Humanities Division Projects

Giving Day is here! You can search the projects and make your gift here. 

Minorities And Philosophy (MAP)

Minorities and Philosophy (MAP) is an organization with over 120 international chapters that work to promote diversity and inclusion within academic philosophy.

With your contributions, we are able to support our UCSC MAP chapter in hosting external speakers, reading groups, film screenings, mentorship events for undergraduates or graduates, panel discussions, and practical workshops that address minority issues in the profession of philosophy and create a forum for discussing theoretical issues regarding the philosophy of gender, race, sexual orientation, class, disability, and so forth. These activities serve the wider aims of MAP: to increase the representation and participation of underrepresented groups in academic philosophy and improve department culture. 

Dickens Day of Writing

Introducing high school students to the joys of reading Victorian literature has been crucial to the Dickens Project's mission. We are dedicated to fostering a love for Dickens's novels and 19th-century literature amongst students. Our partnership with the Neighborhood Academic Initiative in South Los Angeles has provided a unique opportunity for first-generation students to immerse themselves in the college environment at UC Santa Cruz alongside international faculty and Victorian literature experts. With your support, we can expand this meaningful work to reach more high school students and teachers in the Monterey Bay Area and beyond. Your contribution will make a real difference in the lives of these students and educators. Thank you for considering this important cause and becoming part of the Friends of the Dickens Project.

Okinawa Memories Initiative

The Okinawa Memories Initiative (OMI) is an international public history project that has been based at UCSC for over a decade. OMI’s work focuses on advancing knowledge of Okinawa through building relationships with community partners and engaging in purposeful and participatory research. OMI is both interdisciplinary and multimedia, and through interactive exhibits, detailed archiving, and oral history interviews, undergraduate members develop vital professional and academic skills through hands-on public humanities research. Donated funds will be used to fund experiential learning opportunities for students, aiming to provide students with paid opportunities as well as fund a research trip to Okinawa in Summer 2025.

The Humanities Institute: The Deep Read

Your gift to The Deep Read will enable us to provide programming to a vibrant community of over 10,000 readers who are passionate about books, critical thinking, and the exchange of ideas. The Deep Read, an annual program of The Humanities Institute, invites curious minds to think deeply about books and the most pressing issues of our time. Your gift will help The Humanities Institute expand The Deep Read program to reach even more readers, fund Deep Read community events, support the Deep Read literature course, and provide books to UCSC students and community members. Your support can help build a world where the love of reading and the power of ideas flourish.

Humanities Dean’s Excellence Fund

You can profoundly impact the lives of our world’s future changemakers by supporting the Humanities at UC Santa Cruz. In a world that often discourages students from majoring in the humanities, your support celebrates and empowers those who dare to follow their passions for history, literature, philosophy, and other humanistic disciplines. The Humanities Dean’s Excellence Fund, led by Dean Alinder, supports student success by funding experiential learning opportunities, student research awards, and emergency relief for students in need. This Giving Day, help us provide our students with a transformational humanities education. Your support can truly make a difference in students' lives and their educational journeys.

Classics Alive!

Since the foundation of the University, the Classics Program at Santa Cruz has helped students learn about the language, literature, art and history of Ancient Greece, Rome and beyond. Your generous gift will:

• Help purchase Greek and Latin textbooks for students with financial need.

• Update the books in the dedicated Classics Library in Cowell College and support a dedicated student librarian to maintain the collection.

• Provide awards to recognize student achievement.

• Fund class excursions to the Getty Villa and other regional museums.

• Sponsor students on archaeological digs and other summer programs.

Your gift will make the study of the Classics accessible to more students and will support our majors by making sure they have access to the latest research in the field. 

Philosophical Slug Society

Hello! Although we are the Philosophical Slug Society, we are truly an interdisciplinary club that recognizes every subject on Earth has a philosophy behind it. We aim to create dialogue amongst those who would not normally speak to each other, because we recognize that societal progress comes from talking with those you disagree with. We are proud to host club members from every political affiliation, religious belief, ethnic background, economic standing, major, and more. Every week, we host a club meeting with a different theme (ex. philosophy of culture), and by creating a laid-back and supportive environment, we encourage curiosity and compassion amongst all the conversations had in the meeting. Our funds will go towards food and beverages to fuel the bodies and minds at our meetings, making it possible for more and longer conversations to occur, and more ideas to be shared.

Center for Public Philosophy

The Center for Public Philosophy at UC Santa Cruz aims to empower the general public with the tools and insights of philosophy and the social sciences. Through programming, events, and media, we seek to foster more thoughtful and engaged communities of thinkers, doers, and change makers. We are professors, students, scientists, and artists; philosophers, animators, citizens, and community leaders. What brings us together is that we all believe in the power and importance of thinking—often and carefully—about thinking itself. In the current political climate of growing uncertainty and division, our commitment to generating greater attention to the complexities of thinking and reasoning is more important than ever.