Pioneering UCR-RCCD partnership opens 1,500-bed student housing complex to community college students

UCR and Riverside Community College District cut the ribbon yesterday on a $347.8 million student housing complex that marks the first time a University of California campus has opened its residence halls to community college students.

The North District 2 complex features 1,568 beds in two buildings ranging from five to seven stories. The partnership allows community college students on transfer pathways to live on the UCR campus alongside university students, giving them access to libraries, recreation facilities and dining services while they complete their associate degrees.

The project addresses housing insecurity affecting many community college students who face high area rents. Half of the complex's 652 below-market beds, priced at $750 to $850 monthly, are reserved for RCCD students, with the other half going to UCR students. The remaining 916 beds rent at standard campus rates of $1,300 to $1,700.

RCCD selected 248 residents from 1,000 initial applicants. Students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits, maintain good academic standing, be eligible for financial aid and commit to transferring to a four-year university. The RCCD students moved in last month, with UCR students following in mid-September before fall quarter started.

State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, a UCR alumna, spoke at the ceremony about her pride in representing both UCR and RCCD students in her district. UCR Chancellor S. Jack Hu emphasized the project's role in expanding access to higher education and creating supportive living environments for student success.

RCCD student Nyeem Tolbert highlighted the opportunities the program creates, allowing him to experience full campus life at UCR while still a community college student.

Thomas Cruz-Soto, Dean of Student Services at Riverside City College, told UCR News in August that many students struggling with housing instability cannot focus on planning their futures, but the program allows them to envision what attending UCR could look like.

UCR and RCCD accelerated construction by nearly a year after jointly securing $126 million in state funding. McCarthy Building Companies completed the 415,000-square-foot complex in 21 months.

With North District 2, UCR has added nearly 4,000 beds over five years, raising the percentage of students housed on campus from 32% to 35%. The campus maintains a substantial housing waitlist.

The development rises on the 50-acre North District tract, formerly home to a World War II-era family housing complex that served married students and their children for decades. While the low-density village held nostalgic value for many, university officials said the aging buildings no longer met the needs of UCR's growing enrollment.

The 429-unit complex offers fully furnished apartments with full kitchens and modern amenities. Community features include a fitness center, study spaces, courtyards with recreational areas, three playing fields and a 2.4-acre park. The Den market, featuring coffee and sandwiches, will open along a pedestrian arcade facing Canyon Crest Drive.

RCCD students, primarily from RCC, room together but are interspersed throughout both buildings. RCCD advisers maintain office space at North District and participate in resident meetings.

The North District tract still offers room for future housing phases as UCR continues expanding to meet enrollment growth.