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University Expectations and Practices

  • Student records are private: Though staff can discuss generally how situations are handled without the student's permission, we cannot discuss specifics (academic or non-academic issues). Student privacy rights are mandated by state and federal law and interpreted by the Office of General Counsel of the University of California.
  • Behavioral expectations: Policy violations are addressed. Serious violations and/or continued violation of policy results in a student judicial file. **Each year, on average 8 to 15 students lose their on-campus housing as a result of campus judicial action. Most are first-year students.
  • Safety: UCSC is a very safe campus, but we always encourage students to take safety precautions (e.g. do not walk alone, let roommates and others know their whereabouts, lock doors, etc.). The most common thefts are “crimes of opportunity” - when dorm rooms are left unlocked, computers are left unattended, bikes are unlocked, etc. Crime statistics can be found at the police department website.
  • Co-ed bathrooms: Students may request single-gender living arrangements (i.e. floors or apartments), but privacy is not a problem for most students in co-ed living.
  • Gender-Neutral Housing: Like many colleges and universities, UCSC offers a gender-neutral housing option. This option is ideal for students whose gender identification and/or gender expression varies from the standard paradigm. Open to any student sensitive to the concerns of transgender people and who wishes to create a positive, affirming living environment in conjunction with that community, gender-neutral housing celebrates the cultural experience of transgender, intersex, and questioning students and their allies. Students wishing to live in gender-neutral housing who do not self-select a roommate on their housing application will be assigned a roommate based on answers provided on the housing questionnaire.
  • Wildlife: Walking through campus students will encounter deer, turkeys, raccoons, etc. Tell your student to leave them alone, do NOT feed them or approach them. 
  • Mountain lions: Refer to the mountain lion guidelines webpage for details. Pointers: do not hike alone, do try to appear larger, do not turn your back, do not approach mountain lions, and fight back if attacked.