Student Life & Belonging comprises a variety of departments that provide student advocacy, community building, and education. Student Life units work interdependently with departments across campus to help support students in the accomplishment of their academic goals and provide enriching educational opportunities that complement the degree curriculum.
Dean of Students Office
The Dean of Students Office is concerned with the holistic development and the complete student experience, in and out of the classroom. The office is responsive to both individual and community-wide student needs and often works to address or resolve student concerns that arise out of unique circumstances (whether on or off campus) that impact a student's academic progress. In addition to providing leadership to the Student Life departments, the Dean of Students Office spearheads and supports a number of initiatives and provides special services to assist students facing challenges.
Primary Services
- Campus Climate and Communications
- Crisis Support and Response
- Freedom of Expression
- Civic and Community Engagement
- First Year Programs
- Campus Elections
Learn more about Initiatives and the Leadership Team
Civic & Community Engagement
Civic and Community Engagement supports community-led efforts that promote civic responsibility, access to higher education, and meaningful engagement both on and off campus. Key programs include voter registration, the Civic Engagement Scholars Program (CESP), Student Initiated Outreach Program (SIOP), memorial scholarships, and the GIVE Benefit Sale.
Primary Services:
- Voter Registration
- Student Initiated Outreach Program (SIOP)
- Memorial Scholarships
- Civic Engagement Scholars Program (CESP)
- GIVE Benefit Sale
Email: marsano-v@ucsb.edu or kandradee@ucsb.edu
Associated Students
Associated Students (AS) is a non-profit organization and campus department, funded by students fees. Through elected student positions, AS voices student concerns and express student opinions to UCSB administration, the community, and local governing bodies. AS has numerous boards and committees dedicated to enriching student life and cultural growth.
Primary Services
Phone: (805) 893-2566
Fax: (895) 893-7734
Administrative Office: (805) 893-3374
Office of Black Student Development (OBSD)
The Office of Black Student Development advances the experiences of all Black students, advocates for their needs, and fosters their personal and academic achievement through graduation and beyond. Through the development of innovative and sustainable programs and services aimed to increase the recruitment, retention, academic achievement, holistic support, and self-advocacy of our Black community, OBSD addresses the needs of the Black student community. While the mission is centered on the Black student experience, OBSD, is a welcoming space to all students who seek to engage, learn, and contribute to our community.
Primary Services
- Engage purposefully with campus partners to support the academic, personal, and professional growth of the Black student community.
- Develop talented student leaders who promote social change.
- Share and promote opportunities for academic research through an intentional community with academic units.
- Activate the campus community to respond thoughtfully on eradicating anti-blackness policies and procedures to promote a sense of belonging.
Early Childhood Care & Education Services (ECCES)
Early Childhood Care & Education Services (ECCES) is a high-quality early education program serving young children and families of the UC Santa Barbara community. ECCES operates two dynamic childcare and learning centers: the Orfalea Family Children's Center (OFCC) located on the west campus and the University Children's Center (UCC) located at the Student Resource Building on the main campus.
Primary Services
- Cultivates a rich learning environment to stimulate a child's physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth.
Multicultural Center (MCC)
The MCC serves, validates, and prioritizes marginalized populations on campus, whether it be undergraduates, graduates, faculty, or campus community partners. In many diverse capacities, the Center facilitates the retention of students of color and combats institutional racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, and the many other oppressive structures that still exist on our campus and society in general.
Non-Traditional Student Resource Center
The Non-Traditional Student Resource Center provides a community space for students whose life experiences may differ from traditional students. The Resource Center provides a space to study, eat, relax, or hang-out; a staff to guide students to resources and help manage the challenges associated with achieving academic goals.
Primary Services
- Provides a safe space for undergraduate students who are over 24 years old, graduate students who are over 28 years old, students with dependents, re-entering students, student veterans, or students who are formerly incarcerated.
- Resource guidance for financial aid, child care, and more.
Office: (805) 893-3651
Email: sa-ntsrc@ucsb.edu
Orientation Programs and Parent Services
Orientation Programs and Parent Services designs and implements comprehensive student and parent programs that introduce educational, social, and personal resources to facilitate the success of new students. We focus on innovation, collaborate with UCSB departments, and develop skilled and confident Orientation leaders in order to meet the changing needs of our diverse community.
Primary Services
- Two-day Freshmen Orientation sessions.
- Transfer student online module and one-day Transfer Orientation sessions.
- Selection and training of approximately 30 undergraduate student leaders.
- Administrative oversight of Gaucho FYI (in-person mandatory educational program for all incoming students).
- Supervision of the student staff and coordination of facilities management for the Student Resource Building (SRB).
Office: (805) 893-3443
Email: orientation@sa.ucsb.edu
Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity (RCSGD)
The RCSGD at UC Santa Barbara facilitates the intersectional inclusion and representation of the identities, experiences, and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members. RCSGD staff and volunteers, in collaboration with campus partners, promote the celebration, development, scholarship, and success of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies through advocacy, education, programming, and resource creation and referral. All are welcome to support and engage.
Primary Services
- Resource guidance and social and educational programming to provide safe spaces for students and the community,
- Provides education, builds coalitions, and advocates at individual, departmental, campus, and system-wide levels to improve UCSB for all LGBTQIA+ people
Phone: 805-893-5847
Email: rcsgd@sa.ucsb.edu
Office of Student Conduct (OSC)
The Office of Student Conduct adjudicates academic and behavioral violations of the Student Conduct Code. We demand the highest academic and behavioral integrity and ensure community by repairing violations of trust through restorative practices and administrative resolution. Above all, we value humanity and honor identity throughout all of our processes.
Primary Services
- Support and uphold the standards of social and academic behavior
- Academic Integrity
- Restorative Justice conflict-resolution
*OSC is housed administratively in Student Life; however, the Associate Dean and the Assistant Dean/Director report directly to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) on student conduct matters.
Student Engagement & Leadership (SEAL)
Student Engagement & Leadership (formerly OSL) promotes undergraduate and graduate student engagement and development through co-curricular programs, including campus organizations, fraternities and sororities, leadership development, and civic engagement. We encourage widespread student involvement in campus life and the broader community to foster a sense of belonging with every student.
Primary Services
- Helping students to find out how to get involved, deepen their sense of belonging at UCSB, and build practical skills for their lives and careers
- Advising and support for leaders of 500+ registered campus organizations
- Individual and group leadership development programming
- Recognition and advising of social fraternities and sororities and their governing councils
Office: (805) 893-4569
Email: campusorgs@sa.ucsb.edu
Storke Publications
Storke Student Publications houses The Daily Nexus, an award-winning newsroom and media source, and The Senior Book, the only printed record that annually highlights and commemorates UCSB's Senior class.
The Daily Nexus, which started in the 1930s, continues to be the student voice and go-to media source that covers news and all things involving UCSB's campus and Isla Vista, as well as a vital part of our community and entertainment. Printed copies are distributed Thursdays on and around Campus and content available 24/7 at DailyNexus.com. The Senior Book is a student designed printed book with a collection of memories including photos of events, news, senior portraits, and a list of graduating class names for every specific year for the graduating class at UCSB.
Women, Gender, & Sexual Equity (WGSE)
The Women’s Center supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities with challenges they may face. We strive to make UCSB a more welcoming environment for all.
Phone: (805)-893-3778