With 6,251 undergraduates arriving at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) this week, the university will usher in the largest cohort of new students in its history, marking 2019-20 as the third consecutive year of transformational enrollment growth for the university.
As of Aug. 19, 2,571 freshman and 3,637 transfer students were enrolled in CSUDH, which represents a 25 percent increase of new Toros compared to the fall semester 2018. These numbers will change when final census is taken in September; however, the university’s overall student population is estimated to reach 16,600 this fall.
The increase in the student population is due, in part, to California State University’s (CSU) newly implemented redirection policy to address impaction across the system. First-time freshman, upper-division transfer, and Associate Degree for Transfer students who were qualified but unable to enroll in CSU campuses that had reached capacity were given the option to enroll in alternative CSU campuses, such as CSUDH.
“The fact that students are now coming in record numbers speaks volumes about both the university’s commitment to provide access to the state’s citizenry and student’s intellectual hunger and desire to pursue a quality education at regional comprehensive universities like California State University, Dominguez Hills,” said CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham. “Our campus is the soil that will nourish and nurture the academic dreams and aspirations of these students and help them to prepare to meet the demands of a workplace that desperately needs the talent and skills our culturally diverse students have to offer.”
To get an early start, 1,190 freshmen enrolled in math and English classes in the summer. A total of 6,832 incoming students attended summer orientation, providing them to opportunity to interact with fellow students and CSUDH staff to learn about campus resources, and how to navigate the student portal.
Classroom Village
CSUDH’s Facilities Services Department was busy this summer preparing the campus to meet the larger enrollment. One major addition this fall is the new Classroom Village.
Completed in just four months, the one-story, 12,500 square-foot building is located south of SAC-3 and west of Parking Lot 7. There are seven classrooms, one computer lab with 50 stations, and a “flex lab” classroom with 50 additional computer stations. The Classroom Village also features faculty offices and meeting rooms.
Students will also enjoy The Perch, a shady outdoor patio space in the Classroom Village for them to gather, study, and eat a fresh meals from two food trucks that will be parked nearby.
New Dining Options, Toro Tokens
Adding to the Classroom Village food trucks are few new dining options in the Loker Student Union. The Green Olive opened this week, featuring the Mediterranean cuisine, which was taste-tested and well-received on campus last semester through the restaurant’s food truck. Everytable, which prepares healthy, made-from-scratch meals starting at $5 is expected to open later this fall.
Environmentally conscious students now have another way on campus to help reduce landfill waste. CSUDH’s Campus Dining Services and the Office of Sustainability have created the Toro Tokens program, which allows customers of Toro Fresh to opt for reusable containers when ordering food.
Toro Tokens participants will pay a one-time fee of $5 at the register when they purchase a meal from Toro Fresh. The fee, which helps support sustainable activities on campus, encourages diners to return their dirty reusable containers after finishing their meals in exchange for a token to redeem for a clean reusable container each time they dine at the Toro Fresh buffet.
Alternative Housing
To provide additional accommodations for the influx of new students, the university has secured housing at Marymount California University’s (MCU) San Pedro Residential Community (SPRC), which is located nine miles from campus. Offered to freshmen on the University Housing waiting list, MCU has set aside 104 beds in 19 townhomes in the gated student village for Toros.
“This is a great opportunity for the university as construction on our new Student Housing Building moves forward,” said Matthew Smith, associate vice president of Student Life and dean of students. “We already have 60 students living there, and more may move in during the coming weeks. Our students have the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with their CSUDH peers, and engage in meaningful co-curricular experiences with MCU students. It’s just a wonderful opportunity for our freshmen to live and learn in a diverse and supportive environment.”
