Student Experience
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UC Santa Cruz earns high marks in Princeton Review rankings
UC Santa Cruz has been named one of the nation’s top universities by The Princeton Review for 2025, earning national recognition for its exceptional financial aid, strong value, sustainability leadership, and stunning campus—affirming its reputation as a student-centered, socially conscious, and academically rigorous institution.
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Alumna wins first season of ‘Yes, Chef!’ on Peacock
UC Santa Cruz alumna Emily Brubaker won the first season of ‘Yes, Chef!’ against 11 other professional chefs.
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Meet your 2025-26 Alumni Council
Twenty-two members make up this year’s Council, with each councilor serving two-year terms upon being elected.
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The future of climate: The Center for Coastal Climate Resilience supports a critical wave of research fellows
As the science community’s focus on climate change and adaptation continues to grow, research fellows are playing a pivotal role in driving the innovation needed to build greater resilience in the face of climate change.
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Understanding the influences of technology and economic development on genocide risk
Recent graduate John Bentley won the Chancellor’s award for his research on the risks of social media expansion in developing countries.
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Slug Summer Send-Offs welcome new UC Santa Cruz students
The Slug Summer Send-Off Series, hosted by the UC Santa Cruz Alumni Association, helps incoming students and their families feel welcomed, supported, and connected before they arrive on campus.
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New Innovation & Entrepreneurship Certificate builds career-ready skills at UC Santa Cruz
Open to all majors, Crown College’s new I&E Certificate combines coursework, community projects, and practical experience to help students build skills and apply what they learn beyond the classroom.
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Following a passion for early childhood development
Undergraduate Chelsey Tien won the Dean’s Award for her psychology research that explored the role parents play in helping children develop causal reasoning
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UC Santa Cruz opens cutting-edge Social Documentation Lab to advance justice through film
UC Santa Cruz’s new Social Documentation Laboratory provides a collaborative, inclusive space for graduate students to merge media production with critical scholarship and social justice.
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Social Sciences Division honors student awardees at annual luncheon
26 students were recognized with awards from the Social Sciences Division and Division of Undergraduate Education.
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Horse teeth hold historical clues about military power and trade in Western Africa
Undergraduate Elyse Venerable won the Chancellor’s Award and Dean’s Award for her research using strontium isotope analysis to uncover the origins of Oyo Empire war horses.
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Celebrating the Class of 2025: Innovators, advocates, and future leaders
Highlighting a handful of graduates who are ready to make a difference