UC Santa Cruz has matured dramatically from the small, idealistic campus that you may have heard about 20 or 30 years ago. While keeping its forward-thinking approach, the campus has matured into a premier research institution where undergraduates have the chance to learn from some of the best minds in the country. Following are examples of changes that UC Santa Cruz has instituted in the last 10 years:

The Jack Baskin School of Engineering, UC Santa Cruz’s first professional school. The Jack Baskin School of Engineering was established in 1997 and has quickly become a leader in the interdisciplinary, cutting-edge research that is most relevant today, such as the Human Genome Project. Current projects at the Baskin School of Engineering focus on subjects such as bioinformatics and nanotechnology. The School of Engineering web site.

UC Santa Cruz’s Music Center was completed in 2000.

• All students now receive grades.
  Beginning with students entering in fall 2001, all undergraduates receive grades in addition to written performance evaluations from their instructors. More about the grading system.
  
  
  
• Growth.
  For fall 1994, UC Santa Cruz received 14,536 applications and enrolled 2,704 new students. For fall 2005, we received 28,115 applications and we enrolled 3,894 new students. That's an increase in applications of 193% and an increase in enrollment of 144%. More about admission statistics.
  
  
  
• New residential colleges, new facilities.
  Campus infrastructure has grown to meet the demand that has resulted from our increasing popularity. Recent additions to the campus include two new colleges with residence halls and apartments, more housing added to the existing colleges, a new Science Library, a new Music Center, two new engineering buildings, and many additional academic and student life facilities.
  
  

• Selectivity.
  UC Santa Cruz’s popularity has forced the campus to become more selective in its freshman admissions policies, starting with first-year students for fall 2003. More about selectivity and comprehensive review.