It all began with a bold vision.
UC Santa Cruz's founders imagined an institution that would be a departure from the large, impersonal, and inflexible universities of the time. They envisioned a daring intellectual community that pushed boundaries and nurtured creativity, critical thinking, and social and environmental justice.
Since opening in 1965, UC Santa Cruz has been accelerating on a remarkable trajectory of expanding educational access, promoting student success, and increasing its research impact.
And this academic year, the campus will begin marking 60 years of creating real, lasting change with a new website highlighting its top accomplishments, sharing stories about alumni success, and honoring our campus history at many of our signature campus events.
The campus continues to create meaningful change through research innovation, creative scholarship, and the transformative experiences provided to thousands of students. UC Santa Cruz has more than 150,000 alumni who are leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, and changemakers seeking to create a more just world.
Just a few of the campus's accomplishments include:
- UC Santa Cruz researchers have revolutionized genetics, winning the race to assemble the first map of the human genome in 2000 and putting it online, ensuring the resource would be available to the world—for free, forever. In 2022, UCSC researchers organized an international team of scientists to finish the first truly complete sequence of a human genome. Then in 2023, they released a draft of the first human pangenome, combining the genetic information of people from different ancestral backgrounds to further understanding of worldwide genomic diversity.
- UC Santa Cruz has played a pivotal role in the James Webb Space Telescope project, showcasing its longstanding leadership in astronomy and astrophysics. UCSC scientists have contributed to the development of cutting-edge instruments and data analysis techniques, helping to unlock new discoveries about the early universe, exoplanets, and star formation processes.
- The Center for Agroecology has been a global leader in sustainable agriculture and food justice since 1967, making it the oldest university-based organic research and education facility in the country with programs that have upended just about every aspect of food production.
- UCSC's Environmental Studies Department was one of the first in the U.S., pioneering research and education on climate change, conservation, and environmental policy.
UC Santa Cruz was invited to join the prestigious Association of American Universities in 2019, an achievement that underscores the excellence and impact of the campus's research and graduate and undergraduate education. The campus shares the distinction of being the youngest AAU university and is one of only five AAU members also designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander–Serving Institution.
In 2022, UC Santa Cruz joined other leading universities to form the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities, which aims to increase opportunity for those historically underserved by higher education.
"Over the past six decades, UC Santa Cruz has been on an extraordinary trajectory," said UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive. "What started as a bold experiment in higher education has transformed into a globally recognized research powerhouse known for its academic excellence, cutting-edge research and innovation, high-level teaching, and commitment to making a difference in the world. I'm most excited about the fact that we're still just getting started. To see such high achievement from such a young university bodes well for our future. I know that even greater things are in store for us."
Pioneering research and academic excellence
Over the years, UC Santa Cruz has become a leader in a wide range of academic fields.
It has become an innovator in the study of coastal climate resilience, with its Coastal Science and Policy program; sea-level rise studies; and collaborations with local, national, and international partners.
Its faculty and researchers have made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of the universe, including discoveries about dark matter and the formation of galaxies.
In the arts and humanities, UCSC has also made significant contributions. The university's Creative Writing Program, for instance, has nurtured numerous acclaimed authors, while its Film and Digital Media Department has produced groundbreaking work in media studies and digital arts.
Environmental stewardship has been another cornerstone of UCSC's mission. On its stunning 2,000-acre campus that includes a natural reserve, it has long invested in environmental research and sustainability initiatives. The campus has enacted ambitious programs to reduce its carbon footprint, promote renewable energy, and protect its unique ecosystems.
Alumni embody the Slug spirit
UC Santa Cruz may be nestled in the redwoods, but its alumni travel far and wide after graduation, bringing with them the values, experiences, and reputation of the campus. They can be found in every field—from science to government to entertainment, often incorporating social justice into their pursuits.
"From the first graduating class to today, UC Santa Cruz alumni embody the core values of our campus—creativity, social responsibility, and a commitment to positive change," said John D. Pine, assistant vice chancellor for alumni engagement. "When you meet a Banana Slug, you know they are making an impact on their communities and professions. Whether through groundbreaking research, social advocacy, or innovative leadership, our alumni are making the world a better place, reflecting the spirit of UCSC in all they do."
Banana Slugs are writing the books the world wants to read, singing the songs that move our spirits, marching for recognition, and making civil rights history.
With a reputation for teaching students to ask the hard questions, it's not surprising that UC Santa Cruz is home to 10 winners of 12 Pulitzer Prizes. Their writing has given voice to victims and changemakers alike, covered corruption and disease, and told tales of the sea with creativity and purpose.
One distinguished alumna, Kathryn Sullivan (Cowell '73, Earth sciences), has gone places most humans will never see in their lifetime. A trailblazer, barrier-breaker, scientist, and explorer, Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space, the first woman to reach the deepest point of the ocean floor, and the only person to ever do both. In 2023, she was enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C.
UC Santa Cruz graduates—including some its newest alumni—are taking the values they learned on campus into the larger world.
A view to the future
As UC Santa Cruz celebrates its 60th anniversary, the university is not just looking back at its achievements but also setting its sights on the future.
Over the coming years, UC Santa Cruz will continue to advance its research and teaching that address critical challenges such as climate change, global health, and social equity. The university is also committed to furthering its efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that it remains a place where all students, faculty, and staff can thrive.
The campus recently released a new strategic plan, Leading the Change—a shared vision that aligns with the university's overarching goals, including enhancing student success, expanding research impact, fostering inclusivity, and improving operational efficiency, sustainability, and resilience.
Throughout 2025, UC Santa Cruz will host events, lectures, and exhibitions to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the broader community are invited to participate in these events, which will highlight the university's vibrant history, its current achievements, and its vision for the future.
Visit UC Santa Cruz's 60th anniversary website to watch our celebratory video, find more information on events, and read fun stories of yesterday and today.
