Classes are almost in session at Cal State Long Beach, which means students began moving into their dorms this week.
CSULB students and families began arriving at the campus on Thursday, Aug. 20, and will continue moving in until Sunday afternoon, Aug. 23. The fall semester is set to begin on Monday.
Hundreds of students and their families carried pillows, blankets, and even televisions, as well as pushed university-provided carts with personal belongings on Friday. Some students were stressed and others were smiling – all trying to prepare for a new school year.
California State University Long Beach freshman move into student housing ahead of the fall semester on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
President Loren J. Blanchard, left, welcomes students to campus during move-in day at California State University Long Beach on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Mikael Boakye moves into California State University Long Beach’s student housing on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From left, Jessica Dora helps her daughter Jaida Dusel move into California State University Long Beach’s student housing on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
From left, Marisela Gamboa helps her son Alejandro Gamboa move into California State University Long Beach’s student housing on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
California State University Long Beach freshman move into student housing ahead of the fall semester on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Priyanka Kumar moves into California State University Long Beach’s student housing on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
CSULB’s La Playa Hall under construction on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
CSULB’s La Playa Hall under construction on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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California State University Long Beach freshman move into student housing ahead of the fall semester on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
For Jaida Dusel, she was excited to be moving into her dorm in Parkside Village. This will be her freshman year and she is majoring in public relations.
“I’m definitely looking forward to decorating my room,” Dusel said. “My roommate and I have been coordinating for a long time.”
Dusel will soon be joined by more than 42,000 students who are enrolled at CSULB this year, according to the university’s website.
This year, some students will have the opportunity to be the first to dorm at the university’s newest student housing — La Playa Hall. The student housing project was funded, in part, by the state under Senate Bill 183 that established the “Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program” to increase the current stock of affordable student housing across the three public higher education segments in California. The building was designed to be similar in quality and student experience to the Parkside North Student Housing building.
The new student housing was set to be ready this fall semester; however, on Friday, construction crews were still working on the building. Students who are set to move into those dorms are worried the building will not be ready in time.
CSULB President Loren Blanchard said that students and families should not worry.
“We’re still on track for students to be there and to begin moving in this Sunday,” he said in an interview on Friday. “That’s the goal. We’ll know by tonight, tentatively, but we’re on track.”
Blanchard was welcoming students and their families on Friday at the Parkside Village as they walked into the dining area. Earlier that day, Blanchard also delivered a speech at the university’s annual convocation, held at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.
“This is one of the most exciting days for the university in terms of having students enter our doors with so much promise and hope, and all that we’re doing to make sure that we’re able to deliver on those promises for our students,” Blanchard said. “It’s also bittersweet seeing parents separate from their young ones, but we’re giving them the sense that they’re in good hands.”