UCSC has recognized a lack of graduate community on campus since the early 1980s. UCSC's innovative undergraduate college system has no counterpart for graduate students, keeping graduate studentss relatively isolated within their departments. The initial desire to better integrate graduate students lead to the construction of graduate student housing, and sparked the dream of building a graduate student center.
The original idea for a graduate student center has experienced many transformations over the years. Its most recent manifestation is the new Graduate Student Commons, or GSC. The GSC combines lounges, study rooms, offices, a restaurant casual restaurant with a "pub-like" atmosphere, providing a place for graduate students to relax, meet, study, check email or grab a cappuccino.
The GSC was built by graduate students for graduate students. Since 1965, graduate students have paid a facilities fee to maintain a college that does not exist. The funds accrued from that fee, plus an additional fee recently voted on by graduate students at the end of 1996, will pay for the constructruction of the new facility adjacent to the new bookstore expansion. Graduate students started meeting with architects early in 1997 to begin prelimiary site selection and schematic design.
The GSC serves the needs of the graduate student community. The GSC offers many resources for graduate students in a convenient central location. In addition to housing a restaurant, which is open to the general public, the GSC also has conference rooms, a lounge with a fireplace, and computers all reserved for graduate student use. See the GSC policies for more information on building use.
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