First-Year and Transfer Orientation
This summer’s First-Year and Transfer Orientations Sessions have come to a close. However, you can still visit the Orientation Program website here for useful tips and information.
International and National Orientation
We highly recommend that you attend Orientation, if you are able. A lot of helpful information is presented that will answer many of your questions
Orientation Information that includes: local resources (hotels, banking, transportation off campus and to the Sacramento and San Francisco Airports) and life in California (including links to the City of Davis, weather in Davis, State of California home page and California Department of Motor Vehicles)
Additional information on Family Program Orientation.
Cal Aggie Alumni Association/Aggie Parent and Family Association
As a family member of a UC Davis student, we welcome you to join the Aggie Parent and Family Association. This organization is a great resource for you and your student. A monthly newsletter, In the Know, contains important dates, reminders and information. There is also a Facebook page. APFA hosts multiple events including Aggie Welcomes and a Parent and Family Weekend once a quarter.
There is also a non UC Davis sponsored parent UC Davis Facebook group and Out of state and international group.
Housing for Freshman/First year transfer students
Many students spend their first year living in the on campus dormitories and eating in the dining commons on campus.
Summer Storage Options
The UPS Store 140 B St Suit 5 will pick up items and bikes, store over the summer and return in the fall.
Housing-Community
After their first year, most students find housing in the community, in private housing or apartment complexes. A few student may return to residence halls as returning students. Other options include living in campus apartments or cooperatives, UC Davis fraternities and sororities.
Events are offered during January to educate students on their living options
If you are moving into community housing, below are links to some utilities that may not be included in your rent and may need to be activated by your student.
Electric and Gas: Pacific Gas and Electric
Water, Sewer and Garbage: City of Davis
Television, telephone and Internet Options: AT&T, Comcast, Omsoft Money
Cashier/Payment and Banking
UC Davis Accounting and Financial Services-for students
ATM’s on the Davis and UCDMC campuses
Banks, Credit Unions and ATM’s in Davis CA
Buy/Sell/Trade
UCDavis Buy/Sell/Trade Facebook page school email required
Craigslist search Davis to get Davis items
Nextdoor is a social network that helps you keep up with happenings in your neighborhood as well as having some classified and give-aways.
Transportation Bicycles
A popular and nearly essential mode is bicycling; walking and using the Unitarians bus are other options. Usually after the first year, one can also drive to campus but bikes are the way to go. Here are some links:
Where to buy a bike or have it serviced Bike Barn on campus
B and L Bike Shop-downtown
Freewheeler Bicycle Center-downtown
Green Bicycle Depot-Olive Dr
Blisworks Bikes-Covell Blvd near Nugget Market
Davis Bike Exchange- 5th and L
Ken’s Bike, Ski, Board-downtown
Davis Bike Collective-4th and L
Bike Locks are important to secure your bike.
Bicycle Licenses. All bikes on UC Davis campus must have a current California Bicycle License.
Unitrans The student run bus service in Davis
Yolobus Unlimited rides for undergrads to the Sacramento Airport and local area (Woodland/Winters/Sacramento)
Parking
Airport Transportation
Davis Airporter goes to either Sacramento or San Francisco airports
Student Safety
Here are a few useful resources if you can’t reach your student and need to talk to someone on campus to help you:
UC Daivs Police non-emergency number: 530-754-COPS UC Davis Police website for Parents and Guardians
Also consider having your student download the “Aggie Guardian app." It tracks a students and requires them to check in, if they don’t the police will investigate.
Voting
Campus Vote Project is a website to help guide you based on your home state.
Staying in the Know
The California Aggie is the UC Davis student staffed newspaper.
The Davis Enterprise is the Davis daily newspaper.
The Sacramento Bee is the Sacramento daily newspaper.
iseedavis is a video website reporting on the happenings in Davis.
Davis Political Review -the first and only nonpartisan student run political commentary magazine on the UC Davis campus
Other useful contact information for out-of-state/International parents.
UC Davis is a big place and it isn’t always easy to navigate the website to find what you need. Useful contacts can be found in the Parent and Family Handbook (see below) or the UCD Police website. Know that you can always call the APFA (Aggie Parent and Family Association) office at 800-242-4723 for help with referrals if you don’t know who to contact. Yelp is also a resource that can be used for community referrals.
More resources
UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars has a comprehensive website with links and information that you may find useful