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.

Freshmen are generally assigned to live in their college’s residence halls. Residence halls have common bathrooms and a combination of shared and private bedrooms. The specific room options available to you will be covered later in this guide. Our college also has apartments that will be an option for you in your subsequent years.

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

Rachel Carson College has traditional residence halls and apartments, with first-year students being housed in the residence halls. We have eight traditional residence halls, two in each quad. Each quad consists of a three story “L” shaped building with a two story “Garden” building. The quads share a courtyard with an open grassy area with lots of sunlight.

Inside The Halls

Your residence hall may be looked at as an extended family and, like a family, you will share a number of common areas. Each quad has a lobby with a TV and serves as an informal setting for card games, study breaks, movie nights, residence hall meetings, and discussion groups in conjunction with residential and academic life.

Students can choose between single-gender or mixed-gender residence halls/floors. While bedrooms are single-gender, bathrooms may be mixed-gender and are designed to ensure privacy. On single-gender floors, bathrooms are primarily used by people identifying with that gender.

Rachel Carson College Room Options

Triple

Quad

Double Suite

Single

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Housing Options and Themes

In addition to room options, there are also a variety of housing themes and options open to all students. These spaces are centered around shared interests, academics, and community engagement, and they create opportunities for connection and personal growth. Unless otherwise noted, themes and options are in mixed-gender areas.

ABC Themed Housing

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 @ Cowell (Cowell Madrone Apartments). ABC themed living-learning communities are located at many of UCSC’s residential colleges, 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 all students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of predominantly African, Black, and Caribbean peoples, these communities intentionally create space for all 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 »

LGBTQIA+

Residence Hall. This housing option allows all students, including 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).

Mixed-Gender

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.

Native American/Indigenous Themed Housing (located at Porter College)

Native American/Indigenous Themed Housing is a community intended to create a supportive, home away from home environment for all students, including Indigenous students and their allies.

Native American/Indigenous Theme Housing (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. Learn more »

To be considered, indicate a preference for this option in your housing application (supplemental application required).

Rachel Carson Eco House

Residence Hall. The Rachel Carson Eco House provides a living opportunity for students dedicated to a sustainable present for a blossoming future. Students will engage in programming opportunities that emphasize topics of environmental justice, sustainability and advocacy. Individuals interested in learning more about personal identities and their intersection with climate issues should apply for this themed community.

Single-Gender

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.

Substance Free Recovery Housing (Cowell College Apartments)

Apartment. UCSC’s Substance Free Recovery Housing offers students in recovery an opportunity to live in a supportive, substance-free community. This unique community apartment fosters camaraderie, mutual support, and accountability, with all residents fully committed to living substance-free. The residents are supported by The Cove, UCSC’s Harm Reduction and Recovery Community Center where professional and student staff offer wellness coaching, mentorship, health resources, as well as organizing substance-free events and activities to strengthen the community. Learn more »

To be considered, indicate a preference for this option in your housing application (supplemental application required for consideration).

Trans-inclusive Housing areas are located in the Merrill College residence halls (freshmen) and the Redwood Grove apartments (continuing students).

Residence Hall and Apartment. Trans-Inclusive Housing (TIH) communities are intended to create safer and supportive living spaces for all students, including transgender and non-binary students, students exploring their gender identities, and their allies. In this context, allies are students who advocate for and support members of the gender diverse community and actively contribute to creating a positive, affirming, living environment for people of all gender identities.

Trans-Inclusive Housing communities are located in Merrill College residence halls (first-year students) and The Redwood Grove apartments (continuing and new transfer students). Students may room together regardless of gender. Please note that this room assignment is likely to be in a mixed-gender floor/apartment and all students share common areas (e.g. bathrooms). Learn more »

To be considered, indicate a preference for this option in your housing application (supplemental application required).

Women in Science, Engineering & Math

Residence Hall. The WISE community fosters an inclusive science, engineering, and math community for all students interested in historical, present-day, and future contributions of women in these fields. WISE offers themed programming, guest speakers, and peer support.

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.

Additional Housing & Dining Resources