Frequently Asked Questions

The Housing Contract does not cover the winter or spring break time period. However, you do not have to move out your belongings. If you like, you can make arrangements to stay over the winter break for a fee. A fee is not charged for spring break.

UCSC’s Student Communication Services (SCS) is a modern communications network that provides voice and data services for students living on campus.

Here's an important question that nearly ALL new students are concerned with. The #1 best service provider on campus is Cingular (most coverage all over campus and full coverage at College Eight.) Verizon, Nextel, and T-mobile receive fairly good reception in most areas of UCSC, however they provide very limited coverage at College Eight. Sprint does not receive service at College Eight. Consult your service provider for more information.

All College Eight residences are connected to the campus cable television network via telecommunications jacks in the rooms. Residents can connect to on-campus student programming or dozens of local and national broadcast channels. Established in 1973, KZSC Santa Cruz 88.1 FM is a listener-supported, commercial-free, educational radio station located at the University of California, Santa Cruz. KZSC broadcasts 10,000 watts to the Monterey Bay Area 18-24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Tune in and you’ll find everything under the sun: Public affairs, comedy, news, surf, jazz, rock, punk, reggae and funk.

Mail at College Eight is sorted alphabetically — so your friends and family need not put a box number on your address (see below). After you arrive at the college, you will receive your mailbox assignment and combination. Your mail should be addressed as follows:

(Your Name)
UCSC - College Eight
200 Heller Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1011

Large packages are difficult for the mailroom to handle in the first few weeks of fall quarter. Please plan for any packages to be delivered after you arrive at the college, when you will be available to pick them up promptly. If you can possibly wait a week or two before shipping your bike or your camping equipment, please do so. In addition to U.S. Mail, other carrier services (e.g. UPS) also deliver to the college mailroom.

There is a laundry room in each of the residence hall quads and each apartment cluster. Washers and dryers are coin operated, so bring a supply of quarters as well as laundry detergent. The laundry rooms do not have dispensers. A laundry basket or bag is also a handy thing to have.

Most students walk to classes. It is often the fastest and the most direct method – and it’s beautiful too! You’ll find that many of your routes will leave you feeling like you are hiking in the forest. UCSC also has a great shuttle system – with weekday and weekend routes throughout the campus. Night shuttles and special shuttles to the Long Marine Laboratory and the local supermarket are available.
Additionally, your valid UCSC student ID serves as a bus pass that allows you to ride for free on any of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (SCMTD) buses that run throughout the campus and downtown. Riding the bus is an efficient way to get around town, and it’s easily accessible at campus shuttle stops. Schedules are available at the shuttle stops and in the Metro “Headways.”

The UCSC campus is quite hilly (part of the natural beauty of the redwood forest setting), and almost demands multi-geared bikes. Many students use their bikes to get around. So, if you have a bike and ride a lot, bring it. If you are thinking of getting one just for college, you might want to come and try the campus first to decide if a bike will suit your new lifestyle. Outside storage racks are located throughout the college. We recommend that you bring a good, strong lock for your bike! You may find that there is not enough space to keep your bike in your room; wall and/or ceiling bike hooks are prohibited and there is no storage space available at the college.

UCSC is located approximately 40 miles south from San Jose International Airport and about 70 miles south of San Francisco International Airport. All services listed below connect with university buses. A number of companies provide transportation from the airport. This listing is a starting point and is neither an endorsement of these businesses nor a complete listing of services in the area:

Greyhound/Peerless Stages: (831) 423-1800 or (800) 231-2222
ABC Transportation: (800) 734-4313
Santa Cruz Airporter: (831) 423-1214 or (800) 497-4997
Abacus Transportation: (831) 469-3333 or (877) 291-3300
Expresso Limousine: (831) 429-5466

Most major California banks have branches in Santa Cruz. Check with your local office for branch information. Bay Federal Credit Union (831) 479-6000, Bank of America (831) 457-3560 and Wells Fargo (831) 476-6101 have on-campus automatic teller machines at the Bay Tree Bookstore. The University Cashier’s Office will cash checks up to $25.00 with a valid student ID for a 25¢ service charge.

You may indeed! However, you may not paint it or draw or write on the walls (this prohibition includes glow-in-the-dark paint and chalk). You are responsible for any damage to the room (we inspect when you move out), so we recommend that you use small pushpins or thumbtacks. If it can’t be hung with these, it probably shouldn’t go on the wall. Materials to avoid are double-sided and duct tapes, adhesive tape or squares, hangers or hooks that you “lick and stick”, glue of any kind and stickers. Removing these requires wall repairs and repainting for which you will be billed.

In general, cooking is not allowed in residence hall rooms (students in the apartments will of course have a kitchen available, see section on apartment living). Hot plates, open flame stoves, electric frying pans, toaster ovens and woks are not allowed because of the fire danger. “Hot pots” for heating water, small microwaves, and popcorn poppers are allowed as long as they are used with care and in the manner for which they were designed. You are also welcome to bring a small refrigerator (or rent one from an outside vendor that comes to campus each year.)

While it is often tempting to extend hospitality to your family and friends, you will need to take into consideration the needs of your apartmentmates and roommates before making commitments to guests. The Housing Contract allows you to have a guest overnight in your bedroom for a maximum of three consecutive nights, but no longer than fifteen (15) times total during the entire academic year. This translates into five (5) nights in any one quarter. If you exceed these limits, you may lose your guest privileges for the quarter or the year. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests.

No smoking materials, including these items can be burned in residential rooms.

Pets, with the exception of fish, are not allowed. Small aquariums are permitted. This policy is strictly enforced, so for the benefit of all, especially your furry, scaly, or feathered friend, leave your pet at home.