From the Chancellor
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Welcome to UC Santa Cruz, noted for its outstanding scholarship and commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. By choosing our campus, you join a distinguished community of faculty, students, and alumni. You are among some of the most capable and talented scholars in California and the United States, scholars who will become leaders in the new millennium. Through your experiences and learning at UCSC, your life will change, and you will change the lives of others. To inform your academic experience and planning, this catalog presents information about educational programs and policies, faculty, and the campus community. Exceptional faculty serve as knowledgeable guides and resources on your academic journey. Many are members of prestigious professional organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Not only are faculty esteemed scholars and researchers; they are dedicated teachers, engaged in all aspects of teaching and learning. They are in the classrooms, research laboratories, performance halls, and at field sites. You will benefit from this rich panorama of educational venues and may have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research. Remarkable for the sheer splendor of its physical setting, UC Santa Cruz overlooks Monterey Bay and encompasses meadows, redwood forest, and a marine research laboratory. This campus provides an inspirational and environmentally unique setting in which to pursue a world-class education. Sustaining and enhancing our environment is a key challenge for the future. The knowledge that you gain in your studies, and application of that knowledge, may contribute to the stewardship of our campus environment that will benefit future generations of students. |
Not only the natural environment, but our campus social community also commands our stewardship. Our college-centered grouping fosters interdependence, along with the independence of residency away from home. Social consciousness and civility are central to fostering cooperation and harmony in inter-relationships. As the campus grows in size and diversity, we are cognizant of the need for affirmation and appreciation of diversity. According to the latest U.S. census, there is no longer a majority ethnic group in California; in 50 years there will be no majority ethnic group in the United States. This demographic phenomenon has implications for individuals and society. There is a wealth of potential in diversity, in different perspectives, new ideas, and innovation. Living and studying at UC Santa Cruz is preparation for the future—as well as the present. Again, you are the catalyst for the integration of knowledge. The caliber of your intellectual mettle, the refinement of your critical thinking and love of learning, are forged through intellectual rigor. I am heartened by the potential for scholarship, innovation, and contribution that you bring to our university. A measure of the quality of UC Santa Cruz’s academic programs is the accomplishments of its graduates. Although the university was inaugurated only 38 years ago, alumni have achieved distinction in every field, profession, scholarly discipline, and artistic expression. Congratulations on your choice of UC Santa Cruz as the setting for your studies in the new millennium. I look forward to congratulating you again on the occasion of your commencement, a culminating event of your years here at UC Santa Cruz, and a distinct milestone in your life’s adventure. M.R.C. Greenwood
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