Who Are We and What Do We Do? | | |
The Board of Directors is responsible for the corporate operations of the Irvine Campus Housing Authority (ICHA) and is the primary fiduciary of the corporation. The Board is responsible for setting policies, authorizing budgets, significant contracts and business arrangements, and determinations on HR and legal matters.
View ICHA Board of Directors and meeting minutes here.
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ICHA staff and management are responsible for the day-to-day operations and administration of University Hills, including
- Community Relations
- Facilities
- Financial Management
- New Housing Development
- Lease Administration
- Maintenance
- Property Management
- Sales and Rental Services
View ICHA's organizational chart here.
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The Homeowner's Representative Board is an advisory body made up of volunteer residents elected by the University Hills community.
The HRB is responsible for approving architectural improvements, advising the ICHA Board of Directors on behalf of residents and collaborating with ICHA Staff to build community.
View HRB meeting minutes and agendas at uhills.org.
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ICHA Office
December 23
8am - 3pm
December 24-January 1, 2026
CLOSED
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Community Center
December 24 - 25
CLOSED
December 31 & January 1, 2026
CLOSED
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Who Do I Contact?
Are you selling your home? Need a repair at your apartment? Is the doggie bag dispenser empty at one of the dog parks? Click on the links below to connect to the right person to help.
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FAQs
Q: I think I am missing out on important emails about the community. And I also would like other people in my household to get emails about the community.
A: Subscribe yourself or household member. If you think you are already on mailing lists but are still not receiving email, please contact barbara.correa@icha.uci.edu.
Q: What Happened to the Listserv?
The listserv moved to a new platform and is now called the Mailing List. Get information/subscribe here. The Mailing List is managed by members of the University Hills community. ICHA does not manage or monitor content.
Q: How do I get notification in the event of an emergency?
A: For after-hours emergencies regarding University Hills' common areas:
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ICHA Facilities Management (answer network): (949) 824-7044
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Landscaping – O’Connell (800) 339-1106
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Pools (Pool Pros): (562) 824-7534
UCI Emergency Alert System: To receive emergency notifications sent out by the UCI Campus, sign up for zotALERT. You can sign yourself up and add additional household members.
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Home/Property Improvements Reminder
In University Hills, all exterior home and property improvements (building alterations, painting, fencing, major landscaping) require a Property Improvement Application. Please submit completed application, along with plans, to homeimprovements@icha.uci.edu. Residents have been hiring contractors and completing work prior to the application process, which is a violation of the Ground Sublease if changes are being completed without approval. Installing unapproved alterations can result in costly fixes.
The City of Irvine is no longer issuing building permits or providing inspection services for any building on UC land, including home improvements in University Hills. UCI Design & Construction Services (D&CS) is now responsible for building permits and inspections. Willdan Engineering, the Campus "Inspector of Record" is now providing plan check and permitting for University Hills improvements. Failure to obtain permits may impact the assessment of value of capital improvements when selling a University Hills home.
For more information including FAQs, list of vetted contractors and more, visit icha.uci.edu/home-improvements
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Get Involved! Homeowners Representative Board
Is Now Accepting Nominations
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The University Hills Homeowners Representative Board (HRB) is a community-elected body of resident volunteers. Each year, three of the HRB's seven members are elected to serve a two-year term. Please consider volunteering your time, talent and effort to your community by serving on the HRB. The HRB meets once a month with a minimal amount of subcommittee work associated with service as a board member. Your community will thank you.
To be nominated as an HRB candidate, submit your statement by clicking here or on the link below. Candidate statements are due by Friday, January 30, 2026. Voting will take place in February, and those elected will be seated at the March, 2025 HRB meeting.
HRB responsibilities include:
- Home improvement application approvals.
- Advising the Irvine Campus Housing Authority Board of Directors on community matters.
- Managing budgeted funds to promote community building activities, events and programs.
Over the past several years, HRB members have:
- Organized informational forums on Emergency Preparedness, policing in University Hills, coyotes, and more.
- Organized numerous entertaining events such as community movies, parties, concerts, and the upcoming Holiday Bazaar.
- Supported efforts to protect our environment by advocating for the use of less toxic pesticides, the introduction of sustainable electric landscape maintenance equipment, Earth Day events, and CRV recycling.
| | UHills Satisfaction Jumps for 10+Years Residents | | |
Major Takeaways:
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University Hills homeowners and renters expressed high levels of satisfaction in an online survey fielded early this year. Satisfaction was high regardless of housing type (single family home, condo, townhome, apartment).
- Survey responses: 82 renters responded (21% of households); 427 homeowners responded (32% of households).
- Overall satisfaction reported in 2025 was similar to satisfaction levels from 2022 and 2019.
Among Homeowners:
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Satisfaction jumped for those living in University Hills for over 10 years (achieving tenure could be responsible).
- Respondents aged 65 or older were about twice as likely as respondents in the next lower age group (41-64) to report the highest level of satisfaction, “I’m happy.”
- 95 percent responded “yes” to the survey question “Does the physical design of your home work well for your lifestyle?”
Among Renters:
- 2025 Survey participation dropped from 2022, when 32% of renters responded.
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Who uses the University Hills Mailing List (uhills.group.io/g/main)?
- 71% of survey respondents report use at least “once in a while;” 41% of respondents say they use it daily.
- Longer-term residents are heavier users than shorter-term residents. For example, 63% of respondents living in the neighborhood for 30+ years characterized themselves as “daily users,” compared to 22% among those living in the neighborhood for five years or fewer.
Click here for the full analysis.
| | As always, a huge thank you to Ken Chew, Professor Emeritus, Urban Planning & Public Policy and our resident demographer, for crunching the numbers and unearthing the most compelling survey findings. Thanks Ken! | | |
How to Shop and Mail Safely This Holiday Season
As the holiday season approaches, sharing your love and joy with friends and family should be done safely. Holiday shopping and partaking in charitable giving have made it convenient and predictable for criminals to victimize individuals. As you prepare to spread the holiday joy, keep safety in mind. Click the boxes below for tips and info.
| | Holiday Safety Tips From the UCI PD | | |
The UCI Police Department wants to wish everyone in University Hills a safe and joyous holiday season. Below are holiday safety tips to help you and your family.
Protect your holiday deliveries by:
- Tracking and turning on notifications for deliveries.
- Bringing your items inside as soon as they are delivered.
- Consider using locker deliveries at local stores if you know you won’t be home when the item is delivered.
Click here for more!
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MAKE IT GLOW — SAFELY!
- Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, loose connections, or frayed or bare wires. Discard all damaged cords.
- Don't connect lights while adjusting them on a tree or house. Inspect lights and plug them together before hanging.
- Indoors or out, use only lights that have been tested for safety. The lights should have the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) label.
- Don't let light bulbs rest on tree needles and branches. Use a clip or twist-tie to keep bulbs upright.
- Watch young children around lights and decorations with small pieces that could be ingested.
- Unplug lights and decorative outdoor lighting before leaving the house or going to bed.
- If you buy an artificial tree, check for a "flame resistant" label.
- Do not leave candles burning unattended.
- Do not overload electrical outlets and circuits.
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KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING — ONLY WHEN YOU'RE HOME!
Keep your home and family safe by practicing fire safety. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of all home fires, followed by heating equipment, and an electrical malfunction.
- Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. Never leave food unattended!
- Use a timer to remind yourself that you are cooking.
- Keep the stovetop, burners and oven clean from grease and debris.
- Never use your oven for storage.
- Never pour water on a grease fire! Cover the pan with a lid and turn off the stove.
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University Hills Pool Heating Schedule
- Los Trancos pool and spa: CLOSED FOR REMODELING
- Coltrane pool: Heated year round.
- Gabrielino pool: Heated year round.
- Urey pool: Pool heat is shut off November 1.
- All spas (except Los Trancos) are heated year round.
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Tips for Power Washing: When power washing your roof, the City of Irvine recommends blocking the gutter just downstream of the job with filter fabric and sand bags. This allows water to collect, filter and pass through. This practice will catch the majority of gunk, which can then be discarded.
Tree Disposal Information:
—Homeowners: Waste Management will collect and recycle Christmas trees for three weeks after Christmas on your regular collection day. Trees taller than 4 feet must be cut in half and all decorations and stands must be removed. Place the tree curbside.
—Renters: There will be special delineated areas in community parking lots from late December through early January for your holiday tree disposal. This area is for trees only. Do not place trees in the regular dumpster bins.
Is a Wood Burning Fire OK? From November 1 through the end of February, the South Coast Air Quality Management District suggests refraining from burning wood in fireplaces or firepits on no-burn days with high air pollution. It's counterintuitive, but air pollution from particulate matter is most common on calm and cool winter days. Click here for information on air-quality email alerts and a burn map.
Late Night Trash Placement Please be conscious of noise generated when moving trash bins. Consider moving trash bins curbside earlier in the evening. Your neighbors will thank you!
See our Home Maintenance Guide, which includes a recommended maintenance schedule.
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— Thank you for your cooperation and have a wonderful holiday season —
| | ICHA reserves the right to send to an unsubscribed e-mail certain important communications such as construction notifications or emergencies. The unsubscribed status will be respected for all other ICHA or HRB communications. | | | | |
