Plan Your Campus Visit

Students will need to stop by the HUB (right inside the front entrance to GGU) to obtain their ID Card.

To facilitate quicker processing to obtain an ID Card, upload a current photo of yourself into your myGGU account. If you are not able to do this, staff will be able to take your picture during the initial processing.

To upload your photo:

• Login to the myGGU portal.

• Click on your name on the top right corner of the myGGU portal homepage and select the “Your Profile” link.

• Click on the “Edit” button located on the left side of the screen, followed by the camera icon.

• Once you've uploaded your photo, email gguhub@ggu.edu to let them know you've uploaded it. They will do their best to have your ID Card printed and ready for you when you get there!

Please be sure to allow ample time as multiple students may need assistance all at once.

One of our favorite lodging options is the Marines' Memorial Club and Hotel. Not only is it a fantastic lodging option in the heart of San Francisco just off Union Square, but they’re also extending a special discount for GGU student veterans!

This special rate will match the member rate, which may fluctuate in pricing depending on dates, room type, and the number of occupants and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis while room inventory is available.

GGU student veterans may make reservations by calling toll-free 1-800-562-7463 or email reservations@marinesmemorial.org and ask for the Golden Gate University Student Veterans or "GGUVET" rate. At check-in, you will have to provide proof you are a GGU student (ex: student ID or badge) for the rate to be honored.

You may also book online on the website www.marinesmemorial.org. Enter “GGUVET” in the OFFER CODE box for the member rate.

Parking: Olympic Garage is located 3 doors away from the hotel at 665 Sutter Street. The parking rate there is currently $45 per 24hr period.

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If you need a few alternatives, here are some near the GGU Campus.

• Grand Hyatt San Francisco Union Square - 345 Stockton St. (distance 0.5 miles)

• Hyatt Regency San Francisco - 5 Embarcadero Ctr. (distance 0.4 miles)

• The Park Central San Francisco - 50 Third St. (distance 0.3 miles)

• The Palace Hotel - 2 New Montgomery St. (distance 0.2 miles)

• Hotel Tonight - a great option if you’re flexible and like to book discounted rooms close to or upon arrival (downloadable app)

• Airbnb - Look for places closer to the airport for more affordable rates (Southern SF)

Keep in mind that staying closer to the San Francisco Internation Airport (SFO) might make more sense if you’re flying in. Rates at those hotels are quite reasonable, and you can hop on a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train and take that all the way to the campus door.

Parking is tricky in San Francisco, but not impossible. If you must drive a vehicle to campus, you’ll want to look into area lots and garages for the most reliable parking option.

• Check out Spot Angels for available parking across the city.

• Two nearby parking lots have spaces you can book. Lot #358 is behind the school (2 blocks away) and Lot #86 is across the street.

• Parking.com also has options ranging from $10/hour or $25-$32/day.

• Hotel parking is sometimes available but can be expensive. An overnight valley can run $60-$95 or more. Our suggestion, skip the rental car and take public transit or rideshare into San Francisco.

Our Veteran Ambassador, Ron, shares his strategy for getting to class:

“When I was commuting to the university, pre-pandemic, I would park in the 5th and Mission Parking Garage. The garage is not the closet facility; however, it stays open 24/7, there’s usually plenty of open available spaces. It’s also located in a prime area full of shops, places to eat, department stores. If memory serves, they do charge by the hour, or you have the opportunity to pay for a block of time if you need to park there for a significant amount of time. The address is 833 Mission Street.”

San Francisco and the surrounding area are very well serviced by a rail system, BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit.

The most popular way of getting to campus, and avoiding driving and the need to park a vehicle, is by arriving via BART train to the Montgomery Street station. This stop is a four-minute walk to GGU’s doorstep!

Plan your stops by visiting the BART site. Here are a few popular routes just to give you an idea:

• San Francisco International Airport, San Mateo to Mongomery Street - A 36-minute, one-way trip that will cost $10.

• North San Jose to Montgomery Street - A 70-minute, one-way trip that will cost $16.30

• Oakland/Fruitvale to Montgomery Street - A 25-minute, one-way trip that will cost $4.20

• Concord station to Montgomery Street - A 51-minute, one-way trip that will cost $6.30

Enrollment verification is a new requirement for Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) students to verify every month that you are still enrolled in the same courses or training that your school certified to VA.

Students now have the option to verify enrollment via text message or email. Call the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to opt in and/or verify your enrollment.

We made a quick video explaining the process - WATCH IT HERE.

To see the most current guidance, please visit: https://newsroom.ggu.edu/coronavirus/main

If you have any questions related to this process, please contact COVID@GGU.edu.

Need more help? We’ve got you covered. Our team is standing by to help you with any questions you might have along the way. Here are a few ways to connect with us and reasons you might want to do so:

• General Questions: Call the Diller Center to speak with a Veteran Ambassador at 415.369.5204, email dillercenter@ggu.edu, or ping us on the website chat!

• Questions about your PROGRAM: Connect with your Academic Advisor. You should already have contact information for who this is, but if not, check HERE.

• Questions about your VA Enrollment Certification status: Check your Student Self-Service Portal to view any pending or missing document requests and status updates. VA Certifying Office: va@ggu.edu.

• For more FAQs, and answers: log in to your myGGU portal and click the FAQ button. There’s a trove of information to be found there (and where most of what you see here comes from).