Traditions & History
Explore the timeline and traditions of each college to see how they’ve grown, celebrated, and created lasting impact across generations of Slugs.
1965
Founding of UC Santa Cruz
In 1965, the UC Santa Cruz campus began as ‘the most significant educational experiment in the history of the University of California.’
1965
Founding of Cowell College
Cowell College is the founding college of UC Santa Cruz. Its motto, The Pursuit of Truth in the Company of Friends, represents its twin commitments to academic endeavor and supportive community.
1966
Founding of Stevenson College
Stevenson College’s theme, Self and Society, emphasizes the goals of both self-understanding and active participation in one’s community to give students a greater understanding of themselves and their cultures, and to help them think globally.
1967
Founding of Crown College
Crown College’s theme, Science, Technology, and Society, explores the relationship of science and technology with the world around us, including both the positive and negative impacts of technology on our environment and social institutions.
1968
Founding of Merrill College
Merrill College’s theme, Cultural Identities and Global Consciousness, helps students to understand the nature of cultural identity by examining the relationships between societies of the world and their struggles to preserve their cultures.
1969
Founding of Porter College
Porter College’s theme, Ars Longa, Vita Brevis: Life is Short, Art Endures, manifests our belief that creativity is integral to all fields of study from art to physics to linguistics, and promotes an environment in which original thought, creative imagination, and personal and cultural differences are appreciated.
1971
Founding of Kresge College
Kresge College’s theme, Power and Representation, explores the many ways we constitute ourselves as individuals in relation to communities, focusing on representations of class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and race.
1972
Founding of Oakes College
Oakes College’s theme, Communicating Diversity for a Just Society, prepares students to become active citizens and future leaders capable of communicating across differences to bring about a more egalitarian and just society.
2000
Founding of College Nine
College Nine’s theme, International and Global Perspectives, recognizes the importance of cultural competency and focuses on issues such as economic globalization, environmental degradation, human rights, and international and ethnic conflicts.
2002
Founding of John R. Lewis College (College Ten)
John R. Lewis College’s theme, Social Justice and Community, focuses on the inequalities that exist in society, such as discrimination and poverty, and the role of community involvement in addressing social injustices.