LEAD Week FAQs

Santa Clara University is located centrally off of Interstate 880, Interstate 280 and U.S. Highway 101. Feel free to contact us if you need additional information. SCU does not provide transportation from the airport. However, there is free public transportation which is very accessible and can drop you off at the Santa Clara CalTrain Station, directly across from SCU's main entrance. VTA Bus #10 can be found directly outside baggage claim. For more information regarding VTA, visit the VTA website. Cab fare from the airport is typically between $20-$25.

We greatly value the role that families play in fostering the success of students, and encourage families to continue to be involved in their students' university lives. We welcome family during Orientation, move-in and the welcome reception. On our registration form, please let us know if your family members speak a language other than English. We will do our best to provide translators in various languages during the Orientation sessions and LEAD Week Welcome reception.

Additionally, we will have a program during SCU's Family Weekend which takes place in February. This weekend is for all of our campus families but LEAD Scholars families are offered complementary registration and we will have a session especially for LEAD Scholars and their families. We send out invitations in December. Again we strongly encourage family to attend Family Weekend and our LEAD Scholars session.

During LEAD Week, we ask that families not visit students on campus to enable the LEAD Scholars to focus on building a community with each other. Additionally, the Housing Office requires that early arrivals, such as LEAD Week participants, not have visitors in the residence halls.

During LEAD Week, students' schedules will be packed with classes, workshops, social activities and homework, all with the goal of introducing them to SCU life and preparing them for success. As a result, just for the week we require students to focus on their college transition. After the week is over, we strongly encourage lots of family visits, phone calls and emails while also keeping in mind the major time commitment of college.

It is strongly preferred that you purchase your ENGL 1 textbooks before LEAD Week, either through the Campus Bookstore or other retailers so that you have them on the first day of class during LEAD Week. You will continue to use these books through fall quarter and often in winter quarter, as well. The cost of these textbooks can be as much as $200 for new books. In some cases rental or used textbooks are also available. If you decide to purchase books from other retailers, such as Amazon.com, etc. Please order these books well ahead of time so that you can have them ready for the first day of class.

For more information on textbooks required for your courses, you can go to the Bookstore website, click on Shop Online Now, and then on Textbooks on the top of the page and enter in your class information to create a customized list of your textbooks. For more information on how to purchase textbooks with your financial aid, please read below.

You can ship boxes to mailing services up to one week before your arrival date. In mid-August you will receive your 4-digit box number along with your housing assignment. Please address your boxes in the address format below, and include your 4-digit box number. Additionally, on the box, you will also want to write your arrival date, box pick-up date and label the boxes 1 of 2, 2 of 2, depending the total box count. Boxes will only be available for pick up Monday through Friday so if you arrive on Sunday for LEAD Week, you will need to wait until Monday to get your boxes. Please feel free to ask LEAD staff for help picking up your boxes, if needed. 

Proper Address Format for Incoming Student Mail

All incoming mail (letters, flats, boxes, and packages) MUST be addressed as follows:

Student Name
SCU-_ _ _ _ *
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053-_ _ _ _ *

*Your 4-digit box number assigned by Housing Services.

• The term P.O. BOX should never be used in your address.
  
  
• All mail is identified and sorted by your box number. All mail without a box number will be returned to the sender. DO NOT have mail addressed to your room number or dorm name - it will not be delivered.

Parking on campus is limited. For commuter students, there are parking permits available for purchase on ecampus. If you are using your financial aid to make this purchase, please see below for more information if you are using your financial aid to purchase your permit.

Undergraduate freshmen who are living in the residence halls are not allowed to bring their cars to campus for fall-spring quarters of their first year. If not being able to have a car on campus would present a hardship, students can apply for an exemption through the Parking and Transportation office.

For more information on parking permits, including permit costs, where to purchase permits and the undergraduate freshmen parking policy, you can go to the Parking and Transportation website.

Since campus parking is very limited only first year students who are commuting to campus may purchase parking permits. Undergraduate first year students who are living in the residence halls are not allowed to bring their cars to campus for fall-spring quarters of their first year.

If you are a commuter student and plan to purchase a parking permit, you can use your financial aid refund.

You will need to complete a form in the Access card office in Benson Center and use this to deposit money from Bursar includes your financial aid refund) to your Access Card Flex Account. You will then need to complete your parking permit application. After this, print the receipt, then take it to Campus Safety office to complete your payment with Access card. For more information on parking permits, including permit costs, where to purchase permits and the undergraduate freshmen parking policy, please visit the Parking and Transportation website.

Yes.

All meals are provided at no cost during LEAD Week. You are more than welcome to bring your own snacks during this time.

Please be sure to note any allergies and/or dietary restrictions on the LEAD Week registration form that you received.

The LEAD Week Peer Mentors and English Peer Educators, Seminar Peer Educators and Transfer Team are continuing students, LEAD sophomores, juniors and seniors who will be assisting with LEAD Week and guiding you through your first week (and beyond) here at SCU. The Peer Educators specifically assist with your ENGL and LEAD Seminar classes. They are present during your class and are available to meet with after class to provide academic support. The Peer Educators will continue to support you during the fall and winter quarters.

The Peer Mentors are also a source of guidance during this first week and beyond. They will each lead a small group of students each day during LEAD Week. As a group, you will get to know each other, discuss your transition to college and learn about strategies for success. They also plan and run large group social activities in the afternoons and evenings. Through the year(s) they will serve as informal sources of support and guidance.

Overall the LEAD Week student staff is an outstanding group of students who were in your shoes one, two or three years ago. They are dedicated to your success and are happy to be a resource for you.

Prior to taking the CRE please be sure to have completed these steps

If you have declared or plan to declare a major that requires pre-calculus or calculus (you can view a list of majors that require Calculus, here), please complete the Calculus Readiness Exam (CRE) by Thursday, June 8, 2023. Please click here for more information about the CRE. LEAD Scholars must complete the CRE by June 8th to help us ensure that you are enrolled in the appropriate math course.