A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Student Services Building at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus will take place on Friday, May 9, at 9:30 a.m.

The event will celebrate the next major step in the expansion of the Palm Desert Campus, aimed at enhancing the student experience and improving access to essential support services.

University officials, local dignitaries, community partners and campus supporters will gather to mark this exciting milestone.

An RSVP is requested for those interested in attending.

In 2022, the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus celebrated a $79 million state budget allocation to build Phase I of the new Student Services Building – thanks, in part, to the efforts of former California State Assemblymembers Eduardo Garcia and Chad Mayes.

While the other buildings on campus were funded locally, the state’s investment of $79 million to build a new Student Services Building is a testament to the community’s advocacy for expanded educational opportunities in the Coachella Valley.

When complete, the new 23,700-assignable-square-foot building will include an advising/tutoring center, career center, expanded campus library, group study space, a cross cultural center, campus bookstore, food services, a student health center and a recreation and wellness center, and provide enhanced services and support for students at the Palm Desert Campus.

It will free up approximately 10,000 square feet of existing space in the campus’ Mary Stuart Rogers Gateway Building, Indian Wells Center for Educational Excellence and Palm Desert Health Sciences Building to be repurposed for the expansion of academic programs on the campus, including additional faculty office and classroom space.

“This groundbreaking is a reflection of our continued commitment to student success,” said Tomás D. Morales, president of Cal State San Bernardino. “The new Student Services Building will serve as a hub for resources that empower students to thrive academically, socially and professionally.”

Edna Martinez, the associate vice president and administrator in charge at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, echoed Morales’ sentiments.

“This groundbreaking marks an exciting new chapter for our campus and the Coachella Valley,” she said. “The Student Services Building is set to transform the student experience and strengthen our ability to attract and retain local talent.” 

The new Student Services Building is intended to support up to 4,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) students and is designed for maximal flexibility as the campus continues to grow.

Located in the heart of the Coachella Valley, the Palm Desert Campus is dedicated to providing a transformative educational experience for students and plays a vital role in expanding access to higher education in the region. With the campus seeing an increase in student enrollment, the new Student Services Building is part of a long-term vision to grow the campus and better serve the needs of its diverse student population.

For more information about the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus, contact Mike Singer in the Office of Marketing and Communications at msinger@csusb.edu or (760) 341-2883, ext. 78107, or visit the PDC website at www.csusb.edu/pdc.