The new on-campus student housing community and dining complex, Coyote Village and Coyote Commons, officially opened in mid-September, with the university commemorating the milestone with a ribbon-cutting event in the courtyard of Coyote Village.  “I know Coyote Village and Coyote Commons will quickly become an integral part of our campus. It also is another great example of how, at CSUSB, we define the future,” Morales said during the event, adding that the facilities are a major evolutionary step for the university.

At 114,000 square feet, Coyote Village offers more than 400 beds for first-year students. The new facility features study and living spaces, a large multipurpose room, a community kitchen, a spacious courtyard and a dedicated wing for the university’s Honors Program. This is the first phase of a larger residential community that will eventually serve an additional 1,200 students.  Coyote Commons, adjacent to Coyote Village, is 50,300 square feet and is open to all students, faculty and staff. The dining hall features a full range of cuisines, both self-serve and full-service food stations, late-night dining, a convenience store and outdoor spaces for meetings and social functions. Coyote Commons can seat up to 700 people in its dining area and has a 50-seat mezzanine and private dining room. All food stations offer vegan and vegetarian options.  The new student housing community and dining complex is the largest single capital project in the university’s history, costing $95.8 million, and is funded through rental rates of students living in the residence halls. No state general fund dollars were committed to this project.  Both Coyote Village and Coyote Commons are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified, the most widely used green building rating system in the world.