College Affiliation & Housing FAQs
As a new student, we know that you have a lot of questions! Here are some quick answers to some commonly asked questions. And remember, your Orientation Leader Team is your main point of contact for all things UCSC.
Q: What does college affiliation mean? [show]
A: All undergraduate students at UC Santa Cruz, whether they live on campus or not, are affiliated with a residential college. Each College is a vibrant living/learning community supported by faculty and staff who provide academic support, organize student activities, and sponsor events that enhance the intellectual and social life of the campus. Every college community includes students with diverse backgrounds and academic goals. The college affiliation is not tied to a major.
Q: I am living on campus during the school year. When can I move in? [show]
A: Move-in dates vary by location! Check out the schedule to see when your affiliated college has Move-in (note: it is possible to be affiliated with a different college than the college you are living at. For example, some transfer students live in the Transfer Community at Porter College but are affiliated with a different college.
Q: I am planning on living off-campus and I do not yet have a place to live. When should I start looking? [show]
A: You need to start now. Santa Cruz is a challenging location to find housing, however, there are resources available to help with the search & process. Community Rentals is a great on-campus resource that has hundreds of local housing listings and offers a variety of workshops (e.g. Renters Workshop) and other important resources.
Q: Is there a list of things needed for dorm rooms? [show]
A: Your college housing office will send more information, and you can also view a helpful What to Bring page. It is also helpful to view the What NOT to Bring section.
Q: When will I be able to contact my roommates? When do I receive my housing assignment? [show]
A: Feel free to contact your college's housing office with questions and concerns about housing. Room and roommate assignments will be sent out in August if you are starting fall quarter, and in November if you are starting winter quarter. Make sure you check your Housing Portal regularly.
Q: For dormitory life, what happens when roommates do not exactly get along with each other? Can I request to be moved to a different room? [show]
A: There is a protocol for these types of situations. We expect that first, the roommates try to work things out by confronting the issues. Mediators or Resident Assistants (RAs) are available to help mediate and set roommate agreements that work for both parties. If after this mediation the issues are not resolved or you still do not feel comfortable in your space, then you can request a change of room. Your college housing office will have more details and timelines. Space is very limited on campus and our goal is to first try to resolve the issue before moving anyone.
Q: Are you allowed to utilize resources at a different college than the one you are affiliated with? [show]
A: Generally, resources are for specific colleges, BUT you can always ask that specific college if they would make an exception. It really depends on what the resource is that you are attempting to utilize and if there is space for you to do so. If you are trying to enroll in a course that is restricted to college members only, you can contact the instructor to see if there is space for non-affiliated students.
