Housing & Dining

Campus Life - A Time and Place of Growth and Discovery

For many transfer students, the opportunity to live on campus is an important part of the university experience. As an incoming transfer student you’ll be able to participate in programs at your affiliated college and the housing community where you live.

Most new transfer students live at the Transfer Community, which is located at Porter College. Incoming transfer students affiliated with any UCSC college are welcome at the Transfer Community. Others may select The Village, located on campus in the heart of the great meadow, or the University Town Center (UTC), which is located at 1101 Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. Redwood Grove provides an opportunity for students 23 or older to live in an apartment setting.

 

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


Housing Options

At UC Santa Cruz, all students are housed in small-scale residential communities, which provide close-knit, vibrant living/learning 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.

Each community is welcoming of transfer students, and seeks to ease their transition to campus life and help them build a strong connection to the campus. The information in this guide will help you learn more about each of these housing options.

 

Residence Hall Living

Transfer Community and College Residence Halls

Transfer students will live in Porter A-Building and in Porter B-Building. Each floor is divided into thirds and each section is referred to as a “hall.” Although A and B Buildings have single-gender and mixed-gender halls, bedrooms are single-gender. Bathrooms are all-gender and are designed to ensure privacy. In single-gender halls, bathrooms are primarily used by people identifying with that gender. The buildings have a variety of room types, with triple rooms being most common.

Rooms are furnished. Each resident is provided an extra-long twin bed, a desk, a chair, and a wardrobe with drawers. You will need to bring your own bedding (sheets, pillowcase, etc.), lamp, clock, and other personal items essential to your daily life.

A meal plan is included in the housing contract for students living in the residence halls.

Living in a residence hall provides a unique opportunity to live in community. RAs offer programs and activities that are designed to connect residents as well as create a sense of belonging. We hope that you become an active member of our community.

Transfer Community Quad

Transfer Community Room Options

Triple

Floor plan for triple room

 

Large Triple

Floor plan for large triple

The lower price of large triple rooms makes them a popular selection and therefore may be limited in availability.

Double

Floor plan for double room

Single

Floor plan for single room

The number of single rooms is limited. As singles are in high demand all year, we keep a Singles Waitlist in the Porter Housing Office in the event one becomes available. You can add your name to the list at any time during the year.

Quint

Floor plan for quint room

View Virtual Tours

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.

Transfer Community Housing Options and Themes

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 Cowell College, 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 »

Transfer Community. The BIPOC transfer community is an intentional community where transfer students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color explore elements of diversity and social justice, create a deeper understanding and appreciation for others, celebrate inclusion, and become agents for social change.

Apartment. A unique living environment composed of both international and domestic students in an apartment/flat style living arrangement. This thriving community of residents from around the world lives and learns together to foster international understanding and form intercultural friendship. Students will have the option to take a 2-unit Intercultural Understanding class in the Fall quarter. Explore your global perspectives! (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).

Transfer Community. 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.

Transfer Community. 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.

Transfer Community. Students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and who want an opportunity to live with students with a similar interest. Only available in mixed-gender areas.

Transfer Community. Students agree not to consume alcohol, cannabis, other drugs, or any tobacco products, or bring any of these substances into the residence.

Apartment. UCSC’s Substance Free Recovery Housing offers students in recovery, and 100% committed to living completely substance free, the opportunity to live together in community. This unique community apartment is centered around camaraderie and support, especially in that everyone living in recovery housing agrees to fully adhere to the substance free recovery theme. The residents are supported by The Cove, UCSC’s Harm Reduction and Recovery Community Center where professional and student staff can offer information, health and wellness coaching, peer education, mentorship, and referrals, as needed. The Cove is near the apartment and also offers a large substance free community and space, substance free events, and much more!

To be considered, indicate a preference for this option in your housing application and then schedule an appointment with Jorge Bru where you can request access to the supplemental application (supplemental application required).

Jorge Bru (they/them), Assistant Director, Senior Specialist of Harm Reduction and Recovery Services, serves as the liaison for students interested in this theme housing area and can assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about this option. Jorge can be reached at jbru@ucsc.edu.

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, such as bathrooms (supplemental application required). Learn more »

Transfer Community. Students who are 21 years of age or older at the time of application. Students agree to maintain a quiet environment to enhance study.

 
Apartment Living

Apartment Living

Redwood Grove Apartments

The Redwood Grove apartments are an extension of the Transfer Community at Porter College, and provide an apartment living environment for a limited number of older incoming transfer students. Students must be 23 or older at the time of application.

Typically shared by five or six students, each apartment has a combination of single and small-double bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom. Bedrooms in apartments are furnished the same as in the residence halls.

The common living areas of apartments are furnished and kitchens have a range, refrigerator, sink, and cabinets for storage. Residents are responsible for bringing kitchen items such as silverware, pots and pans, and general cookware. Meal plans are optional in the apartments.

Redwood Grove Housing Options and Themes

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 Cowell College, 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 »

Apartment. A unique living environment composed of both international and domestic students in an apartment/flat style living arrangement. This thriving community of residents from around the world lives and learns together to foster international understanding and form intercultural friendship. Students will have the option to take a 2-unit Intercultural Understanding class in the Fall quarter. Explore your global perspectives! (Supplemental application required.) Learn more »

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 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.

Apartment. UCSC’s Substance Free Recovery Housing offers students in recovery, and 100% committed to living completely substance free, the opportunity to live together in community. This unique community apartment is centered around camaraderie and support, especially in that everyone living in recovery housing agrees to fully adhere to the substance free recovery theme. The residents are supported by The Cove, UCSC’s Harm Reduction and Recovery Community Center where professional and student staff can offer information, health and wellness coaching, peer education, mentorship, and referrals, as needed. The Cove is near the apartment and also offers a large substance free community and space, substance free events, and much more!

To be considered, indicate a preference for this option in your housing application and then schedule an appointment with Jorge Bru where you can request access to the supplemental application (supplemental application required).

Jorge Bru (they/them), Assistant Director, Senior Specialist of Harm Reduction and Recovery Services, serves as the liaison for students interested in this theme housing area and can assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about this option. Jorge can be reached at jbru@ucsc.edu.

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, such as bathrooms (supplemental application required). Learn more »

 

University Town Center

The University Town Center (UTC) is an additional housing option available to transfer students. The UTC houses students amidst all that downtown Santa Cruz has to offer, including cafés, restaurants, shops, museum, movie theaters, library and more! Residents enjoy two- and three-person studio apartments with private bathrooms and kitchenettes. The UTC is located one block from the Santa Cruz Metro Center with frequent buses to campus. Meal plans are optional at the UTC.

Apartment Living
UTC Apartments

UTC Housing Options and Themes

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 Cowell College, 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 »

Apartment. A unique living environment composed of both international and domestic students in an apartment/flat style living arrangement. This thriving community of residents from around the world lives and learns together to foster international understanding and form intercultural friendship. Students will have the option to take a 2-unit Intercultural Understanding class in the Fall quarter. Explore your global perspectives! (Supplemental application required.) Learn more »

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).

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 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.

Apartment. UCSC’s Substance Free Recovery Housing offers students in recovery, and 100% committed to living completely substance free, the opportunity to live together in community. This unique community apartment is centered around camaraderie and support, especially in that everyone living in recovery housing agrees to fully adhere to the substance free recovery theme. The residents are supported by The Cove, UCSC’s Harm Reduction and Recovery Community Center where professional and student staff can offer information, health and wellness coaching, peer education, mentorship, and referrals, as needed. The Cove is near the apartment and also offers a large substance free community and space, substance free events, and much more!

To be considered, indicate a preference for this option in your housing application and then schedule an appointment with Jorge Bru where you can request access to the supplemental application (supplemental application required).

Jorge Bru (they/them), Assistant Director, Senior Specialist of Harm Reduction and Recovery Services, serves as the liaison for students interested in this theme housing area and can assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about this option. Jorge can be reached at jbru@ucsc.edu.

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, such as bathrooms (supplemental application required). Learn more »

 
 

The Village

The Village, located in UCSC's Lower Quarry on the east side of campus, is a unique community for continuing students. The site, adjacent to the Farm and Garden, is in the heart of the Great Meadow. Existing redwoods, native grasses and other trees have been preserved as part of the natural landscape. Each building features single and small double bedrooms, three bathrooms, and one kitchenette

The Village
The Village floor plan

The Village Housing Options and Themes

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 Cowell College, 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 »

Apartment. A unique living environment composed of both international and domestic students in an apartment/flat style living arrangement. This thriving community of residents from around the world lives and learns together to foster international understanding and form intercultural friendship. Students will have the option to take a 2-unit Intercultural Understanding class in the Fall quarter. Explore your global perspectives! (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 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.

Apartment. UCSC’s Substance Free Recovery Housing offers students in recovery, and 100% committed to living completely substance free, the opportunity to live together in community. This unique community apartment is centered around camaraderie and support, especially in that everyone living in recovery housing agrees to fully adhere to the substance free recovery theme. The residents are supported by The Cove, UCSC’s Harm Reduction and Recovery Community Center where professional and student staff can offer information, health and wellness coaching, peer education, mentorship, and referrals, as needed. The Cove is near the apartment and also offers a large substance free community and space, substance free events, and much more!

To be considered, indicate a preference for this option in your housing application and then schedule an appointment with Jorge Bru where you can request access to the supplemental application. (supplemental application required).

Jorge Bru (they/them), Assistant Director, Senior Specialist of Harm Reduction and Recovery Services, serves as the liaison for students interested in this theme housing area and can assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about this option. Jorge can be reached at jbru@ucsc.edu.

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.

 
What to Bring to College

Additional Housing & Dining Resources

Yummy Food
College Night
Triple room at Cowell College
College student