News & Updates
Stay connected with all things UCSC Merrill College. From celebrating our students’ achievements and sharing exciting campus events to honoring our rich traditions and vibrant community stories, discover what’s happening throughout our Merrill College family.
Merrill College News
College Nine, Cowell, Crown
Colleges advising hubs launch in fall 2025
Each hub will serve two colleges, expanding availability and connecting students with coordinated support from professional and peer advisors.
Merrill
UC Santa Cruz alumni at the forefront of alopecia research and advocacy
Alumni Nicole Friedland (Merrill ’89, community studies) and Brett King (Crown ’92, chemistry) both spoke at the National Alopecia Areata 40th Annual Conference this June.
Merrill
In Memoriam: Mike Rotkin
Longtime UC Santa Cruz lecturer and alumnus Mike Rotkin passed away earlier this month. He leaves behind an esteemed legacy as a social change leader.
Merrill
In Memoriam: Michael Cowan
Michael Cowan joined UC Santa Cruz in 1969, just four years after the university opened, bringing with him a passion for American studies, literature, and the arts.
College Nine, Cowell, Crown
UC Santa Cruz colleges awarded planning grant from Teagle Foundation
The UC Santa Cruz colleges have been awarded a $25,000 planning grant from the Teagle Foundation to enhance liberal education for all students using equity-minded, high-impact practices. Specifically, the project will develop a common reading list of transformative texts and common experiences that all UC Santa Cruz first-year students will share.
Merrill
A living legacy of student creativity and activism
The Merrill Moat—a stretch of concrete connecting residential buildings covered in colorful murals and student artwork—is a living monument to student creativity, past and present. The Moat isn’t just a pretty addition to Merrill College’s landscape; it’s an interactive community art project rooted in the college’s history and commitment to promoting student activism.