Orientation Schedule

Required for all incoming international students. See the full schedule of events here.

Check in with the Graduate Studies Office, enjoy a breakfast bar including waffles and coffee, and pick up a highly coveted Caltech Graduate Studies Office swag bag!

David Chan, Harold and Violet Alvarez Professor of Biology and Dean of Graduate Studies, will offer words of welcome, and introduce you to the Graduate Studies staff and Orientation Guides as well as leaders from the Graduate Student Council (GSC). Several critical academic topics will be discussed including academic expectations and the Caltech Honor Code.

Dean David Chan will moderate a panel of esteemed faculty members representing each of the six academic divisions at Caltech. A question-and-answer period will follow the panel.

During lunch you'll have the opportunity to meet with representatives from various Caltech offices to learn more about the programs and services they provide in support of the graduate student community. There will also be plenty of swag and other giveaways, so be sure to visit as many tables as possible!

Caltech fosters a safe and inclusive community to promote student success in and outside of the classroom. Join the Equity and Title IX Office to learn how Caltech is ready to support you during your graduate tenure. In our presentation we will discuss how we all can keep Caltech's campus culture welcoming and safe. We will also review your rights and obligations as graduate students at Caltech, discuss boundary setting and clear communication strategies, and make clear campus policies and resources related to discrimination, sexual misconduct and unlawful harassment. We want everyone at Caltech to feel they are understood, supported, and have full access to educational opportunities. This will allow everyone greater confidence in building healthy professional and personal relationships at Caltech and beyond.

Representatives from Caltech Grad Researchers and Postdocs United (CGPU-UAW) will share information about the Union and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Gather with peers, Orientation Guides, and Graduate Studies Office staff for dinner, conversation, and decompression as we conclude the first day of orientation.

Check-in will begin at 8:15 AM and closes at 9:00 AM. Breakfast, lunch, and light snacks are provided. First Year TA Training is a required component of Graduate Orientation and fulfills your mandatory training should you ever be a TA at Caltech. It is also a valuable professional development activity whether you will formally teach at Caltech or not, as it addresses aspects of professional teaching, mentoring, and communication that are more broadly applicable. All incoming graduate students will complete both the online and in-person training components. Students will receive an email from the CTLO by September 3 with full details.

Sponsored by the Center for Teaching, Learning & Outreach (CTLO)

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream Truck is quickly becoming a grad student favorite at Caltech! Join us for a cool, customized unforgettable treat!

Each academic option will provide option-specific orientation programming for new graduate students. Please contact your option representative directly for more detailed information.

Dean Chan and the Graduate Studies Office staff invite you to join us for an evening of good food, new friends, and fun. Not quite Vegas, but you'll have an opportunity to try your luck at our Caltech casino in Dabney Lounge! This event is one of the most popular among new grad students, so don't miss out!

Caltech's annual convocation ceremony offers a warm welcome and introduction to the Institute for new graduate students, new undergraduate students, and new postdoctoral scholars. The program includes greetings from President Thomas F. Rosenbaum, a brief introduction to student life at Caltech by Kevin M. Gilmartin, Vice President and Faculty Dean of Students, and a keynote address from a member of the faculty.

At 8:45 AM, please line up on the south side of Beckman Lawn, so that all new graduate students can process into Beckman Auditorium at 9:00 AM sharp.

Immediately following Convocation, all graduate and undergraduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff are invited to attend a campus-wide community brunch to continue celebrating the start of a new academic year at Caltech.

All students receiving wages or a stipend (assistantship or fellowship) are required to complete Employment Authorization (Form I-9). Please be sure to bring appropriate identification with you and allow up to 10-15 minutes wait time. Human Resources staff will be available to help you complete all of the forms necessary to receive your first paycheck and answer any questions you may have about direct deposit or tax forms.

If this time conflicts with any scheduled academic option programming, please prioritize option programming and make arrangements to complete your I-9 paperwork no later than October 1, 2025.

Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum and Professor Katherine T. Faber invite all incoming graduate students to an outdoor dinner at their home.

Join us for FREE coffee and dessert at one of the most popular hangout spots on campus, the Red Door Cafe!

Master's students unite! All incoming students in a master's program at Caltech are invited to join the Graduate Studies staff and option personnel for lunch and discussion. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet other master's students, ask questions specific to your program, and build community across options.