One lane of El Colegio Road will be closed in front of the Santa Catalina residence hall as students move in prior to UCSB’s start of the fall quarter next week.
One lane of El Colegio Road will be closed in front of the Santa Catalina residence hall as students move in prior to UCSB’s start of the fall quarter next week. All students are being tested for COVID-19 before moving into university housing.  (Joshua Molina / Noozhawk photo)

UC Santa Barbara is welcoming two classes of students to campus for the first time since it closed in-person instruction in March 2020.

In anticipation of two classes navigating the campus in person for the first time, the university has set up several activities and programs to facilitate the transition, according to Shelly Leachman, UCSB’s deputy news director.

The fall quarter officially starts next week and the first day of classes is Thursday, Sept. 23.

Beginning Saturday, the university, with help from Student Affairs staff, is setting up kiosks across campus called, “Ask Me: I’m Here to Help!”

Kiosks will be staffed until Oct. 1 to guide anyone who needs help. In addition, the university will be offering student-led tours of the campus next week. 

The university is also specifically targeting second-years by putting on a Welcome Back Lunch on Sept. 20 at Storke Plaza from noon to 2 p.m.

The lunch will be hosted by Chancellor Henry Yang and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Margaret Klawuun. The event will include lunch, tours of the campus and Isla Vista, information on campus resources and social interaction with other second-year students, Leachman said. 

The university has also created a new program for second-year students to be put in groups and mentored by university staff and other, more experienced, students.

The goal of these groups is to help second-year students transition into in-person instruction and provide an environment for social connections. Over 400 students have signed up for this program.

UCSB also sent out information this week about move-in activities on campus and in nearby neighborhoods, including Isla Vista. 

Traffic will be noticeably high from Wednesday through the weekend due to the high volume of vehicles bringing students to campus, university officials said. 

Several parking lots will be closed and reserved for move-in activities, and one lane of westbound El Colegio Road will be closed for curbside loading and unloading at the Santa Catalina residence hall. 

Click here for more information about closures and affected areas for Wednesday through Sunday.