At the Dec. 10 Chula Vista City Council meeting, the city council unanimously approved a Letter of Intent with San Diego State University to bring SDSU School of Nursing and Global Campus programs into the lower level of the Millenia Library to bring in-demand higher education opportunities to Chula Vista. This agreement contains key points to enter into a 10-year lease agreement with the city for $1 annually.
On Dec. 11, Mayor John McCann and SDSU President Dr. Adela de la Torre participated in a signing ceremony at the Chula Vista City Hall Complex.
“Chula Vista has worked diligently for decades to bring university programs to the city,” said McCann in a press release. “With this new phase, we welcome high-demand academic programs in nursing and continuing education for our South County residents.”
Multiple academic programs from the SDSU School of Nursing are expected to operate in the space, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BSN), a transfer pathway with Southwestern College’s associate degree in nursing to SDSU’s BSN program, and SDSU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Advanced Practice Program. SDSU Global Campus, which offers a variety of lifelong learning classes, academic seminars, and certificate programs, will operate out of the space.
President de la Torre said SDSU is thrilled to support the City of Chula Vista’s vision to establish a university presence in the South Bay, and that this effort aligns with SDSU’s mission of expanding access to education to students.
“By offering highly sought-after degrees and workforce programs, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering a highly skilled workforce in the region. I extend my deepest gratitude to the leadership within the City of Chula Vista, the California State University system, and Assembly member David Alvarez for their dedicated advocacy in support of this transformative initiative,” said de la Torre.
Alvarez secured $25 million in state funding for the Millenia Library, with the intent to bring higher education to South County, which he said will be the catalyst for future educational and college programs.
“I was pleased to provide funding in the most recent state budget in order to ensure that our students have increased opportunities in the South Bay,” said Alvarez.
Council member Jose Preciado said the many families in Chula Vista and the greater South Bay whose lives have been transformed through the educational opportunities offered by SDSU. He said he is excited for the future of the University Innovation District and proud that SDSU is frontline in putting roots down in South County.
“The School of Nursing and Global Campus programs at Millenia Library will expand academic and degree opportunities for hundreds of students,” he said.
State Senate President pro Tem Emeritus Toni Atkins also secured $5 million for the project, and State Senator Steve Padilla, a former Chula Vista mayor and city councilmember, has also been a driving force behind the City’s university development efforts for more than two decades. He said the Millenia Library and the opportunities it will bring to the local community is a cause he has dedicated to himself for decades.
“With the presence of higher learning institutions as well as cutting edge enterprises, this library brings educational access that has long been denied to this region. These transformational agreements and the change they bring will impact our community for generations to come,” said Padilla.
Under the Letter of Intent, SDSU will occupy more than 7,000 square feet on the lower level of the Millenia Library building, which is expected to be completed next year. The City will fund all tenant improvements in the SDSU space.
