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Campus-wide Themed Housing Communities

For new incoming undergraduate students, themed housing communities are available to students of any college affiliation. These spaces are centered around shared interests, academics, and community engagement, and they create opportunities for connection and personal growth. Unless otherwise noted, themes and options are in mixed-gender areas. Check out the options below:

Trans-Inclusive Housing

Trans-Inclusive Housing (TIH) communities are intended to create safer and supportive living spaces for all students, including transgender and non-binary students, students exploring their gender identities, and their allies. In this context, allies are students who advocate for and support members of the gender diverse community and actively contribute to creating a positive, affirming, living environment for people of all gender identities.

Trans-Inclusive Housing communities are located in Merrill College residence halls (first-year students) and The Redwood Grove apartments (continuing and new transfer students). Students may room together regardless of gender. Please note that this room assignment is likely to be in a mixed-gender floor/apartment and all students share common areas (e.g. bathrooms). Learn more »

Native American/ Indigenous Theme Housing

Native American/Indigenous Theme Housing (NAITH) welcomes students from all experiences — we do not define Indigenous or Native as being only American Indian, tribally enrolled, or expect that residents are traditionally culturally grounded. What is important is the desire to connect with other Native and Indigenous students and be part of the community. NAITH offers the opportunity to further explore cultural, heritage, and tribal connections to your individual identity.

Being directly connected to the American Indian Resource Center (AIRC), this theme community is designed for students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of California, Native American, Hawaiian and Indigenous peoples. The program believes that Native and Indigenous students in higher education are future leaders, and seeks to foster their development as such.

Rosa Parks African- American Theme House

(R.PAATH)

The Rosa Parks African American Theme Housing (R.PAATH) is a student-initiated living-learning space for students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of predominantly African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) peoples. Established in 2011, it has grown into a space that nurtures, educates, and supports the students in community. Named for NAACP activist Rosa Louise McCauley Parks, R.PAATH was created after students asked for a dedicated space for those committed to the growth and development of ABC peoples. Now a unique icon across campus, the iconic red, black, and green coloring was added in 2017 as a result of student voices.

Located at Stevenson College, the Rosa Parks African American Theme House is available to students of any college affiliation. There are residence hall spaces for first-year students and apartment spaces for continuing students available to current and future R.PAATH residents.

ABC STEM @ Biko House

(available to Oakes affiliates only)

Located at Oakes College, ABC STEM @ Biko house is only available to Oakes affiliates. Named after Steven Biko, anti-apartheid leader and founder of the Black Consciousness Movement (Black Consciousness began to be defined as “an attitude of mind” or “way of life” of black people who believed in their potential and value as black people and saw the need for black people to work together for a holistic liberation), Biko house is connected to our ABC STEM community. Students develop and utilize strategies that assist them in communicating and building relationships across political, social, and cultural differences. All new incoming students living in ABC STEM are matched with a College Possible Coach who you will connect with on a monthly basis to assist in Academic Success, Personal Development, and Financial Management. All students connected to a College Possible Coach also have a lifetime nationwide connection to Americorps beyond their participation in the program.

Students benefit from:

A strong connection with Oakes’ Scientist-in-Residence housed within the community
Priority enrollment in Oakes 3L course (if enrolled in Pre-Calc or Calculus in their first year at UCSC)
Experiential learning in the Black Lives Matter Garden
Involvement with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
A direct connection to faculty and staff committed to the progress and success of ABC students pursuing a degree in STEM

ABC

STARS

(Transfer and Re-Entry Students)

Located at Rachel Carson College, the ABC STARS community is specifically designed for incoming transfer students. As a cohort, ABC STARS residents have a connection to the Services for Transfer and Re-Entry Students (STARS) Office.

Residents of this community will have an opportunity to:

Connect with other transfer or re-entry students around a shared experience of being continuing students in their first year at UCSC
Participate in SSE's IGNITE Extended Orientation Program
Gain practical experience engaging in the African American community on campus and in the local community
Identify campus and community resources and activities that educate and support them on issues of the African Diaspora

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