Cal State LA’s campus was abuzz as more than 1,200 students moved into the university’s residential communities, bringing with them rolling carts, packed boxes, and the excitement of a new academic year.
Fall 2026 Move-In Week began Monday, Aug. 17, at the Golden Eagle Apartments, followed by move-ins Aug. 18-21 for students living in South Village and University Apartments.
Throughout the week, students arrived with cars packed with suitcases, bedding, and other college essentials. Families helped carry belongings into residence halls, while Housing and Residence Life staff and volunteers greeted students and helped them navigate the move-in process.
For many freshmen, move-in marked their first big step into college life.
“I’m most excited for all the people I’m going to meet,” said Rofiudin Asri, a first-year student who arrived on campus with his mother, grandmother, and two sisters.
Yael Olea, a returning student who settled into a new room after driving in from Humboldt County, said it was great to be back on campus. He was looking ahead to his second year living on campus and his final year at Cal State LA.
“This is my second year moving in, and my experience was really good. I moved in early to dodge all the traffic,” he said.
That sense of excitement was echoed by Housing and Residence Life staff, who spent the week welcoming students and helping them settle into their new campus communities.
Housing and Residence Life Director Luis Roldan described this year’s move-in as a successful experience.
“The move-in process is always an experiment,” Roldan said. “This year, we made some changes that we hope improved the experience. We avoided long lines, heavy traffic, and the overwhelming feeling and rush we feel when everyone moves in at the same time. These changes made the experience far more pleasant and personal for each student and those supporting them. We hope to do more research and continue to explore and expand on what worked and where we need to improve.”
For families, move-in day was also a milestone—a moment to celebrate how far their students had come while preparing to send them off on a new journey.
“It was great. Everybody was really helpful,” said Adrian Valencia, who accompanied her brother Aiden Valencia, a nursing major, as he moved into his campus residence.
Move-in activities concluded Saturday, Aug. 22, from 8 a.m. to noon at South Village and University Apartments.
The fall semester began on Monday, Aug. 24, when students returned to classrooms across Cal State LA for the start of the new academic year.
To kick off the fall semester, Cal State LA is hosting Weeks of Welcome, a multiweek lineup of campus events, open houses, and social activities designed to help Golden Eagles connect with their peers and discover student resources.
