government & community relations
Community Relations
UC Santa Cruz plays a significant role in the community, and beyond. With more than 20,000 alumni living throughout the county, graduates from UC Santa Cruz have shaped what Santa Cruz looks like today. The Government & Community Relations office strives to provide opportunities for community members, leaders, businesses, and organizations to connect with the University to form strong bonds support and commitment.
Community Impact
Locally, UCSC alumni are leaders in government, education, and business. The campus strives to make a positive impact on our local economy, culture, and resources—and in turn, the community provides extraordinary experiences and opportunities for our Banana Slug family. For more information on the campus impact with the local community, please click on our Excellence with Impact fact sheet or you can visit our Better Together page.
UC Santa Cruz is pursuing an ambitious plan to provide more than 40 percent additional student housing by 2030. To learn more about our upcoming housing developments, please visit our Housing page
The Good Neighbor Initiative
The Good Neighbor Initiative was established in 2004 to foster positive relations between UCSC and the Santa Cruz community. Good Neighbor Initiative interns work diligently with the UCSC Community Relations Office to bridge communication between neighbors, students, the community, and the university. Interns provide student interface with neighbors and are glad to field any suggestions, responses, or policy ideas to improve the university’s relations.
Slugs in the Community
UCSC students, staff, and faculty participated in the Santa Cruz County-wide Pitch In cleanup day on May 10, 2025.
