Dear Triton Parents and Families,

Welcome! We are so excited to kick off a new school year and even more excited to have you and your student join our community. We know the vital role parents and family members play in the lives of students, and we also know the sacrifices you have made — and the emotional adjustment it takes — to send your student to a new home-away-from-home.

Joining a new community, whether as a first-year or transfer student, is a big transition. It’s exciting and energizing, but it can also be challenging and overwhelming. There’s so much to tackle, from adjusting to new academic and behavioral expectations to navigating new relationships and environments.

We truly believe your student will have the best possible UC San Diego experience if we partner with you and your family to support your student through their educational journey. We know that when families are informed, involved and invested, students benefit. By working with you to support your student’s UC San Diego experience, we can help your student succeed in college and beyond.

We hope you’ll be actively involved in that partnership, too! Join our Triton Family Ambassadors to support events and programs, connect with other families, and share resources. Attend our virtual and in-person programs throughout the year. Volunteer with our Career Center to provide real-world experience for UC San Diego Students. Or join our Parent Leadership Council to help support student organizations on campus. And, through it all, know that the Parent and Family Programs team is here to support you as you support your student.

In the meantime, enjoy our first Triton Family Connection Newsletter of the academic year. This quarterly e-newsletter keeps you informed about important events, resources and updates, and helps you stay connected to campus and your student’s experience.

And finally, thank you for entrusting us with your students. We promise they’re in good hands, and we are thrilled to have them — and you! — as part of our Triton community.

Best,

Margot
Director, Parent and Family Programs

Meet the Parent and Family Programs Team

Let's Celebrate: Family Story Awards 2024

UC San Diego believes family relationships are important to a student's college experience, and that families play a valuable role in their students' success and growth in college. In recognition of this, we welcome students and families to self-nominate for the Family Story Award, bestowed during Family Weekend each fall. This year, the Family Story Award recipients will be recognized during our Family Weekend Kickoff on Friday, October 18 during Family Weekend.

Hello from Student Financial Solutions

The TritonPay Office is now open! This central location is dedicated to providing in-person support for all student billing, payment, refund inquiries and cashier services. It is located at Student Services Center Suite 170, First Floor. Come visit us!

Fall Quarter “To Do's:"

• Have you been added as an authorized payer to your student's account? You’ll get copies of the university bill and be able to log in and view your student’s bill anytime you need to.
• Have you explored TritonPay yet? Visit our Tutorials Page to learn all about our billing portal!
• Did your student already sign up for Direct Deposit? Avoid having to wait for a paper check in the mail by having your student sign up for Direct Deposit. 
• Want to split your tuition and registration fees into monthly installments? Visit our Triton Registration Installment Plan (TRIP) page for more details. 
• Avoid late fees and holds by bookmarking our 2024-25 Statement Deadline Dates.
• Has your student already uploaded a photo for their Campus ID Card? If not, tell them to upload a photo via our Photo Tool. 
• Have they already opted to receive their 2023 1098-T Tax Form electronically? If not, have them visit this page to confirm. 

Follow us on Instagram @UCSDSFS to stay in the loop on all things related to your student’s university billing account.

Coming Soon: Campus Housing Move-In 

Room Assignments
Students can now view their room assignment via the Housing Portal by accessing MyRoomAssignment. Students need to select a move-in date and time by September 6, 11:59 p.m. PT or one will be assigned to them. View the schedule of housing community room assignment dates. 

Move-In Arrival Date and Time
Depending on your student's status and housing location, they may be able to select from the following options, see below.

• General move-in takes place beginning September 18 through September 22.*
• Week Zero move-in takes place September 23 through September 27.
• Late arrivals (after September 27) need to connect with their housing community's Residence Life Office. 

* Please note that students assigned to Pepper Canyon West have limited times available on September 19/20. General move-in for Pepper Canyon West begins on September 21. 

For more move-in information, please visit the HDH website.

Dining Plans

Students had the opportunity to select a dining plan during the housing contract process. Your student can change their plan in the Housing Portal on or after their community access date for MyRoomAssignment. Students can "right-size" their plan by making their final selection in the Housing Portal no later than October 2, 11:59PM Pacific time. After October 2, 2024 students will not be able to adjust their dining plans. 

Students, parents and supporters can make additional dining dollar and/or Triton cash deposits as needed throughout the academic year. Triton cash is the required form of payment for all on-campus housing laundry facilities. 

Students are highly encouraged to check their dining dollar and Triton cash balances often using the Transact e-accounts portal online or the Transact e-accounts app on their phone or tablet. Students approved for early housing contract termination may end up owing dining or Triton cash funds if they have spent more monies than have been paid during the academic year. 

Transportation Guide for New Tritons

Wondering how your student can best get to and around campus? Check out the Transportation Guide for New Tritons for helpful information on public transit, micromobility, parking and more!

Rent Vehicles by the Hour via Enterprise CarShare
Transportation Services is proud to announce that all students 18 years or older can join Enterprise CarShare with no application or membership fee. Enterprise CarShare is a membership-based car rental program and a great way to get off campus without the cost of car ownership. Vehicles are conveniently parked on campus and the low, hourly rates include fuel and damage/liability protection. Learn more. 

Teaching and Learning Commons:
Student Support Services and Programs

Supplemental Instruction and Content Tutoring Services
Support for lower-division STEM courses is available through individual one-on-one or small group tutoring and regularly scheduled study sessions through Supplemental Instruction. The Supplemental Instruction program offers students the opportunity to master course material within a community of learners. Program assessment demonstrates that participation in Supplemental Instruction supports students in obtaining a half-letter grade higher than their peers who do not participate in this program. 

Our services are available six days a week, both online and in-person. Students can schedule a tutoring appointment ahead of time or on the same day, and drop-in appointments are available depending on tutor availability. Supplemental Instruction study sessions are held at various times and locations on campus. For the latest information, students should always check the Supplemental Instruction Schedule before attending a session. 

Writing and Communication Services 
Writing and communication services are available online and in-person, six days a week, for students working on a broad range of writing projects. Students can sign up for a one-on-one writing consultation by appointment, or they can stop by the Commons in-person for same-day, drop-in appointments, depending upon consultant availability. Our highly trained peer consultants engage writers in supportive, in-depth conversations about writing, the writing process, and writing skills so that every writer — at every stage of the writing process and across every discipline — can make progress on writing assignments, enhance their overall writing skills, and take that next step in their writing journey.  

Experiential Learning and Academic Internships
Experiential Learning at UC San Diego builds bridges — between academic and co-curricular, theory and practice, college and career — by creating opportunities for students to learn by doing. Students explore, build community and develop the competencies (transferable skills) to lead in a global society through engagement in experiential learning.

Students can explore experiential learning opportunities through the Co-Curricular Record (CCR) featuring over 1,200 campus-connected positions. The CCR is a complimentary transcript highlighting student campus involvement, along with the skills developed beyond the classroom. Opportunities include the Academic Internship Program, which offers a variety of credit-bearing paid and unpaid internship experiences, and the Biology Research Internship Program for students seeking laboratory experiences. There are also quarterly internship opportunities in Washington, DC (UCDC) or Sacramento, (UCCS) through seminars and internships at the nation’s or state capitol.

The Teaching + Learning Commons is located in Geisel Library, First Floor (lower level), West Wing. If you have any questions, please contact Luisa Reyes, Strategic Initiatives and Communications Manager via e-mail/phone at m7reyes@ucsd.edu | (858) 822-1992.

Student Employment Office

Student Employment is an important high-impact practice that provides thousands of opportunities for students to work part-time, develop on-the-job skills, and make connections throughout the campus.

On-Campus Student Employment Fair 
The Student Employment Office is hosting an On-Campus Student Employment Fair on Thursday, October 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at LionTree Arena. This event is hosted in partnership with the UC San Diego Career Center. Learn more. 

Work-Study
If your student has been awarded work-study from the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office, remind them to accept your work-study award when you receive your financial aid letter. If your student has already accepted their financial aid but are unsure if they accepted your work-study award, please have them contact the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office.

Please follow our Instagram @ucsdstudentjobz

Tridents Up on Game Day

All students are invited to come out and show their Triton Spirit on game days! Students get in free to all UC San Diego Athletic events, so we encourage everyone to join us in the Triton Tide student section and cheer our fellow Tritons on strong.

While games are already underway, once on campus students can come out and catch our men's water polo team in their annual Battle of the Kings match against LMU on September 25! Women's volleyball as well as men's and women's soccer matches are also happening now. Men's and women's basketball games will tip off in November.

Students can check out all the upcoming games and giveaway items on the Triton Tide Instagram @ucsdtritontide!

Black Resource Center: Scholarship, Leadership, Community

Military Connected Students, Welcome Aboard

The Student Veterans Resource Center (SVRC) will be hosting a Welcome Aboard webinar for new and incoming students. This presentation will include information about the SVRC, using VA benefits, navigating Financial Aid, working with the Office of Students with Disabilities and more. Students will be able to meet other members of the campus' military-connected community and meet with campus Peer Navigators, who are students dedicated to guiding our newest Tritons to success. 

The Military Connected Welcome Aboard will take place via Zoom on September 12th, 2024 from 10AM – 1PM. Please RSVP online and contact svrc@ucsd.edu if you have any questions!

The Bookstore is your official Triton campus store!

New Family Welcome Reception

Drop by our casual New Family Welcome Reception on Saturday, September 21 to meet and mingle with other new Triton families. We'll have light refreshments, as well as great information and resources to help you as you support your student's UC San Diego journey. Space is limited.

UC San Diego Regional Series

UC San Diego is heading your way! Join us this fall as we visit New York City (Oct. 10), Los Angeles (Oct. 15) and the Bay Area (Oct. 17). This exclusive series offers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow Tritons, hear from distinguished alumni, and engage with campus leaders. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this special event!

Homecoming 2024

This November 8—10, come home to UC San Diego. Reconnect with old friends, create new connections and ignite your curiosity with the latest research. Cheer on your Division I scholar-athletes as we kick off the basketball season and usher in a new era of Triton Athletics.

Get Involved: Triton Family Ambassadors 

As parents and family members, you play an important role in your student's educational journey, and we encourage you to take an active part in our Triton community. There are so many ways to get involved: become a Triton Family Ambassador and volunteer with our events and programs, help build connections and share resources, and represent UC San Diego to current and prospective families. Make a philanthropic gift in honor of your student. Or connect with our Career Center to offer advice, internships or job opportunities for current students.

Every family member has experience and insights that help enrich our community, and however you want to get involved, we look forward to getting to know you!

The Parents Fund: Supporting Student Experiences

The UC San Diego Parents Fund supports student-centric initiatives that promote learning, encourage personal development and well-being, and facilitate a strong sense of community on campus. Each year, funds are awarded to innovative programs and services that are aligned with UC San Diego’s mission and allow for student exploration and discovery in the pursuit of a truly comprehensive education. Your support of the Parents Fund helps undergraduate students by providing resources to foster a balance of academics, personal growth, and extracurricular activities. As we welcome our New Tritons to campus, please consider making a gift today.

For information more about the Parents Fund and other ways to make UC San Diego a philanthropic priority for your family, please contact our Director of Parent and Family Giving, Marla Libraty, at mlibraty@ucsd.edu and/or (858) 822-4872.

The UC San Diego Founders' Pledge

This opportunity provides company founders, equity holders, and investors an innovative way to join their peers in making a nonbinding commitment to give back. When you commit to UC San Diego as part of the Founders’ Pledge, you join an exclusive community of entrepreneurs and leaders. You'll also be connected with faculty and campus staff who can provide a wide variety of UC San Diego resources. For more information, please visit the Founders' Pledge website.