Student Experience
Fall Move-In brings students back to campus
UC Santa Cruz welcomed thousands of students and families during Move-In 2025, filling residence halls and launching Slug Start, a six-week celebration of campus life.
UC Santa Cruz came alive as thousands of students and their families arrived on campus for Move-In 2025. Over the course of several days, residence halls filled with new first-year and transfer students beginning their UCSC journey, as well as continuing students returning to reconnect with friends and campus life.
Staff and volunteers from across campus worked together to make the process smooth and welcoming, from helping with check-in to unloading cars and offering directions around campus. Families joined in the excitement, lending extra hands and celebrating the milestone of students beginning or continuing their UCSC journey.
Move-In also marked the beginning of Slug Start, a six-week celebration of campus life designed to help students connect, belong, and thrive. The week’s lineup featured signature traditions such as Cornucopia, the New Admit Class Photo, and the Job Fair at Quarry Plaza, with more opportunities for connection and engagement continuing throughout the quarter.
