Congratulations! Your admission to the University of California, Santa Cruz truly reflects your scholastic excellence, community involvement, and the potential still to be fulfilled.

You are to be applauded for choosing an institution with an abundance of academic opportunities, dedicated scholars, and rich traditions that will provide you with unlimited academic challenges and personal discovery.

UC Santa Cruz Orientation Programs is where students begin their college careers and ensure their successful academic and social transition into the UC Santa Cruz community.

Winter Orientation introduces UC Santa Cruz students and their family to a wide range of learning opportunities outside the classroom: leadership development, extracurricular activities, student organizations, community service, recreational classes, and more. In addition, you will receive academic advising to help prepare for the coming year with recommendations for courses of study and the opportunity to enroll in classes.

Previous attendees have found that Orientation helped them feel more connected to the campus and made the transition in the fall much smoother. Jessica Cirilo, a current UC Santa Cruz student, says, “I feel attending Orientation was the most important decision I made before coming to school at UCSC. I was way ahead of the game in the fall, and gained only valuable information.”

Winter 2009 Orientation

Friday, December 12, 2008

What Is Winter Orientation?

UC Santa Cruz Winter Orientation is a great way to begin your university experience as you enter a new community, a community of scholars. Orientation is designed to welcome new students and their families to the university, and to promote scholarly and social opportunities for students’ academic and personal success at UC Santa Cruz.

While at Orientation, you will have the opportunity to select and enroll in classes. You will also receive advising; take placement exams if needed; tour the campus; learn about campus resources such as learning support services, safety resources, the Health Center, financial aid, the Ethnic Resource Centers, college and university housing, student groups, and career services; and develop partnerships with students and staff who will assist in your academic and personal endeavors. You will also have your picture taken for your student ID.

Parents and other family members play a vital role in a student’s successful transition to university life and should be fully informed about UC Santa Cruz and all its resources and services.

The Family Orientation sessions run concurrent with the Student Orientation, and are designed to assist parents and family members in gaining knowledge and developing skills that will reinforce a sense of family support in the student’s education.

Parents and family members who have special needs (e.g., language, physical, or dietary limitations) should contact Campus Orientation Programs at (831) 459-5468.

Winter 2009 Orientation questions? Call Campus Orientation Programs at (831) 459-5468. If you reach voice mail, please leave a message with your full name and phone number.

Academic advising and/or enrollment questions? Once you have received your Academic Advising and Enrollment packet from your college, read through it thoroughly. If you are unable to attend Orientation, read through your packet thoroughly, then contact your academic department and/or college office if you still have questions.

Placement Exam questions? Placement exams serve as assessment tools used to measure the student’s preparation and assist in facilitating the academic advising process. They ensure correct placement at appropriate levels for certain courses prior to enrollment. Not all UC Santa Cruz courses require placement exams.
Right to Privacy

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), UC Santa Cruz Campus Orientation Programs protects the confidentiality of any student’s records. Access to a student’s Orientation records will be given to that student only, unless the student has given written consent.