Let the Learning Begin - Classes Commence at UCSD

The fall quarter began Monday at UC San Diego for 30,000 students with more than 150 welcome week activities for students.

After three days of a new student convocation, a ceremony marking the official entrance to the campus community for 4,600 freshman and 2,200 transfer students, a dance, scavenger hunt and beach cleanup, classes started Thursday morning.

This quarter marks the start of new undergraduate and graduate degree programs on campus, including a bachelors of science in marine biology, master of advanced studies in medical devices engineering and Master of Science in earth science.

In addition, UC San Diego noted that 12,574 students will be living in more than 400 building of campus housing this quarter - a record number. In addition, incoming freshman will be the first class to receive a four-year housing guarantee and incoming transfer students a guaranteed two years of housing. The four-year agreement is the first of its kinds in the University of California system, according to UC San Diego.

"This record number of students housed for 2012-13 is the culmination of a five-year building program in which the UC San Diego housing capacity has nearly doubled," said Mark Cunningham, assistant vice chancellor of Housing and Dining, in an announcement.

Another milestone is the completion of the East Campus Parking Structure with 1,245 new parking spaces.