College Assignment Appeals
We’re excited that you’ve chosen to attend UC Santa Cruz. We’re sure you’ll find that our college system is truly unique in all that it offers undergraduate students.
Once you have accepted your offer of admission, and after the acceptance deadline (May 1 for freshmen; June 1 for transfers), the Admissions Office will affiliate you with one of UCSC’s 10 colleges. The college affiliation takes into account enrollment levels at each college and any preferences you have indicated. The Admissions Office does their best to assign students to one of their preferred colleges, but unfortunately that isn’t possible in all instances.
Once you learn which college you have been affiliated with, we encourage you to take some time to read about your college and all it has to offer. After getting to know your college we’re sure that you will agree with most UC Santa Cruz students when they say that their college is “the best.” Your college staff welcome your questions and will help you get to know your college. Feel free to contact them directly:
Associate Directors, College Student Life
Community | Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowell College | LeAnna Willis | (831) 459-3599 | lemwilli@ucsc.edu |
| Stevenson College | LeAnna Willis | (831) 459-3599 | lemwilli@ucsc.edu |
| Crown College | Julie Phillips | (831) 459-5689 | japhilli@ucsc.edu |
| Merrill College | Julie Phillips | (831) 459-5689 | japhilli@ucsc.edu |
| Porter College | Kathy Cooney | (831) 459-5255 | kmcooney@ucsc.edu |
| Kresge College | Kathy Cooney | (831) 459-5255 | kmcooney@ucsc.edu |
| Oakes College | Mari Ortiz-McGuire | (831) 459-2796 | mcmcguir@ucsc.edu |
| Rachel Carson College | Mari Ortiz-McGuire | (831) 459-2796 | mcmcguir@ucsc.edu |
| College Nine | Siobhán Byrne | (831) 459-3834 | sbyrne@ucsc.edu |
| John R. Lewis College | Siobhán Byrne | (831) 459-3834 | sbyrne@ucsc.edu |
Changing College Affiliation
If you would like to request a change of college, there is a limited time period during which newly admitted students may submit an appeal in the Housing Portal. The appeal deadlines are:
- New Frosh: deadline to appeal is May 23, 2025
- New Transfers/New Visiting: deadline to appeal is June 20, 2025
Because the appeal process is available for a limited time, students who are admitted from the waitlist and affiliated with a college after the above dates will not be able to appeal their college assignment through this process.
Once the appeal period is closed, students must wait until after the start of the academic year to pursue a change in college. See the Change of College procedure on the process available to all undergraduate students once the academic year has begun.
Submitting an Appeal
While we don’t expect to grant many appeals, should you choose to submit an appeal, please follow these directions:
Decisions on college assignment appeals will be sent to your UCSC email account approximately 2 weeks after the appeal deadline.
If you are interested in living in university housing, submit your housing application by the deadline (listed in the housing information you received). You must submit an application by the deadline in order to keep your housing guarantee and receive a housing assignment in the event your appeal is denied.
New Frosh/New Visiting: If your appeal is granted you will receive instructions on applying for housing for your new college.
New Transfers: An approved appeal will only affect your college affiliation. Your housing assignment will not change as a result of a change in your college affiliation.
Also by the deadline, submit an appeal in the Housing Portal explaining your reasons for appealing your college assignment.