Campus Upgrades add Greenery, Solar and Paved Parking
Jessup’s iconic ramp faithfully continues to serve as the gateway to our 128-acre Rocklin campus. Literally thousands have utilized our ramp each year, from former first Lady Laura Bush to Christian hip hop sensation Miles Minnick, in addition to numerous students, staff, faculty and community members.
During the summer, Jessup’s front entrance underwent a beautification project that included the installation of new in-ground and delineator planters, as well as enhanced landscaping and lighting. This project improves access, safety and surface durability while introducing lighting, planter integration, and potentially new seating areas.
The new look was showcased earlier this semester when students gathered for their annual ramp photo. The first day of the 2025-26 academic year produced record-breaking enrollment numbers with the largest incoming traditional undergraduate class in the University’s history. While many higher education institutions are experiencing declining enrollments, Jessup is in fact growing.
The donor funded ramp and parking lot upgrades equate to $1.6M in renovations that began last summer. $600K went to rooftop improvements that consisted of the installation of solar panels and a new membrane to the Chapel and Events Center, Athletic Warehouse and Crossroads Cafe roofs. The work is backed by a 30-year warranty in the event of a leaky roof. In addition, front and side parking lots were paved and this fall, solar carports are slated for construction in these lots. The finished project calls for a total of nine carports in the front lot adjacent to the ramp and two in the soccer stadium parking lot.
These solar upgrades are part of a 2.6 megawatt system resulting in significant savings for the University. Before the solar upgrades, Jessup paid 32 cents per kilowatt hour. With these solar improvements, it will take 23 years for the University’s solar kilowatt output to match its current PG&E expenses! This is significant in terms of six figure savings (per year) considering PG&E charges a 2.9% increase every year.
During the summer, our facilities team was also hard at work upgrading all fluorescent light bulbs to LED, equating to a savings of $85k in energy costs, in just one year.
Jessup’s strategic investment in solar panels, energy-efficient carports, and LED lighting has delivered substantial environmental and financial benefits. By harnessing solar energy and optimizing energy consumption through smart infrastructure, the campus has significantly reduced its carbon footprint while lowering utility costs. These initiatives demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability while providing practical, scalable solutions to achieve long-term green savings.
