9/1/2020 - New Student Orientation

To:  Caltech Class of 2024
From: Joseph E. Shepherd, Vice President for Student Affairs 
Kevin M. Gilmartin, Dean of Undergraduate Students and Incoming Vice President for Student Affairs

Having spent much of the last few months communicating changes in our expectations for the coming academic year, it is reassuring to let you know that all our plans for virtual learning in the fall term are now continuing apace. Faculty, staff, and returning students have been collaborating closely on the new learning environment, and we all look forward to welcoming you to the start of your Caltech experience.

By this time, you have received your first term course schedules, and assignments to the Living Learning Groups that we told you about earlier will be arriving via email on September 14. A care package from the deans and other campus support offices will also be on its way, so be sure we have your correct current mailing address. In the meantime, please review the summer 2020 To Do List and be sure that you are up-to-date in taking care of remaining items there. If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact the Undergraduate Deans' Office.

Orientation will be online this year, beginning September 20, and will involve a mix of live virtual meetings and recorded presentations, scheduled primarily between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. PDT. The complete schedule will be available in the coming days at the New Student Information page. As we look ahead to orientation and the fall term, it is worth reminding you of the iPad Loaner Program that was established to help ensure that all students have access to the resources needed for remote learning and collaboration. Students who are interested in accessing an iPad through the program, and have not done so already, have been asked to reach out to immediately start the process.

We hope you enjoy the closing weeks of summer, and look forward to meeting you at orientation!