Slugapedia 2024-25 University Guide PDF

STUDENT LIFE & UNIVERSITY GUIDE ​ 2024-25 Slugapedia COVID-19 UPDATES ​ Masks are still common, but not required on campus. ​ The Cowell Student Health Center is running free COVID tests for students, faculty, and staff ​ UCSC is fully back in person as of the 2022-2023 school year, and will...

STUDENT LIFE & UNIVERSITY GUIDE ​ 2024-25 Slugapedia COVID-19 UPDATES ​ Masks are still common, but not required on campus. ​ The Cowell Student Health Center is running free COVID tests for students, faculty, and staff ​ UCSC is fully back in person as of the 2022-2023 school year, and will continue to be in person going forward. ​ Tuition and student fees remain the same ​ Check out the UCSC COVID response website for more detailed information SLUGAPEDIA During tours, guides may come across questions from guests that go beyond the information shared in the tour script. The following sections are categorized into groupings that allow guides to respond knowledgeably to many of these questions. Each large section will have a smaller “key points” section to refer to when in a hurry. Responses to unknown questions We may not be able to answer every single question about UC Santa Cruz, but we can always refer guests to specific resources on campus. ACADEMIC STRUCTURE We have 4 academic divisions and 1 professional school ○​ Social Sciences ○​ Physical and Biological Sciences ○​ The Arts ○​ Humanities ○​ Baskin School of Engineering (professional school, which means that it receives private funding as well as funding from the UC System) We offer 75 majors and the Top 5 Most Popular Majors (You should be able to list all of them) ○​ Computer Science ○​ Psychology ○​ Business Management Economics ○​ Computer Science: Game Design (#5 best game/simulation development programs in the nation) ○​ Computer Engineering We offer a total of 44 minors. 3 Year Pathway Programs UC Santa Cruz offers the opportunity for select majors to graduate in three years. These pathways include various programs. 3 year pathway majors: ○​ Agroecology ○​ Anthropology ○​ Art ○​ Business Management Economics  ○​ Critical Race and Ethnic Studies ○​ Economics ○​ Environmental Studies ○​ Feminist Studies ○​ Film and Digital Media ○​ History ○​ History of Art and Visual Culture ○​ Language Studies ○​ Latin American and Latino Studies ○​ Legal Studies ○​ Linguistics ○​ Literature ○​ Math B.S. ○​ Math Education ○​ Math (Pure Math) ○​ Math (Computational) ○​ Music B.M. ○​ Music B.A. Contemporary Practices ○​ Music B.A. Global Musics ○​ Music B.A. Western Art ○​ Philosophy ○​ Politics ○​ Psychology ○​ Sociology This option is most advisable for students who hold a single major that does not change, and have completed their Entry Level Writing Requirement prior to their first year at UCSC. Further, these pathways often require summer session courses, and are intended for those who are aiming to save money through the reduction in tuition, books, and other costs of attendance. Major advisors are there to help students make a plan to graduate in 3 years. You could potentially create a 3 year pathway for any major. 5 Year Bachelors/Masters Pathway Programs UC Santa Cruz offers a variety of programs that allow students to earn a bachelors and masters degrees in 5 years. These programs vary by department. 5 year pathway programs: ○​ Biomolecular Engineering Contiguous Bachelor's/Master's Pathway ○​ Computer Science and Engineering Contiguous Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway: Computer Science and Engineering ○​ Computer Science and Engineering Contiguous Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway: Computer Engineering ○​ Critical Race and Ethnic Studies and Education MA/C Contiguous Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway ○​ Earth and Planetary Sciences Contiguous Bachelors/Masters Pathway ○​ Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Bachelors/Masters Contiguous Pathway ○​ Electrical and Computer Engineering Contiguous Bachelors/Masters Pathway  ○​ Latin American and Latino Studies and Education Bachelors/Masters/Credential Pathway ○​ Linguistics Contiguous Bachelors/Masters pathway ○​ Mathematics Contiguous Bachelors/Masters pathway ○​ Math Education BA/MA/Credential Pathway ○​ Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Contiguous Bachelors/Masters pathway ○​ Philosophy Contiguous Bachelor's/Master's Pathway ○​ Physics Contiguous Bachelor's/Master's Pathway ○​ Science Education and Education 4+1 Contiguous BS/MA Pathway ○​ Scientific Computing and Applied Mathematics Contiguous Bachelor's/Master's Pathway ○​ Statistical Science Contiguous Bachelor's/Master's Pathway UCSC Summer Session Anyone can take classes at UCSC over the summer. High school students who want to get a jump on college credits, current university students who want to live in Santa Cruz while making degree progress over the summer and community members are all welcome. Cross Campus Enrollment Students at UCSC are able to enroll in online classes offered at other UC campuses through UC online for no additional cost. These courses can be taken for GE credit, major/minor credit (with advisor approval) or just for fun! Some examples include: ○​ Swahili ○​ Dutch ○​ The Biology, Ecology, and Socioeconomic Policy of Coffee ○​ Flooding Risk Management ○​ Public Speaking ○​ Introduction to Nordic Langauges Did you know? ○​ UC Santa Cruz has the highest percent of women in the UC System among tenured faculty (36%) ○​ UC Santa Cruz has the 3rd most diverse faculty percentage-wise in the UC System ○​ A new list of the world's most highly cited researchers includes 10 scientists and engineers at UCSC (2020) ○​ In 2021 the College Gazette named UCSC the no.7 university for Astrophysics and Astronomy in the nation ○​ UCSC has 3 satellite locations, one in Silicon Valley Campus, Santa Clara and one at Coastal Science Campus, Santa Cruz ○​ Producer of the first complete draft of the human genome and home of the UCSC human Genome Browser. ○​ A leader in cancer genomics through projects like the Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative and involvement in Stand Up to cancer "Dream Teams", and the International Cancer Genome Consortium ○​ UCSC is categorized as R1 (very high research activity) by Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education ○​ In 2022 Princeton Review named UCSC the No. 2 public university in the nation for "making an impact" ○​ In 2022 Princeton review ranked UCSC the No. 3 green college in the nation ○​ In 2021 US News and World Report ranked UCSC No. 4 for promoting social mobility  ○​ In 2021 US News and World Report ranked the Jack Baskin School of Engineering among the top 100 best graduate programs in engineering ○​ 12 faculty are members of the National Academy of Sciences ○​ 28 faculty are members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ○​ 40 faculty are members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science ○​ In 2019 UCSC joined the Association of American Universities (has 65 members, including 6 other UCs and flagship public universities such as Ohio State University, land-grant universities like Purdue University, and private Universities, such as Harvard) ○​ Princeton review ranks UCSC the No. 2 public university in the nation for students focused on making an impact on the world ○​ UCSC is one of the founding members of the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities, which aims to increase opportunity for those historically underserved by higher education ○​ Home to one of the world's top marine mammal research centers at Long Marine Laboratory, on the shores of Monterey Bay. ○​ 42% of our students are community Volunteers ○​ One of the 20 universities to most likely land you a job in Silicon Valley. (Business Insider, 2015) ○​ Top 15 in the world for research impact (Times Higher education University World Rankings, 2019) Fun Facts ○​ The organic food movement partially began at UCSC. The first social science study of organic foods in the US was written by UCSC professor Julie Guthman in her book Agrarian Dreams: The Paradox of Organic Farming in California ○​ Elfland used to be a wooded refuge on campus, featuring altars, “fairy rings” (weaved branches in redwood tree cathedrals), and totems. Now colleges 9 and 10 are located in this area. ○​ Huey P. Newton, founder of the Black Panther Party, earned both his Bachelor’s degree and a Ph. D. from UC Santa Cruz. During his Ph. D. program he was incarcerated and faculty would go into prison to educate him. ○​ UCSC’s library contains the Archive of Robert A. Heinlein’s, science fiction author, works. These include his four Hugo awards, plus artwork and other memorabilia, and all of his honors and tributes. His extensive working and personal libraries are also featured within the archive. ○​ RCC began as a commuter only college and moved to its current location in 1990. Before, its classrooms and offices were located at Kerr hall. ○​ Mumbai Abu-Jamal, an American political activist and journalist is a current Ph.D. student in the History of Consciousness department. They’re particularly interested in social movements. ○​ Fiat Slug was modeled after John Lynch, a latin and geek ucsc professor. He was also the former provost at Cowell College. Statistics Our undergraduates comprise of 44.5% men, 50.0% women, 5.5% other/unknown Admitted Freshman for Fall 2024 Profile  ○​ Mean GPA - 4.01 ○​ 4.0 or higher GPA - 63.4% ○​ 3.5 to 3.99 GPA - 32.5% ○​ Below 3.5 GPA - 4.1% ○​ Mean GPA for admitted transfers, Fall 2024: 3.49 2024 Admission Rate ○​ Freshman: 64.9% ○​ Transfers: 65.4% ○​ Undergraduate Ethnicities, Fall 2023 ○​ African American: 4.6% ○​ American Indian: 0.7% ○​ Asian American: 30.8% ○​ Pacific Islander: 0.2% ○​ Chicanx/Latinx: 27.5% ○​ European American 30.7% ○​ International: 3.1% ○​ Not Stated: 2.4% In State/Out of State/International ​ 91% In state ​ 7% out of state ​ 2% international ​ Requirements for out of state/International are the same except for a higher minimum GPA. As a public university we are required to prioritize California residents but because the majority of our students applying are CA residents we don't have to deny international or out of state students to do this. Our admit rates for out of state or international students equal our admit rates for CA students. Fun Facts ○​ After a successful vote in 1986 students replaced the sea lion mascot with a Banana Slug. ○​ Banana slugs have no known predators and represent flexibility and contemplation. Class Size ○​ Undergraduates: 17,940 ○​ Graduates: 1,998 ○​ Total Enrollment: 19,938 ○​ 90% of our students are undergraduates Transfer Enrollment Facts ○​ 3,528 transfer students currently enrolled ○​ 1,275 new transfer students entered fall 2024 ○​ 1,536 re-entry students (age 25 and over undergraduates and 29 and over for graduate students) ○​ 112: Number of California Community Colleges with at least one fall 2022 admit  ​ 66% of classes have less than 100 students ​ 73% of all undergraduate courses have fewer than 50 students ​ 57% of undergrad classes have fewer than 30 students ​ Student-to-faculty ratio is 23:1 Largest lecture hall on campus is new Kresge Academic 3105 ○​ Capacity: 600 students ○​ Discussion sections are usually taught by graduate or doctoral students. These students have taken the class and have done exceptionally well. They take the class along with you so they know exactly what you have covered in class. →Usually no more than 30 students in a discussion section Office hours ○​ All professors and TAs have available office hours ○​ Tutoring sections run by undergraduates for select classes ACADEMIC SUPPORT There are a number of resources available at UCSC to support you in succeeding. Academic support is not just for when the work gets too overwhelming, asking for help and strengthening your skills is just a part of being a good student! The following are just some of the many people, offices, and programs available to support you in working to your potential. Faculty members and teaching assistants (T.A.s) are often the best resources for helping you succeed in your classes. Don’t be afraid to approach them if you have questions. College Academic Advisers can help you identify success strategies, and assist you in devising a plan to succeed. Contact your college advisers immediately if you are not doing well in your classes. Department/ Major Advisers help you devise a balanced course plan. They can also help you identify opportunities within your major and recommend professors whose academic interests are similar to yours, both of which can increase your motivation to do well. Academic Excellence Program (ACE) focuses on supporting students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) majors. Dedicated to increasing the diversity of students earning a bachelor’s degree in STEM. ACE engages students in peer mentoring, active learning, skill building, and community development. Career Center Advisers can help you clarify your post-UCSC career goals through online assessments and in person. Clarifying your goals can be very important to your academic success. They hold career fairs and work with employers to set up recruitment events, on-campus informational sessions, workshops, etc. Can also help students find on-campus jobs! Disability Resource Center (DRC) assists the UCSC campus with equal educational access for students with disabilities, support, retention, and graduation of students with disabilities. Services include: Advising & Support, Adaptive Equipment, Alternate Media, Lab & Library Assistants, Note takers, Proofreaders, Readers, Sign Language Interpretation & Real-time Captioning, Test Accommodations, Transportation Accommodation Authorizations, Housing Accommodations, One on One Tutoring. ○​ Serves 2,500 students ○​ Serves 12% of the student population Their main mission is to provide academic accommodations in the classroom, but they also provide accommodations to students in other settings such as clubs, etc. Accommodations ○​ Extended testing time ○​ Accessible furniture ○​ Captioning on videos ○​ Recorded lectures ○​ Alternate Testing environment or materials (large font) ○​ Flexible attendance policies ○​ DRC Kitchen ○​ Housing accommodations ○​ Disability Service Van ○​ Sign language interpreters ○​ Peer Notetakers Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) offers personal and academic support for first generation college, low income, and educationally disadvantaged student populations. EOP offers a 2 year housing guarantee and housing priority for following years. They provide a textbook access program, undocumented student services, a wellness program, free printing, academic success workshops, and a textbook lending library. ○​ Part of EOP is the Undocumented Student Services (USS) where peer and staff mentors work with undocumented students to minimize barriers for their educational, research, and personal goals. International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) provides visa and immigration advising to F-1 and J-1 international students. ISSS also provides workshops, information, and referrals to international students regarding cultural, personal, and other concerns. Learning Support Services (LSS) provides course-specific academic support services for all UCSC undergraduate students. LSS works with the University faculty and departments to design and implement academic support programs that foster peer-guided interactive learning. It typically supports around 100 classes every quarter with specific tutoring instruction. Assistance includes: ○​ Writing Tutoring Students may take advantage of tutoring sessions designed to improve writing skills either by one-on-one appointment or during weekly sessions ○​ Large Group Tutoring Students are given the chance to attend weekly sessions with a student who succeeded in the class during an earlier quarter. These sessions are capped at 15 students, but there is no requirement to sign up in advance. ○​ Small Group Tutoring provides weekly peer-to-peer learning groups of no more than 4  students per session. Small group Tutoring is also led by an Undergraduate student who has done well in that course. ○​ Study Hall gives students a chance to study with peers in a quiet, private, academically-focused space with opportunities for assistance in math and writing, either from other peers or a peer tutor. The ARCenter is also open 24/7 during finals week, offering students a supportive environment for success. ○​ Academic Skills Programs are designed to help students develop the skills for academic success such as note-taking. Peer-coaching and workshops are also available through the ARCenter. ○​ *note that MSI no longer exists MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers) offers research training to help prepare students to compete for entry into graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. in the biological sciences or into a combined MD/Ph.D. program. MEP/MESA (Multicultural Engineering Program, Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement): an innovative academic learning community that promotes academic progress and success for a diverse population of educationally disadvantaged students (e.g., first-generation college, academic factors, economic conditions), by leveraging a strong support system and engaging student with full participation in a variety of skills activities. Slug Support promotes early intervention to prevent culminating problems from escalating into a crisis. Smith Renaissance Program: Serves the college dreams of independent students who are current or former foster youth runaways, wards of the court, orphans, or homeless youth. Services include financial grants, mentoring by faculty and staff, individualized counseling and academic advising, financial aid and scholarship advising, priority enrollment in classes, orientation and academic skills workshops, work-study and internship opportunities, leadership opportunities and training, year-round activities for the SRS community, year-round housing options. They also offer the Pister scholarship and scholarships for re-entry students. STARRS Office (Services for Transfer, Re-entry, and Resilient Scholars) : With a mission to achieve equitable experiences and outcomes in higher education for transfer, re-entry, and resilient scholars. STARRS has expertise on navigating community college pathways and works collectively with students and colleagues to remove institutional barriers and co-create a campus that ensures equitable access, belonging, persistence, graduation, and excellence. Their office is located in the Quarry Plaza on the second floor of the Bay Tree Building. Who STARRS Serve: Transfer Students ○​ Transferring from a community college or other baccalaureate granting institution Pister Scholars ○​ Student leaders from our 13 regional community colleges Cultivamos Excelencia Scholar ○​ San Jose City College transfers Re-entry Students ○​ Parenting students ○​ Undergraduates 25 years and older ○​ Graduate students 29 years and older ○​ Students who took a break for 4 or more years during their educational journey Renaissance Scholars ○​ Current/former foster youth ○​ Homelessness prior to UCSC ○​ Toxic, violent, and/or unsafe home environment ○​ Ward of the court ○​ Emancipated minor ○​ Orphan What STARRS Offers ○​ Transitional support - Mentorship program, scholarship programs, basic needs support, etc. ○​ Supportive Relationships - Community spaces and events, holistic counseling, and peer mentoring ○​ Student Leadership Opportunities - Jobs and Internships and referrals to student organizations ○​ Advocacy - Partner with students to remove institutional barriers and work towards systemic structures that support our communities Veterans Resource Center (PART OF STARRS): A student veteran support coordinator, and a group of veteran peer mentors are available on a drop-in or by-appointment basis to assist with veteran-student transition to the campus and help veterans get started on their UCSC educational path. The Veterans Resource Center is Supported by STARRS. HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) Federal designation that requires at least 25% of undergrads are Latinx and a large portion of students are low-income. HSI Initiatives rework classes in order to support and represent low-income and Hispanic students. Makes UCSC eligible to apply for federal grants that support these students. Being involved with HSI is not limited to just Hispanic students. More info here: https://hsi.ucsc.edu ATHLETICS & RECREATION Fun Fact: Athletics and Recreation is also the second largest employer of students on campus with over 300 student and work-study student employee opportunities in about 40 different positions. Facilities ○​ Olympic size, 50m swimming pool with long and short course configuration options. ○​ 9 acres of multi-purpose field space on our East “Upper” Field.  ○​ 800m/0.5mi jogging path around the outside of the East “Upper” Field. ○​ 2 sand volleyball courts, 2 outdoor basketball courts. ○​ 3 activity rooms (Dance Studio, Activity Room, and Multi-Purpose Room) ○​ 2 sets of team locker rooms as well as 2 single use locker rooms around the complex. ○​ 1 indoor hardwood court (East Gym). ○​ 1 Martial Arts Room and an auxiliary dojo (padded floors). ○​ 12 Tennis Courts (across 2 locations) ○​ 5 Racquetball Courts ○​ Disk Golf Course ○​ Outdoor Fitness Equipment ○​ Fitness Center o​ 6,500 square feet o​ 2 olympic platforms and multiple power racks o​ Over 65 pieces of cardio equipment o​ 2 TRX Training Zones o​ One of a kind vistas of Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay from sunrise to sunset. o​ Busiest facility on campus ○​ Equipment Rental Program through Recreation Office ○​ Athletics and Recreation also offers additional facilities on campus and in Santa Cruz: ○​ East “Lower” Field - Natural grass field and competition home for our soccer and rugby teams. Often stated as one of the best views on a soccer field anywhere in the world. ○​ West Field House - Located on the west side of campus within Rachel Carson College. The West Field House area includes: ○​ 1 hardwood court ○​ Bleacher seating for 350 people ○​ Most popular for classes, varsity practices, and some special campus events ○​ UC Santa Cruz Boating Center - Located at Santa Cruz Harbor our Boating Center offers Physical Education courses, lessons, a variety of Club membership related to sailing, rowing, and kayaking in Monterey Bay. ○​ Kaiser Permanente Arena - Home of four of our NCAA DIII men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams. The Banana Slugs share this facility with the Santa Cruz Warriors Basketball team of the G-League, an affiliate of the Golden State Warriors. Athletics UC Santa Cruz is a NCAA Division III member institution which prides itself on establishing and maintaining an environment in which athletics activities are conducted as an integral part of the educational experience. The Athletics web page is: GoSlugs.com. Current NCAA sports on our campus include: ○​ Soccer ○​ Volleyball ○​ Swimming & Diving ○​ Golf (W Only) ○​ Basketball ○​ Cross Country ○​ Tennis ○​ Track & Field Accomplishments: ○​ Athletics captured 5 conference championships during 2019-2020 including Women’s Soccer, Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Volleyball, and Men’s Swimming and Diving. ○​ Men’s Tennis Holds 7 National Champion titles from 1989-2009. ○​ Men’s Volleyball was the National Runner-Up in 2019. ○​ Women’s Soccer qualified for the National Tournament in 2019. ○​ Men’s Swimming Won their first Conference Title in 2020 Club Sports If playing sports once/week isn’t enough and NCAA athletics is too much of a commitment, Sport Clubs might have what you’re looking for. Comprising 21 competitive clubs and 16 recreational clubs, both traditional sports and niche activities are found in this program. Some of the most popular clubs on campus include Men’s Rugby, Surfing, Women’s Rugby, Women’s Water Polo, and Fencing. All clubs in this program are university-sponsored student organizations which fundraise and organize on their own while working with dedicated professional staff in Athletics and Recreation for guidance and development. There are two types of Sports Clubs: Competitive and Noncompetitive. Sports Clubs – Competitive Compete with other universities but fewer practices than NCAA division III. ○​ Our club teams are: ○​ Men’s and Women’s Rugby ○​ Ballroom Dance ○​ Sailing ○​ Cycling ○​ Men’s and Women’s Soccer ○​ Equestrian ○​ Softball ○​ Fencing ○​ Surfing ○​ Tennis ○​ Triathlon ○​ Volleyball ○​ Men’s and Women’s Ultimate Frisbee ○​ Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse ○​ Men’s and Women’s Water Polo  ○​ Tennis ○​ Ice Hockey ○​ Volleyball ○​ Dragon Boat Sports Clubs – Non-competitive: These have two or less formal competitions. Their central focus is not on competing in formal competitions against other Universities. ○​ Backpacking ○​ Judo ○​ Cross Country ○​ Muay Thai ○​ Dance ○​ Tango Dance ○​ Grappling ○​ Badminton The Athletics & Recreation department also offers classes/trips during the year. Includes activities such as: ○​ Surfing classes ○​ Massage classes ○​ Big Sur/Tahoe weekend & day expeditions ○​ Knitting/pottery/belly dancing ○​ CPR, cooking classes/mushroom foraging ○​ Whale watching, sea kayaking, rock climbing Intramural Sports Team up with friends, classmates, and club members in a variety of sports to play with your peers on campus once per week. This is a low commitment sport program with popular traditional sport offerings in soccer, basketball, volleyball, and dodgeball, but also offers niche activities in esports, inner-tube water polo, kickball, foosball, and more. Compete with other teams on campus in Intramural Sports that are offered on a quarter to quarter basis (only indoor sports offered in Winter quarter). Our various intramural sports include: ○​ Inner tube water polo ○​ Sand Volleyball ○​ Soccer ○​ Doubles Tennis ○​ Dodgeball ○​ Basketball ○​ Softball ○​ Wallyball (combination of ○​ Ultimate Frisbee racquetball & volleyball) ○​ Flag football ○​ Weightlifting ○​ Volleyball ○​ Futsal (indoor soccer) Physical Education Learn a new lifetime leisure skill by enrolling in Physical Education courses. Class options include: Learn to Swim, Basic Scuba Diving, Beginner Dinghy Sailing, Basic Rowing, Ocean Kayaking, Intro to Court Sports, Intro to Racket Sports, Intro to Dance, Intro to Fencing, Self-Defense Basics, and Basic Aikido. PE enrollment occurs via MyUCSC just like academic enrollment. All of our PE classes are free. Group Exercise Join our instructors for group exercise programs throughout the year with certified instructors in classes such as Cardio Dance or Kickboxing, Core Conditioning, Fit Barre, Multiple styles of yoga, Pilates, Zumba, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), and TRX. FITLIFE (ucsc.edu). Classes are available for free with the FitLife program during virtual instruction (Spring 2020-current) Personal Training And Private Lessons Offered by certified staff for anyone who wants to achieve optimal fitness, have a custom-made exercise plan that best suits your needs, limitations, and aspirations. This program works well for people new to exercise activities or seasoned athletes due to the custom nature of the program. We’re ready to help you reach your fitness goals. All training sessions are currently being conducted through Zoom. Adventure Rec We offer a wide range of adventure programs, outings, and student leadership opportunities where students experience activities including: ○​ Surfing on Cowell Beach ○​ Kayaking in Monterey Bay ○​ Backpacking in Big Sur and Yosemite National Park ○​ Rock Climbing at Pinnacles National Park ○​ Various day hikes and other weekend expeditions ○​ Students are able to rent outdoor equipment including surfboards, wetsuits, camping/backpacking supplies, sleeping bags, camp stoves, and more! Certification Workshops ○​ Wilderness Medicine certification courses ○​ Humanizing Technology Certificate ○​ Visualizing Abolition Studies (VAST) Certificate BEYOND UCSC ​ How can students prepare to take on the real world after graduating? ○​ The UCSC Career Center utilizes a job board program called Handshake to connect students to jobs and internships that are in line with their academic interests and career aspirations. ○​ The UCSC Career Center hosts annual job and graduate/professional school fairs to help expose undergraduate students to various career opportunities! ○​ The UCSC Career Center also provides detailed guides on who to consult for letters of recommendation and how many references to provide on job applications. ○​ Students can also consult resources on how to help finance their graduate school endeavors. ○​ Health Professions ​ Because UCSC does not have an actual “pre-med” track our pre-health coaching advisors are instrumental in the success of students hoping to pursue medical school. ○​ Pre-Law Students ​ Students can also consult pre-law coaching services to gain valuable insight on the transition between one’s undergraduate career to law school. ○​ Students can also participate in mock interviews sessions and resume building or LinkedIn workshops with Career Center staff. ○​ UCSC emphasizes the importance of networking with the Career Advice Network that connects students with alumni and employers that are successful within career fields of interest. Notable alumni: ○​ Alex Alonso (‘87, BA Sociology) was editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics from 2011–2017, where he built a legacy by making comic book characters and their creators reflect the diversity of our world ○​ Cary Fukunaga (‘99, BA History) - Acclaimed filmmaker won a 2014 Emmy Award for the HBO series, True Detective. His films include Beasts of No Nation, Sin Nombre, and recently directed the newest James Bond film for release in 2021 ○​ Jeffrey Stewart (‘71, BA Philosophy) - First generation college student and Pulitzer Prize winner for The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke, his definitive biography of the father of the Harlem Renaissance. He also received the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2018 ○​ Shel Kaphan ('80, BA Math) - Bezos 1st hire at Amazon.com, first software developer/programmer/architect, created first Amazon website ○​ John Laird (‘72, BA Politics) became one of the first openly gay mayors in the United States in 1983 and served as Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency from 2011-2019 and is currently serving in the California State Legislature as a State Senator representing Santa Cruz. ○​ Kalwis Lo (‘11, BA Politics and Education) Director of Policy at Scholarship America. Helped work on legislation to tie student-loan interest rates to market rates in order to stop the crippling increases borrowers were facing. Lo was invited into the Oval Office, where he watched President Barack Obama sign the 2013 Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act into law. ○​ Azadeh Moaveni (‘98, BA Politics) Iranian-American writer Azadeh Moaveni is the award-winning author of Lipstick Jihad and Honeymoon in Tehran, and co-author of Iran Awakening. She has reported widely on youth culture, women's rights, and Islamic reform for Time, the New York Times Book Review, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. ○​ Marti Noxon (‘87, BA Arts) Emmy Award winner and a former writer and producer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Grey’s Anatomy, Glee and Mad Men is an Alumna of UCSC Theater Arts. ○​ Julie Packard (‘74, BA Biology; MA ‘78) established the Monterey Bay Aquarium and now directs it. ○​ Maya Rudolf (‘95, BA Art) A famous Arts Division alumna. As a Photography student in the Art Department, her band Supersauce gigged at Catalyst. A former Saturday Night Live cast member, she has starred in the hit comedies including Bridesmaids, Away We Go and Shrek the 3d. ○​ Susan Wojcicki (‘93, M.S.) serves as the CEO of YouTube. She has been in the tech industry for over 20 years. Wojcicki was involved in the founding of Google, and became Google's first marketing manager in 1999. ○​ bell hooks (‘83, Ph.D Literature) Has published over 30 books and numerous articles addressing topics on black feminist scholarship, popular culture, race theory, sexual study, race theory, sexuality studies, and gender studies. ○​ Malcolm Blanchard (‘72, B.A. Information and Computer Science) A pioneer in computer graphics and the application of computer technology to filmmaking. He is a founding member of LucasFilm and developed computer systems for Industrial Light and Magic. LucasFilm eventually became Pixar Animation Studios ○​ Kathy D. Sullivan (‘73, B.A. Earth Sciences) She was the first Us woman to walk in space in 1984 and is a scientist, astronaut, and award-winning educator. In 2004 she was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame ○​ Colin Beighley (‘10, Electrical Engineering) Co-founder of Swift Navigation, a company that provides precise GPS positioning solutions for applications like self-driving vehicles. He was recently named one of Forbes “30 under 30” for his accomplishments at a young  age. ○​ Tiffany Dena Loftib (‘11, Political Science and American Studies) NAACP Youth and College Director recognized by NBC BLK for using her voice to ensure that young black people’s lives matter. ○​ Ada Recinos (‘15, Sociology) Is a graduate of UCSC’s Everett Program. Recinos was sworn in as the youngest council member for the city of Richmond, CA in 2017. ○​ Jonah Christian (‘12, Film and Digital Media) A Music Producer and Composer who’s worked with Niki Minaj and Lil Wayne. CAMPUS OVERVIEW ○​ UC Santa Cruz opened in 1965. ○​ Campus is situated on over 2,000 acres of redwood forest and open meadow. Only 45% of this land has been developed for campus use. ○​ Historically, the campus once formed part of the Cowell Ranch, with active lime production and cattle raising until 1955. ○​ Architects for the new campus made preservation of the ranch buildings an integral part of their plan. ○​ UC Santa Cruz ranked 3rd in the nation for public universities making an impact by Princeton Review ○​ Forbes Magazine ranked UCSC one of the 23 most beautiful campuses in the world. ○​ UCSC ranks 5th among the most beautiful coastal college campuses in US (2020, Best Value Schools) ○​ When first opening in 1965 the then UC-President Clark Kerr referred to UCSC as, “the most significant educational experiment in the history of the University of California ○​ When first opening in 1965 UCSC used a pass/fail system instead of grades DINING HALLS Dining Halls & Meal Plan Options This is one of the 5 dining halls on campus. Each college shares one with its sister college, though students are welcome to eat at all 5 dining halls. ○​ UCSC offers three meal plan options. o​ Students in residential halls are required to enroll in a Gold, Blue, or Banana Meal plan. The Gold plan offers enough points to purchase 14 meals a week. The Blue plan offers enough points for 10 meals a week. The Banana plan offers the most food, 21 meals a week. o​ Students living in on-campus apartments do not need to have a meal plan. o​ Purchasing meals with points at campus locations gives students a 10% discount  ○​ Our Executive Chef develops a new menu each quarter, so there’s always variety. The menus are posted online, so you can see what’s being served at each dining hall, and check nutrition information. ○​ All the dining halls have wireless Internet, and there are always at least two dining halls open for late night dining until 11pm. ○​ Mention some of the options at the dining hall, some of your favorites, etc. (example: Pizza, soft serve, salad bar) Cafes, Restaurants & Coffee Shops ○​ Beyond the dining halls, UCSC also has 14 alternative eateries. ○​ You’ll find a different cafe at each of the ten colleges (except Cowell College because Cowell has a food pantry and Kresge College, which is currently under construction), as well as at the McHenry Library, and the Quarry Plaza near Bay Tree Bookstore. There are also 3 coffee bars in the academic core. What Sets UCSC Dining’s Program Apart ○​ UCSC Dining is remarkable for a number of reasons, like: ○​ (Employment) They employ nearly 1,000 students each year ○​ (Coffee) All coffee served is from fair-trade, organic sources. ○​ (Green Business & Sustainability) All dining halls and eateries are Certified Green Businesses. UCSC Dining won the 2015 Environmental Protection Agency award for waste reduction. ○​ UCSC was named one of the "10 eco-friendly campuses" by U.S. News & World Report. We were praised for our trayless dining program that saves about 30,000 gallons of water per month and reduces food waste by 40%. ○​ (Special Diets) There are a wide variety of vegan, vegetarian, halal and gluten-free options at every meal, and all food is labeled. ○​ (Farm Fresh Ingredients) Around 30% of the produce served in the dining halls is sourced from the UCSC Farm and other local, organic farms. DIVISIONS Division of the Humanities Majors - Included majors in the division of humanities are: Language Studies Applied Linguistics and Critical Race and Ethnic Linguistics Multilingualism Studies Literature History Spanish Studies Philosophy Classical Studies Feminist Studies Jewish Studies Statistics ○​ Feminist Studies, founded in 1974, is today one of the oldest, largest and most well regarded departments in the nation focusing on gender and sexuality studies. ○​ History is a leader in developing a global perspective on “world history” and focuses on underrepresented and transnational areas such as East Asia, the Americas, and women’s and environmental history. ○​ Languages and Applied Linguistics offers instruction in 10 modern languages. The department also emphasizes the study of cultural values pertaining to the communities of speakers where the languages are spoken. ○​ Literature has from its beginnings approached both literary and cultural studies from a comparative and transnational perspective. ○​ The Humanities Institute is the place for theorizing and implementing new visions for the Humanities, through research at the faculty, graduate and undergraduate student levels. With the help of the THI, faculty and students develop individual and collaborative research projects and the university and numerous sites around the world, supported by the Mellon Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, Fulbright, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and more. THI serves as an umbrella for a multitude of research centers, research clusters, and also has a robust public humanities program. Faculty ○​ Anjali R. Arondekar - Associate Professor in Feminist Studies Department. Winner of the 2010 Alan Bray Memorial Book Award for Best Book in Lesbian, Gay, or Queer Studies in Literature and Cultural Studies from the GL/Q Caucus of the Modern Language Association for her book For the Record: On Sexuality and the Colonial Archive in India. ○​ Neda Atanasoski - Professor in Feminist Studies and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Departments. Co-director of Center for Racial Justice. One of four lead members of the Speculative Futures Collective, which is a UC-wide group that “use[s] speculative forms - including, but not limited to, art, literature, and theory - to confront the legacies of imperialism, colonialism, and racism in order to imagine, envision, and enact more sustainable and just futures.” ○​ Elaine Sullivan - (Included in Virtual Tour) Assistant Professor of History received a Digital Start-Up Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to develop a three-dimensional model and virtual tour that will demonstrate how an ancient Egyptian site evolved over more than 3,000 years. The $47,200 grant is one of 17 awards directed to the development of new digital tools for study of the humanities that are part of a larger slate of 232 grants just announced by the NEH. ○​ Angela Y. Davis: Professor Emerita, History of Consciousness. A legendary civil right activist and continues to work to combat oppression in the US and abroad. An author of  several books, including Women, Race, and Class (1980) and Ave Prisons Obsolete? (2003). Student Involvement ○​ Interdisciplinary approach to Humanities. For example, Language students have an opportunity to participate in International Playhouse, a multilingual compilation of short plays from different parts of the world directed. ○​ UC Santa Cruz houses the headquarters for the prestigious Dickens Project, which is a research project that focuses on the Victorian age, and is showcased annually at a festival on campus. It is a Multi-campus Research Unit in collaboration with 33 other universities, including Stanford, Yale, Princeton, and Cornell. ○​ The Deans’, Chancellor’s, and Steck Awards seek to encourage outstanding scholarship and creativity in research among undergraduate students, based on work developed in courses or programs in the normal pattern of academic activity at UC Santa Cruz. ○​ The UCSC Philosophy Department sponsors and coaches a local high school toward competition in an ethics bowl. This year the UCSC-sponsored team competed to the top tier of the national competition where it won an award. ○​ The Writing Program honors the achievements of students in the genre of nonfiction, academic, and analytic writing with the annual Don Rothman Award for First-Year Writing. Other Facts ○​ UC Santa Cruz is one of 28 colleges and universities nationwide to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to plan and implement changes to graduate education that will broaden the career preparation of a Ph.D. student beyond a career in the academy. ○​ Critical Race and Ethnic Studies program is a truly interdisciplinary effort that brings together faculty from 10 departments across the divisions. ○​ Jewish Studies at UC Santa Cruz is another interdisciplinary program that offers students a broad knowledge of Jewish culture, with a focus on its language, literature, art, and history as well as its perspectives on community, ethics, identity, and philosophy. ○​ The Language Studies BA program offers minors and concentrations in: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. The Languages and Applied Linguistics Department also offers language courses in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, and Yiddish. ○​ Visualizing Abolition - A multimedia, interdisciplinary project led by Emerita Angela Y. Davis and Associate Professor Gina Den and aided by undergraduate and graduate students. The goal is to envision an alternative to our prison-industrial complex. Division of Social Sciences Majors - 4 of the top ten most popular majors fall under the social sciences: Psychology, Business Management Economics, Politics, and Sociology. Some other majors in Social Sciences division are: Cognitive Science Latin American and Latino Studies Anthropology Legal Studies Community Studies Politics Economics Education, Democracy, and Justice Global Economics Global and Community Health Environmental Studies Statistics ○​ Social Sciences is 1st in the nation for the quality of its research productivity (as of 2012 and 7th for faculty impact in the news media as of 2014 (see socialsciences.ucsc.edu) ○​ In 2010, the UCSC Economics Department was ranked 7th in the world—and 6th among all academic departments—for research in international finance, according to Research Papers in Economics (RePEc) ○​ Social Sciences has the largest enrollments on the UC Santa Cruz campus and awards 40% of the total Bachelor Degrees ○​ The division features dynamic new majors in Agroecology; Education, Democracy and Justice; Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies (GISES); and Global and Community Health. ○​ Faculty ○​ Craig Haney - Distinguished Professor, currently appointed UCSC Presidential Chair, worked on the Stanford Prison Study and is a world-class expert on criminal justice and reform. He has testified in the Supreme Court and the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding prison overcrowding, solitary confinement, and other issues regarding the prison system. ○​ Eduardo Mosqueda - Associate Professor in the Education Department. “Co-Principal Investigator of the Mathematics and Language, Literacy Integration (MALLI) project, a US Department of Education funded grant to support research in math teaching and learning in dual language immersion classrooms.” Collaborative project with 3 university campuses (UCSC, Santa Clara University, University of Texas), 8 school districts in California, and 2 school districts in Texas where researchers work with K-5 teachers to integrate Spanish and English in teaching literature and math.  ○​ Catherine S. Ramirez - Professor and department chair in Latin American & Latino Studies t. Director of the Research Center for the Americas (RCA), which is an interdisciplinary program that combines Chicanx/Latinx and Latin American studies. “In 2019, the RCA established the Human Rights Investigations Lab for the Americas, which trains students on how to use the internet as a critical tool for fact finding and evidence gathering for human rights violations and to promote social justice.” ○​ Cindy Cruz - A research article on LGBTQ street youth by associate professor of Education, Cindy Cruz, has won two Article of the Year awards by the American Educational Research Association and the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies. Student Involvement ○​ If you are interested in politics, (although you don't need to be a politics major) we participate in a program called UCDC. You have the opportunity to live in UC housing and work in Washington, DC for a quarter. You take UC classes and at the same time have an internship with a variety of topics including government organizations. In 2016, several UCDC students were able to attend the vice presidential debate during the program. ○​ The UC Center in Sacramento. The University of California Center in Sacramento advances the University’s mission of teaching, research, and public service with an integrated program to train future state leaders, to address challenging public-policy issues confronted by the nation and state, and to carry out the University’s mandate to assist state government. ○​ The Sociology Department offers an Intensive Sociology major and minor for students who wish to major in Sociology and focus in the area of Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies (GISES). The intensive major is designed for highly motivated, self-directed and enterprising students who have demonstrated the capacity to design and complete an honors-quality project for a civil society group. ○​ Working for Dignity: Over 100 undergraduates participated in the study of workers and working conditions in the low-wage sectors in Santa Cruz County. Led by Sociology professor Steve McKay, the survey resulted in new labor-friendly county policies and support for a livable wage. ○​ The Everett Program (formerly GIIP or Global Information Internship Program) is a year-long class that mobilizes UCSC’s creative undergraduates to apply social enterprise and technology—from social media to web design—to build a just and sustainable world. \ ○​ The Primate Ecology and Molecular Anthropology (PEMA) Lab employs undergraduates and works at the intersection of isotope biogeochemistry, primatology, and archeology to study primates and our ancient ancestors. ○​ The UC Global Food Initiative addresses issues like food insecurity, agroecological  practices, and resource conservation through the University’s knowledge and resources. This project also provides paid fellowships for undergraduate students. Jack Baskin School of Engineering Our first professional school is the Jack Baskin School of Engineering, which contains some of our newest and interdisciplinary majors on campus Majors Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics Management) (B.S.) Computer Engineering Computer Science: Computer Game Design (hardware + software) Robotics Engineering Network & Digital Technology (BA) Electrical Engineering Computer Science (IMPACTED BA and BS) Applied Math (programming/software) BA/BS Technology & Information Management Biotechnology (BA) (formerly Information Systems Statistics: ○​ The student/faculty ratio is 23:1 & there are 1,835 declared students in the school. ○​ A recent survey finds that 70% of undergraduates in engineering completed an internship and/or research before graduation ○​ 75% of the undergraduates get hands-on experience in faculty labs ○​ In February of 2020, UC Santa Cruz was accepted into a new national network of colleges and universities that have made an explicit commitment to developing technology that will advance the public interest. The Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) is a partnership convened by New America, the Ford Foundation, and the Hewlett Foundation to build the nascent field of public interest technology. Faculty: ○​ David Haussler is the Director/developer of the Human Genome Project and runs the Genomics Institute, putting UC Santa Cruz to be at the forefront of cancer genomics research. ○​ Rebecca DuBois, associate professor of biomolecular engineering, won a grant to create a universal vaccine for influenza. She’s also working on an antibody test for COVID-19. ○​ Computer scientist and assistant professor Owen Arden is an expert in cryptographic techniques for computing, and is leading a team on a big project called PASCAL: Programming Architecture for Secure Cryptographic Applications.  ​ J. J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves - Distinguished Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, Center of Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) Campus Director, “ focused on research in areas such as “designing sustainable energy, systems; and modernizing healthcare delivery.” He holds more than 60 US patents, has published more than 500 papers ​ Karen Miga, assistant professor of biomolecular engineering, was named one of the 100 most influential people of 2022 by 'Time' magazine. Miga and her colleagues led an international team of scientists — the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Consortium — to complete the first, gapless sequence of a human genome. Research ○​ Because of its proximity to Silicon Valley, the Baskin School of Engineering has strong ties to technology corporations and start-ups, and much of the research is focused on innovations in big data, health technologies, cyber-physical systems, computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, genomics, and computational media. ○​ BE continues to lead game research. UC Santa Cruz ranked among the top graduate schools for game design by the Princeton Review in 2020. ○​ BE is home to more than a dozen research centers and institutes across the six departments, including a few centers recently launched: Cyberphysical Systems Research Center and the Center for Computational Experience. ○​ Other exciting research projects include human-centered design, including assistive technologies for the blind and people with special needs; remote sensing and environmental technology; and nanosystems ○​ UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute develops advanced technologies and open-source genomics platforms to unravel evolutionary patterns, molecular processes, and the underpinning of disease. Just part of the institute's mission is to openly share all they learn. They also employ several undergraduates in their wide-ranging labs and projects. Student Involvement ○​ Our students have been finalists in Amazon’s Alexa prize several years in a row ○​ All majors require students to complete a capstone course or senior thesis of original research. Students develop their own project and CS, CE and EE majors can choose to be part of an engineering team for one of the many corporate sponsored projects. Some of the senior capstone projects are sponsored by industry partners. ○​ Computer Game Design majors work with Humanities and Arts majors to develop their games. Great example of an interdisciplinary major! ○​ We have many student organizations and hackathons that encourage students to get involved, including Girls Who Code, Amateur Radio Club, Formula Slug (racing cars!), CruzHacks, NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers), and SWE (Society of Women  Engineers). Other facts: ○​ Computer Science is the largest and most popular major at UC Santa Cruz ○​ Our close proximity to Silicon Valley gives students the opportunity to participate in internships and to learn from visiting lecturers in Silicon Valley Industries. ○​ UCSC’s Center for Games and Playable Media was formally established in 2010, building on work done since the founding of the computer game design degree. The center houses the school's five games-related research labs, including the Expressive Intelligence Studio — one of the largest technical game research groups in the world. ○​ Mechatronics is a very popular class in which students build their own robots and shoot ping pong balls at other robots. ○​ UCSC biomedical researchers are housed in state-of-the-art laboratories, with access to shared facilities, equipment, and computational tools. The unusually collaborative environment has helped create an outstanding track record of remarkable interdisciplinary research and training. Division of Physical and Biological Sciences Majors - What majors are offered within the division Applied Physics Mathematics Education Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Marine Biology Biology (BA and BS) Microbiology Chemistry (BA and BS) Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology Chemistry with Biochemistry Concentration Neuroscience Earth Sciences Physics Ecology and Evolution Physics (Astrophysics) Environmental Sciences Plant Sciences Global and Community Health (BS) Science Education Mathematics (BA and BS) Statistics: ○​ UCSC has one of the top Earth Science departments in the country. Majors can study geology, climate change and environmental science, earthquakes, or planetary science. Many majors move on to Masters or PhD programs, but graduates can land good jobs in environmental consulting or water management with a Bachelor of Science ○​ Marine biology is very popular on our campus, especially with our proximity to the Monterey Bay, one of the world's most diverse ecosystems.  ○​ UCSC has recently completed a 40,000 square foot Coastal Biology Center at the Long Marine Lab’s Coastal Science Campus. “Only 25% of the site will ever be built on, so most of it will remain open space and will be protected and restored as part of the Younger Lagoon Reserve,“ Professor Gary Griggs said. “The ongoing habitat restoration work provides great opportunities for research and hands-on teaching activities. Statistics ○​ In 2018, U.S. News ranked us 10th in the national rank of geophysics & seismology and 19th in Earth Sciences ○​ Nature Index ranked us 26th nationally for Earth & environmental sciences research in 2019. ○​ Our Science Communication Program, considered one of the top 3 in the world, is the only journalism program that requires a science degree and research experience Faculty ○​ Claire Max - Professor of astronomy, was awarded the American Astronomical Society’s 2015 Joseph Weber Award for Astronomical Instrumentation. Max is a pioneer in the field of adaptive optics—a technology that removes the blurring effect of turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere, allowing telescopes on the ground to see as clearly as if they were in space. ○​ Erika Zavaleta - Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Elected to the Ecological Society of America in 2018. Her interdisciplinary research “focuses on terrestrial ecosystems and plant communities, links between biodiversity and human well-being, and the implications of interacting global and regional environmental changes.” ○​ Natalie Batalha - Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019, alongside Michelle Obama, Judith Butler, and NPR science correspondent and UCSC alumnus Joe Palca. Professor Batalha “served in multiple science leadership roles for NASA’s highly successful Kepler Mission, which discovered 2,700 exoplanets and another 2,000 candidates awaiting confirmation.” ○​ Harry Noller - Professor Emeritus of Molecular Biology, recipient of a $3 million dollar Breakthrough Prize (2016) for his research on the structure of ribosomes and recent work revealing how ribosomes build proteins which has enabled scientists to begin developing antibiotics that hold promise for use against germs that have developed a resistance to current drugs. ○​ Carol Greider - Distinguished Professor of Molecular, Cell and Developmental (MCD) Biology and a Nobel laureate for both her ground-breaking research and her passion for diversity in science. Is well known for discovering telomerase, the enzyme that maintains telomere length in chromosomes. In 2009 her pioneering research led her to sharing the Nobel Prize in Physiology of Medicine.  ○​ Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz - Professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics, was awarded a 5 million dollar Neils Bohr Professorship and has made it his life's work to nurture and support students. A distinguished research career in theoretical astrophysics., in 2022 he was honored at the White House with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematic, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) Student Involvement ○​ Undergraduates and graduates have worked closely with Professor Robert Johnson to develop NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. This telescope is expected to answer some of science's most basic questions. Chancellor Blumenthal stated that with "research like this, our undergraduates help create knowledge while learning to appreciate its global impact." ○​ In addition to wonderful research opportunities, students can participate in CalTeach. CalTeach is part of a UC system-wide program that provides internships, advising, workshops, and financial support for undergraduate and graduate students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) majors who are considering K-12 teaching careers. ○​ UCSC’s first student-run scientific magazine “Scientific Slug” was founded by Nick Lounsbury (‘14), who recently graduated with degrees in Neuroscience and Mathematics. He collaborated with UCSC’s Science Communication Program Director Rob Irion as well as other students to create a publication that would “communicate science, provide an alternative means of education, and connect students to researchers” Other Facts ○​ Our marine sciences campus is called the Long Marine Lab. It is located a short bus ride from here. There are opportunities for volunteering, internships, and jobs there. The Long Marine Lab hosts the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, which has exhibit halls featuring marine science discoveries made at UCSC, aquaria, and marine mammal research tours. It is open to the public and free for students! Seymour Center also offers free, guided tours of the variety of marine wildlife at the Santa Cruz wharf on the weekends. ○​ The Lick observatory on Mt. Hamilton above San Jose is managed by scientists at UCSC, and the Keck Observatory in Hawaii is jointly managed by UCSC and CalTech. ○​ UCSC faculty and students were part of landmark research on the human genome, genome.ucsc.edu, including Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology grad student Jim Kent. They created the first publicly accessible assembly of the human genome. ○​ Rooftop greenhouse lab has two covered outdoor classrooms, five greenhouses, and a large collection of plants covering the entire roof. All plants are labeled with their name, genus species, common name and country of origin. There is Wi-Fi access and plenty of  seating in the greenhouse labs. Division of Arts Majors Film and Digital Media History of Art and Visual Culture Theater Arts Games and Playable Media Music Grad Program - Digital Arts & New Media Art (DANM, “DAN-um”) Statistics ○​ College Factual named UCSC one of the top 10 colleges in the nation (#7) for a degree in Film, Video and Photographic arts. Our Film and Digital Media program was specifically noted for its emphasis on cultural impacts of visual media. (Note: production emphasis no longer available starting 2021) ○​ Institute of the Arts and Sciences is an interdisciplinary institute and was called the first of its kind to focus on the relationship between the arts and sciences at a research university by David Yager (Former Dean of the Arts). ○​ College Factual named UC Santa Cruz 7th in the nation for Best Bachelors Program in Film, Video and Photographic Arts. Our Film and Digital Media program was specially noted for teaching students about the cultural impact of film. Faculty ○​ Celine Parreñas Shimizu - newly appointed Dean of the Arts Division, Shimizu is the author of The Proximity of Other Skins: Ethical Intimacy in Global Cinema (Oxford University Press, 2020), Straitjacket Sexualities (Stanford University Press, 2012), and The Hypersexuality of Race (Duke University Press, 2007), winner of the Best Book in Cultural Studies from the Association for Asian American Studies in 2009. ○​ Gerald Casel - Choreographer focusing on Critical Race and Ethinic studies, Fellowship with Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, performances including Dancing Around Race, a community engagement process in the Bay Area, Not About Race Dance and Cover Your Mouth When You Smile, ODC Theater, San Francisco, CA ○​ Dee Hibbert-Jones - Professor of Art (Sculpture/Public Art) - Academy Award nomination for her short film, The Last Day of Freedom (Best Documentary Short Subject) ○​ Jimin Lee - Chair, Art Department, Head of the Print Media program, and director of the Contemporary Print Media research Center. “Her work explores themes of mobility, displacement and labor on the personal and social level as seen in traffic, places of  transport, or objects that move or are ‘in transit’ -- travel in both the daily and in the migratory sense.” Division Facts ○​ The Film & Digital Media program offers an integrated curriculum involving history, theory, criticism, and cultural analysis. The major provides a course of study that develops an understanding of moving image and digital media as essential tools of communication and artistic practices. ○​ Our BA in Games and Playable Media complements the current BS in Computer Game Design offered by the School of Engineering. The G&PM major combines the theory and practice of game design, game studies, and game media construction. Focuses on ideation, storyboarding, communication of new game ideas, and the creation of digital and non-digital game assets and code. ○​ Theater facilities include Main Stage, Experimental Theater ("X-Space"), Second Stage, and The Barn. Troupes include: ○​ Rainbow Theater: The only multicultural theater troupe in the entire UC System — ethnically diverse productions, student directed, acted, and stage management. Performances are free for students with their ID ○​ AATAT (African American Theater Arts Troupe): Only in the UC system, designed to “create unity, higher visibility, and understanding of the African American culture here at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the greater Santa Cruz community” Performances are free for students with their ID. ○​ In the Art Department we have several different areas including: Painting & Drawing, Sculpture, Photography, Printmaking, Environmental Art, Animation and digital art. Our facilities include studios, a wood shop, a 3D makers space, digital printing output facility / computer lab, film photography darkroom, metal fabrication welding shop, and a bronze foundry. ○​ Our Music Center includes a 386-seat recital hall with recording facilities, classroom space, practice and teaching studios and rehearsal space. There are 19 music groups on campus, ranging from jazz ensembles to Opera and A Capella Groups, you can participate even if you're not a music major pending an audition process. ○​ Our DANM (Digital Arts & New Media) building offers undergrads the opportunity to join research groups headed by grad students in collaborative digital art and new media projects. FARM & GARDENS ○​ Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, also known as CASFS, started in 1971 and covers 30 acres of farmland. The site uses organic production methods and  serves as a research, teaching, and professional horticulture training facility. It’s open to the public every day from 8 am – 6 pm. ○​ Alan Chadwick Garden is located on the upper campus next to Merrill College and is a 3-acre garden started by the Philosophy Faculty in 1967 and open to guests daily. ○​ UCSC Arboretum is a rich and diverse collection containing representatives of more than 300 plant families of Mediterranean climates and open to the general public. The garden maintains collections of rare and threatened plants of unusual scientific interest and large assemblages of plants from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and California natives. GETTING AROUND CAMPUS TAPS (Transportation and Parking Services) ○​ Parking: Thinking About Bringing Your Car to UCSC? Our parking permits are reserved for students of 3rd and 4th year standing because we like to say we prefer trees to parking lots! Student permits for those who commute to campus quickly sell out at the beginning of Fall Quarter. Off-campus parking options are extremely limited, and are typically sold out by mid-summer. For students with certain special circumstances, there is a parking permit appeal process. ○​ Walking: UCSC has an amazing network of paths and trails that often provide the most direct route from one location on campus to another. Walking to class is often quicker than waiting for shuttles, so bring a good pair of walking shoes! New students receive a campus walking map when they arrive for fall quarter. ○​ Bicycling: Students are encouraged to bring their bikes to campus. Cycling from class to class is easy and bike racks are conveniently located near each classroom. There are many bike trails on campus including some designated off-road trails in Upper Campus. Bike licenses are required at UCSC and are free to order. Bike Maintenance clinics are offered once a week and are free to students. Bicycle riding skill classes are free and are offered quarterly. There is also a free bike-lending program. Bikes are not stored in dorm rooms, and are instead stored in communal bike storage areas. ○​ UCSC was named a “silver bicycle friendly university” by the League of American Bicyclists. ○​ Nearly All Santa Cruz metro buses are equipped with front loading bike-racks for longer distance bike transportation. ○​ The Bike Co-op (located in the Quarry Plaza) is a place to get your bike fixed and learn how to get your bike fixed! ○​ While you do have to pay for the parts you don’t have to pay for the labor, which is a lot cheaper than going off campus!  ○​ BCycle: Rentable E-bikes all over campus and throughout Santa Cruz. Students can pay a $32 annual membership fee for unlimited 60-minute rides as long as they use the service at least 6 times per month. There are 25 stations on campus and 64 stations in total (both on and off campus). ○​ Skateboarding/roller skating/scootering are not permitted on campus ○​ Campus Transit Service: Campus loop buses circulate through the campus, day and night, year-round to move students from class to class and other destinations on campus. Some shuttles, but not all, will have bike racks. All routes are wheelchair accessible. There is also the Disability Van Service that provides on-campus wheelchair lift-equipped transportation for those unable to use the regular shuttle system. The Campus Transit services are supported by the Student Transit Fee, so no fare is required to ride. Shuttle buses come by every 10-20 minutes, depending on the day and time. ○​ Metro Bus Service: The Metro buses travel bi-directionally through campus to help students get downtown and throughout Santa Cruz County. Metro service for students is also funded through the Student Transit Fee. Showing a valid UCSC student ID card provides students with unlimited rides on Metro buses for no additional fare required. Metro buses are wheelchair accessible, and most have bike racks. ○​ Bike Shuttle: TAPS operates a fare-free commuter bike shuttle from the westside of Santa Cruz on weekday mornings. Cyclists can load their bikes on a trailer and catch a ride up to campus. ○​ Getting to the Airports: Private airport shuttles can pick you up from campus and drop you off at San Jose (SJC) or San Francisco (SFO) airports. A list of airport shuttle providers, as well as information on using a combination of bus and train travel to reach each airport, is available on the TAPS website. The Santa Cruz 17 Metro bus only costs $7 to take students to the San Jose Diridon station, which can get them to the San Jose airport (Amtrak, Caltrain, Greyhound, VTA). ○​ Zipcar: No need to bring a car to campus! Zipcar is a membership-based car rental program that gives you self-service access to vehicles on and off campus, 24 hours a day. Reserve cars through your phone or your computer for as short as an hour and as long as nine days. The yearly membership fee is only $15 and anywhere from $7-$14 to rent a car. Cars are conveniently parked throughout the campus and in Santa Cruz for easy access. Members can also use any car within the Zipcar system throughout the United States. Licensed drivers 18 and over are eligible to apply. Sign up for a membership before you come to campus and save time. ○​ UCSC VanPool: Vanpools have subsidized monthly fees for UCSC students and staff. Vanpools operate from San Jose, Monterey, Salinas, Aptos, and Watsonville. Excellent for commuting students who seek reliable daily rides. Typical daily routes cater to a 7:30A - 4:00P or 8:00A-5:00P work day schedule. HEALTH AND SAFETY Student Health Center ○​ The Student Health Center is also the campus' first LEED Gold certified building. Even though 11,000 square feet were added to the building, the center uses 42.6% less water. ○​ Medical and psychological services and a pharmacy. ○​ Safety and health of our students is the first priority. ○​ On-campus full police department and fire department. ○​ Nearest hospital is close by in Santa Cruz: Dominican Hospital. ○​ CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services): The goal is to meet the mental health needs of UCSC students. The CAPS Peer Educators are fellow students that work together to help destigmatize mental health on campus! ○​ SHOP (Student Health Outreach and Promotion): An organization that helps students make healthy and safe choices in a non-judgmental environment ○​ COVE (Collegiate Recovery Community Space): safe space to be in community with other students that are committed to their recovery from alcohol and/or other drugs, are the loved one of someone with an addiction, are someone who wants to support those in recovery, are interested in recovery or just want to meet other students who are substance-free and looking for community. ○​ CARE (Campus Advocacy Resources and Education) serves the UC Santa Cruz community by providing free and confidential support to those impacted by sexual assault, intimate partner/domestic violence, stalking, or sexual harassment. We offer prevention education training and work collaboratively with campus communities to create a culture of respect and empowerment. HOUSING ○​ UCSC houses 47% of their student body and 96% of frosh. ○​ All students are affiliated with a college. Transfer students affiliate with a college too, even if you are not living on campus. ○​ All freshmen receive a 1-year housing priority, transfer students a 1-year housing priority, and EOP students receive a 2-year priority. Students need to meet all of the deadlines for the housing application including financial deadlines. ○​ Priority System:  o​ 1st, 2nd, 3rd year international students have priority o​ Military veterans have priority o​ Regence scholars o​ Renaissance scholars ○​ The Colleges are more similar in their structure than different, although most have different architecture and themes. They all have their own advising, activities, and housing offices. ○​ You can view residential housing options at housing.ucsc.edu and take a virtual tour of apartments and residence halls on campus. There are also virtual tours of other housing options such as The Village and the University town center. ○​ Students in residential halls are housed in singles, doubles, triples, or quads. Students in apartments are housed in singles, doubles, triples, or quads as well. The most common room size for incoming frosh is a triple. ○​ Kresge is the only college with all apartments, no residential halls until 2023 Transfer Community All incoming transfer students who request university housing can live in the Transfer Community in Porter College, or the University Town Center (which is located in downtown Santa Cruz) or the Redwood Grove apartments (for students 23 or older). *Transfer students not required to live in these, are able to choose any of the residential colleges. ○​ The Transfer Community is in newly-renovated residential buildings at Porter College. The room offerings include singles, doubles, and a limited number of triples. Transfer students will be in close proximity, and have easy access to Services for Transfer, Re-Entry and Resilient Scholars (STARRS) and the Academic Resource Center (ARC). They will have transfer-specific advising and programming available. ○​ Transfer students who choose University housing sign a housing contract for an entire academic year. However, after the first quarter they may request to change their living location to their college. Family Student Housing We offer Family Student Housing on the west side of campus for students living on campus with a family. Families come in various sizes and shapes, so students should check in with housing to see if they are eligible. The townhouse apartments are available at a cost that is below the average rental cost for Santa Cruz (Apartments include cable TV and on-campus parking). They also have on-site child care, family programming, and a family garden. Off-Campus Living Options We have a Community Rentals Office, which helps students, staff, and faculty find rentals in the area. They also serve as an informational and educational resource for matters related to off-campus rentals. Themed Housing Options UCSC offers a wide variety of themed housing options for students interested. The themed housing options are based on academic interests, hobbies, and individuals' backgrounds. A few types of themed housing options include: ○​ Single-Gender ○​ Film and Digital Media ○​ Continuing Students ○​ Substance Free ○​ Outdoor Pursuits & Sustainability ○​ Women in STEM Community ○​ Science Community ○​ LGBTQIA+ ○​ International Living Center (College ○​ Mixed-Gender Nine) ○​ Study Intensive/Silent ○​ Quiet ○​ Sustainable Living ○​ Ecovillage ○​ Trans-inclusive Housing (Merrill ○​ Science Community dorms for first years, Redwood ○​ African, Black, Caribbean Themed Grove apartments for continuing) Housing ○​ Social Justice ○​ Women in STEM ○​ Rosa Parks African American Theme ○​ Rumi’s Field - Nonviolent House (Stevenson College) Communication ○​ Writer’s House ○​ Continuing Students ○​ Gaming Community Other University-Affiliated Housing options include: ○​ The Village/PICA (Program in Community and Agroecology) ○​ Family Student Housing (open to all forms of families) ○​ The RV Park (Student must sublet RV) ○​ Graduate Student Housing ○​ University Town Center (Downtown) ○​ Redwood Grove Apartments (located in Kresge College for transfer students age 22 and older) ○​ International Living Center: 50% international students, 50% UCSC students. Students must submit an application to live here. ○​ Visit housing.ucsc.edu to take virtual tours of our different housing options. ○​ Each college has a web site and is unique, so be sure to check out the different colleges. LIBRARIES The University Library at UC Santa Cruz has two great locations where you can study, learn, unwind, collaborate, and create. In addition, some of the individual colleges have their own smaller libraries for studying. The McHenry Library is located in the Campus Core and has quiet study areas, scenic forest reading porches, a yoga/meditation space, and a cafe. ○​ Digital Scholarship Commons (DSC) on the ground floor has audio, video, and VR equipment students can freely borrow as well as a Virtual Reality room and an audio recording space where students can create podcasts and more. ○​ Special Collections & Archives house incredible, unique, and rare materials including photography, historical materials, artists books, the John Cage mycology collection, a book made out of rat skin, a four thousand year old cuneiform tablet, the Grateful Dead archive, and much more. The goal of speical collections is to preserve and make available these histories so that they are visible and not lost to time. The Science & Engineering Library is located on Science Hill and has flexible study spaces and a video game lab where students can play or borrow video games and consoles. ○​ Digital Scholarship Innovation Studio (DSI) on the lower level offers a variety of equipment and training to support projects that bridge the digital and the physical using 3D data including 3D printers, Glowforge laser cutters, and Cricut Makers. These resources are freely open to all UCSC students regardless of major or experience. Other Highlights ○​ Reservable study rooms in both libraries are used by students for group projects, online classes, telehealth appointments, video interviews, and more. ○​ Both library locations offer printing, scanning, computers, and laptops that can be checked out. ○​ The Course Reserves service allows students to check out required materials, rather than having to purchase them. ○​ The UC Library Search catalog allows students to request books via Interlibrary Loan from other UC campuses and libraries worldwide. ○​ As part of the larger UC-system, the library's online research materials are significant including ebooks, journals, newspapers, streaming movies and music, and more. We also have an excellent collection of physical items (books, sheet music, etc). If we don’t have what you need, we can get it for you. The library borrows books on behalf of students from libraries throughout the world! ○​ The library is one of the top student employers–and is definitely the best place to work on campus! Students who work for the library have jobs that range from helping other students use the library, to conducting user experience (UX) studies on our website, helping other students learn the technology in the DSI, supporting library research  projects, and working within the library archives. QUARRY PLAZA Baytree Bookstore ○​ The first floor is where you can buy SLUG gear ○​ The second floor is where you can purchase books for classes, electronic devices/accessories, as well as school supplies (notebooks, pens, pencils, etc.). ○​ You can rent mini fridges and microwaves for your dorm, as well as other dorm essentials (desk lamps, mini fans, laundry hampers) Career Center ○​ Located in Hahn Students Services ○​ Career assessment tests and opportunities to meet with advisors to find out what career path might be best for each student ○​ Help with choosing a major ○​ Advising, workshops, and assistance with resume writing and job/internship search ○​ Mock interviews ○​ Quarterly Career fairs / interviews with prospective employers ○​ Database of over 1,500 internships and 8,000 full-time jobs available to students ○​ Automatic updates regarding openings at companies you specify ○​ Connect students to thousands of paid and unpaid experiential learning opportunities - including paid on and off-campus jobs and work-study ○​ Connection to alumni in various industry clusters and opportunities to ask them questions ○​ Fall graduate school fairs ○​ Advising on Graduate School Application process Ethnic Resource Centers All resource centers are open to ALL student affiliates and their allies. Located in Quarry Plaza. Focus on community, cultural, and retention services ○​ African/American Resource and Cultural Center ○​ Community town hall discussion called “My Black Is…” held on campus to talk about African-American student life on campus ○​ African/Black Student Alliance promotes recruitment and retention of African American students at UCSC ○​ Some historically African American Greek orgs are supported at UCSC - Delta  Sigma Theta sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority ○​ American Indian Resource Center(Located in Quarry) ○​ Provides support to all students who identify as American Indian ○​ The American Indian Resource Center hosts a series of programs throughout the year that highlight American Indian culture and lifeways ○​ Programming includes presentations by American Indian scholars and community leaders ○​ The two largest events hosted by the AIRC every year are Indigethanx (an alternative celebration to Thanksgiving) and Drum Feast a celebration of Indigenous cultures throughout the Americas ○​ Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center ○​ Students can gain leadership experience through the AA/PIRC Internship and participation in the SSTOC (Success Strategies and Opportunities Collaborative) Leadership Training Program. ○​ During the month of May, the Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center hosts a series of events to commemorate the achievements of AA/PIs. The Heritage Month program aims to educate the broader UCSC campus community about AA/PI issues and experiences as well as increase the visibility of underrepresented groups within the AA/PI community. ○​ Chicano/Latino Resource Center (El Centro) ○​ Located at Crown/Merrill ○​ El Centro offers internships that work to promote the Chicanx Latinx community on campus through creating publications, doing student outreach, and facilitating workshops ○​ Hosts activities and events such as the Cesar Chavez Convocation every year, which honors Cesar Chavez and his commitment to civil rights ○​ Greek orgs: Phi Iota Alpha fraternity, Sigma Pi Alpha sorority Express Store/Slug Stop ○​ Comparable to an on-campus convenience store. ○​ You can find quick bites to eat, drinks, and a variety of general supplies (laundry detergent, batteries, pencils, personal grooming supplies) Resources not located in Quarry Plaza All resource centers are open to ALL student affiliates and their allies. Although these resources are not in Quarry Plaza, they are thematically linked to the Ethnic Resource Centers. ○​ Lionel Cantú Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+)  Resource Center (also known as the Lionel Cantú Queer Center) ○​ Located at Merrill College ○​ Outreach to the off-campus community by working with LGBTQIA+ community organizations such as Triangle Speakers, the Diversity Center, the Queer Youth Leadership Awards, and Family Services Rainbow Program ○​ Puts on the Queer Fashion Show every year: The show is a variety show filled with song, dance, spoken word, and, of course, FASHION! ○​ We also have a gender expression closet to check out at the center! ○​ Greek orgs: Theta Pi Sigma - hosts queer prom ○​ Women's Center ○​ Located at the base of campus ○​ Programming includes Take Back the Night and Sister Solidarity, which is a series of events for Women’s Heritage Month including hiking, dancing, self defense workshops and much more! ○​ Anyone is welcome to volunteer at the Women’s Center doing outreach or office work! Student Organizations ○​ Bike Co-op ○​ The Bike Co-op (located in the Quarry Plaza) is a place to get your bike fixed and learn how to get your bike fixed! ○​ While you do have to pay for the parts you don’t have to pay for the labor, which is a lot cheaper than going off campus! ○​ SOAR/Student Media/Cultural Arts and Diversity (SOMeCA) is dedicated to the success of UCSC’s campus-wide student organizations. ○​ The Student Union is a Student Governed space for students to be able to hold meetings, lounge, watch television, work on computers, print, play pool, check out banner making materials and staple guns. ○​ Students are able to develop events and projects that benefit and enrich the UCSC community. By serving as leaders in their organizations, these students gain professional skills that make them candidates for jobs after graduation. ○​ SOAR is part of a larger unit called SOMeCA, which is dedicated to the success of UCSC’s campus­-wide student organizations. ​ SOAR sponsors about 200 student organizations on campus, which range from Academic, Cultural & Identity, Environmental & Sustainability, Greek­-Letter, Performing & Visual Arts, Political & Advocacy, Volunteer,  Professional, Religious & Spiritual, Service, and other special interests. ​ SOAR offers advising to student organizations and provides opportunities for students to gain professional skills that enables them to be more effective in the classroom and in the workforce. ○​ Student Media houses award winning publications like City on a Hill Press as well as film productions like SCTV. ○​ Cultural Arts & Diversity has Rainbow Theater and the African American Theater Arts Troupe, which are student-­run theater productions. ○​ Student Union Assembly (SUA) ○​ Student government, campus wide. ○​ Each college has its own student government. This is the university-wide student government. ○​ Student-funded and student-run, representatives from across campus. ○​ Deal with student concerns at the campus level (student fees, campus labor issues, matters of academic integrity) and also deal with issues that affect students on a statewide level (budget cuts, voter registration, accessibility to higher education). ○​ E2 (Education Squared) ○​ Volunteer organization with two main functions: ○​ Increase retention of our current students ○​ Outreach to underrepresented students ○​ Student-run organization with peer tutoring ○​ Returning freshman to sophomore year is 85% (2020-2021) (campus wide) ○​ Student Initiated Outreach programs for newly admitted students every spring through the Filipino Student Association (FSA), African/Black Student Alliance (A/BSA) and MeCHA. ○​ Community Unified Student Network (CUSN), pronounced “cousin”, is a peer program dedicated, but not exclusive to the Asian / Pacific Islander (A/PI) community at the University of California, Santa Cruz. ○​ Chicanxs and Latinxs Educandose (ChALE) is a peer retention program committed to improving the retention and graduation rates of Chicanx/Latinx students at UCSC ○​ A Step Forward (ASF) introduces UC Santa Cruz, the Filipino Student Association (FSA) community, and college life to newly admitted students. It focuses on depicting a peer-to-peer perspective of the student experience on this campus, and advocating the pursuit of higher education. REPUTATION, FACULTY, RESEARCH ​ #1 in the nation for racial and gender diversity in Leadership ​ Top 20 national public universities for excellence in Undergradute Teaching ​ #16 Universities with the greatest social mobility ​ Look here See DIVISIONS for examples in these categories. RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES ○​ When you are admitted to UC Santa Cruz, you then request your top 5 residential college choices. With approximately 83.12% of students getting their top choice. NOT BASED on your MAJOR. ○​ There are 10 residential colleges. They form a horseshoe around the perimeter of our campus. ○​ The residential college system gives you the feeling of a small private college while still being connected to a major research university that is making a difference in the world. ○​ Students graduate with their residential college. ○​ Is where you are going to live on campus and spend most of your time. ○​ A generous gift from the Helen and Will Webster Foundation made the naming of Rachel Carson College possible, the first in 35 years. Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring exposed the devastating environmental impacts of DDT and inspired the modern-day environmental movement. Rachel Carson College is now the first college at UC Santa Cruz to bear a woman's name. ○​ Transfer students receive a college affiliation and participate in activities both in their affiliated college and within their housing community, giving them a unique “dual community” status Core Course ○​ Core Class definition: Freshmen enroll in this class the first quarter at UC Santa Cruz (Stevenson 2 quarters) ○​ Focus on improving writing skills & critical analysis, also on creating a bridge