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Graduate Student Handbook |
Table of Contents | Index
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Section Two
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HOUSING |
DINING OPTIONS |
630 Serra Street
725-2810
http://housing.stanford.edu/
Housing Assignment Services is the central student housing office at Stanford. It is responsible for assigning students to housing through the annual Graduate Housing Lottery and quarterly Waiting Lists, developing and implementing housing assignment policies, billing rent charges, and addressing student petitions and grievances about housing assignment problems. Its publication, Stanford Residences: Graduate Housing, contains information about housing on campus for single graduate students, couples without children, and students with children. This is published each March and is sent to newly admitted students by their admissions offices. Continuing students will find the same information online.
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The goals for graduate residences at Stanford are to provide an environment conducive to studying, services and resources that facilitate academic achievement, and a pluralistic community in which programs address individual needs and promote social interaction.
On-campus housing rent rates are generally lower than those in the surrounding community, and residents have the advantage of accommodations close to academic departments, libraries, and research facilities. More than 3900 students and their families from all over the world live in the graduate residences. Stanford has made a major investment in its graduate residence system and houses a much higher percentage (51%) of its graduate students on campus than other research universities with graduate programs of comparable size. (Another 9% of graduate students receive off-campus housing which is subsidized by the University as part of the off-campus subsidized housing program.) The University has also initiated a program of new graduate housing construction, and opened three new studio apartment buildings on campus (which house 508 students) in 2000-01. The next phase of construction is underway, with the next spaces tentatively scheduled to open in 2007-2008.
Housing is, however, still a scarce resource, and students should not expect to be offered on-campus housing for the duration of their studies. Students are given priority for assignment based on their degree program and the number of years they have already lived in University housing. Students pursuing master's degrees are given priority until they have lived in University housing for two years; engineer's degree candidates are given priority until they have lived in housing for three years; doctoral degree candidates receive priority until they have lived in housing for six years. Highest priority for on-campus housing is given to first-year students, who are guaranteed housing if they apply by the May deadline for the annual Housing Lottery and indicate a willingness to live in any residence for which they are eligible.
The graduate residence system offers a variety of housing options for single students, including traditional dormitories, apartments, and co-operative houses. Law students are given priority at Crothers Hall, and engineering students have priority at Crothers Memorial Hall. All couples and all students with children live in Escondido Village 1-, 2- or 3-bedroom apartments. GHAC, the Graduate Housing Advisory Committee, is the University committee which provides advice to university administrators regarding graduate housing policies and programs
Students with children are guaranteed housing their first academic year of graduate registration as long as they apply by the first-round deadline and are willing to live in any residence for which they are eligible. After the first year, they may renew their housing contracts annually until the student has lived in graduate housing for the maximum number of assignment priority years (that includes the guaranteed year), specified above.
Students whose studies extend beyond the number of priority years allocated may reapply or compete for housing on a year-to-year basis, but they are not assured assignment.
To be eligible for housing, students must be enrolled for 8 or more units per quarter or be classified as having Terminal Graduate Registration or Advanced Graduate Registration status. University housing is not provided for extended families, including the parents and siblings of students, or live-in day care staff.
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Communication and Networking Services
Forsythe Hall, Room 195
725-HELP
http://cns.stanford.edu/students
For a monthly fee, the University offers optional cable television service to students living in on-campus student housing. If you are interested, logon to Axess.stanford.edu and click on the IT Services link to order cable television.
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Housing Assignment Services Old Union, Room 214
725-2810
http://housing.stanford.edu
Open Mon.- Fri.
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Crothers Halls Office 621 Escondido Rd.
723-1738
Open Mon., Wed., Fri.
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Lyman Graduate Residences Office 121 Campus Drive
725-9788
Open Mon. - Fri.
8 a.m. - 12 noon
Escondido Village Office 859 Escondido Rd.
723-1171
Open Mon. - Thurs.
8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Fridays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Rains Houses Office 796 Escondido Rd.
725-4739
Open Mon. - Fri.
8 a.m. - 12 noon
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Row Office (for co-ops) 584 Mayfield Ave.
723-0778
Open Mon. - Fri.
8 a.m. - 12 noon
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Schwab Residential Center Office 680 Serra St.
725-6880
Open Mon. - Fri.
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Community Housing Services
630 Serra Street, Suite 110
723-3906 - community housing
723-1672 - University-assigned off-campus housing
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/hds/chs
A variety of housing options are available to those seeking housing off-campus. Under Stanford's subsidized off-campus housing program, which is open to students who do not receive housing in the annual on-campus Housing Lottery, the University rents spaces in local apartment complexes and offers them to graduate students at subsidized rates. Currently nearly 700 students are housed in this program. Community Housing Services also maintains listings of available apartments and houses, both furnished and unfurnished, as well as shared housing and work-exchange opportunities. These listings are available on their website.
Community Housing Services publishes Looking for Housing in the Stanford Community, a handout on finding housing, and Life Off the Farm, an extensive guide that includes information on restaurants, shopping, and recreation, as well as housing. Life Off the Farm has not been updated in several years, but much of the information remains valid; however, since it has not been printed recently, supplies are limited. Both publications are available free of charge at Community Housing Services.
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Renting Furnishings
Two local places where furnishings may be rented are the Village Rental Co-op and the Loan Closet, both located in Escondido Village in the basement of Abrams High Rise.
The Village Rental Co-op is an independent volunteer rental agency run by Escondido Village residents. Items rented out at moderate fees include rollaway beds, baby items, camping equipment, and other miscellaneous household goods. Hours are from 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Mondays. Rental Co-op volunteers receive a 75% discount. Visit their website at: http://www.stanford.edu/group/EV/Misc/VRC/.
The Loan Closet loans basic housekeeping equipment (pots, pans, dishes, etc.) for a minimal registration fee. Hours are by appointment only. Information is available at the EV Office (723-1171) and at the Bechtel I-Center Information Desk (723-1831).
Buying Furnishings
Used items can be found at local secondhand stores, such as Goodwill and Savers, and at garage sales (check local newspapers' classified ads or online at http://www.paloaltoonline.com; Escondido Village and some cities also hold annual garage sales). Some charities also operate resale stores; for example, the American Cancer Society runs the Discovery Shops in downtown Menlo Park and downtown Los Altos. Consignment stores (check the Yellow Pages) often carry nicer goods, priced accordingly. If you prefer to shop online, the su.market newsgroup has postings for everything from cars to videotapes; off-line, the Tresidder bulletin board has postings for furniture, computer equipment, and miscellaneous household goods (as well as books, cars, jobs, and housing).
Flea markets often also have secondhand furnishings. The closest flea market is held at Palo Alto High School, across El Camino Real from Stanford Stadium, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month (Sunday if Stanford has a home football game); call 324-3532 for more information. One of the largest Bay Area flea markets is in San Jose near the intersection of Highways 880 and 101; on the weekends there can be over 2000 vendors. The San Jose Flea Market (800-BIG-FLEA, http://www.sjfm.com) is open from dawn to dusk Wednesday through Sunday.
Stores selling new items are ubiquitous. Many students shop at retailers such as Target, Kmart, Ross, and Walmart for simple household goods. San Antonio Shopping Center, at the border of Palo Alto and Mountain View, has Ross, Target, and Walmart stores, and is accessible via the Marguerite's Shopping Express line. For students with a larger budget, the Stanford Shopping Center and downtown Palo Alto have many department and specialty stores; Ikea, which specializes in Scandinavian furnishings, also has a store in East Palo Alto.
For more retailers, consult Community Housing Services' Life Off the Farm.
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As off-campus housing becomes more expensive or as students move into smaller rooms, students may choose to put some of their belongings into storage. When parents' and friends' homes are not an option, some students turn to commercial storage companies.
There are two types of storage: drop-off storage and self-storage. Drop-off storage companies drop off a large storage container (typically 5' x 8' x 8') at your residence and make arrangements to pick it up after you have filled it. These companies are typically located farther away from Stanford, where land is cheaper. They charge a monthly storage fee until you have the containers delivered and the company can pick up the empty containers. If you need to access the containers meanwhile, you have to drive out to where your containers are stored or pay a hefty fee to have the containers returned and again collected for storage. Door-to-Door Storage and Public Storage are examples of drop-off storage companies.
Self-storage companies rent customers space in storage complexes - somewhat like renting a garage, but usually with better amenities. If you can find a local complex, accessing your belongings is less time- and fuel-consuming than with door-to-door drop-off storage, but chances are good that you will pay more for the convenience. Because of the tight local housing market, ground-floor space in a nearby, secure complex with convenient access hours can be difficult to find. Public Storage, Shurgard Storage, and many other area companies offer self-storage.
A list of storage companies can be found in the Yellow Pages under "Storage." Many offer AAA discounts or publish coupons on their websites; others give discounts for referrals, sometimes to the referee as well as the referrer. When investigating storage options, call well in advance of when you expect to need storage. Points to consider when choosing a company include the company's location, safety record (e.g., with respect to burglaries and fires), cancellation and prorating policies, climate-control capabilities, access hours, how much storage volume you need - and, of course, cost and availability.
A "Guide to Self-Storage," prepared by the Independent Consumer Group, is available online at http://www.self-storage-facilities.com/.
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Graduate students at Stanford have a range of dining options available to them. Some cook for themselves; some join meal plans through University Dining Services or one of the independent dining societies; some have combined room-and-board housing; and some rely on on-campus and other local eateries. All of these options are described below.
Many students prefer to cook for themselves or to share meals with their roommates. The apartments in Escondido Village, Rains Houses, and Lyman Residences have private kitchens. Communal kitchens are also available in both Crothers and Crothers Memorial Halls for students who wish to cook.
Grocery sources close to campus - most of which are accessible via the free Marguerite shuttle - include JJ&F, a small, family-owned market close to Escondido Village and Rains Houses; Andronico's, an upscale market on Quarry Street, on the perimeter of the Stanford Shopping Center; Sigona's Farmers' Market and Oakville Grocery, both on the Sand Hill Road side of the Stanford Shopping Center; Safeway, a supermarket chain with locations along Sand Hill Road in Sharon Park, on El Camino Real in Menlo Park, and behind the San Antonio Shopping Center in Mountain View; Country Sun and Mollie Stone's, two upscale markets along California Avenue; and Whole Foods, an upscale market in downtown Palo Alto. Trader Joe's, located in Menlo Park, has a reasonable selection of groceries and is known for its low prices and wide selection of wines, cheeses, and specialty foods. Students may have to seek farther for exotic ingredients, but not by much; ethnic markets abound in the Bay Area, and an online search (e.g., at http://www.google.com) will turn up several local options. Some ethnic food stores are also listed in Life Off the Farm (see "Snack Bars and Restaurants" below).
Many local towns also have weekly farmers' markets, which often sell fresh bread, flowers, exotic cheeses, and fish, in addition to the more conventional fresh fruits and vegetables. The Palo Alto Farmers' Market (328-2827, http://pafarmersmarket.org) is open Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. - noon between mid-May and early December, and is held behind the downtown Post Office on Hamilton Avenue. The Menlo Park Farmers' Market (831-688-8316) is open Sunday mornings year-round from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., and is held in the parking lot bordered by Crane Street, Santa Cruz Avenue, Chestnut Street, and Menlo Avenue. More information on local farmers' markets can be found online (e.g., at http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com). Nearby Webb Ranch also has pesticide-free seasonal fruits and vegetables; its produce stand is southwest of campus on Alpine Road and is open daily.
Convenience stores and drugstores often carry very basic groceries (milk, eggs, some fruit, etc.) in addition to soda, ice cream, and snack foods. On campus, the closest convenience store is probably Tresidder Express, the convenience store in Tresidder Memorial Union. Off campus, Walgreens, Longs, 7-11, and many other drugstores carry basic food items.
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Looking for a warm, home-cooked meal? Come visit any Stanford Dining residential dining hall or Stanford Dining-operated campus café.
Cardinal Dollars are Stanford Dining's prepaid dining plan. They are equivalent to US $1.00. Think of these as built-in food dollars letting you spend however and whenever you like! Cardinal Dollars are added to your ID card and can be used in any Stanford Dining location. They can be used in all of the residence dining halls to purchase meals or they can be used in Stanford Dining's ten cafés and late night locations:
Cardinal Dollars that are purchased in addition to a meal plan carry over from quarter to quarter, and from year to year. They do not expire unless they have been used.
Stanford Dining offers special bonuses on some Cardinal Dollars purchases. Currently, there is a 10% bonus for a Cardinal Dollars purchase (e.g., purchase $100 and receive $110 Cardinal Dollars).
Enrolled students can purchase Cardinal Dollars by logging into their account using the Manage Your Account option on the Stanford Dining website (under the "Students" header). On-line orders are charged to your University bill.
Students can also submit an order via email. Send the email from your SUNet account to diningplans@stanford.edu. Be sure to include your SUID number and how much you wish to purchase. Email orders are billed to your University bill.
Anyone may purchase Cardinal Dollars with cash, check or credit card by visiting Stanford Dining's Customer Service Office located on the second floor of Tresidder Memorial Union, Suite 5, off the Meeting Services lobby. This office is opened Monday - Friday, between 9 am and 5 pm.
For additional information, contact us at diningplans@stanford.edu, or by phone at 650-723-4751.
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Some residences listed in the Stanford Student Directory have student-run food services which are available to non-residents. Students living in co-ops must purchase their house board plan and participate in the preparation of meals.
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Graduate students may join one of the Stanford Eating Clubs or Governor's Corner Dining Societies. Both independent groups primarily serve undergraduates, but also accept a limited number of graduate students as Eating Associates. Each offers several all-you-can-eat meal plans and sponsors many social activities.
The Stanford Eating Clubs are located near Toyon Hall. The Eating Clubs hire chefs and cleaners, and serve both lunch and dinner. Full board includes 24-hour access to snacks and leftovers at the Terrace Café. Spouses and domestic partners of students are welcome to join the Eating Clubs. For more information, phone 723-3103 or visit the Clubs' website (http://www.stanford.edu/group/SEC).
The Governor's Corner Dining Societies also offer various lunch and dinner plans to graduate students. Graduate students interested in membership may try meals at the four Clubs during the first two weeks of each quarter. All four Clubs are closed during Summer Quarter. For more information, phone 497-7731.
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A variety of centrally located restaurants and quick meal options are offered at Tresidder Memorial Union. Jamba Juice offers its ever-popular fruit smoothies all day, as well as soups, snack food, and juices. The Treehouse serves burgers, fries, Tex-Mex food, and sometimes sushi. These two locations accept the Stanford Card Plan and cash only.
Union Square, the main restaurant and dining room at Tresidder Memorial Union, is a lively meeting place for lunch, a quick coffee and snack, studying with friends, or socializing.
Incorporating six culinary platforms that showcase the latest cuisine trends, from global barbeque techniques to sushi to pizza, the aromas and flavors at Union Square are sure to entice even the most discriminating palette. For the person on the run, Brown Bag, located at the entrance of the servery, is an accessible cooler that lets patrons swiftly pick up bottled beverages, fruit and chilled dishes, allowing them to get back to classes or meetings in a flash.
Also located at Tresidder, the Stanford Coffee House (The CoHo) offers a wide range of light cuisine and proudly brews Peet's Coffee & Tea. With late night hours that accommodate most students' schedules, The CoHo is a perfect spot for study groups and hanging out with friends.
With extended hours during the week and weekends, Subway at Tresidder not only serves its world famous sandwiches and subs, but also offers a new hot breakfast menu. Stanford's second Peet's Coffee & Tea location serves Peet's fresh, deep-roasted coffees, specialty drinks and hand-selected teas in the Tresidder dining room. Peet's walk-up window faces White Plaza and opens a half hour early to serve early morning customers on the go.
Union Square, The CoHo, Subway and Peet's Coffee & Tea accept Cardinal Dollars in addition to cash, MasterCard, Visa, and the Stanford Card Plan.
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Snack bars and cafés are located throughout campus - a partial list includes those at Terman Engineering Center, Packard Electrical Engineering Building, Cantor Arts Center, SEQ Learning Center, Jordan Hall, Green Library, Beckman Center, Fairchild Center, and the Center for Clinical Sciences Research, and those in the Schools of Medicine, Law, Business, and Education. A list of restaurants and fast-food establishments close to campus is included in Life Off the Farm, available free of charge at the Community Housing Services office in Old Union, Room 214. Coupons for some local vendors are available online (http://www.paloaltoonline.com; click on "Pizazz," listed under "Shopping"); a wealth of other coupons is printed in the back of the Stanford Directory, published each November and available through your academic department. Some local restaurants also have low-priced student menus.
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