Chula Vista City Council approves key deal points to welcome SDSU program expansion to city

The Chula Vista City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a Letter of Intent with San Diego State University to bring SDSU School of Nursing and SDSU Global Campus programs into the lower level of the city’s Millenia Library building. The new partnership will bring in-demand higher education opportunities long sought in Chula Vista.

The Letter of Intent contains key deal points for SDSU to enter into a 10-year lease agreement with the city for $1 annually. 

“Chula Vista has worked diligently for decades to bring university programs to the City,” said Mayor John McCann. “With this new phase, we welcome high-demand academic programs in nursing and continuing education for our South County residents.” 

Under the Letter of Intent, SDSU will occupy more than 7,000 square feet on the lower level of the Millenia Library building, which is expected to be completed next year. The city will fund all tenant improvements in the SDSU space. 

Multiple academic programs from the SDSU School of Nursing are expected to operate in the space, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, a transfer pathway with Southwestern College’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) to SDSU’s BSN program, and SDSU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Advanced Practice Program. SDSU Global Campus, which offers a variety of lifelong learning classes, academic seminars, and certificate programs, will operate out of the space.

SDSU President Adela de la Torre said SDSU is thrilled to support the City of Chula Vista's vision to establish a university presence in the South Bay. 

“This effort aligns perfectly with SDSU’s mission of expanding access to education to students and strengthening our longstanding partnerships with local schools,” de la Torre said. “By offering highly sought after degrees and workforce programs, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering a highly skilled workforce in the region. I extend my deepest gratitude to the leadership within the City of Chula Vista, the California State University system, and Assemblymember David Alvarez for their dedicated advocacy in support of this transformative initiative.”

Alvarez played a key role in establishing the City of Chula Vista-SDSU partnership by securing $25 million in state funding for the construction of the Millenia Library, with the intent of bringing higher education to South County.

“I was proud to secure $25 million in the state budget for the Millenia Library, which will be the catalyst for future educational and college programs, including the SDSU School of Nursing and Global Campus,” said Alvarez. “I was pleased to provide funding in the most recent state budget in order to ensure that our students have increased opportunities in the South Bay.” 

State Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Toni Atkins also secured $5 million for the project, and State Sen. Steve Padilla, a former Chula Vista mayor and City Council member, has also been a driving force behind the City’s university development efforts for more than two decades. 

“The Millenia Library and the opportunities it will bring to our community is a cause I have dedicated myself to for decades,” Padilla said. “With the presence of higher learning institutions as well as cutting edge enterprise, this library brings educational access that has long been denied to this region. These transformational agreements and the change they bring will impact our community for generations to come.” 

Councilmember Jose Preciado noted the many families in Chula Vista and the greater South Bay whose lives have been transformed through the educational opportunities offered by SDSU. 

“The School of Nursing and Global Campus programs at Millenia Library will expand academic and degree opportunities for hundreds of students,” Preciado said. “I am excited for the future of the University Innovation District and am proud that SDSU is the first university to put down roots here.”