Porter College
From its vibrant murals and student-curated art gallery to the MakerSpace Co-op and iconic “Squiggle” sculpture, Porter College is a place that celebrates creativity in all its forms. The atmosphere is open-minded and imaginative, shaped by a strong connection to the arts and humanities. Home to the Arts Division, Porter’s artistic spirit inspires both academic and co-curricular life. Housing options include residence halls for new and continuing students, and six-person apartments for continuing students.
Porter’s required first-year core course: Arts of Reading
Porter residence halls
Porter’s traditional residence halls are situated around a large quad with plenty of space to study and hang out. Freshmen are generally assigned to live in their college’s residence halls—first-year students at Porter live in Porter B-Building, and most reside in triple rooms.
Eligibility: Open to new and continuing students
- Traditional residence halls are divided into smaller units or “halls,” with 35–40 students sharing a wing and restroom facilities
- Room types: triples, large triples (limited number), doubles (limited number), singles (primarily available to continuing students), and quints
- Floors may be single-gender or mixed-gender
- Bathrooms are all-gender and designed for privacy
- Meal plan included in the housing contract (required for residence hall students)
Residence hall floor plans
Floor plans are for general room layout and configuration. They are not exact in scale. Furniture arrangements vary by room and residence.
Triple
Large Triple
Double
Single
Quint
Porter apartments
Porter’s six-person apartments are reserved for upper-division students and offer a more independent living experience. Each apartment is furnished and includes a shared kitchen and living space—no meal plan required.
Eligibility: Open to continuing students only
- Each apartment houses 6 students
- Full kitchen, bathroom, and living room in every unit
- Bedrooms in apartments are single-gender, but apartments may be single-gender or mixed-gender
- Meal plan not required (not included in housing contract), though voluntary meal plans are available
Apartment virtual tours
Virtual tours are for general room layout and configuration. Furniture arrangements vary by room and residence.
Apartment rates
Community living options
When you complete your housing application, you will be asked to rank your preferred room types, as well as indicate interest in specific community living options. At Porter, these include floor or apartment gender options, two interest-based themes, and the NAITH Campuswide Theme Housing community.
Floor and apartment gender options
Location: Residence halls and apartments
Eligibility: Available to both new and continuing students
- LGBTQIA+ Housing: Open to all students, including students of all identities within the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. This option fosters an open and supportive living environment. Available only in mixed-gender areas.
- Mixed-Gender Housing: Students of any gender live on the same floor or in the same apartment. Bedrooms are single-gender, while bathrooms may be designated mixed-gender with private toilet and shower stalls.
- Single Gender Housing: Students of a single gender live together, with bathrooms primarily used by individuals who identify with that gender. Availability is based on demand, and may not be offered in all room types or theme options.
Creative Expression
Location: Porter residence halls
Eligibility: New and continuing Porter applicants
The Creative Expression residence hall community embodies Porter’s motto Ars Longa, Vita Brevis (Art endures, Life is short). Residents engage in a range of creative self expression from writing, to painting, to video making, and more. Students are asked to explore what art means to them.
Mindfulness and Wellbeing
Location: Porter residence halls
Eligibility: New and continuing Porter applicants
Students living in this residence hall community are interested in intentionally engaging in mindfulness practices and exploring concepts of wellbeing. Residents will explore what wellness means to them through programs and activities. Note: Available only in mixed-gender areas.
Native American/Indigenous Themed Housing (NAITH)
Location: Porter residence halls.
Eligibility: Open to students of any college affiliation; supplementary application questions required.
Native American/Indigenous Themed Housing (NAITH) is a community intended to create a supportive, home away from home environment for all students, including Indigenous students and their allies. NAITH welcomes students from all experiences — we do not define Indigenous or Native as being only American Indian, tribally enrolled, or expect that residents are traditionally culturally grounded. What is important is the desire to connect with other students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of Native and Indigenous peoples and be part of the community. NAITH offers the opportunity to further explore cultural, heritage, and tribal connections.
Students interested in NAITH must select it on the housing application and complete a few supplemental questions.
Nearby dining options
Amenities and nearby resources
In addition to the amenities common to all of UCSC’s colleges—like laundry facilities and a secure mailroom—Porter is home to a variety of unique features that help define its community.
Dining options
UCSC Dining has lots of locations across campus—these are closest to Porter:
- Porter/Kresge Dining Hall
- Porter Market
- Owl’s Nest Café
More food options close to Porter:
- Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall
Community spaces and resources
- Sesnon Galleries
- Koi Pond
- Iconic “Porter Squiggle” sculpture
- Study center
- HItchcock Lounge
- MakerSpace Co-op
- Arts Instructional Computing Laboratories
- Annual Queer Fashion Show
- Home of the Transfer Community
- Porter Meadows
Community spaces
Campuswide Theme Housing
Campuswide Theme Housing options are open to students of any college affiliation and are centered around shared interests, academics, community engagement, and support.
Location: Various locations across campus.
Eligibility: Open to students of any college affiliation; a few supplementary questions are required in the housing application.
Mail and contact info
Student mailing address
If you’re a Porter College resident, use the address below as your campus mailing address. Be sure to include your box number!
Student’s Name
UCSC, Porter College, #XXX
411 Porter-Kresge Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1104
You’ll receive your mailbox number at move-in. Early deliveries cannot be accepted at the residential facilities.
Need to ship items before you arrive?
Learn about Collegeboxes and pre-arrival shipping.
Mailroom information
The Porter mailroom is located in the foyer of the Porter/Kresge Dining Hall (Building C)
Hours:
Contact:
Erika Hearon, Operations Coordinator for Porter & Kresge Colleges, Manager of Porter & Kresge Mailrooms
elhearon@ucsc.edu
831-459-2273
Housing verification letter
After move-in, you can obtain a Housing Verification letter in the Housing Portal if you need to demonstrate that you currently live in UCSC university housing in order to open a bank account, obtain a driver’s license or identification card, or for any other need.
Finding Porter on campus
Porter is located on the west side of campus, adjacent to Kresge College. Use the map above to explore the area or get directions.
Who to contact
Porter College housing office
Questions about room and roommate assignments, or day-to-day residential life:
Phone: (831) 459-4433
Email: porterhousing@ucsc.edu
Website: Porter College
UCSC Student Housing Services
Questions about housing application/contract records and room-and-board billing:
Email: housing@ucsc.edu