Spring Refreshes: New Seats, Sustainability, and Supporting Our Community

News

Art from the CDS Midnight Madness Jazz Club. (Photo: Miguel Campos)

We hope your first week of the spring term was a success! As we settle into the rhythm of the new term, Housing and Dining Services are back with our collaborative column in the Tech. We are excited to keep you updated on housing initiatives and the latest culinary experiences we’re cooking up to support our community through the final stretch of the academic year.

Housing updates

House Improvements & Maintenance — We have been continuing our close collaboration with the Stewards and Facilities on several initiatives to improve life in the houses.

  • This term, we are excited to announce a sustainability partnership with the Sustainability Office to recycle and refresh our communal spaces. Starting the week of April 6, new undergraduate dining chairs will be delivered to Dabney, Fleming, Ricketts, Lloyd, Page, and Venerable.

  • We are pleased to ensure that the previous chairs will be recycled if they are still in usable condition.

Future Planning: Storage & Lottery — It is already time to look ahead! Information regarding the 2026 Fall Housing Lottery and Summer Housing is now available. You can find detailed information on the processes, deadlines, and requirements by scanning the following QR codes or by visiting the Housing website.

Contacting Housing — The Housing Office can be contacted by phone at 626-395-6176 and email at housing@caltech.edu during business hours, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

The dining scoop

A Meaningful Partnership: Supporting the Ronald McDonald House — Our team believes in the power of community, both on campus and within the greater Pasadena area. We are proud to share that we have formalized a partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities to reduce food waste and support families in need. Twice a week, our kitchen team coordinates the donation of surplus food to help feed between 20 and 35 families. We’ve been working closely with their staff to facilitate these donations and are actively exploring new avenues to increase our impact in the coming months.

Dining “Did You Know?” — We’re always looking for ways to better serve our student body. Here are two updates you may have noticed during your first week back:

  • Plant-Based Alternatives: To support diverse dietary needs and our sustainability goals, we have officially moved away from additional charges for plant-based milk alternatives at all dining units.

  • Global Flavors at Red Door: Next time you’re at the Red Door C-Store, check out our dedicated aisle for Asian confectioneries and snacks. Whether you’re looking for a favorite treat or something new to try, there’s plenty to explore!

Midnight Madness: A Jazzy Final Send-off — Before we look too far ahead, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the end of last term for the Midnight Madness Jazz Club! It was a blast taking a moment to enjoy some live jazz and vibe together while snacking on treats prepared by our dining team. We hope the ambiance gave you the breather you needed to power through finals.

Our team always enjoys going the extra mile to host a party that helps you unwind, and we can’t wait for the next one! We aren’t revealing the secret theme for this term’s Midnight Madness just yet, but we’re already working hard to make it a night to remember.

Connect with us

We are one team dedicated to enhancing your student experience throughout the spring term.