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UC San Diego Welcomes Students and Two New Neighborhoods to Campus

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The academic year started with a lot to celebrate as the university welcomed students to campus and ushered in multiple upgrades that enhance the student experience, enrich the community and spark research and innovation. This fall 2,000 students moved into a long-awaited living and learning neighborhood with a new undergraduate college, while across campus, a new neighborhood located on the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley became home to 1,300 upper-division undergraduates and transfer students.

“We are proud to have the second-largest on-campus housing program in the country, which helps us provide a two-year housing guarantee to our students,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “The new living and learning neighborhoods play a pivotal role in our ongoing transformation of the campus, driving physical, cultural and intellectual growth. Knowing that the student experience is enhanced — both academically and socially — with thriving on-campus housing communities, our ultimate goal is to expand access to high-quality, below-market housing that empowers our students to become the leaders of tomorrow.”

Pepper Canyon West Living and Learning Neighborhood

Located on the central campus stop of the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley, Pepper Canyon West Living and Learning Neighborhood meets many of our students’ demands, with single-room housing for 1,300 upper-division undergraduate and transfer students delivered in a year-round housing contract. And there is never a dull moment with the Epstein Family Amphitheater as a neighbor.

This campus milestone was fêted at a ribbon cutting ceremony held on October 15. Speakers included Chancellor Khosla, Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Simmons, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of Residential, Retail and Supply Chain Services Hemlata Jhaveri, Senator Catherine Blakespear, Assemblymember Tasha Boerner and transfer student and Triton Transfer Hub Peer Coach Ryan Lee, who is studying Economics, Math and Chinese at the university and is among the first residents at Pepper Canyon West.

Speakers at the ribbon cutting event.
Speakers at the ribbon cutting event. All photos credit: Erik Jepsen UC San Diego

Noting how this project contributes to a more welcoming, enriching campus, Executive Vice Chancellor Simmons said, “Higher education institutions are able to advance very effective approaches to improving California’s future and making a future more accessible to all.”

Assemblymember Boerner, who represents the 77th California Assembly District, called the project a win for the state and a great win for San Diego. She applauded the green aspects of the project, in particular the proximity to transit. State Senator Blakespear, a parent of two high-schoolers, shared, “Parents want their kids to have a full education experience in college—they want them to be able to live among their peers and have a sense of belonging."

Chancellor Khosla described the project as a dream come true during the event.
Chancellor Khosla described the project as a dream come true, contributing to UC San Diego’s unbeatable combination of a world-class education with ocean views. 
Executive Vice Chancellor Simmons speaks at the ribbon cutting.

Executive Vice Chancellor Simmons noted how this project contributes to a more welcoming, enriching campus for all. 

“We have heard from upper-division students that single-occupancy rooms are their number one priority, so we are excited to be able to bring this to our students, along with many other desirable features such as terraces with amazing views, an indoor-outdoor community kitchen and two large courtyards,” said Jhaveri. “It should come as no surprise that we are completely full, and there is so much demand, we could have filled another Pepper Canyon West.”

“As transfers we share the mutual understanding of having traveled different paths to get here," said Lee. "This space nurtures our eagerness to keep learning at UC San Diego. I am excited to be a part of what's next."

Chancellor Khosla and transfer student Ryan Lee.
Chancellor Khosla and transfer student Ryan Lee. 

Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood

Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood provides housing to 2,000 students and features a new undergraduate college, Eighth College. This helps to reduce the population of each college from 5,000 to approximately 4,000 students, ensuring that students continue to benefit from a world-class education in the smaller, more intimate environment offered by UC San Diego’s college system. A new undergraduate college also presents the opportunity to create new connections, communities and traditions.

“We are striving to create an environment where all students feel like they belong and are valued,” said LeRoy Ford, Director of Residence Life and Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Eighth College. “With our programming efforts lead by our Resident Assistants and other student leaders, I believe we are well on our way to building a strong foundation for Eighth College to thrive. I'm excited to see the neighborhood open to our newest residents and look forward to seeing what we create as a community together.”

Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood brings more than 1,000 parking spaces to the campus and will feature multiple ways for the community to connect, including a market hall, restaurant, conference center, expansive outdoor gathering areas including a one-mile walking trail and an enhanced valet/drop-off area for theatre patrons in the adjacent Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theatre District.

The community celebrated this new addition to the campus at a ribbon cutting ceremony held on October 17. Speakers included Chancellor Khosla, Eighth College Provost Angela Booker, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of Residential, Retail and Supply Chain Services Hemlata Jhaveri, Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse Christopher Ashley and Resident Assistant Linh Nguyen, who is among the first students at Eighth College.

Speakers at the ribbon cutting event. Credit: Erik Jepsen UC San Diego
Speakers at the ribbon cutting event. 

Chancellor Khosla applauded the addition of a new undergraduate college and noted the new neighborhood is part of the university’s journey to a four-year housing guarantee. He thanked all present, emphasizing, “Many people put their minds and hearts into building this.”

Provost Booker shared all the small—and big—ways the community is growing together, “This home comes to life in the way we treat each other and the way we  make time for each other—we describe this as the Eighth Way.”

“I’ve seen first-hand how our collective energy and creativity can lead to amazing things,” said Nguyen, who is among the first students at Eighth College. “Traditions aren’t just about big events. It’s the little things that bring us together—a weekly study group in the common area, a college-wide scream out at the beginning of finals or meeting at the grills for small barbeques—these moments are what make a brand-new place feel like home.”

The Chancellor, Provost and students show some Eighth College pride.  
The Chancellor, Provost and students show some Eighth College pride. 
Provost Booker addresses the crowd. 
Provost Booker addresses the crowd. 

Ridge Walk North Living and Learning Neighborhood

Ridge Walk North Living and Learning Neighborhood is more than 60% complete, with roughly 900 workers on site bringing the project to life. When it opens in the fall of 2025, it will provide housing to 2,400 undergraduate students and support the university’s academic mission by providing updated administrative and teaching space for Thurgood Marshall College, the School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Department of Economics in the School of Social Sciences. This vibrant new neighborhood includes 19 new classrooms and a 150-seat lecture hall for campus-wide academics as well as student dining, wellness programming, student support services, study lounges, co-working spaces and public realm improvements, such as outdoor gathering spaces and public art.

Located west of Geisel Library in the interior of the campus, the neighborhood will be connected to the rest of the campus through Ridge Walk, the central north-south path for pedestrians as well as bikes and scooters, which connects the majority of the undergraduate colleges on campus. A network of pedestrian and bike-friendly pathways enhance and encourage the movement of people and bikes throughout the campus and to mass transportation options.

Housing Advocacy Benefits California Students

In 2021, a new Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program was established by the state, which would provide one-time grants for projects to support increased California resident enrollment. University of California submitted $600 million in projects for consideration, including a proposal from UC San Diego for $100 million to support student housing.

Due to Chancellor Khosla’s leadership and efforts, California’s Department of Finance recommended that UC San Diego receive this funding and the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom approved it as part of the following year’s state budget process. Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Toni Atkins, Senator Catherine Blakespear, Assemblymember Chris Ward, and Assemblymember Tasha Boerner played a large role in advocating for the funding for UC San Diego.

In line with the University of California’s Debt Free Pathway initiative, and to support UC San Diego’s lowest income undergraduate students, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office developed a methodology to allocate the financing savings due to the grant, $5 million annually, towards housing grants for eligible California undergraduate students living on campus.  As a result of their efforts, this fall 1,100 low-income California resident students will receive an award to reduce their monthly housing payment in the 2024-25 academic year to $832/month—55% below market rates.

“The university works diligently to find creative solutions to the challenges of building affordable student housing, which includes advocating for funding in the state budget,” said Khosla. “By working together, legislators and higher education institutions are advancing effective solutions to help students and move California forward.

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