Residences serve as focal points of intellectual, recreational, and social interchange. Graduate residences offer student living environments diverse in background, language, culture, race, and religion of their residents. Through its residence program, Stanford seeks to provide graduate students with a supportive, friendly environment where they are encouraged to develop a strong sense of community. The University's philosophy of graduate student housing is based on the premise that supporting high quality graduate scholarship and research is central to the mission of the University. By providing affordable housing in proximity to academic resources, the University creates an environment conducive to research and intellectual dialogue among students, their peers, and faculty members.
All residences offer social, educational, and cultural events.
Film series, faculty talks, workshops, parties, and trips are among the variety of activities available. Some residences also offer special classes in such diverse subjects as aerobics, English as a Second Language, and LaMaze childbirth. Programs in the residences are supported by a team of professional and student staff members designated for each residence or cluster of residences. Residence Deans provide counseling and crisis intervention and act as resources to facilitate problem solving. Graduate Resident Assistants are students who help build community and help other students enjoy and learn from their residential experiences.