The Colleges

At UCSC, all undergraduate students and most faculty are affiliated with one of the ten colleges. College descriptions are as published in the 2004-06 General Catalog, except for the following colleges, which have revised their descriptions for 2005-06:

• Cowell College
• Porter College
• College Nine
• College Ten
  
  
  

Cowell College

[Return to top]

Porter College

The Porter College theme, Arts in a Multicultural Society, reflects the consensus among Porter College fellows that the creative process is an inseparable aspect of a broad-minded and rigorous education. The seminars, cocurricular activities, and cultural environment at Porter encourage creativity in all fields—from composition, to community studies, to computer programming.

Academic Emphases

Porter’s faculty includes most of the campus’s practicing artists and art scholars, though some of the college’s faculty (and half of its students) specialize in the humanities or in the physical and biological or social sciences. The college is the administrative home of the Division of the Arts and the History of Art and Visual Culture Department. The Institute for Humanities Research also has offices here.

The Porter core course (see the Porter College Course Descriptions section) focuses on social, political, and aesthetic issues raised by selected works of literature and art in a variety of media. All students who enter the college with fewer than 30 quarter credits (or the equivalent) are required by the college to participate in the core course. Students meet with their faculty member in a seminar, attend regular lecture/performances, and participate in writing groups, advising, and other sessions that introduce some of the academic issues they will confront at the university. The course emphasizes critical reading, writing, and close intellectual contact with faculty and other students.

In their second quarter of residency, students are encouraged to take Porter 80K, which focuses on ways of knowing. Students are introduced to the ways in which different disciplines define “literacy” in their own terms: visual literacy, musical literacy, and the scientific method will be introduced as alternative ways of understanding.

The college also offers 2-credit courses in a variety of areas connected to the arts. These are small classes in the practice or theory of the arts; they may include investigation of a particular style of music or dance, visits to Bay Area theaters and museums, working in the arts, or creation of a show in one of the college galleries. These diverse offerings allow Porter students to understand the significance of creativity in a university education.

In addition to faculty advising, writing assistants have regular office hours in the college to offer help to on- and off-campus students. Special lectures give students the opportunity to meet with important artists and thinkers in an informal environment.

The college provides fellowship funds each year to talented students pursuing original research and creative projects.

College Community and Facilities

The residence halls and apartments play an important role in bringing the college community together. Students are encouraged to spend their beginning years in residence in the college, where housing is available for 845 students. The residence halls are divided into smaller units, with from 14 to 40 students sharing common lounges and other facilities. Apartments are available for continuing and transfer students. Theme halls include Performing Arts, Film and Digital Media, Gender Studies, Visual Arts, and Outdoors Experiences. Porter students have established a Multicultural Group, a Lavender Lounge, and a Women’s Collective, which offer thematic support. Students also have a choice of quiet or substance-free halls.

In addition to traditional classrooms, Porter has many specialized facilities such as a fireside lounge, darkroom, galleries, and a dining hall that converts to a theater space. The Arts Instructional Computing Laboratories, located at Porter College, consist of two high-end labs oriented toward the arts (see the Arts Instructional Computing Laboratories section). Porter also has a Study Center with an adjoining Computer Lab for Porter students only. This lab has eight workstations for word processing, graphics production, Internet capabilities, and printing.

Adjacent to the college are the campus's Theater Arts Center (see the Theater Arts Program Description section), the Elena Baskin Visual Arts Center (see the Art Program Description section), and the Music Center (see the Music Program Description section).

Porter provides constructive opportunities for relaxation and recreation to balance the intellectual demands of a university education. The Student Activities Office, in conjunction with the Porter Student Senate, organizes formal and informal events, including dances, recreational activities, and field trips, which augment campuswide activities in these areas. For relaxing, Porter students and faculty gather at the college’s coffeehouse—the Hungry Slug.

Many students and faculty perform or exhibit their work at Porter, and cultural events are a constant feature of life at the college. The dining commons has been the site of performances by artists such as El Teatro Campesino, lectures and readings by contemporary authors such as Amiri Baraka, and performances by artists such as Komar & Melamid and Nina Wise.

Porter College facilities were constructed through a partnership of public funds and a gift from the Porter-Sesnon family of Santa Cruz. Part of the gift was used to establish an endowment for the college.

For more information, call (831) 459-2273 or visit the web site: www2.ucsc.edu/porter.

[Return to top]

College Nine

At College Nine, we introduce students to our increasingly interconnected world. Students can learn about the impact of economic globalization. We also expect them to come to appreciate the diversity of cultural traditions.
   — Campbell Leaper, College Nine Provost

Academic Emphases

College Nine's theme of International and Global Issues emphasizes the impact of our increasingly interconnected world. We consider how people across the world affect one another through global economies, education, mass media, jet travel, and computers. Some specific issues that our academic and cocurricular programs consider are economic and cultural globalization, immigration, ethnic conflicts, genocide, and human rights. Our programs seek to respect both diversity and unity in understanding individuals and societies. Students interested in these issues either as their major focus or as part of their general education are invited to join the College Nine community.

Writing Seminar

In the first-quarter frosh course, Introduction to University Discourse: International and Global Issues (see the College Nine Course Descriptions section), students examine current issues pertinent to the college's intellectual theme. Topics address issues such as globalization, inequities in wealth and poverty across the world, regional conflicts, and human rights.

The seminar emphasizes the development of students' writing, reading, and speaking skills. Being able to write well is a valuable asset for success in college and later in most careers. Students write several reflective and analytical papers during the quarter. Each paper undergoes at least one revision after the student receives constructive feedback from the instructor. Thus, the instructors work closely with each student throughout the quarter.

Special Academic Programs

Optional programs are available to involve College Nine students in academic and cocurricular activities beyond the first-quarter course. They are designed to promote students' academic achievement and success by connecting them with faculty mentors and helping them pursue leadership experiences in particular contexts.

Model United Nations Workshop
College Nine students have the option of enrolling in a Model United Nations Workshop. This 2-credit course meets once per week and can be taken in addition to the regular 15-credit academic load. Students simulate the United Nations. Delegates work together to solve global problems through interactive methods that include role playing, a mock UN session, and faculty presentations. The course is offered to both first-year and upper-division students.

Service Learning
Students can extend their learning beyond the classroom by getting practical experience and course credit working as an intern for a community or business organization. This type of practical experience is known as service learning or field study. Examples include assisting in a classroom or at a homeless shelter. College Nine has its own service-learning program. The service-learning supervisor guides the student at the practicum site, and helps the student develop a reading list and paper topic related to the placement.

Students as Teachers and Mentors
College Nine students have special opportunities to become course assistants, tutors, and student mentors for course credit. Students gain independent experience as teachers leading their own discussion sections of a College Nine course. They receive close supervision that emphasizes a collaborative approach to developing and enhancing teaching, communication, and leadership skills. The College Nine academic advisers can also direct students to other opportunities for student-teaching and peer-mentoring programs on campus. These are excellent opportunities to work closely with a faculty member and to develop one's own skills as a teacher and a leader.

Education Abroad
The UC Education Abroad Program (see Education Abroad Program section) places students at a university in another country for one or more quarters. Studying abroad can be a valuable way to expand one's understanding of the world. Given the international focus at College Nine, students are encouraged (but not required) to develop a second language or to study abroad.

Global Information Internship Program
The Global Information Internship Program (GIIP) places highly motivated students-trained in social science and information technology-in internships with nongovernmental organizations and community groups. Students in GIIP help these organizations and groups in the use of Internet-based information and communications technologies. Interns acquire leadership and organizational skills through the "learning-by-doing" method. For more information, see the Global Information Internship Program section and visit the web site at http://giip.ucsc.edu.

Practical Activism: Lessons in Local and Global Change
This annual one-day conference focuses on international social justice concerns in the local context. Students gain valuable leadership skills in developing and implementing this exceptional program, which involves collaboration among faculty, staff, and the local community.

Research Opportunities
The faculty at UC Santa Cruz are ranked high in their quality of research. College Nine students are encouraged to take advantage of the many excellent opportunities available to work closely with faculty as research apprentices. Students will find many internship, independent study, or senior thesis programs in the departments of most majors. The College Nine academic advisers will help link students with these programs. College Nine students will also have connections to faculty affiliated with various research institutes concerned with international and global issues. They include the following:

• The Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (go here for more information)
• The Center for Global, International and Regional Studies (go here for more information)
• The Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community (go here for more information)
• The Chicano/Latino Research Center (go here for more information)
• The Santa Cruz Center for International Economics (go here for more information)

College Nine Scholars Program
Eligible College Nine frosh may apply to the Scholars Program. This includes enrolling in an honors section of the frosh writing seminar in the fall quarter, the 2-credit workshop in the winter, and a special seminar in the spring.

College Nine Pathways to Distinction
Another feature of College Nine is that qualified students may graduate with College Nine Distinction. This recognition is intended to serve as an incentive for students to pursue activities that are especially apt to help them succeed in college and beyond. Two pathways are possible:

Research and scholarship. In this pathway, students pursue research with faculty by completing three quarters (15 credits) of work on a senior thesis or a research internship. Students may be recognized with College Nine Distinction if they do a thesis or a research internship in their major on a topic related to international or global issues.

Language and culture. Students who enroll in at least three quarters (15 credits) in either Education Abroad or a foreign language (or a combination) may qualify for College Nine Distinction.

College Community and Facilities

Founded in fall 2000, College Nine is one of the newest colleges at UCSC. Consistent with UCSC's founding vision, College Nine creates an integrated living-and-learning environment through engaging academic and extracurricular programs. The college motto, "Celebrating A World of Possibilities," describes exciting cocurricular opportunities to learn more about the world in which we live.

Theme Programming
The College Nine theme of International and Global Perspectives forms a central foundation of our programming. Each month, students and staff work together to develop programs and provide opportunities to learn about and enjoy different aspects of the world around us. Festivals of food and dance, hands-on arts programs, faculty presentations, field trips, film series, and other programs are offered. Some past programs have included European Craft Workshop, Exploring Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Rhythm and Soul Food Café, and Field Trips to Chinatown, Japantown, and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

College Nights
Each month, the college community comes together to plan a College Night, which is a large-scale community celebration, held in the dining commons and open to all College Nine students whether or not they live on campus. These events are planned by students and focus on particular regions of the world. College Nights include food, entertainment, and educational materials related to the theme. Some past College Nights have been Winter Holidays from Around the World, Carnival, and Asian Traditions.

Intercultural Communication Retreat
This two-day retreat provides international and American students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to explore various components of intercultural communication. Through a series of structured exercises and small-group discussions, students share perspectives on issues such as multiculturalism, values orientation, and diversity. The goal of the workshop is to build community and friendship among international and American students as well as to increase students' understanding of the complexity of communicating across cultures. The Intercultural Communication Retreat is optional; students apply for this opportunity in the fall.

International Living Center
The International Living Center (ILC) at College Nine offers a unique living environment fostering understanding, cooperation, and friendship among upper-division students from different nations, cultures, and backgrounds. Half of the residents are students from the United States, and the other half are students from various countries around the world. Students reside in the College Nine Apartments.

Intergroup Dialogue
Through this program, students are given opportunities to learn, experience, and work constructively with one another through structured dialogues and experimental activities across social-group boundaries and through social conflict. The Intergroup Dialogue program initiates links between formal academic course work and students' individual experiences of intergroup conflict and relations.

CREATE
CREATE (Cultural Resources to Educate and to Empower) offers a community at College Nine for students of color to find support and empowerment through mentorship and friendship.

Rainbow Club
The Rainbow Club provides opportunities for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning students and their allies to join together for self-awareness and social activities in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

Fall Leadership Institute
Student leadership and involvement are key to successfully building the new College Nine community. The Fall Leadership Institute offers students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and to develop efficacy as world citizens and leaders at College Nine. The institute meets weekly throughout fall quarter, providing a wide range of exercises, guest speakers, discussions, and debates.

Other Cocurricular Opportunities
Getting involved in cocurricular activities is a predictor of college success. Not only do college activities help students make friends, they foster leadership and group cooperation skills. There are many opportunities at College Nine for student involvement, including the College Nine Student Government Association and Programming International Events (PIE). These organizations are responsible for many of the programs previously described. Additionally, there are social and recreational programs such as dances, ski trips, and intramural sports. There are also specialized groups such as Cloud Nine (the a cappella singing group) and the Book Club.

Physical Surroundings
College Nine is situated in a redwood grove next to the Social Sciences 1 and 2 Buildings near the heart of campus. One of the campus's Instructional Computing Labs is conveniently located in the Social Sciences 2 Building.

A nature preserve serves as College Nine's "backyard." College Nine students have immediate access to hiking, running, and mountain bike trails in the adjacent forest.

Newly constructed residence halls with 400 single and double bedrooms opened in fall 2002. These fully furnished residence halls include student lounges, recreational spaces, and Internet connections. In addition, a state-of-the-art dining hall with an adjoining game room and student lounge for both Colleges Nine and Ten opened in fall 2002.

Colleges Nine and Ten also house approximately 300 upper-division students in newly constructed apartments, with 190 students in single bedrooms and the balance in double and triple rooms. All apartments have full kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and Internet connections. Ground-floor apartments have decks, and most upper apartments have private balconies.

For more information about academic or general college programs, call (831) 459-5034, e-mail dslater@ucsc.edu, or visit the web site: collegenine.ucsc.edu.

[Return to top]

College Ten

Our goal at College Ten is to foster students’ concerns for social justice and their respect for diversity. This appreciation develops through both understanding and practice. Students can study the roots of social problems such as prejudice, ethnic hatreds, poverty, and political oppression. Another form of learning can occur through involvement in community organizations and other agencies. In these ways, we hope our students can contribute to the makings of a better world.
— Campbell Leaper, College Ten Provost

Academic Emphases

College Ten's theme of Social Justice and Community addresses a range of social problems and their impact on all members of society. In particular, the academic and cocurricular programs consider the injustices that many people confront in their lives. Possible community and governmental policies for addressing social, political, and economic inequalities are also examined. In addition, the college provides students with opportunities to make their own positive contributions to social change through community involvement or scholarly research.

The college curriculum will explore the causes and consequences of social injustice in several ways. Students will examine the roots of prejudice, discrimination, and violence directed toward groups based on their ethnicity, skin color, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political views. They will also consider the causes and consequences of poverty both within the United States and across the world.

Writing Seminar

In the first-quarter frosh course, Introduction to University Discourse: Social Justice and Community (see the College Ten Course Descriptions section), students examine current issues pertinent to the college's intellectual theme. Topics address issues such as poverty, discrimination, and economic injustice. Ways that communities, governments, and businesses can address inequities in society are also examined.

The seminar emphasizes the development of students' writing, reading, and speaking skills. Being able to write well is a valuable asset for success in college and later in most careers. Students write several reflective and analytical papers during the quarter. Each paper undergoes at least one revision after the student receives constructive feedback from the instructor. Thus, the instructors work closely with each student throughout the quarter.

Special Academic Programs

Optional programs are available to involve College Ten students in academic and cocurricular activities beyond the first-quarter core course. They are designed to promote students' academic achievement and success by connecting them with faculty mentors and helping them pursue leadership experiences in particular contexts.

Social Justice Issues Workshop
College Ten students have the option of enrolling in the Social Justice Issues Workshop in winter quarter. This 2-credit course meets once per week and can be taken in addition to a regular 15-credit academic load. The workshop offers a small, dynamic learning community in which members explore important issues of personal and cultural identity; social, political, and environmental concerns; and community-mindedness. The class emphasizes small-group experiential learning through structured exercises and group activities, and also includes discussions, film presentations, and guest speakers. The course is offered to both first-year and upper-division students.

Service Learning
Students can extend their learning beyond the classroom by getting practical experience and course credit working as an intern for a community or business organization. This type of practical experience is known as service learning or field study. Examples include assisting in a classroom or at a homeless shelter. College Nine has its own service-learning program. The service-learning supervisor guides the student at the practicum site, and helps the student develop a reading list and paper topic related to the placement.

Practical Activism: Lessons in Local and Global Change
This annual one-day conference focuses on international social justice concerns in the local context. Students gain valuable leadership skills in developing and implementing this exceptional program, which involves collaboration among faculty, staff, and the local community.

Students as Teachers and Mentors
College Ten students have special opportunities to become course assistants, tutors, and student mentors for course credit. Students gain independent experience as teachers leading their own discussion sections of a College Ten course. They receive close supervision that emphasizes a collaborative approach to developing and enhancing teaching, communication, and leadership skills. The College Ten academic advisers can also direct students to other opportunities for student-teaching and peer-mentoring programs on campus. These are excellent opportunities to work closely with a faculty member and to develop one's own skills as a teacher and a leader.

Research Opportunities
The UC Santa Cruz faculty are ranked high in their quality of research. College Ten students are encouraged to take advantage of the many excellent opportunities available to work closely with faculty as research apprentices. Students will find many internship, independent study, or senior thesis programs in the departments of most majors. The College Ten academic advisers will help link students with these programs. College Ten students will also have connections to faculty affiliated with various research institutes concerned with international and global issues. These institutes are affiliated with the Social Sciences Division and include the following:

• The Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (go here for more information)
• The Center for Global, International and Regional Studies (go here for more information)
• The Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community (go here for more information)
• The Chicano/Latino Research Center (go here for more information)
• The Santa Cruz Center for International Economics (go here for more information)

College Ten Scholars Program
Eligible College Ten frosh may apply to the Scholars Program. This includes enrolling in an honors section of the frosh writing seminar in the fall, the 2-credit workshop in the winter, and a special seminar in the spring.

College Ten Pathways to Distinction
Another feature of College Ten is that qualified students may graduate with College Ten Distinction. This recognition is intended to serve as an incentive for students to pursue activities that are especially apt to help them succeed in college and beyond. Two pathways are possible:

Research and scholarship. In the first pathway, students are encouraged to pursue research opportunities with faculty by completing three quarters (15 credits) of work on a senior thesis or a research internship. Students may be recognized with College Ten Distinction if they do a thesis or a research internship in their major on a topic related to the theme of social justice and community.

Service and leadership. The second route to graduating with College Ten Distinction is through completing three quarters (15 credits) of service-learning internships, teaching, or other forms of community service.

College Community and Facilities

Founded in fall 2002, College Ten is the newest college at UCSC. Consistent with UCSC's founding vision, College Ten creates an integrated living-and-learning environment through engaging academic and extracurricular programs focusing on the theme of Social Justice and Community.

Monthly Theme Programming
The College Ten theme of Social Justice and Community forms a central foundation of our programming. Each month, we focus on a different aspect of social justice, and students and staff work together to develop programs, providing opportunities to learn about and enjoy different aspects of the topic. Theme events may include faculty presentations, open microphones, field trips, film series, and hands-on arts programs.

College Nights
Every quarter, students and staff work together to plan College Nights, which are large-scale community celebrations, held in the dining commons and open to all College Ten students whether or not they live on campus. College Nights include food, entertainment, and educational materials related to a theme.

Multicultural Community Weekend
This two-day retreat provides students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to explore various components of multicultural communication. Through a series of structured exercises and small-group discussions, students share perspectives on issues such as multiculturalism, values orientation, and diversity. The goal of the workshop is to build community and friendship among students as well as to increase students' understanding of the complexity of communicating across diverse backgrounds. The Multicultural Community Weekend is optional; students apply for this opportunity in the fall.

CREATE
The purpose of CREATE (Cultural Resources to Educate and to Empower) is to facilitate the ongoing discussion of diversity issues at College Ten and in our living communities, learn about and promote multiculturalism, plan activities, and help students and staff have a resource for inclusiveness and training.

Rainbow Club
The Rainbow Club provides opportunities for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning students and their allies to join together for self-awareness and social activities in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

ENGAGE
ENGAGE (Explore New Growth and Gain Experience) offers students the opportunity to explore and develop their own beliefs, values, and feelings about current issues and social concerns through a wide range of exercises, guest speakers, discussions, and debates. Participants develop leadership skills and increase their efficacy as world citizens and leaders at College Ten. ENGAGE meets weekly throughout fall quarter.

Other Cocurricular Opportunities
Getting involved in cocurricular activities is a predictor of college success. Not only do college activities help students make friends, they foster leadership and group cooperation skills. There are opportunities at College Ten for student involvement, including the College Ten Student Government Association. These organizations are responsible for many of the programs previously described. Additionally, there are social and recreational opportunities such as dances, ski trips, and intramural sports for College Ten students. There are more specialized groups, such as Cloud Nine (the a cappella singing group), the Praxis Student Volunteer Community, and the Book Club.

Physical Surroundings
College Ten is situated in a redwood grove next to the Social Sciences 1 and 2 Buildings near the heart of campus. One of the campus's Instructional Computing Labs is conveniently located in Social Sciences 2.

A nature preserve serves as College Ten's "backyard." College Ten students have immediate access to hiking, running, and mountain bike trails in the adjacent forest.

Newly constructed residence halls with 400 single and double bedrooms opened in fall 2002. These fully furnished residence halls include student lounges, recreational spaces, and Internet connections. In addition, a state-of-the-art dining hall with an adjoining game room and student lounge for both Colleges Nine and Ten opened in fall 2002.

Colleges Ten and Nine also house approximately 300 upper-division students in newly constructed apartments, with 190 students in single bedrooms and the balance in double and triple rooms. All apartments have full kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and Internet connections. Ground-floor apartments have decks, and most upper apartments have private balconies.

For more information about academic or general college programs, call (831) 459-5034, e-mail dslater@ucsc.edu, or visit the College Ten web site: collegeten.ucsc.edu