2021  Undergraduate News

Instructions for students returning to campus

We realize that the pandemic has been unpredictable, and public health guidelines often change, so we are reaching out to provide you with the most up-to-date information for your return from Winter Break.

Impacts of rainy weather on coronavirus outbreaks reveal economic benefits from earlier social distancing

Economists at UC Santa Cruz used rainy weather as a natural experiment to understand how communities across the U.S. that started some form of social distancing slightly earlier may have experienced significant economic benefits.

Update on winter quarter

With the rapid rise nationwide in the number of COVID-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant and the likelihood that holiday gatherings will only further increase infections, UC campuses are implementing additional mitigations.

New platform textbooks and course materials

Beginning with the Winter Quarter 2022, UCSC and the Bay Tree Bookstore will begin transitioning textbook services to a new model where you can order textbooks and course materials online and then have them delivered to your home or campus address.

Hollywood trailblazer: Ally Walker

Oakes College alumna Ally Walker's career went from sequencing genomes to solving crimes on television

The importance of vaccine boosters, recognizing our 2021 accomplishments

The end of a calendar year naturally spurs reflection. It’s a time to think back on both the challenges we’ve faced individually and collectively, and to celebrate our accomplishments.

Tyler Stovall, renowned history professor and former humanities dean, dies at 67

Stovall was a faculty member of the UC Santa Cruz Humanities Division for 13 years, including three years serving as the chair of the History Department and provost of Stevenson College.

Colligan Clinical Diagnostic Lab to end COVID testing amid regulatory changes

With widespread COVID-19 testing available and significant changes to the regulatory landscape for emergency testing facilities, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer said this is the right moment to end the lab’s work in testing for COVID-19 and begin a planned transition to focusing on pediatric cancer genomics.

Upcoming closures for Student Health Center and CAPS

Student Health Center will be closed for mandatory staff trainings during these dates and times:

Prescribed burns scheduled today to Dec. 20 in Wilder Ranch State Park

California State Parks is planning to conduct prescribed burns at Wilder Ranch State Park in Santa Cruz County beginning today (Dec. 6), pending weather conditions.

New study shows plants struggle to keep pace with climate change in human-dominated landscapes

A new global-scale analysis found a mismatch between plant phenology and rising temperatures that was more pronounced in the most human-dominated landscapes, especially crop lands.

Action required - Instructions for Winter Break

As we near the end of the fall quarter, we are reaching out today regarding the university’s COVID testing protocol in advance of Winter Break (Dec. 11 through Jan. 2).

Stepping up to fight food insecurity

UC Santa Cruz has expanded its annual Second Harvest Holiday Food and Fund Drive to help boost donations—needed now more than ever in the wake of the pandemic, wildfires, and economic turmoil.

Holiday gifts that challenge gender stereotypes can support children’s development

Distinguished Professor of Psychology Campbell Leaper explains the issues with gender stereotypes in children’s toys and shares gift-giving tips that may help counteract the effects.

Karen Tei Yamashita receives 2021 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters

Yamashita used her acceptance speech, in part, to emphasize the significance of this medal being awarded to an Asian-American writer “especially this year, post-pandemic, having weathered the Twitter absurdity, corruption, and mendacity; the brutality of racial profiling; and the provocation of anti-immigrant, anti-refugee, anti-Muslim, [and] anti-Asian hatred.” 

Exceptions to campus closure 2021-2022

As in the past, the UC Santa Cruz campus will close during the holiday season in an effort to conserve energy at a time when the university business is generally slow.

Priya Mehta to serve as Associate Vice Chancellor for Development

The Associate Vice Chancellor for Development is a pivotal leadership role on campus, and involves working at the highest levels internally and externally to generate philanthropic support for the university.

Support for undocumented members of our campus community

We are writing to reaffirm our care and support for undocumented members of our community.

UC Santa Cruz ranked No. 3 green college 

Princeton Review evaluates schools based on institutional data as well as a 10-question student survey.

Reviving deep-rooted knowledge

The Amah Mutsun Relearning Program at the Arboretum & Botanic Garden aims to assist the tribe's efforts in cultural revitalization, recuperation and relearning of dormant cultural knowledge, and environmental justice.

Rosa Garcia to serve as interim ADA Officer

Senior Investigator/Complaint Resolution Officer Rosa Garcia has agreed to serve as interim ADA Officer. In this inaugural position, Rosa will help provide leadership and expertise to ensure campuswide ADA compliance and foster a more inclusive climate.

Uncovering the politics behind a pandemic

The latest paper from Politics Professor and Global & Community Health Executive Director Matt Sparke argues that the coronavirus pandemic has exposed, exploited, and exacerbated the vulnerabilities of neoliberal societies around the world.

Taking precautions when traveling; public comment on policy on bullying/abusive conduct, proposing additional student housing at Kresge

As we near the end of the fall quarter, I want to extend my best wishes to all Banana Slugs, near and far, and to express my gratitude for how you have made this quarter possible.

Tony Cobb brings lessons from the hardscrabble to key leadership role

At an early age, Tony Cobb learned to pay attention to details and give his all—skills he's brought to UC Santa Cruz as the new associate vice chancellor for Physical Planning, Development and Operations.

New grant to support Dickens Project programming in year ahead

The programming in 2022 is focused on questions of race and social justice in the 19th century and today, with the summer's Dickens Universe event broadening its purview by pairing a British novel with an African-American novel.

UC Santa Cruz campus voting skyrocketed in 2020

A nationwide study shows student voting at UC Santa Cruz increased dramatically in last year’s presidential election, and these gains came at roughly double the average rate of increase across more than 1,000 college campuses around the country.

Statement on not guilty verdict in Rittenhouse trial

We are disheartened and dismayed by this morning's not guilty verdict on all charges in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. We join in solidarity with all who are outraged by this failure of accountability.

New program helps to increase number of Latinx teachers

The Latinx Initiative for Future Teachers (LIFT) program enables students to finish a master’s in education and earn credentials for teaching in 12 months.

Union calls off strike; tentative contract

The University of California and UC-AFT have reached a tentative deal, and the union has called off the strike.

Widening the spectrum of gratitude with IndigeThanx

IndigeThanx, an annual event sponsored by UC Santa Cruz’s American Indian Resource Center and Cowell Coffee Shop, offers an alternative to Thanksgiving.

Jazz virtuoso Charles Tolliver to reimagine Coltrane’s iconic ‘Africa/Brass’ on 60th anniversary

UC Santa Cruz will celebrate the 60th anniversary of John Coltrane’s iconic 'Africa/Brass' with jazz virtuoso Charles Tolliver joining the UC Santa Cruz Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Choir in a reimagining of the work.

$8.8 million federal grant to help teens succeed in college

GEAR UP is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

The Bay Tree Bookstore partners with Akademos to launch online textbook, course materials platform

UCSC’s Bay Tree Bookstore will begin transitioning in December 2021 to an online bookstore platform that enables digital and hard-cover textbook purchases and rentals.  

Exhibit showcases remarkable lives of everyday Santa Cruz residents

Sponsored by The Humanities Institute and curated by THI’s Summer Public Fellow Morgan Gates, 'Do You Know My Name?' highlights the stories of everyday Santa Cruzans throughout the region’s history who were neither rich nor famous but whose lives are remarkable.

National award recognizes economics professor’s research for revealing outsized pandemic impacts on minority-owned businesses

Economics Professor Robert Fairlie recently received the Bradford-Osborne Research Award for a paper he released in August 2020 that showed minority-owned businesses were affected by pandemic-related closures at higher rates.

Announced labor strike at UC campuses on Wednesday and Thursday

UC-AFT, the union that represents lecturers, has announced that it will be holding a systemwide labor strike at the nine undergraduate-serving UC campuses this Wednesday and Thursday, November 17 and 18.

Announced labor strike at UC campuses on Wednesday and Thursday

UC-AFT, the union that represents lecturers, has announced that it will be holding a systemwide labor strike at UC campuses on Wednesday and Thursday, November 17 and 18. Picketing by lecturers is expected to happen at the main entrance and west entrance of UC Santa Cruz.

Award-winning poet Gary Young to read at 12th annual Morton Marcus memorial event

Gary Young has written powerful, richly detailed verses often inspired by the bounty of the natural world. And as with most great poetry, Young’s work is great on the page, but truly comes to life when it is read aloud.

Title IX Office a critical support resource for those who’ve experienced sexual violence, harassment

UC Santa Cruz strives to be a safe and equitable place for students, staff, and faculty. The Title IX Office plays a critical role by fostering a campus climate in which members of our community are protected from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and gender-based harassment and discrimination.

Kamaleswaran to serve as interim vice chancellor for Business and Administrative Services

I am pleased to announce that Biju Kamaleswaran, our Associate Vice Chancellor, Financial Affairs and Campus Controller, has agreed to serve as interim Vice Chancellor for Business and Administrative Services. His interim appointment takes effect Jan. 4, 2022, pending approval by the UC president.

Instructional Support Corps develop resources to support TAs, faculty, students

The Instructional Support Corps was a group of 17 graduate student fellows from across the divisions who developed instructional resources in preparation for the Fall Quarter that continue to help teaching assistants and faculty—and students.

Provide feedback on Support Structures for Free Speech and Lawful Protest Proposal

The UC Santa Cruz campus community is encouraged to provide feedback on the Support Structures for Free Speech and Lawful Protest Proposal.

Student action required - Instructions for Thanksgiving Break

With the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching, there are several COVID-related precautions we would like you to be mindful of as you plan to visit with family and friends over the break.

Talk to focus on subpar treatment of Native women with tuberculosis

Caitlin Keliiaa, a historian and assistant professor, will be presenting her talk, “Settler Colonialism is a Sickness: How Federal Indian Health Failed Native Women,” a discussion on the young Native women who contracted TB, but received subpar treatment—or no help at all—due to their ethnicity.

Additional student space for studying, private appointments

The increased use of video conferencing for healthcare appointments, group meetings, and remote/online instruction has underscored a need for more student space on campus.

Review of proposed revisions to the Sexual Violence & Sexual Harassment Policy

The UC Title IX Office has announced several proposed revisions to the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment to ensure compliance with a new state law and to better account for prohibited conduct in the clinical setting. 

Talent Search grant extension to help more East San Jose teens achieve college dreams

Hundreds of low-income teens in East San Jose will continue to receive extra help to achieve their college dreams after the federal government again funded a grant to UC Santa Cruz.

UC Santa Cruz advances commitment to social justice with College 10 naming in honor of John R. Lewis

College Ten—an undergraduate residential learning community founded on principles of social justice and community—will be named in honor of the late congressman and civil rights icon John R. Lewis.

Prescribed burns scheduled today to Nov. 5 in Wilder Ranch State Park

California State Parks is planning to begin prescribed burns at Wilder Ranch State Park in Santa Cruz County beginning today (Oct. 27), pending weather conditions.

College Ten to be named for civil rights icon John R. Lewis

Today is a momentous day for UC Santa Cruz and for our extended campus community. I am thrilled and honored to announce that College Ten will be named John R. Lewis College.

Reclaiming Coast Miwok history through Indigenous interpretations of archaeology

Assistant Professor of Anthropology Tsim Schneider's latest book gathers and interprets archival and archaeological evidence in new ways that combat the erasure of Indigenous peoples from historical narratives.

Jody Greene appointed CP/EVC special advisor on educational equity and academic success

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jody Greene, Associate Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning and Professor of Literature, as special advisor to the CP/EVC for educational equity and academic success.

Ryan Sharp to serve as assistant vice chancellor for Innovation and Business Engagement

For the past six years, Sharp has worked in UC Davis’s Venture Catalyst unit, which focuses on supporting faculty, students, staff, alumni, and technology licensees in launching and growing new startups based on translational research, intellectual property, and innovative ideas developed at the university.

Upcoming campus visits for Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Success finalists

We are anticipating the campus visits for the finalists in the search for the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Success, and I invite everyone in our campus community to participate in the process and to provide feedback on the finalists.

Emerging ocean conservation leaders set to visit UC Santa Cruz

The Blue Pioneers Program (BPP) Accelerator recently announced its 2021 cohort of international ocean conservation professionals who will visit UC Santa Cruz’s Coastal Science Campus.

Test of community emergency alert system at 10 a.m. today

Santa Cruz County emergency response officials are planning a test of the county’s alert and warning system at 10 a.m. today.

UC flu vaccination mandate compliance due Nov. 19

The University of California issued an executive order on Oct. 8, 2021 , requiring flu vaccination for all students, faculty, other academic appointees, and staff who learn, live, or work at a UC location.

CASFS will become the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology

The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) will get a new name, logo, and look and feel through a rebranding project that affirms the center’s commitment to advancing agroecology and equitable food systems.

Highlighting academic excellence

What you’re reading here is the first of what will be a quarterly communication from me, highlighting academic news from around campus.

New book shares lessons from history on the case for Senate reform

In his new book, Professor of Politics Daniel Wirls uses historical research and modern-day analysis to argue that features of the Senate undermine effective democratic governance and have contributed to the maintenance of white supremacy.

‘Manatee Man' Jamal Galves wins scholarship to study coastal science and policy

Request for feedback on proposed new model to support free speech and protest Inbox

To help our campus do better in the future, we invite the campus community to provide feedback on the Support Structures for Free Speech and Lawful Protest Proposal.

Library invited to join prestigious Association of Research Libraries

The ARL is a nonprofit membership organization of more than 120 libraries and archives at major public and private universities, federal government agencies, and large public institutions in the United States and Canada.

Campus library voted into prestigious association

We are thrilled to announce that our campus was officially invited to join the prestigious Association of Research Libraries (ARL), with our membership effective January 1, 2022.

Reimagining our economy for the benefit of all

Faculty members at UC Santa Cruz and the University of Southern California released a new book that offers a road map and conceptual framework for equity-driven economic reform in the United States.

College Scholars Program exposes students to research opportunities

Through the College Scholars Program, students are able to explore the full potential of the university setting, beyond the coursework that might be required in their respective disciplines.

Ensuring student success in both the short and long term

This wide-ranging effort will increase financial support for our undergraduate and graduate students, and advance their access to the guidance and experiences fundamental to their education and ultimately future success.

Drive safely with increased pedestrian activity at campus entrances on Wednesday, Thursday

UC-AFT, the labor union that represents lecturers, has announced it will hold systemwide informational pickets on Wednesday and Thursday, October 13-14.

UC Santa Cruz locations not included in potential PG&E power outages

Pacific Gas and Electric has announced that it may turn off power to some parts of California on Monday to reduce the risk of power lines sparking a wildfire.

Mellon Foundation award to support UC Santa Cruz’s ‘Visualizing Abolition’ initiative

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded a $1,977,000 grant to support 'Visualizing Abolition,' the nation’s most ambitious and sustained art and prison abolition initiative.

Help conserve water with Santa Cruz in extreme drought

Through at least October, UCSC is required to reduce its water consumption by 9%. We need all members of the campus community to do their part in helping us reach this goal.

Professor’s TED talk on body ideals warns against ‘conflation of appearance with health’

UC Santa Cruz professor and medical anthropologist Nancy Chen gave a popular TED Salon talk that has been viewed more than 780,000 times online.

Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report

The University of California, Santa Cruz, is committed to assisting all members of the community in providing for their safety and security.

Graduate student studying New Orleans' Latin American connections

Rafael Delgadillo, a UC Santa Cruz doctoral student in Latin American and Latino Studies, is looking at how New Orleans' colonial foundations set a tone for its distinctiveness within the United States.

Following approval of Long Range Development Plan, campus invites local leaders to collaborate on framework for sustainable implementation

Campus, city and county leaders signed an agreement earlier in the week that lays the groundwork to start formal discussions about charting a path forward and resolving concerns connected to the 2021 LDRP.

Regents overwhelmingly approve campus long-term development plan

I am delighted to pass along the news that the UC Board of Regents earlier today overwhelmingly endorsed our vision, unanimously approving our 2021 Long Range Development Plan.

Slugs converge on Santa Cruz business district for Downtown Day

Returning and beginning students explore local businesses, take part in boisterous scavenger hunt in event created in partnership with Downtown Association

New BBQueer Fest dance and arts festival co-produced by UCSC dance professor Gerald Casel

Beginning on September 30, Santa Cruz will host the first annual BBQueer Fest—a four-day dance and arts festival organized by and for QTBIPOC artists and community members.

UC Santa Cruz joins Excelencia in Action Network to help advance Latinx student success

UC Santa Cruz has joined the Excelencia in Action Network.

Mellon Foundation grant will support national initiative in Latinx studies

Through a three-year, $5 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, UC Santa Cruz will be part of a national initiative in Latinx studies called “Crossing Latinidades: Emerging Scholars and New Comparative Directions.”

Stellar new faculty strengthen campus research, teaching

To build on existing research strength and branch into new areas of inquiry, UC Santa Cruz has recruited 40 new tenure-track faculty members for the academic year that starts this week.

Celebrating the start of a new academic year

We begin this 2021-22 academic year with high hopes. We’re excited to have returned to primarily in-person instruction for the first time since March 2020.

UC Santa Cruz releases final Environmental Impact Report for LRDP

UC Santa Cruz has released the Final Environmental Impact Report that supports the proposed 2021 Long Range Development Plan.

Slug Strong Update: Successful move-in; asymptomatic testing available 

Each week, we will provide the campus with helpful updates and summaries of the measures underway to support the health and well-being of our UC Santa Cruz community. 

Move-in 2021: Relief and excitement as students return to campus

A campus kept quiet for 18 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic came back to life as students moved in before the start of the fall quarter.

With AAU, HSI distinctions, UC Santa Cruz to join in discussion on serving, supporting Latinx students

UC Santa Cruz—one of only four universities that is both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a member of the Association of American Universities—will be represented in a panel discussion, “A Critical Dialogue on Leading Innovation, Scholarship, and Solutions Centered on Servingness.”

Postdoctoral scholars critical in advancing research mission

With experience, training, and ideas of their own, postdoctoral scholars play an important role in furthering research at universities.

Campus launches back-up care program

We are delighted to announce that the new UC Santa Cruz subsidized back-up care program for employees and students is now officially up and running.

Solar parking canopy goes online, providing UCSC with 2 megawatts of renewable energy

The solar photovoltaic canopy will provide the campus with clean, reliable electricity for at least 20-years and save the campus an estimated $6 million on its energy bill. The array will generate enough energy to meet about 6% of our total campus electrical load.

Felicity Schaeffer named Baskin Foundation Presidential Chair for Feminist Studies

Felicity Amaya Schaeffer, the new Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation Presidential Chair for Feminist Studies, plans to address the most pressing issues of the department’s focus on social justice.

Fall 2021 Campus Move in September 16 - 19, 2021

This week we are preparing to welcome more than 9,000 residential students to our campus community. University Housing will open its doors for large-scale move-in activities beginning Thursday, September 16 and continuing through Sunday, September 19.

Asymptomatic Testing Requirements and Logistics

Vaccinated students living on campus must get a COVID-19 test within five to seven days of moving to UC Santa Cruz.

Pairing research excellence and status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, UC Santa Cruz launching new programs to advance educational equity

Committed to creating educational equity that will help lead to real, transformative change, UC Santa Cruz will launch an array of new programs to support the success of Latinx, low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students and prepare them for rewarding careers once they graduate.

The writing on the wall: exploring the cultural value of graffiti and street art

Doctoral candidate’s research interprets graffiti’s deeper meaning among Latinx and Black urban subcultures in Los Angeles.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

September provides our campus with two platforms to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans and share with the public the important role UC Santa Cruz and other universities play in creating educational equity.

Recommitting to strengthening student success was the prevailing theme of campus leadership gathering

UC Santa Cruz leaders discussed multi-dimensional, campuswide strategies to strengthen the undergraduate and graduate experience to support the success of students and help prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives after graduation.

Three-year Equity Compensation Program for non-represented staff

Today we are sharing our decision to implement specific changes to staff compensation practices for non-represented staff, building on the work of our staff compensation task force and acknowledging the voices of other campus advocates.

Karen Tei Yamashita to receive 2021 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters

UC Santa Cruz emerita professor of literature Karen Tei Yamashita will be awarded the 2021 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from The National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards.

Breaking barriers, helping others up

UC Santa Cruz chemistry associate professor Laura Sanchez reflects on what helped her succeed and how she has tried to help others do the same.

Important information regarding fall quarter 2021

We look forward to welcoming back our students, again offering in-person activities and sporting events, opening additional facilities for campus use, and feeling that energy that we’ve sorely missed and that makes our Slug community special.

2021 Transportation Updates

Welcome back, Slugs! As our UCSC community gears up for the 2021-2022 academic year, we want to make sure you have all the transportation and parking information you need.

Downtown Day to welcome UCSC students back to downtown

The celebration, scheduled for Sept. 24, is a chance for new and returning students and the community to connect with downtown Santa Cruz.

Mandatory COVID policy takes effect tomorrow, Sept. 9

The University of California’s systemwide mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy takes effect at UC Santa Cruz tomorrow, Sept. 9.

California gubernatorial recall election

Voting is a citizen's fundamental right, and UC Santa Cruz urges you to let your voice be heard.

UC Santa Cruz course tutorial wins national online learning award

Three UC Santa Cruz staff members have been honored for creating an online instruction tutorial last year after the campus shut down and suspended in-person teaching because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upcoming closures for Student Health Center and CAPS

The Student Health Center and will be closed some days in September for mandatory staff trainings.

Take extra precautions with mountain lions, coyotes spotted on campus

As in-person activity at the residential campus continues to ramp up, the UC Santa Cruz Police Department encourages people to be extra aware of their surroundings after receiving reports of a mountain lion and multiple coyotes exploring the campus core.

Psychologist shares tips for studying smarter this school year

Assistant Professor of Psychology Hannah Hausman and colleagues translated findings from more than 100 research papers to offer students and teachers a guiding framework and practical tips for making the most of study time.

Critically important: UC Vaccine Policy compliance required by Sept. 9

We are writing today to describe the steps you can take to get your fall quarter off to a strong start.

First steps in re-envisioned approach to campus safety

Today we share information about a number of the steps our campus is taking, or will be taking soon, in this continuing effort.

Fundraising push seeks to bring Afghan thought leaders to safety on UCSC campus

UC Santa Cruz has launched an Afghanistan Visiting Scholars Emergency Support Fund, which aims to raise $100,000 before midnight, Sept. 3. as part of an effort place at least two at-risk Afghans into visiting scholar appointments.

Supporting community health through fall quarter

We are taking a multi-prong approach to support the health and well-being of our campus community. That includes creating a campus community with a high rate of vaccination; requiring face coverings for indoor situations; and continuing our highly successful testing program to rapidly identify cases.

Humanities Institute and Bookshop Santa Cruz offer evening with bestselling author Sandra Cisneros

UCSC’s Humanities Institute is co-sponsoring a special online event with Bookshop Santa Cruz, featuring Sandra Cisneros, in conversation with Emmy Award-winning journalist Rubén Martínez, to celebrate her new book, "Martita, I Remember You / Martita, te recuerdo."

Search for Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Success now underway

The leadership recruitment for Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Success has begun. The position drives UC Santa Cruz’s campuswide commitment to promote equity, inclusion, and a sense of well-being for all students, enabling them to thrive academically, professionally, and personally.

Full approval for Pfizer vaccine good news in push for vaccinations

For the health and well-being of all of our community members, it’s important that everyone who can get vaccinated does so.

KZSC to celebrate California Public Radio Day on Aug. 26

KZSC (88.1 FM) will participate in California Public Radio Day, which is meant to create awareness for the vital public service public radio brings to communities.

Experts weigh in on the future of drought management

UC Santa Cruz experts share insights on how technological innovations and long-term policy vision could help protect water supply.

Student Affairs and Success to launch two new initiatives this fall

The Division of Student Affairs and Success is excited to announce two new initiatives set to launch this fall.

Campus update: Vaccinated community priority No. 1, congrats to staff honorees, fitness complex open again

Preparation remains the key to opening as planned and we continue to follow all COVID developments closely, particularly those involving the highly contagious Delta variant.

Curtailing wildfire risks

California remains in the midst of a serious drought and dangerously dry conditions are reported throughout the state.

The legacy is in the soil

Acclaimed chef/farmer and CASFS apprenticeship graduate Matthew Raiford will share his heritage-based approach to food and farming during an August 25 event on campus.

Revised approval process for essential research travel

The UC Office of the President has rescinded the prior travel directives and directs that all University travelers follow the CDC Guidance before, during and upon return from travel.

UCSC theater arts alumna nominated for Emmy Award in television writing

UC Santa Cruz theater arts alumna Ashley Nicole Black is on a roll. The 36-year-old comedian has the distinction of being nominated twice in the same category of television writing for the upcoming 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Parking fees reduction

As part of our ongoing efforts to support our employees and students, campus parking fees for the 2021-22 academic year are being subsidized centrally to reduce fees by 15 percent.

In Memoriam: Hardy Frye

Professor Emeritus of Sociology Hardy T. Frye passed away in June. He was a lifelong proponent for diversity in education, a steadfast civil rights advocate, and a renowned scholar of political organizing.

UC Office of President releases Community Safety Plan

The UC Office of the President has released the final 2021 UC Community Safety Plan along with a letter from UC President Michael V. Drake.

Now is the time to provide vaccination info, get vaccinated if you’ve been waiting

The best way to confront uncertainty is through preparation, and preparing for fall quarter this year requires very specific things from our campus community.

Preserving the caring, compassion that helped us through the CZU wildfire

Watching the wildfires now burning throughout California takes me back to the anxious, uncertain days one year ago when the CZU Lightning Complex wildfire was burning through our county.

Doctoral candidate’s award-winning research documents experiences of Latina girls growing up in rural California

UC Santa Cruz graduate student Roxanna Villalobos recently won a national dissertation scholarship award from Sociologists for Women in Society that will support her research with Latina girls in rural California.

Announcing new subsidized back-up care program for employees and students

The need for back-up care — both child care and elder care — is critical for our employees and students. In 2020, the campus Family Services Workgroup surveyed employees and students, and back-up care was identified as an urgent need.

COVID-19 information forum set for Aug. 13

The next UC Santa Cruz COVID-19 Information Forum is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 13 from 9:30 a.m. — 11 a.m.

Switzer Fellowship will help graduate student engage communities in climate planning

Coastal Science and Policy Program master’s student Diana Fu won a Switzer Foundation fellowship to support her work advancing environmental justice through climate change adaptation.

New guidance for wearing face coverings on campus

To advance the health and wellness of our campus community, we are now requiring that individuals, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings when they are in indoor settings at campus locations.

Climate change poses threat to ‘tuna dependent’ Pacific Islands economies

Shifting distributions of key tuna species could have serious economic impacts for island nations in the Western and Central Pacific, according to a new paper coauthored by Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Katherine Seto.

Oakes Founding Provost J. Herman Blake receives lifetime achievement award

Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Founding Provost of Oakes College J. Herman Blake is being recognized by the American Sociology Association for his distinguished career spent advancing access and equity in education.

McLaughlin Dr. Road Closure & Transit Impacts

Construction crews are nearing completion on McLaughlin Drive resurfacing between the McLaughlin Drive / Heller Drive intersection to the bridge east of Science Hill, with an expected completion date of Friday, August 6th.

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy exception process

The UC Office of the President released the final COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Dickens Universe celebrates 40th anniversary with ‘A Christmas Carol’

This summer, the Dickens Project at UC Santa Cruz—the largest multi-campus consortium on Victorian studies in the world—will present the 40th year of the Dickens Universe, a week of intense study and festivities.

On-campus housing for sophomores, vaccination policy finalized, standing with DACA and UnDACAmented students and families

This fall, we will have a mix of in-person and remote students, so programs needed to make difficult choices about how best to offer their courses to ensure access in different modes.

Racial and colonial histories offer insights on refugee crisis in ‘The Black Mediterranean’

Assistant Professor of Sociology and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Camilla Hawthorne coedited a first-of-its-kind new book called "The Black Mediterranean," which examines the African diaspora within the region.

Major Revisions to the Policy on IT Recovery

The University of California Office of the President has issued major revisions to the IS-12 IT Recovery following a system-wide review.

Revised mask recommendations from Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County has joined other Bay Area counties in adjusting the guidance for wearing face coverings indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

Susana Ruiz awarded ACLS digital grant to develop VR documentary of 2011 Egyptian Uprising

UC Santa Cruz assistant film and digital media professor Susana Ruiz has received a 2021 Digital Extension Grant of $150,000 from The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) for her project, Arab Data Bodies: Social Media in Mixed Reality.

Blazing a Slug trail to the Olympics

Rhythmic gymnast Izzy Connor will be the first UC Santa Cruz student to compete in the Olympics—the result of years of both personal struggle and success.

UC Santa Cruz admits fall class that reflects excellence, diversity

UC Santa Cruz anticipates welcoming about 6,100 new Banana Slugs this fall, concluding an admissions cycle that began with record applications and has yielded a new cohort that reflects the campus commitment to excellence, equity, and opportunity.

Systemwide COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

This new policy is intended to support the health and well-being of our university community including students, trainees, faculty, staff and all others who work, live or learn in any of our locations or participate in person in our programs.

Statistical analysis quantifies how chemistry undergraduates benefit from graduate student diversity

A study of chemistry lab courses at UC Santa Cruz suggests that diversity among graduate student teaching assistants may be among the most essential factors in retaining underrepresented minority undergraduates in STEM courses.

Judith Estrada named interim Chief Diversity Officer

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Judith Estrada has agreed to serve as our interim Chief Diversity Officer while also taking on a new role as Executive Director of our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

‘Precarity & Belonging’ captures insights from global discussion of citizenship, migration, socioeconomic mobility

A new book from an interdisciplinary group of UC Santa Cruz scholars culminates more than five years of collaborative research and discussion that positioned the university as a convener of global thought leaders.

Library’s new Community Archiving Program to broaden scope of Regional History Project

The University Library has announced the establishment of a new Community Archiving Program that will build on the foundation of its decades-old Regional History Project. 

Unusual currents explain mysterious red crab strandings

New findings suggest that abnormal ocean currents cause the occasional appearance of pelagic red crabs outside their native range.

Quantitative ecologist Kai Zhu wins NSF funding for climate change research and education

Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Kai Zhu won an NSF CAREER award to support research and education focused on the interconnections between climate change and plant phenology.

New research on aquaculture feed will test alternative ingredients to help minimize water pollution

A new grant will support UC Santa Cruz’s ecological aquaculture lab in their efforts to increase the variety and quality of low-polluting aquaculture feed options available to fish farmers.

Traffic delays along McLaughlin Drive

Construction crews will begin road maintenance work Monday, July 5, on McLaughlin Drive between the McLaughlin Drive / Heller Drive intersection to the bridge east of Science Hill, with an expected completion date of Friday, August 6.

Vice Chancellor for Research Scott Brandt returning to the faculty

We write to share news that Vice Chancellor for Research Scott Brandt has announced he will return to the faculty, effective July 16.

Jonathan Fortney garners Simons Investigator in Astrophysics award

The $500,000 award from the Simons Foundation will support Fortney’s research on planetary atmospheres.

Martian south polar cap composition focus of new study

A team of scientists have determined that Mars’ south polar ice sheet may be made of clays, metal-bearing minerals, or saline ice.

Graduate student organizing community workshops on the queer Black experience

Mia Boykin is expanding her Black.Queer.Alive. project to include four community workshops that will explore fitness, creativity, politics and entrepreneurship.

COVID-19 protocol changes for campus employees, spaces and program

As state and other agency COVID-19 restrictions have evolved, we have adjusted several campus protocols.

Cosmic dawn occurred 250 to 350 million years after Big Bang

Cosmic dawn, when stars formed for the first time, occurred 250 million to 350 million years after the beginning of the universe, according to a new study.

News about Professor of History Maya Peterson

We write today with heartbreaking news. Maya K. Peterson, associate professor of history known by so many in our campus community, died in childbirth on June 16.

Tracking data show how the quiet of pandemic-era lockdowns allowed pumas to venture closer to urban areas

During regional shelter-in-place orders, declining levels of human mobility emboldened local pumas to use habitats they would normally avoid out of fear of humans.

Nathaniel Deutsch’s ‘A Fortress in Brooklyn’ reveals provocative counter-history of American Jewry

A new book by UC Santa Cruz history professor Nathaniel Deutsch details how a group of determined Holocaust survivors survived in one of the roughest parts of New York City—reshaping the urban landscape of postwar Brooklyn.

Graduate student explores gay literature's contributions to social movements, canon

Eric Sneathen explores how gay men, beginning in the 1960s, formed a literary community, wrote or curated poems and other literary works about their experiences, and how this community informed the more recent social movements around gay identity.

New study shows how loss of drought-sensitive species could affect health of California grasslands

At a grassland site near San Jose, scientists studied experimental research plots to determine what might happen if the plants that ecologists expect to be hit hardest by drought actually disappeared.

Work in social justice pushes recent grad toward career in medicine

Isabella Bullock realized she wanted to be a physician assistant after UC Santa Cruz courses began to reveal how socioeconomic status and race factor into one’s health.

President Drake announces Juneteenth a new UC holiday

Yesterday President Biden declared a federal holiday for Juneteenth, the day that celebrates and commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. This is an historic moment for our nation — 156 years in the making.

Hydrologist Margaret Zimmer wins NSF CAREER Award

Margaret Zimmer, assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences, has received an award from the National Science Foundation to support her research on the role of Earth’s subsurface in regulating the water cycle.

Dialogues, collaborations, and the success of 'slow science'

With funding from the Henry Luce Foundation, the new Southeast Asian Coastal Interactions Initiative takes a methodical approach to worldwide social and environmental challenges

Office of the President finalizing COVID-19 vaccine policy

The University of California Office of the President has notified campus leaders that it is finalizing a policy to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all faculty, staff, academic appointees, and students accessing facilities at any UC campus this fall.

Updated operational considerations for post-June 15 operations

On June 15 use of the color tiered system that has framed our state’s COVID-19 response and recovery will cease. Guidelines will move away from industry-based requirements to a general set of protocols.

Pulitzer Prize-winning UCSC alumnus Jeffrey Stewart gives keynote address at Humanities Spring Awards

UC Santa Cruz alumnus Jeffrey Stewart (Cowell College ’71, philosophy) delivered the keynote address at the annual event celebrating the achievements of students, faculty, and alumni of the Humanities Division.

UC Santa Cruz names Peter F. Biehl as new vice provost, dean of the Graduate Division

UC Santa Cruz has appointed Peter F. Biehl, professor of anthropology at the University of Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY), as vice provost and dean of the Graduate Division.

Perseverance and the pursuit of excellence

Today marks the final day of the spring quarter, and in the coming days and weeks, our faculty, staff and students will begin a well-deserved slide into summer, hopefully having an opportunity to recharge after an academic year like none other.

Claire Max to retire as director of UC Observatories

Claire Max, director of the University of California Observatories (UCO) and the Bachmann professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, will retire at the end of June.

Doctoral student wins Ford Foundation fellowship for work on gender, race, and policing

Uriel Serrano recently won a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship to support his research on how gender ideologies are formed in relation to carceral violence.

Research partnership will highlight STEM learning in local community garden

A grant from the Spencer Foundation will help UC Santa Cruz researchers document the many types of STEM learning taking place in a Latinx immigrant-led community garden in Watsonville.

First days of instruction, fall '21

With the recent University of California announcement of the proposed vaccine mandate for students, staff, faculty and academic appointees, the widespread availability of vaccines, and steadily improving local conditions, we have made the decision to begin in-person instruction at the start of the fall quarter.

Adrian Brasoveanu appointed associate campus provost

In this half-time role, Adrian will work with campus leadership on critical projects including institutional research and assessment, interdisciplinary research initiatives, space and resource management, strategic enrollment planning, and other campus initiatives.

Axions could be the fossil of the universe researchers have been waiting for

A new study suggests finding the hypothetical particles known as axions could mean finding out for the first time what happened in the universe a second after the Big Bang.

Snowflake morays can feed on land, swallow prey without water

While most fish need water to feed, the unique anatomy of moray eels gives snowflake morays the ability to grab and swallow prey on land.

Recipients of 2021 Excellence in Teaching Awards announced

The Committee on Teaching (COT) is delighted to announce the 10 recipients of this prestigious campus-wide award from all five divisions.

Campus update: Ready, set, commencement

This entire academic year has been a unique experience. I am both grateful for and proud of the resilience and strength our community has displayed over the past year.

Feminist studies Ph.D. student receives Institute for Citizens & Scholars fellowship

Claire Urbanski, a Ph.D. candidate in feminist studies, has been named a Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellow by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars (formerly the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation).

Social Sciences Division celebrates outstanding students

The Social Sciences Division is recognizing 21 students for excellence in scholarship and research.

Celebrating Pride Month

With the start of June, which is Pride Month, we reaffirm our support of UC Santa Cruz’s LGBTQIA+ community, and the push to build an inclusive, and more equitable world, where all are respected, treated equally, and provided equal opportunities regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Draft Presidential Campus Safety Plan open for public comment

Attached for your review and comment is a draft Presidential Campus Safety Plan that is intended to lay a foundation for transforming UC’s culture, policies, and practices to achieve a vision of safety in which all members of the community feel equally welcomed, respected, and protected from harm.

Professor Karen Holl wins MacArthur Foundation endowed chair to support work on natural climate solutions

Environmental Studies Professor Karen Holl has been awarded the MacArthur Foundation Chair at UC Santa Cruz for her work to increase the effectiveness of forest restoration efforts in combating climate change.

Exhibition explores the art of creating comfort in a year of unexpected hardship and isolation

Twelve of UCSC's most promising artists will have their work on display in the 35th annual Irwin Scholarship exhibition, beginning June 3, at The Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery.

Clinic director had to adapt to COVID challenges

Larissa Mangas joined UC Santa Cruz in March 2020 as the clinic director for the student health center. Two days later after she started, the campus moved to remote operations because of COVID-19.

Instances of hate speech and expression in student spaces

All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold our Principles of Community whenever they engage in speech and expression.

Visualizing global representation for Indigenous nations

A new book by Professor of Sociology and Legal Studies Hiroshi Fukurai shows how Indigenous “original nations” around the world are fighting for sovereignty and the ecological preservation of their ancestral homelands.

Somalia’s fight for God-given rights

The latest book from Politics and Legal Studies Professor Mark Fathi Massoud challenges Western notions of Islam and secular law-making by revealing how Somali Muslims have embraced Sharia as a force for progress and liberation.

Campuswide moment of silence at 10 a.m. to honor the life of George Floyd

Our thoughts today are with every person impacted by abuses of power, police violence and anti-Black racism.

Growing heritage and healing through traditional Asian vegetables

Faculty, staff, and alumni are drawing upon and strengthening their cultural heritage and connection to Asian foodways to cultivate traditional vegetables.

IDEA Hub finalists to pitch projects in June 2 showcase

IDEA Hub finalists will pitch their projects in a June 2 showcase.

‘We Are What We Eat’: Alice Waters to celebrate new book in live event with Michael Pollan 

Renowned chef and food activist Alice Waters will be in conversation with bestselling author Michael Pollan at a live virtual event presented by Bookshop Santa Cruz and Extended Session, and co-sponsored by UCSC’s Humanities Institute. 

Volunteers needed for 2021 Slug Crossing

We’re in need of volunteers to help make sure everything runs smoothly before, during, and after our first ever Slug Crossing.

Clinic director puts off retirement to help in COVID response

Debbi Saint John played a critical role in helping to guide the campus's COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

UC collaboration launches first online course in the Punjabi language

The first online Punjabi language course for University of California students that launched earlier this year is a collaboration of several UC campuses, centered on UC Santa Cruz and UC Davis.

A shot in the arm

Six UC Santa Cruz community members tell the tale of getting the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021.

Study shows which North American mammals live most successfully alongside people

Researchers analyzed camera trap data from across the continent to better understand how particular species of mammals respond to different types of human disturbance.

Kicking off search for Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Success

We are pleased to announce the kickoff of the leadership recruitment for the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Success.

UC Santa Cruz names Celine Parreñas Shimizu new dean of Arts Division

UC Santa Cruz has appointed award-winning filmmaker and film scholar Celine Parreñas Shimizu as dean of the Arts Division, effective July 1.

Climate change sends tropical species racing to higher elevations while temperate counterparts lag behind

A new paper shows that, in mountain habitats, species' responses to rising temperatures vary by latitude, but researchers fear there may be no clear winners among these strategies.

Staff member steps forward to support contact tracing

As Cindy Delgado read about contact tracing and how it would be the key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 cases, she knew it was something she wanted to do to help.

Student-led mentorship program offers holistic support

The Kuya-Ate Mentorship Program is a student-initiated retention project targeted to, but not limited to, Pilipino/x students at UC Santa Cruz. In addition to providing mentorship opportunities, KAMP also offers academic and social and cultural support.

CDC mask guidance and applicability to campus

This week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released updated guidance on face coverings.

Policy-covered employees and staff, and academic employees to receive salary increase for 2021-22

We are pleased to share that University of California President Michael Drake alerted all campuses earlier today that the Office of the President has decided to proceed with a salary increase of 3 percent for all policy-covered staff and academic employees for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Libraries reopening, county COVID restrictions easing, your Lucky Daye

To keep us headed in the right direction, please keep wearing face coverings in public when you’re in close proximity to strangers, practice physical distancing, and strongly consider getting vaccinated. Making progress on the road to recovery requires a community effort.

Alumna Reyna Grande wins Latino Spirit Award for Achievement in Literature & Advocacy

UC Santa Cruz alumna Reyna Grande (Kresge '99, B.A. creative writing, film & video) has received a 2021 Latino Spirit Award from the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

Virtual reality warps your sense of time

Psychology research demonstrates the unique "time compression" effect of virtual reality.

Campus announces 2021 Accessibility Champions

The Accessibility Champions award program was launched in 2021 to acknowledge faculty who go the extra mile to create inclusive and welcoming learning environments.

Research video competes in National Science Foundation STEM education showcase

A team of UC Santa Cruz faculty and doctoral students led by Distinguished Professor of Psychology Barbara Rogoff submitted a three-minute research video for the National Science Foundation’s 2021 STEM For All Video Showcase.

Bearing witness to COVID at UC Santa Cruz

Stories of resilience and loss are preserved in The Empty Year: An Oral History of the Pandemic(s) of 2020 at UC Santa Cruz, an immersive project that includes a 540-page published book

The University Library has set July 1, 2021 for building reopening and the resumption of on-site services and collections access

The McHenry Library and Science & Engineering Library buildings will reopen for print collections access and on-site services beginning July 1, 2021 as part of the campus reopening.

Creating a soundtrack and adding a heartbeat to the struggle for prison abolition

UCSC’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences will present ‘Music for Abolition'--an artist panel featuring three-time Grammy-award winning musician Terri Lyne Carrington with a dozen prominent guest musicians.

UCSC achieves fair-trade status through the work of students

UC Santa Cruz passed a fair trade resolution that reflects its commitment to join the efforts of the Fair Trade Colleges & Universities, a division of Fair Trade Campaigns.

Strauss Foundation award recognizes student’s work with families affected by incarceration

Legal studies undergraduate Matt Sioson recently won $15,000 in funding from the Donald A. Strauss Public Service Scholarship Foundation.

Emergency team shows flexibility in dynamic year

From deploying personal protective gear to managing a wildfire response, the staff in the Office of Emergency Services had to be flexible and focused.

Preserving the legacy of Watsonville’s first Filipino immigrants

In partnership with the university, the community-led Tobera Project will develop an oral history archive and digital exhibition to be housed at McHenry Library.

Interim Conflict of Interest Related to Consensual Relationships

In October of last year, the Office of Equity and Equal Protection issued a new policy on conflicts of interest related to consensual relationships under a 6-month interim status.

Enrollment opens for UCSC Summer Session Remote

UC Santa Cruz Summer Session enrollment is underway. Anyone can take a wide range of remote courses offered across multiple departments.

Planning for fall, UC vaccination policy coming, changes to national mask guidance

Planning for the fall quarter remains in full swing, as we look to balance the desires of so many to return to campus to both learn and work and the need to keep our campus community healthy amid a continuing pandemic.

Fellowship win supports doctoral candidate’s research on national security policy

Cesar Estrella, a Ph.D. candidate in Latin American and Latino studies, won an American Council of Learned Societies fellowship to support his study of the ideologies that drive U.S. national security policy.

2021-22 Dickson Emeritus awards support faculty research in history, literature, and psychology

Karen Yamashita, professor emerita of literature; Dana Frank, research professor in history; and Thomas Pettigrew, research professor in psychology, were each awarded Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professorships in recognition of their outstanding achievements in scholarship and teaching.

Faculty experts share pandemic-era lessons for the future of K-12 education

UC Santa Cruz researchers who have studied the pandemic’s impact on K-12 education share lessons they hope will be remembered for the future.

UC Santa Cruz named No. 3 public university for ‘making an impact’

Underscoring a reputation of pushing for positive change, UC Santa Cruz has been named the No. 3 public university in the nation for students focused on making an impact on the world in the Princeton Review’s latest college rankings.

Three UCSC professors elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Angela Davis, distinguished professor emerita of history of consciousness and feminist studies; James Estes, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology; and Barbara Rogoff, distinguished professor of psychology, are among the newly elected fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 

Professor Anne Kapuscinski will speak at upcoming Nobel Prize Summit

Environmental Studies Professor Anne Kapuscinski, director of the UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science and Policy program, will present recommendations on strengthening sustainability education during the “Our Planet, Our Future” Nobel Prize Summit next week.

Office of the President details COVID-19 vaccine policy

The University of California Office of the President is proposing a policy that would make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all faculty, staff, academic appointees, and students accessing facilities at any UC campus beginning in fall quarter 2021.

UC Santa Cruz and United Way partner to empower youth through research in local communities

A research partnership between UC Santa Cruz and United Way of Santa Cruz County will offer local youth and UCSC undergraduates new leadership platforms and support college-readiness and success.

Live reading of The Comedy of Errors to benefit new scholarship for theater students

UCSC’s Arts Division will present a live virtual reading of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors on Friday, April 23, to honor Theater Arts professor Danny Sheie, who is retiring this year after three decades at the campus. 

Update on Native American Cultural Affiliation and Repatriation Interim Policy

I write to raise awareness of new policy requirements, affirm the campus’s commitment to the guiding principles and procedures, provide mechanisms to report if you believe you or others may hold Native American or Native Hawaiian human remains or cultural items, and enlist your assistance ensuring the campus fully complies with this important human rights policy.

2021 Campus Elections Announcement

The sample ballot for the Spring 2021 Campus Elections is now available for your review.

Enviroslug presents 20th annual Earth Summit

Enviroslug is bringing Naomi Klein to speak on democracy, sustainable planning, and more.

Alumna Terri McCullough, chief of staff to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, will make a virtual campus visit for Alumni Week

This year’s Alumni Week will feature a virtual fireside chat with Terri McCullough, an Oakes '91 politics alumna who is now chief of staff to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

New interim Interior Artwork Installations policy

To support the existing processes surrounding the installation of artworks in common areas, the Interior Artwork Installations policy will be implemented on an interim basis.

Two UC Santa Cruz arts professors receive 2021 Guggenheim Fellowships

Film and digital media professor Irene Lusztig and art professor Elizabeth Stephens were among the 184 artists, writers, scholars, and scientists selected this year from nearly 3,000 applicants to receive Guggenheim Fellowships.

Loosening of COVID-19 testing requirements

We are now requiring only one test a week instead of two for students living, working or taking classes on campus.

Ramping up operations in spring and summer

The update below provides guidance on the continued ramp-up of campus operations through summer as we head to fall quarter.

Campus update: COVID testing changes; expanded vaccine eligibility; celebrating commencement with a special Slug crossing

We hope these updates are helpful and allow you to stay on top of what is happening as we move through the rest of this academic year and start eyeing the fall quarter.

Update on Commencement Planning

As more and more Californians receive the COVID-19 vaccination and the state eases restrictions around in-person activities, our campus has been exploring additional opportunities to celebrate our graduates.

Statement on the tragic death of Daunte Wright

We must continue to confront deeply embedded racism and how it continues to manifest itself in our systems and structures including policing policies and practices.

Study of U.S. tuna fisheries explores nexus of climate change, sustainable seafood

A new study by researchers at UC Santa Cruz and NOAA examines traditional aspects of seafood sustainability alongside greenhouse gas emissions to better understand the carbon footprint of U.S. tuna fisheries.

UCSC's Van Williams discusses diversity in IT at Stanford event

Speaking at the second “Conversations with Extraordinary Leaders” at Stanford University last month, Van Williams, vice chancellor of information technology and strategic technology initiatives at UC Santa Cruz, said designing for diversity and inclusivity within organizations requires planning.

Sharing insights from more than six decades of social psychology research

New book by Professor Emeritus Thomas Pettigrew distills themes across his storied career

Inaugural Hayden White lecture to explore the afterlife of slavery with author Saidiya Hartman

Award-winning literary scholar and cultural historian Saidiya Hartman will be the featured guest at the inaugural Hayden V. White Distinguished Annual Lecture, a virtual event that takes place on April 19.

UC Santa Cruz to launch new support center to advance the university’s innovation, industry engagement

UC Santa Cruz is launching a new support center to advance innovation, entrepreneurship and business engagement that will leverage the campus’s innovative spirit and be guided by its deep commitment to environmental and social justice.

Marco Rolandi appointed faculty director of UCSC Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development

UC Santa Cruz has appointed Marco Rolandi, professor and chair of the department of electrical and computer engineering, to serve as faculty director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CIED).

Research shows physical appearance affects career success in economics

Economics Professor and Center for Analytical Finance Co-Director Galina Hale is uncovering how appearance affects career success for economists.

COVID mitigation strategies and COVID vaccine FAQs

Guidance and requirements regarding continued compliance efforts surrounding COVID-19 mitigation through spring quarter 2021.

Deer fawning season alert

Please be aware that spring is the prime birthing season for a wide variety of campus wildlife, including deer.

Supporting students with the latest Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), signed into law in late December, provided our campus with $28.8 million on March 17 to mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic on the university and its students.

Event to focus on the case for Black reparations

“Reparations for Black Americans: The Road to Racial Equality in California and Beyond,” hosted on April 15 by the Institute for Social Transformation, will feature a discussion with leading experts and advocates of reparations.

Campus follow-up on Accellion cyber attack

UC Office of the President sent an email today (April 2) with information about a cyber security incident and the steps to take to monitor your personal information. Please read it carefully for more information and resources.

UCSC awarded three 2021 VOICE grants from UC National Center for Free Speech

UC Santa Cruz has received three awards from the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement's Valuing Open and Inclusive Conversation and Engagement (VOICE) Grant Program.

Planning for fall and staying connected through the spring

With spring in full bloom, I write with updates on what to expect this quarter for instruction and in campus housing, to make sure you're all aware of our still evolving plans for fall, and to highlight some of the creative ways that Banana Slugs are staying connected while we are still spread geographically far and wide.

Community alert - post-incident advisory

At 2:41 p.m. Tuesday, the UC Santa Cruz Police Department received a request for assistance from the City of Santa Cruz Police Department to block traffic to support its response to a person armed with a firearm in the area of Laurel Drive and California Street in their jurisdiction.

Marking fifth year, Center for Innovations in Teaching and Learning plays vital role in campus mission

The center will celebrate its fifth anniversary April 14 with a convocation featuring Estela Bensimon, professor of higher education at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education and director of the Center for Urban Education, which she founded in 1999.

Spring quarter transportation options

Spring has sprung, Slugs, and TAPS is here to help you get where you need to go this quarter.

Opening up offices and lab/studio spaces for research purposes

Effective immediately, we are shifting from a by-approval-only process for the use of offices and labs/studios for research purposes to an open-by-default model for research purposes, with guidelines for how to continue to prioritize health and well-being in these spaces.

Forthcoming survey on UC Santa Cruz public safety and policing

Later this week we will send a survey to all in our campus community to gather perspectives about campus safety and the role of campus police.

Teens describe their gender and sexuality in diverse new ways, but some are being left behind

Psychology Professor Phil Hammack’s latest research shows how regional differences and other social factors can either hinder or support expression of diversity in sexual and gender identity among teens and young adults.

Health center pivots to provide services through pandemic

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UC Santa Cruz Student Health Center had to quickly change everything it was doing while remaining open for students.

Campus launches credit-bearing summer orientation

The Slug Orientation courses will orient students to our campus and to university life, while promoting community-building and effective habits of mind for academic success.

Staff member guides students on path to higher education

Osiris Ortiz has spent nearly two decades helping the regions high school students pursue four-year degrees through her work at the Educational Partnership Center.

UC Santa Cruz faculty recognized for excellence in ecology

The Ecological Society of America announced its 2021 Fellow and Early Career Fellow awards, and UC Santa Cruz’s faculty were the most decorated of any university on this year’s list.

Three decades of connections, encouragement, and programs

UCSC's African American Resource and Cultural Center, this year celebrating its 30th anniversary, has created meaningful change for students of color and become a key part of the university community.

Finalists for Dean of Graduate Studies making virtual campus visits

Starting Thursday, April 1, five finalists for the position of Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies will be visiting our campus virtually.

'Another glass ceiling shattered'

UC Santa Cruz student Gina Schneider became a part of history as one of the first women in the U.S. to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

Update on fall quarter instructional planning

We write today to provide an update on our instructional planning for the fall 2021 quarter.

Student Health Services Closed Dates during Spring Break 2021

Student Health Services—Student Health Center (SHC), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Student Health Outreach & Promotion (SHOP) and Campus Advocacy Resources & Education (CARE) will be closed for mandatory staff trainings on the following dates/times during Spring Break week.

UC Santa Cruz joins new consortium to ensure future of SlaveVoyages database

UC Santa Cruz has joined a newly formed consortium of institutions to ensure the preservation, stability, and future development of what has become the single most widely used online resource for anyone interested in slavery across the Atlantic world. 

UCSC professor contributes to new study showing how parts of the US will ‘tropicalize’ as climate changes

Environmental Studies Professor Michael Loik is a coauthor on a new paper describing how warming winters are allowing some tropical plants and animals to replace temperate communities in southern portions of the country.

New analysis shows potential for ‘solar canals’ in California

UC Santa Cruz researchers and their partners published a new study that suggests covering California’s water delivery canals with solar panels could be an economically viable means of advancing renewable energy and water conservation.

UC Regents approve UC Santa Cruz plan to increase student housing, expand child care

Recognizing the critical role housing plays in supporting student success, the University of California Board of Regents reapproved a project that will significantly increase the number of current UC Santa Cruz students who are able to live on campus.

Regents approve more housing for our students, child care for employees

The UC Board of Regents voted earlier today in support of a vitally important on-campus student-housing and child-care project.

Statement against Anti-Asian racism and violence

This tragedy highlights an escalating pattern of anti-Asian hate crimes that we have seen in our region and country over the past year.

Campus holds first Sexual Violence Sexual Harassment Research Symposium

UC Santa Cruz will hold its first-ever research symposium — and a first for a UC campus — highlighting research by campus scholars on issues of sexual violence and sexual harassment Friday, April 2.

UC reaches open access agreement with Elsevier

After more than two years of negotiations, this morning the University of California announced a transformative open access agreement with Elsevier, the world’s largest academic publisher.

Good luck on finals and stay connected through Spring Break

As we near the end of the winter quarter, I am reaching out to wish you all the best with final exams, and to remind you that the Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS) continues to provide support throughout your college journey, whether it be in person or remotely.

UC systemwide review of revisions to the University Police Policies and Administrative Procedures (Gold Book)

The University of California Office of the President invites comments on proposed changes to the Universitywide Police Policies and Administrative Procedures, which are applicable to UC Peace Officers.

'Staycation,' all I ever wanted

With travel restricted because of COVID-19, UC Santa Cruz aims to keep on-campus students entertained with a spring break 'staycation' featuring themed dining nights, scavenger hunts, kayak tours, and more during the week of March 20–27.

COVID-19 campus update as Santa Cruz county moves to red tier and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) update guidance for fully vaccinated individuals

I write to provide several updates on campus planning and changes that are unfolding in the COVID-19 pandemic landscape.

One year since our world changed

We would like to mark this anniversary with that gratitude and with hope for a future that looks very different from our past

How to live like Shakespeare

A new series of conversations about Shakespeare that explore different aspects of human experience and the human condition kicks off April 5, co-hosted by Sean Keilen, director of UCSC's Shakespeare Workshop, and Julia Lupton, co-director of the New Swan Shakespeare Center at UC Irvine.

Disrupting harmful food systems to prevent future pandemics

Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Maywa Montenegro de Wit is exploring how lessons from the abolition movement could help agroecology combat the agro-industrial complex to prevent future pandemics.

Community Alert - Seeking assistance with burglaries, thefts

The UC Santa Cruz Police Department is seeking the community’s help in investigating a series of crimes that began March 4, 2021.

As pandemic hit, conferences manager pivoted to health care

Michael Luttrell now oversees a staff of 62 students, who have been trained to help facilitate testing of asymptomatic students.

Encouraging Students to Share their Experiences through SETS

The Committee on Teaching (COT) has teamed up with representatives from the Student Union, Online Education, and CITL to encourage students to share their experience in the classroom by filling out the Student Experience of Teaching Surveys (SETS) at the end of each quarter.

Focused on student success and equity, UC Santa Cruz seeks reapproval to build more housing and child-care facilities

In an effort to provide students with more housing security amid an unrelenting housing crisis, UC Santa Cruz will seek reapproval for a project that will significantly increase the number of current students who are able to live on campus.

More housing for our students, child-care for employees

Later this month, I will seek reapproval from the Board of Regents for a vitally important campus housing and child-care project. Student Housing West, with more than 3,000 beds, a new complex for students with families, and a child-care facility that will be open to all employees, is the largest stand-alone housing project our campus has ever proposed, and would provide more desperately needed on-campus housing for our students.

Slugs roll up their sleeves to help make campus a COVID-19 success story

Low positivity rates, zero on-campus transmission, and fast testing turnaround times have made UC Santa Cruz a leader in efficient coronavirus response compared to its university counterparts.

Girl activists are more visible than ever. Is this progress?

In the past decade, there’s been an explosion in media coverage of girl activists. Professor Jessica Taft, a leading expert in youth activism, sees opportunity in this visibility, but her research has also identified many troubling trends in how girl activists are portrayed.

Diverse Voices 2021: Promoting diversity in STEM education and careers

Diverse Voices, a Baskin School of Engineering professional speaker series spotlighting industry leaders and Baskin Engineering alumni, returns April 2021 for its third season.

In Memoriam: Atharva Chinchwadkar, Oakes College

We are saddened to write to you with news of Atharva Chinchwadkar, an Oakes student, who was reported missing Sunday, February 21. It is now known that Atharva passed away in an automobile accident. Their vehicle was located February 27.

UC MBEST Speaker Series and Info Sessions

The UC MBEST Executive Committee invites you to join us for our UC Monterey Bay Education Science & Technology (UC MBEST) Speaker Series featuring leading UC-affiliated and national research park and innovation district practitioners and thought leaders.

Women's History Month a time to honor accomplishments, celebrate excellence

Women’s History Month, observed every March, recognizes, commemorates and encourages the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in U.S. history. It is the perfect month for us to host two of our scientific trailblazers: Sandra Faber, professor emerita of astronomy and astrophysics, and Kathryn D. Sullivan, a UC Santa Cruz alumna who after graduating in 1973 went on to become the first person to both orbit the planet and reach its deepest ocean point. In her case, the sky was truly not the limit.

Massive debris flow swamps Big Creek Reserve as heavy rains follow summer wildfire

Boulders the size of vehicles and decades-old redwoods were ripped from the banks of the Big Creek drainage when an atmospheric river inundated the Landels-Hill Big Creek Natural Reserve on the Big Sur coast in late January.

Deep Read to present Tommy Orange in conversation with literature professor Micah Perks

Award-winning novelist Tommy Orange will be featured in conversation with literature professor Micah Perks, director of UCSC’s Creative Writing Program, in a free virtual event on Wednesday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. 

Forest monitoring efforts contribute to new understanding of climate change impacts

Data collected by student interns at UC Santa Cruz’s Forest Ecology Research Plot recently contributed to a breakthrough in understanding how climate change affects forests.

Detailed update on fall planning

We write to follow up last week’s message with more details on our planning process for fall quarter instruction.

Bay Tree Bookstore undergoing refresh

The UC Santa Cruz campus community can expect to see a number of changes at the Bay Tree Bookstore over the coming months, including a broader embrace of e-commerce.

LASER talk to feature research by UCSC deans of the humanities and social sciences

The event will feature research presentations by Jasmine Alinder, Dean of the Humanities (“Representing Japanese American Incarceration”), and Katharyne Mitchell, Dean of the Social Sciences (“Sanctuary Space and Insurgent Memory”).

Bringing physical engagement into the online teaching and learning environment

A new series of videos is now available to UCSC students, faculty, and staff to help offset the increasingly sedentary lifestyle generated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Preliminary update on fall planning

Last month the Office of the President shared a message that all UC campuses planned to return to primarily in-person instruction in the fall and that early decision-making has given us a long planning runway to prepare and incorporate feedback.

UCSC experts in human-computer interaction featured at Women in Tech Symposium

Leila Takayama will be a keynote speaker and Katherine Isbister will lead a panel on human-computer interaction and games at the annual event on March 12, 2021.

Reserve study space in Science & Engineering Library

Beginning Feb. 16, 2021, the University Library will offer currently registered students who live on or off campus reservable individual quiet study spaces with access to power/wifi in the Science & Engineering Library.

Annual Jewish Studies Diller Lecture to feature award-winning author Sarah Stein

This year’s Helen Diller Distinguished Lecture in Jewish Studies will feature guest author and scholar Sarah Abrevaya Stein—in conversation with UCSC’s Neufeld-Levin Chair of Holocaust Studies, Alma Heckman—on Wednesday, February 17, at 5 p.m.

Carla Morrison, Irene Diaz to perform live on Feb. 19

The Quarry Amphitheater and Womxn’s Center are pleased to invite you to the Winter Live! from the (virtual) Quarry live stream concert on Friday, Feb. 19 at 6 pm.

Webinar for students to focus on off-campus housing

The webinar is filled with helpful resources, information about the housing process and connections with school and city officials.

Student Affairs and Success launches new podcast

After nearly a full year of operating remotely due to the impacts of Covid-19, it's easy to feel disconnected from our campus culture, as well as from each other.

COVID-19 information forum planned for Feb. 12

UC Santa Cruz will hold its next COVID-19 information forum from 9:30–11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 12.

Three UCSC film alumni recognized by International Documentary Association

Three alumni from UCSC’s Film and Digital Media Department received nominations for this year's prestigious International Documentary Association Awards (IDA).

Rob Fairlie testifies before Congress on inequality in pandemic economic impacts

Rob Fairlie testified before the House Committee on Small Business to share his latest research on the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, including the disproportionate hardships faced by minority-owned businesses.

Robert Bocking Stevens, fifth UCSC chancellor, dies at age 87

Robert Bocking Stevens, a legal scholar in England and the United States who served as the fifth chancellor of UC Santa Cruz, died Jan. 30 in Oxford, England, at age 87.

COVID-19 information forum scheduled for Friday, Feb. 12

The COVID-19 information forums provide an opportunity to give an update on campus COVID-19 recovery and resiliency efforts and address questions from our campus community.

Honoring Black excellence

Since its inception, Black History Month has been a celebration of excellence and a reclamation of a purposefully distorted and mythologized history. This month, we celebrate our community — students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends who are resurrecting the past and building a more equitable, anti-racist future together.

Anthropologist Savannah Shange wins book award for insights on race and education

Anthropology faculty member Savannah Shange received one of the most prestigious honors in the field when she was awarded the 2020 Gregory Bateson Book Prize from the Society for Cultural Anthropology.

Green New Deal architect Rhiana Gunn-Wright will make a virtual campus visit

Gunn-Wright previewed some of the insights she'll share on climate policy and environmental justice during her February 10th event with the Institute for Social Transformation.

Sociology researcher seeks solutions for Public Safety Power Shutoffs

Sociology researcher Les Guliasi’s most recent paper shows how “microgrid” technologies could reduce the impact of outages, if regulatory challenges can be resolved.

With record applications, UC Santa Cruz poised to build exceptional, diverse fall class

The competition to earn a spot at UC Santa Cruz will increase this year, with the campus receiving a record number of applications and nearly 200 students approved last year to defer their enrollment to fall 2021.

Digital NEST founder to serve as external adviser to chancellor

Jacob Martinez is bringing his insight on economic opportunity, community empowerment and digital innovation to UC Santa Cruz as an external special adviser to Chancellor Cindy Larive.

Energy spent avoiding humans linked to smaller home ranges for male pumas

New research shows that fear of humans causes mountain lions to increase their energy expenditures as they move through the landscape, and this can ultimately limit the size of the home ranges they’re able to maintain.

New book by arts professor takes fresh look at controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe

UCSC history of art and visual culture professor Derek Conrad Murray offers the first dedicated book-length critical study of Mapplethorpe's lesser-known still life flower photographs.

Updated COVID-19 vaccine policy for personnel and certain trainees

In follow up to last week’s update, we write to share that the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) has released an UPDATED interim COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Italian newspaper ranks sociology professor among top women of the year

Camilla Hawthorne is being recognized for shedding light on emergent Afro-Italian identities and activism during a time of racial reckoning in Italy and beyond.

UC Santa Cruz economic impact provides foundation for thriving region

When adjusted for the size of the Monterey Bay regional economy, UC Santa Cruz’s economic impact is second only to UC Davis in the Sacramento/Tahoe region and ahead of UC Santa Barbara in what is defined as the Central Coast of California.

Grant funding will advance aquaculture research in UCSC’s new state-of-the-art facility

Researchers won a USDA grant in support of their efforts to develop ocean-friendly feed formulas for farm-raised rainbow trout. This work will take place in the team's new aquaculture facility at the UCSC Farm.

Humanities Institute launches 2021 Deep Read with Tommy Orange’s novel ‘There There’

Following the success of last year’s Deep Read with guest author Margaret Atwood, The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz has announced the second installment of its new program that invites the campus and community to think deeply about literature, art, and the most pressing issues of the day.

TestMe: Keeping our community healthy, one test at a time

The campus testing center has expanded its capacity so that it can now administer COVID-19 tests for the off-site student population, as well as for faculty and staff who live and/or work on campus or a UCSC facility.

UCSC’s Living Writers Series a place to shelter in the storm 

“Shelter and Place” is the theme of the 2021 winter installment of the Living Writers Series at UC Santa Cruz. Curated by Micah Perks, professor of literature and director of the Creative Writing Program, the now virtual series will run from January 14 through March 4, on Thursday nights throughout the winter quarter.

Professor recognized among the art world’s top influencers for 2020

Anthropology professor Anna Tsing won international acclaim for an interdisciplinary project that documents drivers of the Anthropocene in creative new ways.

Students, staff, faculty contribute nearly 160,000 meals through Holiday Food and Fund Drive

UC Santa Cruz students, staff, and faculty contributed nearly $40,000 to the 2020 Holiday Food and Fund Drive sponsored by the Staff Advisory Board, enough to provide nearly 160,000 meals to local residents.

UCSC imagines campus 20 years from now, releases roadmap for its future and accompanying environmental review

The draft 2021 Long-Range Development Plan (LRDP) and accompanying draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) released today lays out a framework for the campus’ evolution and reflects years of collaboration with campus and community members.

Graduate student advances university access for Latinx students

Valeria Alonso Blanco wants to do anything she can to help Latinx transfer students have a successful experience at UC Santa Cruz.

Looking forward to the year ahead

The new year is a time of reflection and resolution, an opportunity to look back at what was while also envisioning what can be.

Uncovering the social factors lurking within diabetes risk

Assistant professor of sociology James Doucet-Battle's new book challenges assumptions about race within diabetes research and delves into the issue through the lens of African American experience.

Shedding light on one of environmental policy’s most under-the-radar strategies

Associate professor of environmental studies Sikina Jinnah studies the environmental provisions contained within trade agreements and wants to help policymakers better navigate this space.