Members of the Southern California Development Forum (SCDF) convened on February 13^th, 2024, at the California Club in Los Angeles to unpack the rapidly evolving world of higher education satellite campuses with moderator Deborah Wylie and featured panelists Robert Schulz, Associate Vice President of Real Estate Planning and Development for SDSU and Peter Hendrickson, AIA; Associate Vice Chancellor of Design and Construction at UCLA, for the February 2024 event.

Satellite campuses have emerged as pivotal instruments for extending the influence and efficacy of universities. From mitigating existing infrastructure impediments at an educational institution’s primary campus to nurturing innovation and promoting equity and sustainability, these campuses are fundamentally reshaping the trajectory and accessibility of education.

Overcoming Infrastructure Hurdles

UCLA boasts a distinguished legacy spanning over a century, standing tall as a beacon of perpetual academic excellence and innovation. However, even with its illustrious history and esteemed reputation, UCLA contends with significant infrastructure challenges, including deferred maintenance for seismic mitigation, all stemming from funding constraints. The university grapples with a daunting $2 billion (about $6 per person in the US) backlog, necessitating novel and strategic approaches to sustain its growth and expansion, and to ensure the university continues to provide a quality education to students across the board.

In contrast lies San Diego State University (SDSU), a venerable educational institution with a 126-year heritage, firmly rooted in the southernmost reaches of California. Operating on a budget merely a fraction of that of UC institutions, state schools like SDSU face an uphill battle when it comes to growth and renovations.

Meanwhile, in the bustling city of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) plays a pivotal role in democratizing access to higher education and fostering socioeconomic progress across Los Angeles County. Like UCLA and SDSU, LACCD encounters funding hurdles and the uphill challenge of swiftly erecting facilities to meet the growing demands of students and communities.

Expanding Reach and Accessibility: The Ascendance of Satellite Campuses

One of the country’s earliest satellite campuses dates back to the University of Wisconsin-Madison's establishment of an experimental "Junior College Center" in 1935; making it the precursor to the modern satellite campus paradigm. Conceived to afford access to higher education for students unable to traverse to the main campus, this initiative laid the groundwork for a global proliferation of satellite campuses, empowering universities to broaden their educational footprint and democratize access.

In Southern California, the likes of UCLA, SDSU, and LACCD have embraced the incorporation of satellite campuses into their frameworks. These campuses play an instrumental role in enhancing student body diversity, dismantling barriers to access and opportunity, and amplifying institutional brands.

“How do we become more of a global university and get it all taken care of so that there's more opportunity? We have a long road to go, but that's going to be key in developing these accounts,” said panelist Peter Hendrickson, AIA; Associate Vice Chancellor of Design and Construction at UCLA.

The transition of Marymount University to the 24.5-acre UCLA South Bay campus heralds a significant milestone, ushering in broader access to UCLA education in previously untapped communities. Furthermore, their acquisition of the nearby 11-acre navy site in San Pedro, poised to accommodate 500 dorms for students, stands as the largest land acquisition in UCLA's history. The two satellite campuses will allow for instruction for nearly 1,000 students in an otherwise untapped market.

Concurrently, in Calexico, San Diego State University has expanded its reach with the SDSU Imperial Valley Campus as well as its Brawley satellite campus. The Imperial Valley satellite campus offers a gamut of undergraduate and graduate programs spanning education, business administration, criminal justice, and social work, among others. SDSU Imperial Valley engages with the local community through outreach programs, partnerships, and initiatives aimed at addressing regional needs and catalyzing economic and social development. Similarly, SDSU's Brawley campus tailors its educational offerings to the specific needs of the region, spotlighting sectors such as education, healthcare, and agriculture; thus, aligning with the geographic and vocational interests of its Brawley student base.

Though their architectural motifs may vary, these campuses exude a captivating allure, meticulously designed to optimize the student experience.

“I tell people, you don't know how important architecture is to us. It's on our logo. So, we'll take it super serious,” shared panelist Robert Schulz, Associate Vice President of Real Estate Planning and Development for SDSU.

Pioneering Change in Los Angeles

For many, community college serves as the cradle of their higher education odyssey. There to fulfill that need is the Los Angeles Community College District. The LACCD has expanded to include a set of satellite campuses across Los Angeles County, democratizing access to education for a heterogeneous populace. These satellite campuses include unique course sections, specialized programs, and cater to distinctive communities within the district. Thanks to a bond passed by voters in November 2022, $5.3 billion was allocated to support the LACCD’s expansion with $500 million of that going to student housing.

Between the East Los Angeles College South Gate Campus, the Los Angeles Mission College East Campus, LACCD's Los Angeles Valley College Van Nuys Extension and West Los Angeles College extension, satellite campuses have given LACCD the opportunity to support students who otherwise would’ve been overlooked. Just because they’re satellite campuses doesn’t mean they are any less architecturally marvelous. They each include design elements reflective of their service area and environmentally sustainable features.  Each campus emerges as a vital conduit for delivering educational opportunities that resonate with local communities and their career priorities, producing socioeconomic ascension throughout LA County.

Innovation and Sustainability at the Helm

With an audacious pledge to attain carbon neutrality by 2025, the UC system is spearheading satellite campus sustainability endeavors. An unswerving dedication to environmental stewardship is of paramount importance for universities as they chart the course and expand their satellite campus networks, all while garnering community endorsement and ensuring campus vitality along the way.

Both UCs and Cal State colleges continue to redouble their efforts toward decarbonization, per both Schulz and Hendrickson, underscoring the pivotal role of sustainability in forthcoming campuses. Schulz and Hendrickson went on to share that the communities surrounding their newest satellite locations have expressed a profound vested interest in the environmental ramifications of the new campuses; emphasizing a collective commitment to sustainability.

The realization of a greener future hinges on collaborative endeavors, the panelists avowed. From trustees to architects to developers, the construction of satellite campuses necessitates concerted collaborative efforts, diverse leadership and community engagement expertise, and an unwavering focus on the local community ethos.

A Resolute Future for Education

Satellite campuses embody more than mere physical expansions—they epitomize the essence of progress, innovation, and inclusivity; virtues that every educational institution holds dear. As universities continue to invest in these transformative campuses, they chart a trailblazing trajectory toward a future where education transcends spatial confines. By confronting existing infrastructure challenges, expanding reach and accessibility, embracing innovation and sustainability, and fostering collaboration, satellite campuses are leading the shift in higher education dynamics.