation packet, complete your I-9 form, purchase a summer parking permit (if you are bringing a car), and ask any questions you may have. You can also pick up your photo ID card. Reminder: If you haven't already done so, You must submit a photo ID via email to sfpidcard@caltech.edu as soon as possible.
SFP Orientation activities begin at 3:45 pm. After you check in with SFP, you will have some time to take care of any additional administrative details, take a walking tour of campus, and grab some lunch. SFP orientation activities will begin with a group photo at 3:45 pm on the Beckman Auditorium (building #91) lawn, followed by an orientation session at 4:00 pm in Ramo Auditorium (bulding #77). This session is mandatory.
At 5:00 pm all SFP summer students, along with their mentors and co-mentors, are invited to join us for our Kick-Off BBQ at Beckman Institute (building #74).
Orientation for all students in all SFP programs will be held the afternoon of Tuesday, June 18. Here is a schedule of activities:
11:00 am - 3:30 pm - SFP Check-In Fair (front lawn of Center for Student Services)
3:45 pm - SFP Students Group Picture (outdoors, in front of Beckman Auditorium), don't be late!
4:00 - 5:00 pm - SFP Orientation (Ramo Auditorium, enter on south side of Baxter,
building #77)
5:00 pm - Barbecue for students, mentors, and co-mentors at Beckman Institute (building #74)
Students working at Caltech:
Students doing their research at Caltech will begin their projects on Wednesday morning, June 19, unless they have made other arrangements with their mentors.
Mandatory Safety Meeting: Wednesday, June 19, 1:30 PM. Locations to be determined.
Students working at JPL:
7:15 AM, Wednesday, June 19: 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 20, 6:30 PM, Ramo Auditorium, enter on south side of Baxter, 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. This session is mandatory for all non-Caltech students living on campus.
Students who are being paid through the Caltech payroll system will be paid in two equal installments. The first payment will be issued on Wednesday, June 26. Please keep this in mind when deciding how much money to bring with you. The second payment will be issued on Friday, July 26.
For your added convenience, SFP students being paid via the Caltech payroll system are eligible to participate in the Automated Payroll Direct Deposit system. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in direct deposit. Please complete the direct deposit form found in your SFP Online account, 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 a company requires a street address, you may include 1200 E. California Blvd. 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 down the hall from the SFP office (near the kitchen). If you experience any trouble accessing the building, you can call Security at (626) 395-4701 for assistance.
Please realize that mail coming to Caltech may be delayed by a few days.
1. If the package was shipped via the United States Postal Service and you have been notified it has been received, this means the package was received by the central Pasadena Post Office. Therefore, it should arrive to our office in one to three days. There is no way to expedite this process.
2. If it was shipped via UPS, FedEx, etc. and you have been notified it has been delivered, you can go to the Caltech receiving dock located on 391 S. Holliston (across the street from our building next door to the Human Resources building). Otherwise, it will be delivered to our office in one to three days.
Note that because of the large number of non-Caltech students, we will not be able to inform you when mail has arrived.
Mailing packages on campus
There is a US Postal Office in Keith Spalding (building #6) and is open Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 5:00PM.
There is also a stamp machine and mailbox located on the first floor of the Center for Student Services.
For students working at JPL
There are outgoing mailboxes located around JPL; however there is no post office. Students working at JPL can use the Glendale Beeline bus (route #3 or #33) to go from the JPL circle to the La Canada Flintridge Post Office at 607 Foothill Blvd.
Bus stops are at Foothill Blvd. and Rinetti Lane. Fare is 25 cents each way. Correct change is needed. The buses run frequently. For full schedules go to: http://www.glendalebeeline.com/
Other options
Mail Box Planet, Lake and California, Monday – Friday, 9:00AM – 6:00PM and Saturdays
10:00AM – 2:00PM.
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 the Check-In 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
Private bus service will be provided daily to transport students from Caltech to JPL in the morning and from JPL to Caltech in the evening every work day from June 19 to August 23.
Additional details will be provided upon arrival.
Please contact SFP at sfp@caltech.edu or (626) 395-2885.
Thanks to the Amgen Foundation for the generous
support of this program.
