Welcome Frosh and Transfers!

Stanford’s Neighborhoods

All incoming undergraduate students will be assigned to one of eight neighborhoods. Based on student selections, each neighborhood is named after a tree. Your residence and neighborhood assignment were included in the email you received from R&DE Student Housing Assignments. This will be your neighborhood assignment for the duration of your undergraduate career. When you apply for housing in subsequent years, you will select from all of the upperclass buildings within your neighborhood. Having a neighborhood assignment will provide continuity of community from year to year, allowing you to stay close to the friends you are about to make when you arrive on campus this fall. Learn more about the vision for undergraduate housing, including the neighborhoods, on the ResX website. Learn more about housing in your neighborhood by visiting the R&DE website.

Moving In

Students Arriving for Autumn Quarter

Move-in day is Tuesday, September 19 and New Student Orientation (NSO) begins that afternoon. You may check in at your residence beginning at 8 a.m. and you should plan to arrive by 12 p.m. Please have available a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to receive your key and Stanford ID. If you have been issued a Stanford ID card previously, please bring it, as a new card will not be issued by the university. If you arrive before the 19th and are not part of an approved early arrival group, such as students attending the international student orientation, you will need to find off-campus accommodations, as you will not be able to check in to your residence early. Please read the information on New Student Orientation in Approaching Stanford. A detailed calendar of events will be posted on the NSO website in early September.

Dining Information

Dining Hall Meal Plans

Students can use their meals for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner in any open dining hall. Visit our dining hall locations and hours page for more information. Meal Plan Dollars may be used at select R&DE Stanford Hospitality & Auxiliaries retail locations or any R&DE Stanford Dining location, including all late-night operations. All undergrad students living on campus (except in Mirrielees) are required to be on a meal plan, as part of the Neighborhood Dining program. The neighborhood meal program allows students the flexibility to eat in locations across the campus, while also developing friendships within their neighborhood and enjoying opportunities to sustain the unique interpersonal connections which will occur in each neighborhood. The program also equalizes the meal plan cost across Row houses, Suites, and dining halls, while providing high-quality, sustainable, and nutritious cuisine across all neighborhoods, to meet a wide variety of dietary needs for a diverse student community. Students can switch their dining hall meal plan until the end of the third week of the quarter.

The default meal plan for all undergraduates for fall quarter is 15 meals per week. Your meal plan will be added to your account and SUID card prior to your arrival on campus. 

For Students Assigned to Muwekma-Tah-Ruk

Students living in Row houses, such as Muwekma-Tah-Ruk, enjoy continental breakfast and chef-prepared lunches and dinners served in their residences Monday-Friday. Each student also receives 5 meal swipes per week, intended to be used on the weekends when the house kitchen is closed, and 5 guest meals per quarter to use in any campus dining hall.

Food Allergies & Special Dietary Needs

R&DE Stanford Dining offers a variety of accommodations for students with food allergies and specialized dietary requirements through the Food Allergies @Stanford program. We have dedicated nutritionists to support the hundreds of Stanford students, staff and guests with food allergies and special dietary needs. As the prevalence of food allergies and other dietary needs continues to grow on campus, our nutritionists work closely with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) to ensure that the university is adequately accommodating students with medically documented dietary needs as outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

R&DE Stanford Dining has proudly partnered with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) to help improve the college experience for students with food allergies through enhanced awareness, accommodations, and training. The R&DE Stanford Dining nutrition team reviews all ingredients, recipes, and menus for allergens, trains R&DE staff on food allergy accommodations, and provides nutrition counseling and education for students to help with managing their dietary needs on campus. Stanford is also home to nut-sensitive dining programs at Stern and Ricker dining halls.

Stanford Dining identifies the top 9 major allergens that are contained in, or may have come in contact with, the foods served in the dining halls. Daily menus are published online, and food labels identify ingredients and allergens at the point of service. Allergens we label across R&DE Stanford Dining include: Coconut, Egg, Milk, Fish, Sesame, Shellfish, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Soy, and Wheat. 

We work with each student individually to determine the dining strategy that best meets their dietary needs. The Food Allergies @Stanford support team includes the R&DE Stanford Dining nutritionists, chefs, and managers who work together to ensure students with food allergies and dietary needs have an exceptional dining experience. For more information about the accommodations available and how to get support with your food allergy or special dietary need, view our Food Allergies @Stanford brochure or reach out to nutritionist@stanford.edu. To register for the Food Allergies @Stanford program, please complete our Request for Dining Accommodations Form.

Religious Dietary Accommodations

We strongly encourage students with religious dietary needs to plan ahead and coordinate any necessary accommodations before arriving on campus. Read below to learn more about the accommodations that are available through R&DE Stanford Dining. Students with religious dietary needs should contact the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life to discuss how their needs can be met on campus. It is important to reach out to discuss your specific needs prior to arriving on campus.

Kosher Dining

R&DE Stanford Dining offers a Glatt kosher lunch and dinner program at Florence Moore Dining in partnership with students, the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life, Hillel, and Residential Education. To learn more about Kosher Dining, please visit the Kosher Dining webpage or contact nutritionist@stanford.edu.

Halal Dining

R&DE Stanford Dining offers a variety of food options to accommodate the dietary needs of Stanford’s Muslim community. All chicken served in the dining halls is certified halal and all beef is halal unless otherwise indicated. We do not cook with alcohol in any of our recipes and we are conscious to avoid cross-contact of pork products during food production. During Ramadan, we provide Suhoor to-go boxes and Iftar meals in the dining halls to keep students well-nourished while fasting. Students in any on-campus residence will have access to halal dining options from R&DE Stanford Dining. To learn more about halal dining, please contact nutritionist@stanford.edu.

Other Religious Dietary Requirements

Students with other religious dietary needs should consult with the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life about how their needs can be accommodated at Stanford prior to arriving on campus. Some religious dietary requirements, such as maintaining a vegetarian or vegan diet, can be accommodated in the dining halls. However, students with highly specific or complex restrictions may find it difficult to navigate these needs in the dining-commons environment. Students who believe their religious dietary needs cannot be accommodated in the dining halls must request a different housing assignment with access to a kitchen to prepare their own foods, by contacting the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life prior to coming to campus.

You can learn more about our award-winning student dining program on the R&DE Stanford Dining website.

What to Bring

A list of what will be provided in your room and suggestions of what to bring to campus is available on the Approaching Stanford website. Please note that the beds in your room include mattresses and are adjustable to three different heights, the highest of which is approximately 36" above the floor (high enough to accommodate a three-drawer dresser underneath).

Sustainability

As stewards of Stanford's housing buildings and operations, we strongly support sustainability and conservation efforts, and encourage you to join in these efforts. We suggest waiting until you arrive on campus and meet your roommate to make decisions about appliances and other electronics for your room. For information on our sustainability and conservation efforts, please see R&DE’s sustainability website. We also encourage you to check out the One Plate, One Planet website to learn more about R&DE’s exciting sustainable food program.

Housing and Dining Charges

Autumn quarter housing and dining charges, technology fees, and house dues are charged on your University Bill, which is prepared by Student Financial Services. Autumn quarter housing and dining charges will be on your September billing statement.

Important Dates in the 2023-24 Calendar

Residence halls do not close over the Thanksgiving holiday or spring break.

Questions/Support

R&DE Student Housing Assignments is here to assist you in any way we can. If you have a question about your housing assignment, file a service ticket and let us know how we can help.

We hope the rest of your summer is safe and enjoyable. We can’t wait to welcome you to campus this fall!