What is the Co-op? What is the Co-op?
| Members | Buildings | Government | Location | Benefits | Co-op Living |
| Social Life | Facilities | Meals | Rooms | The Co-op Store | Employees |
The University Cooperative Housing Association (UCHA) provides reasonable-cost housing to qualified students, staff and faculty of UCLA and other educational institutions. We are located just two blocks from campus and have been serving the UCLA community for over fifty years. The Co-op offers an exceptional opportunity to meet people form all over the world. We are an independent, non-profit organization run by and for those who live here. We rely on the participation of our membership to make this a successful alternative to high-cost apartments, dormitories, fraternities and sororities. UCHA was established in 1935 to provide housing for those who might not be able to afford other alternatives while attending UCLA. In the past few years, we have expanded our membership. In addition to UCLA students, staff and faculty, we now accept applicants from UCLA Extension, Santa Monica College,and other nearby educational institutions. The Co-op owes its success to many generations of students who worked together and contributed to the continuation of this unique housing organization.
Being a "Co-oper"
To live in the Co-op, you must be a current student, staff, or faculty member of UCLA, UCLA Extension, or another accredited college or university. All eligibility and admissions are determined as per the current rules and by-laws of the association. Additionally, You must be able to show proof of academic status at the time of check-in.
To continue staying at the Co-op, you must provide registration/eligibility information each quarter. This is done during the quarterly "reg check". Academic status is not required during summer quarter.
Members and Residents
A Co-oper in good standing (fulfilling all the above described responsibilities) is considered a member. He or she has the right to vote in elections, run for Co-op office, and automatically stay each quarter.
Buildings
The Co-op currently owns three buildings in the residential area of Westwood. In 1991, we completed a renovation of Robison Hall.Robison was designed by the Bauhaus architect, Richard Neutra and has been designated a cultural landmark by the City of Los Angeles. The renovation restored Robison to its original splendor, and the building remains one of the finest living spaces in Westwood. A second building, Essene Hall, was renovated in 1993. Our largest building, Hardman-Hansen Hall, was build in the early 1970's and houses most of our occupants.Altogether, the Co-op can house up to 432 people.
Government
Once you become a Co-op member, you'll have full voting privileges on all membership matters. The Co-op is governed by a Board of Directors(BOD) which consists of students who are elected by the membership. The BOD makes policy decisions in co-operation
with the Executive Director and staff members and plans for the Co-op's
long-term health. The Membership Committee(MemCom) is another elected body at UCHA. MemCom oversees the procedural aspects of the cooperative such as membership status,elections and parking. After residing at the Co-op for a full year you can serve on either of these elected bodies. There is a sense of pride here at the Co-op because not only do we own the place we live in, we also share in the responsibility of running it.
Location
The Co-op is located just two blocks west of UCLA and within walking distance of Westwood Village. Westwood is one of L.A.'s prime gathering spots with restaurants shops and first-run movie theaters. The beaches of Malibu and Venice are only twenty minutes away, and the nearby Santa Monica Mountains offer excellent hiking and camping facilities.
Co-op Living
Because the Co-op is run by and for its occupants, everyone isexpected to carry out responsibilities. One's quarterly responsibilities are:
Most Co-opers are expected to work in the kitchen, clean-up, maintenance or security their first quarter. All chore shifts are arranged so that they do not conflict with classes or outside employment.
In exchange for your responsibilities, you get:
Activities and Social Life
The Co-op provides a variety of educational and socialopportunities for its members. With an excellent mix of undergraduate and graduate students, visiting scholars and UCLA faculty, the Co-op continues to benefit from its cultural and educational diversity. We often have parties and movie nights forco-opers to attend. At the Co-op you don't have to travel far to find a world of fun and opportunity.
Facilities
The Co-op has numerous facilities available for those staying here. Study lounges, laundry rooms, piano, ping-pong and pool tables, and a computer lab are all available. We also have a small store, run by Co-opers, that provides snacks, drinks and other items at low cost. In addition, UCLA's Sunset Recreation Center with tennis courts, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and sauna is only three blocks away. The UCLA Wooden Center which houses racquet ball and squash courts, a weight training room,and indoor basketball courts, is also nearby.
Meals
The Co-op provides nineteen meals per week which are included in your rent payment: breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Friday, and brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Meals are taken in our cafeteria, which includes patio seating overlooking the UCLA campus and distant San Grabiel Mountains. We realize that busy student schedules may not correspond to fixed meal times. So, you can prepare a brown bag lunch during breakfast if you'll be away from the co-op at midday; and you can arrange fora late dinner if you'll arrive after regular dinner hours. Foodis prepared by our professional cooks with student assistance. We offer a vegetarian meal option with each meal and host special international dinners throughout the year. Also, snacks are provided during finals weeks for those late night study munchies.
Rooms
Accommodation includes single rooms, suites, doubles, andtriples. Unlike students at the UCLA dormitories, Co-op members choose their room and roommates. Room selection is based on senioroty (see new member FAQ). Once you've moved into a room forone quarter you can remain in that room until you decide to apply for another. Also, the Co-op allows continuing students to stay in your room overbreak periods (Christmas and Spring). All rooms are fully furnished. At the Co-op, it's your room, and we want you to feel comfortable in it.
The Co-op Store
The Co-op Store is a unique service to the UCHA membership. The store sells hot and cold foot items, sodas, and a variety of study break snacks. Some members manage and work in the store aspart of their regular Co-op chore shift. Prices are set as near as possible to the actual cost and the store is open in the evenings and on weekends.
Employees
In addition to Co-opers doing choreshifts, we have a number offull-time employees. They are responsible for Office, Maintenance,and Kitchen Management. We also have several full-time cooks whoprepare our meals for us. Looking over them all is the Executive Director. The ED works closely with the BOD on all financial, employee,and long-term matters concerning the Co-op. These employees provide an indispensable job of long-term stability in our ever-changing community.