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Dear Triton parents and families,

Welcome! We are so excited to kick off a new school year and delighted to have you and your student join our community. We know the vital role parents and family members play in the lives of students, and we also know the sacrifices you have made — and the emotional adjustment it takes — to send your student to a new home away from home.

Joining a new community, whether as a first-year or transfer student, is a big transition. It’s exciting and energizing, but it can also be challenging and overwhelming. From navigating new academic expectations to building new relationships, there’s a lot to take in.

We truly believe your student will have the best possible UC San Diego experience if we partner with you and your family to support them through their educational journey. We know that when families are informed, involved and invested, students thrive. By working together, we can help your student succeed in college and beyond.

We hope you’ll be actively involved in that partnership, too! Consider joining our Triton Family Ambassadors to support events and connect with other families. Attend our virtual and in-person programs throughout the year. Or explore becoming a member of our Parents Council to make an even greater impact through personal involvement and philanthropic support. And through it all, know that the Parent and Family Programs team is here to support you as you support your student.

In the meantime, enjoy our first Triton Family Connection Newsletter of the academic year. This quarterly e-newsletter keeps you informed about important events, resources and updates, and helps you stay connected to campus and your student's experience.

And finally, thank you for entrusting us with your student. We promise they’re in good hands, and we are thrilled to have them — and you! — as part of our Triton community.

Best,
Margot

Margot Clifford
Director, Parent and Family Programs

Kick off your UC San Diego journey at our Triton Family Welcome Social! Join us for a relaxed afternoon on Saturday, Sept. 19, between 1 and 3 p.m. to meet fellow Triton families and enjoy a sweet treat. There's no program, so stop by any time!

New Student and Family Welcome
Saturday, Sept. 19
3-5 p.m.

New students and families are invited to hear from a student, staff and faculty panel and enjoy dinner while connecting with the community.

Harambee Community Retreat
Tuesday, Sept. 22
10 a.m.–2 p.m.

This welcoming program invites new students to connect, discover campus resources and build community while preparing for a successful year ahead.

Bienvenida Familiar
Saturday, Sept. 19
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Join fellow incoming first years and transfer students for this family event. Stop by anytime during the lunch break to mix and mingle with other Triton familias, play loteria and win prizes! Student and career staff will provide resources. Appetizers and refreshments will be provided. 

Family Weekend 2026
Friday, Oct. 16-Sunday, Oct. 18 

This October, join your student for an unforgettable Family Weekend at UC San Diego! Dive into campus life, explore world-class facilities and create lasting memories that bring families closer together. To start planning your visit, view our Family Weekend webpage!

Triton One, launching Fall 2026, is a university-wide program that will provide UC San Diego undergraduate students with access to their required textbooks and coursepacks at a flat rate of $199 per quarter. Materials in this program are provided in a digital format on Canvas and are available to students no later than the first day of classes.

For more Triton One information, visit tritonone.ucsd.edu.

Incoming students began booking Fall Quarter courses this week! Essential information regarding new triton advising, the virtual advising center and the course booking process has been sent to your student via email. We encourage students and families to review the new student advising FAQ. 

Because some transcript and test score processing is delayed, your student may need to submit a TEA request (for pre-authorization) for certain courses with prerequisites they previously completed. Encourage them to review our incoming student booking guidance for step by step instructions specific to their situation.

The Triton Health and Wellness Building is new open to all students!

The new four-story Triton Health and Wellness Building is located on campus at 9520 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093 (east of Center Hall) and features nearly 80,000 square feet of integrated care for all registered students and members of the UC San Diego community.

In the new facility, every aspect of care is delivered from a centralized location. From primary and urgent care to mental health support, this new location serves as a comprehensive stop for student health services needs on campus. Explore the new Triton Health and Wellness Building on Instagram to learn more. 

If your student has been awarded work-study from the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, remind them to accept their work-study award when they receive their financial aid award letter. If they have already accepted their financial aid, but are unsure if they accepted their work-study award, please encourage them to contact the financial aid and scholarships office.

Before arriving on campus, students will need to make sure they have the documents needed to complete Form I-9, which is the form used to verify your employment eligibility. Bring one or a combination of original, unexpired documents from the approved form I-9 document list to help make the hiring process smoother.

Be part of the best student section in The Big West — Triton Tide!

UC San Diego undergraduate students receive free admission to all Triton Athletics regular season home events. Follow @UCSDTritonTide on social media for the latest information on upcoming events, giveaways and more! Go Tritons!

New insurance options
Effective Sept. 21, 2026, UC San Diego Student Health will accept and bill most PPO health insurance plans through Aetna, Anthem, Blue Shield, Cigna and UC Care. Remind your student to have a copy or photo of a current insurance card available. 

Heath fee waiver period open
The fee waiver for UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) is now open and will close on Sept. 11. Students with comparable health insurance coverage who wish to waive UC SHIP, must submit the health fee waiver application through TSS or student tools on MyTritonLink. For the latest updates, please visit the UC SHIP waiver information page or contact the insurance team at Ship3@ucsd.edu or 858-249-4250. 

Health requirements
The SHS nurse team is actively helping incoming 2026–27 students fulfill their health requirements for entering UC San Diego. The immunization requirement deadline was July 15 and holds preventing winter enrollment will be placed on Nov. 7.

Sick? Injured? Need advice? Students can call the SHS main line at 858-249-3400 to speak with a registered nurse for guidance, anytime. The SHS where to get care guide is also available to help students determine if they need a primary care appointment, urgent care visit or emergency services.

Have you been added as an authorized payer by your student to TritonPay yet? Have your student follow the instructions outlined in this video to receive copies of the university bill and be able to log in and pay your student’s bill anytime you need to.

Did your student already sign up for Direct Deposit? Avoid waiting for a paper check in the mail and have your student sign up for direct deposit online here. 

Want to split your tuition and registration fees into monthly installments? Visit the Triton Registration Installment Plan (TRIP) page here for more details.

Avoid missing a bill by bookmarking our 2026-27 Statement Deadline Dates here. Follow SFS on Instagram @UCSDSFS to stay in the loop on all things billing.

The Teaching and Learning Commons is the foundation of the university’s student-centered instructional approach. Services are available five days a week, both online and in-person and include:

Supplemental instruction service
Offers students the opportunity to engage with course material within a community of learners, and earn, on average, a half-letter grade higher than non-participating peers.

Writing and communication services
Our highly trained peer consultants engage writers in supportive, in-depth conversations about the writing process and writing skills so that every writer across every discipline can make progress.

Experiential learning and academic internships
Creates opportunities for students to “learn by doing.” Students explore applied-learning opportunities, build community on and off-campus and develop the transferable skills to lead in a global society. 

Triton CORE is UC San Diego’s mobile response team that provides professional, compassionate, on-campus support to students experiencing a behavioral health crisis. This service provides a mental health focused response as an alternative to involving law enforcement for students experiencing emotional or behavioral distress.

If urgent mental health support is needed, parents can encourage their student to contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 858-249-0030. Calls are triaged by an urgent care provider, who can determine next steps.  Parents may also call the UC San Diego Police Department’s non-emergency dispatch line at 858-534-4357 and request Triton CORE. Triton CORE is available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides comprehensive, student-centered mental health support, including counseling, workshops, specialized treatment programs and more to help students flourish during their time on campus and beyond.

Services include: Counseling (individual and group), psychiatry, psychological testing, 24/7 crisis support, sport and performance psychology, Triton Lighthouse: Immersive Care Program, and more. 

You want your student to feel seen, supported and connected to a community that is invested in who they are becoming. Willo is designed to help make that happen. 

Built with university-vetted resources, Willo brings together the eight dimensions of wellbeing in one personalized place. This is where academics, career development, basic needs, mental health and wellness, physical health, community and belonging, arts and culture and spirituality come together to support students' growth and success. If your student wants to share what they need most, they can book a short conversation at ucsddiscovery.com.

STRIDE exemplifies UC San Diego’s commitment to advancing gender inclusion across campus. The program offers support to Trans, Intersex, and Gender Diverse undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The team includes two gender-affirming care coordinators who bring clinical expertise and ensure their services effectively support the broader community. 

Bikes, e-bikes and scooters can be convenient and fun ways for your student to get around campus, but with that convenience comes an important responsibility: micromobility safety.

Micromobility accidents are the leading cause of students being sent to emergency rooms on campus. The leading factor in these crashes? Excessive speed. The good news is that two simple habits can significantly reduce the risk of a serious injury: slow down and wear a helmet—every trip, every time.

We encourage parents to have a quick conversation with their students before they arrive on campus. The message is simple: Slow down. Follow the rules. Wear a helmet. Stay alert. Arrive safely. For more information on campus micromobility and registering personal e-scooters, visit Transporation Services micromobility website. 

As parents and family members, you play an important role in your student's educational journey, and we encourage you to take an active part in our Triton community. Consider joining our Triton Family Ambassadors to support campus events, foster connections among families and represent UC San Diego to both current and prospective parents.

Every family member has experience and insights that help enrich our community. Become a Triton Family Ambassador and help create the connections that make our Triton family thrive.

Parents Council members are university advocates who enrich the student experience through personal involvement, support and responsibility for the designations of the Parents Fund. The Parents Council is the premier parents philanthropic group on campus, and members are instrumental in keeping UC San Diego’s mission moving forward. As your UC San Diego student returns to their academic home away from home, consider getting involved with our growing council of fellow Triton families. 

For more information about the Parents Council and how you can make UC San Diego a philanthropic priority for your family, please reach out to Marla Libraty, director of development for parent and family giving, at mlibraty@ucsd.edu or 858-822-4872.

Sept. 21: Fall Quarter begins

Sept. 24: Instruction begins

Oct. 14: Fifteenth day of instruction

Nov. 11: Veterans Day holiday (university closed)

Nov. 26-27: Thanksgiving holiday (university closed)

Dec. 4: Instruction ends

Dec. 5-12: Final exams

Dec. 12: Fall Quarter ends

Dec. 24-25: Winter break (university closed)

Dec. 31-Jan 1: New Year holiday
(university closed)