Campus Life

Stanford Student Housing

Stanford is a residential teaching and research university. The Founding Grant of the university states the founders' wish: "It is desirable that the members of the Faculty and students should generally reside upon the grounds of the University..." Roble Hall, built in 1918, is the oldest residence and still houses students.

As of Autumn 2015, 6,509 undergraduates and 5,709 graduate students live in university-provided housing. Housing is guaranteed for four years for entering freshmen. Approximately 97 percent of all undergraduates registered and residing at the home campus live in on-campus housing.

The undergraduate housing system includes 81 diverse facilities. About 25 percent of students join one of the 16 fraternities or 14 sororities recognized on campus. Six fraternities and three sororities offer housing.

About 64 percent of graduate students eligible for housing live in university-provided housing designed for single students, couples without children and students with children. New graduate students are guaranteed housing their first year at Stanford when they apply by the spring deadline.

Student Organizations and Student Government

There are about 600 organized student groups at Stanford. The student newspaper is the Stanford Daily. The Associated Students of Stanford University is the representative government for Stanford students. There are about 35 recognized religious organizations, and 80 committed to the arts. Stanford offers six cultural centers: Asian American Activities Center, Black Community Services Center, El Centro Chicano y Latino, LGBT Community Resources Center, the Markaz: Resource Center for Engagement with the Cultures and Peoples of the Muslim World, Native American Cultural Center and Women's Community Center.

Haas Center for Public Service

The Haas Center for Public Service is the hub of Cardinal Service, a university-wide initiative to elevate and expand service as a distinctive feature of a Stanford education. The Haas Center engages students locally and globally through service, scholarship and community partnerships, offering connections to more than 125 service-related student organizations, 75 community engaged learning courses and 350+ funded service opportunities.

Campus Safety

The Stanford University Department of Public Safety (SUDPS) provides law enforcement, security, safety, crime prevention and emergency services on campus 24 hours a day. The department is comprised of sworn and non-sworn personnel. Sworn officers are reserve deputy sheriffs with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office and are empowered to enforce the law in the State of California pursuant to Penal Code 836. SUDPS produces the Stanford Safety, Security and Fire Report in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The business phone number is (650) 723-9633.

Getting Around

There are an estimated 13,000 bikes on the Stanford campus daily. Stanford has been named a Platinum-level "Bicycle Friendly University." Freshmen may not bring cars to campus, but the free Marguerite bus service includes 79 buses in a 24-route system. Campus also hosts more than 65 Zipcars.

Traditions

  • Big Game is the annual football game against the University of California-Berkeley Golden Bears. It is preceded by Gaieties, a student-produced musical follies.
  • Fountain hopping involves touring and partaking of Stanford’s main campus fountains.
  • During Full Moon on the Quad, freshmen are kissed at midnight by seniors under the first full moon of the Autumn Quarter.
  • The Wacky Walk occurs during the first minutes of graduation, when undergraduates forgo the traditional march and run into Stanford Stadium, often in costume.

This page last modified Feb 27, 2016.