Housing & Dining

Campus Life - A Time and Place of Growth and Discovery

At UC Santa Cruz, all students are housed in small-scale residential communities, which provide close-knit living environments within the larger university. Live-in student and professional staff members provide orientation, support services, safety and crisis response, and a variety of social, educational, and cultural programs for residents.

 

The Housing Application

When you complete your online housing application you will have the opportunity to rank preferences for various room and theme options. This will give us an idea of the types of housing you are most interested in.

You will also be asked to complete a Lifestyle Questionnaire. Roommate assignments are based on the questionnaire so it is in your best interest to answer the questions as fully, thoughtfully and honestly as possible. Specific roommate requests may be met as long as they are mutual.

 

Your Housing Experience

Assigning rooms and roommates is not an easy task. Your roommates may or may not become your best friends, but will surely be remembered simply because of the experiences you will share. We will do our best to find you compatible roommates, but please do not assume they will share all your lifestyle preferences. Regardless of where you live, remember one thing: much of what living on campus really offers is what you and students like yourself bring to it.

Your attitude toward, and your enthusiasm for, your new living situation is the real key in determining what your new life will be like. We do promise one thing… given the opportunity, we will do all we can to make you feel welcome and at home.

Living in a Triple Room


Residence Hall Living

 

Oakes College has four residential buildings set amidst the towering redwoods. Most students live in mixed-gender halls or floors, in which members of any gender live in the same hall or floor. Bedrooms are single-gender spaces. Single-gender female floors are also available.

Residents of each hall or floor share a common bathroom.

Bathrooms consist of toilets, sinks and showers on each floor of the residence halls. All toilet stalls have locking doors, and all showers have a ceiling to floor curtain as well as a changing stall with a ceiling to floor curtain. On single-gender floors, bathrooms are primarily used by people identifying with that gender.

Apartment Living
In addition to the residence halls, our college also has apartments that house students in shared and private rooms. The apartments are available to upper-division students.

Floor plan for residence halls

Oakes College Room Options

Triple

Floor plan for triple room

Quad

Floor plan for quad lounge

Quint

Floor plan for single room

Single

Floor plan for single room

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Housing Options and Themes

In addition to room options, there are also a variety of housing themes and options for those who are interested. Based on academic pursuits, hobbies, individual backgrounds, and lifestyle preferences, these living/learning options complement a student’s experience in residence. Unless otherwise noted, themes and options are in mixed-gender areas.

R.PAATH house (Stevenson Residence Halls), R.PAATH apartments (Stevenson Apartments), ABC STEM @ Biko (Oakes Residence Halls; available to Oakes affiliates only), Shabazz apartments (Oakes Apartments), ABC STARS (Rachel Carson Apartments; available to new transfer students only), ABC @ NIJL (College Nine/John R. Lewis College Apartments). ABC themed living-learning communities are located at Stevenson College, Oakes College, Rachel Carson College, College Nine, and John R. Lewis College, and are available to students of any college affiliation. Directly connected to the Office of African, Black, Caribbean (ABC) Student Success and the African American Resource & Cultural Center, and designed for students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of predominantly African, Black, and Caribbean peoples, these communities intentionally create space for students to feel connected, safer, and supported in a community centered on the experiences of African, Black, Caribbean peoples.

Utilizing the community cultural wealth model, students develop cultural competence/cultural intelligence, aspirational capital, linguistic capital, resistance capital and ally development through organizing, living, studying, and socializing with peers passionate about political, cultural, popular, social, and economic issues of the African Diaspora. (supplemental application required). Learn more »

Residence Hall and Apartment. This housing option allows those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and other identities within the LGBTQIA+ community as well as allies to live together in an open and supportive environment. (Only available in mixed-gender areas.)

Residence Hall and Apartment. Students of any gender live on the same floor or apartment and share a commitment to cooperative living through respect and consideration for one another. Bedrooms are single-gender while bathrooms may be designated as mixed-gender with private toilet and shower stalls.

Residence Hall. Coordinated by a graduate student "scientist in residence", the community provides students who are interested in science majors and careers an opportunity to live and learn together.

Residence Hall and Apartment. Students of a single gender live on the same floor or apartment (availability is based upon demand). Bathrooms are primarily used by individuals who identify with that gender.

Residence Hall. Maxine Hong-Genny Lim House, Bayit Elie Wiesel, and Casa Dolores Huerta provide a space for every student to learn about important sociopolitical and cultural figures who have contributed to the liberation of marginalized groups on local and global levels. We develop empathy as we engage curiosity, seek to understand identity and develop a commitment to community.

Apartment. Continuing Students only: Casa Frida Kahlo, Malik Shabazz House, Harvey Milk House, Liliuokalani-Minami House provide spaces for students to learn about important sociopolitical and cultural figures who have contributed to the liberation of marginalized groups on local and global levels. We strive to create an environment where identities can continue to be examined and individuals feel empowered to share about and be their full authentic selves.

Residence Hall and Apartment. Trans-Inclusive Housing communities are intended to create safer and supportive living spaces for transgender, genderqueer, gender nonconforming (GNC), and gender nonbinary (GNB) students, as well as questioning and ally-students. A trans ally is someone who advocates for and supports members of the community and actively contributes to creating a positive, affirming, living environment for people of all gender identities. Students may room together regardless of gender. Please note that this room assignment is likely to be on a mixed-gender floor/apartment and all students share common areas (e.g. bathrooms). (Supplemental application required.) Learn more »

UC Santa Cruz Dining

Students find mealtime an opportunity to meet friends, visit and relax, study, and, of course . . . eat! All students living in campus residence halls have a meal plan included in their housing contract. Meal plans are optional for apartment residents.

Your student ID card functions as your meal card and is accepted at the all-you-care-to-enjoy dining halls situated throughout the campus, and at all UCSC Dining operated markets, cafes, and coffee bars. Slug Points declining balance plans provide the ultimate in convenience and flexibility.

 

Deliciously Sustainable

Delicious, fresh menu items are served throughout breakfast, lunch, dinner, between meals, and late night! Our rotating menus provide variety and we try to always keep your everyday favorites available.

Our program is nationally recognized as a leader in sustainability and this means plenty of local and organic selections available to you. A wide selection of vegetarian and vegan options are available throughout the day and night, and our Nutrition Specialist helps to develop meals for those with restricted diets. Our staff continually strives to meet your needs.

Salad Bar at the Dining Hall
 
What to Bring to College

Additional Housing & Dining Resources

Walking bridge at Oakes College
Oakes College students
Triple room at Oakes College
View from Oakes College