January 2, 2009

This time of year, many of us make New Year’s resolutions about things we plan to do or places we would like to see in the coming year.  I expect, however, that our dour economic climate will affect 2009 resolutions and plans. In the spirit of assisting the region with high-quality, close-to-home activities, UC San Diego shares some of the exciting things we have to look forward to on campus in 2009.  

Campus Additions Open Doors and Opportunities
Cranes and construction zones have been fixtures on campus for quite a while, and we’re fortunate our long-range building plans were initiated before the economic decline.  Now we’re on the verge of completing many of our much-anticipated projects, including the world renowned Conrad Prebys Music Center, the annex to the Recreation and Intramural Athletic Complex (RIMAC) and the addition of more campus housing. 

Our new additions to campus are more than just buildings.  We are adding a sense of renewal; changing the face of the university; opening doors to new opportunities; creating new resources for our community; enhancing student life; advancing technology; and improving our already collaborative and interdisciplinary environment.  Our new additions also support our green initiatives, as every new building on campus must meet the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver or Gold standards.

Student housing on campus is essential to the college experience.  Students who live on campus develop a strong sense of community and belonging. Over the past few years, we’ve worked steadily to achieve an aggressive goal of campus housing for 50 percent of our students.  The North Campus housing project is going up quickly, as you may have noticed, and several buildings are expected to be completed by the end of the winter quarter.  The housing portion for more than 1,000 transfer students, and the new café and UC San Diego Bookstore annex, are scheduled to open by fall 2009.  Phase two of the project will add another 800 beds and that should break ground this summer.  In addition, our next professional and graduate student housing project will break ground in March.  That project will add housing for 450 students in the campus’ Health Sciences neighborhood.  In addition to creating a more unified community for our students, the housing will help cut down on the number of vehicles travelling to and from the university. That saves gasoline and reduces our carbon footprint. 

UC San Diego’s Department of Music will move into the new Conrad Prebys Music Center during the winter quarter and the center will officially open with an inaugural concert series in May.  The state-of-the-art facility will attract musicians from around the world, enliven our campus’ downtown neighborhood and serve as a bridge to our community, drawing thousands of people to the campus for a diverse array of performances ranging from classical and jazz to new and experimental music. 

The RIMAC annex is due for completion in August 2009.  The annex completes aspects of the original RIMAC design concept and will introduce a convenience store, a Peet’s Coffee & Tea store, a large meeting room and terraced lounge spaces overlooking the new and improved softball playing field.  The construction will also add a sports and fitness-themed café which will open a little later in the fall.  The RIMAC annex will be a great place to cool down after a workout or to grab a quick bite to eat.  The extra meeting and lounge areas around campus give students more places to socialize and study, and the new restaurants and cafes at the annex and transfer housing complex add a wider variety of dining options so students, staff and faculty don’t have to travel far to enjoy a good meal. 

All of these new facilities will add to the energy and vibrancy of the campus, something we can all enjoy, especially during these difficult economic times.  Another exciting project, the Robert Paine Scripps Forum for Science, Society and the Environment, is set to open in March 2009 and will add an auditorium, meeting rooms, support space and a small restaurant at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Students, staff and faculty can also take advantage of the free and low-cost events on campus, at the Birch Aquarium and at the La Jolla Playhouse, such as lectures, films, workshops, plays and more.  I also encourage you to participate in our numerous campus activities this year that recognize and honor the rich diversity of our students, staff and faculty, including our annual celebration of Black History Month in February and Cesar Chavez Month in April.  A calendar of events for these celebrations will be posted online in the coming weeks.  I also invite you to be a part of our UC San Diego delegation that marches in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade.  If you’d like to participate or get more information, click here.  You can check out UC San Diego’s calendar of events by clicking here. 

There is always something exciting happening at UC San Diego.  Most of the events and activities I’ve mentioned are fun and inexpensive.  But, just as important, they unite our students, staff and faculty, and celebrate the diversity of our campus.

I wish you a Happy New Year and look forward to an exciting 2009. 

With warm regards,

Marye Anne Fox
Chancellor