College Facts Friday: UC Santa Cruz

Welcome back to our new series here on the Insight blog called “College Facts Friday”. This week we’re looking at The University of California, Santa Cruz. 

1. UC Santa Cruz has a big focus on water conservation. Over a 20-year period in which enrollment increased 67%, water consumption increased by less than 5%

2. UC Santa Cruz houses nearly 50% of its student body on campus, a larger percentage of students than any other UC campus.

3. The University was founded in 1965

4. Ever heard of a banana slug? It’s the mascot for UC Santa Cruz! The mascot was actually changed in 1980 to a sea lion as it was considered more “dignified”. An overwhelming proslug straw vote by students in 1986 persuaded the chancellor to make the lowly but beloved Banana Slug UCSC’s official mascot.

5. UC Santa Cruz is home to several art galleries, including the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery at Cowell College and the Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery at Porter College. Both are open to the general public.

6.UC Santa Cruz colors are navy and gold 

7. UC Santa Cruz has a “Silicon Valley Campus” located in Santa Clara. UC Santa Cruz has ambitious growth plans for its Silicon Valley Campus, with a pipeline of starting with new industry-oriented professional master’s programs planned to launch here in the
coming years.

8. There is a group called “SOMeCA” on campus, which stands for Student Organization Advising & Resources (SOAR), Student Media and Cultural Arts & Diversity, who are dedicated to the success of UC Santa Cruz’s campus-wide student organizations and government.

9. Alumni for UC Santa Cruz include actress Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg 

10. You can learn more about UC Santa Cruz on their social media! Visit their Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for more information.