Historical Timeline of Major Milestones

Founding & Early Development

1959 – The UC Regents tentatively approve a site on the Irvine Ranch for a new UC campus.

1961 – The new campus is named the University of California, Irvine.

1963 – The first Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) is approved, envisioning a campus for up to 27,500 students by 1990.

1964 – President Lyndon B. Johnson formally dedicates the UC Irvine campus.

1965 – UC Irvine opens its doors on Oct. 4, with 1,589 students attending the first day of classes.

1967 – An agreement is signed to bring the California College of Medicine to UC Irvine.

Planning & Expansion

1970 – The second LRDP is approved, incorporating Inclusion Areas for university housing and services.

1983 – The Irvine Campus Housing Authority is established to support affordable faculty and staff housing.

1984 – UC Irvine’s Central Park is renamed Aldrich Park in honor of founding Chancellor Daniel G. Aldrich.

1988 – The University and The Irvine Company amend deed restrictions to allow income-generating uses in Inclusion Areas.

1989 – The third LRDP is approved, reaffirming planning principles and setting a revised enrollment goal of 26,050 by 2005-06.

Academic & Cultural Growth

1990 – The Irvine Barclay Theatre opens, enriching campus and community arts programming.

1996 – UC Irvine becomes a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), recognizing its research excellence.

2004 – UC Irvine launches the College of Health Sciences, integrating its school of medicine and programs in nursing, public health and pharmaceutical sciences.

2006 – Fall quarter enrollment reaches 25,870 students.

2007 – The fourth LRDP is approved, providing updated guidance for academic, residential, and research space planning.

2014 – Beall Applied Innovation is founded, establishing a campus-wide platform to accelerate innovation, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration.

2017 – UC Irvine creates the Susan and Henry Samueli Institute for Integrative Health (SSIHI) with a transformational gift supporting whole-person wellness research and clinical care.

National Recognition & Community Impact

2014 – President Barack Obama delivers the keynote address at UC Irvine’s 50th commencement ceremony at Angel Stadium.

2015 – UC Irvine becomes a U.S. News & World Report top-10 public universities for the first time.

2017 – The New York Times names UC Irvine the #1 university in the nation "doing the most for the American Dream," based on its success in enrolling and graduating underserved students.

2021 – A major campus roadway is named Michael V. Drake Drive, honoring the former UC Irvine Chancellor and President Emeritus of the University of California.

Recent Achievements & Health Expansion

March 2024 – UCI Health acquires four community network hospitals, extending its regional footprint and improving access to academic healthcare across Orange County.

May-July 2024 – The Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center & Ambulatory Care building open on the new UCI Health — Irvine campus, expanding access to outpatient, specialty and comprehensive cancer care.

December 2025 – The UCI Health — Irvine hospital is scheduled to open its 144-bed acute care facility, including a 24/7 emergency department, maternity care and inpatient services.