Frequently Asked Questions
What is the college system?
Can I get a tour, or learn more about the college?
What recreation facilities are available?
How can I be part of campus sustainability?
Will I have to move out between quarters?
What should I bring for my Residence Room/Apartment? What is not allowed?
May I bring my skateboard or roller blades?
Can I have guests?
Can I cook in my room?
What sort of dining options are available to me on campus?
Are there washers and dryers at Merrill College?
How do I establish Internet and cable services?
What kind of security is there on campus?
Should I bring a bike? Where can I store? Are there bike resources?
Can I bring my car to campus? What are some other transportation options?
I'm flying in - how do I get from the airport to Santa Cruz?
How do I get to Santa Cruz and the campus?
How do I get around campus, to town and elsewhere?
All undergraduate students, whether they live on campus or not, are affiliated with one of ten residential colleges at UC Santa Cruz. Each college provides academic support, organizes student activities, and sponsors events that enhance the intellectual and social life of the campus, in addition to housing students in small-scale residential communities. Every college community includes students with diverse backgrounds and academic goals. Your college affiliation is independent of your choice of major. Each college holds its own commencement ceremony in June.
Can I get a tour, or learn more about the college?
Campus tours are offered all year long through the Admissions Office. Individual residential rooms and apartments at Crown College may not be available for viewing.
What recreation facilities are available?
A valid UC Santa Cruz student ID grants you access to a variety of athletic facilities at the East Field House, including an Olympic-sized pool, tennis and basketball courts, and the state-of-the-art Wellness Center, fully equipped with a variety of aerobic, cardiovascular, and weightlifting equipment.
How can I be part of campus sustainability?
UCSC is dedicated to sustainability. We actively support recycling and waste reduction, and there is strong participation by students, faculty, and staff across campus. You can be part of the solution by bringing your own reusable plate, bowl, cup, and flatware when you move in. These can be used when you attend programs offered by your college. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can get involved in UCSC's sustainability efforts, you can check out http://sustainability.ucsc.edu/.
Will I have to move out between quarters?
You may not stay in your room during the winter break period, however you may keep your possessions in your room during this period of absence. You may stay in your room during the Thanksgiving and Spring Break periods as they are covered by the housing contract. Please note that dining service is not available for either break period. Please see the Terms and Conditions for more information about quarter breaks.
back to top
What should I bring for my Residence Room/Apartment? What is not allowed?
The Campus Housing Office has compiled an excellent visual aid to help you get an idea of what you'll need at college, and what is prohibited on campus. Check out What to Bring.
Apartment-specific items: cooking pots and pans, dishes and other kitchen utensils; toilet paper, dish soap. Apartments are provided with a vacuum, refrigerator, mop, broom, dust pan, trash can and recycling bins.
May I bring my skateboard or roller blades?
No. Being a very hilly campus, for safety reasons use of skateboards and rollerblades is prohibited on all campus roadways, paths, bike paths, and in all areas of the college. You must not ride these items around campus. You may receive a citation by the campus police department, or college disciplinary action, if you violate this policy.
The housing contract allows a student to have a visitor stay in her/his room, with restrictions. Please talk to your roommate(s) about guests. Students may have a guest(s) for up to three (3) consecutive days and up to fifteen (15) days during one academic year. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests at all times. See the Terms and Conditions of residence for specific policy details.
For fire safety reasons, hot plates, electric or gas grills, air fryers, toaster ovens or other cooking appliances with heating elements are not allowed. Small microwaves are permitted in the residence hall rooms.
What sort of dining options are available to me on campus?
Each pair of sister colleges shares a dining hall between them. The dining hall for Crown and Merrill Colleges is located near the academic buildings in Crown College. For information about campus-wide dining options please visit the UC Santa Cruz Dining Website.
Are there washers and dryers at Merrill College?
There is a laundry room in each of the residence halls and two laundry rooms in the apartment complex. You will need laundry detergent since there are no dispensers in the laundry rooms. A laundry basket or bag is also a handy thing to have. Washers and dryers require a small fee to use and are operated using a mobile app.
How do I establish internet and cable services?
UC Santa Cruz ITS Telecommunications is a modern communications network that provides data services for students living on campus.
Internet Access and Computing Support
The ResNet program, which stands for RESidential NETwork, is a joint effort between The Colleges Housing and Educational Services and Information Technology Services (ITS).
Rooms Merrill A and B all are wireless. If you have a device that does not support wireless connections, we suggest you purchase a wifi adapter. Rooms in Merrill C and D have ethernet service with a supplemental wireless service. A router is required for reliable wireless connectivity. If you will be living in the Crown apartments, you will have wireless internet access and therefore will not need a router.
For further information regarding ResWiFi, please visit https://its.ucsc.edu/resnet
How do I get my mail and what will my new address be?
You will be able to receive mail and packages at the college. Only Merrill residents will be assigned a mailbox at the start of fall quarter. Both inter-campus mail and U.S. Postal Service mail is delivered to this address. The College Office is responsible for assigning a mailbox. Issues with your mailbox should be directed to merrillmail@ucsc.edu.
Your address will be:
Student's Name
UCSC, Merrill College, #XXX*
641 Merrill Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1105
*At the start of fall quarter, students will be sent an email message to their UCSC email account. This message will include the assigned mailbox number and the combination needed to open the mailbox. It is not possible to assign a mailbox prior to arrival, and new box numbers may be assigned each year. The college does not have space to store packages, so plan to have your packages arrive after you do. Mailboxes are shared, usually 2 students are assigned per box. It is important to check your mailbox frequently and carefully sort out your mail to avoid an overflowing mailbox. Once you receive your mail box number you can add it to your address. Mail will still reach you even without this box number, if the rest of the address is correct.
To avoid delays in delivery or lost mail, please do not put your residence hall room number or apartment number as part of your address. Also, do not use "P.O. Box" as part of your address, as this is not a Post Office mailbox.
What kind of security is there on campus?
Residential Staff: Coordinators for Residential Education (CREs) are full-time professional staff, who along with student Residential Assistants (RAs), live on the halls and buildings along with students. They serve as the primary resource to residents and are trained to respond to emergencies, provide limited personal counseling and enforce campus policies. Both a CRE and an RA are on call and can be reached by calling the RA on-call phone (831)212-8722 from 3:00am to 8:00am M-F and from 3:00am-7:00pm on weekends .
Residential Community Service Partners (RCSPs): Every night of the year, from 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., a staff RCSP monitors the college supporting the health and safety of students, staff and guests and responding to emergencies; assisting residents who are locked out of their rooms; and enforcing campus policies and responding to noise complaints. You may reach an RCSP by calling campus dispatch at 459-2100.
Campus Police and Fire Departments: The UCSC Police Department website is a great resource for information on crime prevention, campus crime statistics, personal safety tips, and campus policies. There is also a Fire Department on campus for emergencies.
For information on night shuttles please visit this Transportation and Parking Services Webpage.
Should I bring my bike? Where can I store it? Are there bike resources?
Yes, bring your bike if you like to ride on hills. Biking is a popular past time and transportation option for many UC Santa Cruz students. There are many trail options, both on and off-campus. Part of UCSC's natural beauty is the hilly terrain, which means lots of steep climbs and exciting downhill rides. To protect our environment, mountain biking is only permitted on fire trails.
Be sure to bring a high quality bike lock (u-lock) so that you can secure it at the bike racks located on campus.
The college assumes no responsibility for damage, theft or loss. When you arrive to campus you should contact UCSC Police Department to register you bike. Campus rules and state law requires you to license your bike; unlicensed bikes can be cited. Please also bring a bike helmet.
Bike Safety and Resources: We recommend you review the information on bike safety and bike resources.
Another resource is the Bike Co-Op, located in the Redwood Building at the Bookstore Plaza, which provides repair services, education, advocacy and membership opportunities.
Can I bring my car to campus? What are some other transportation options?
Parking regulations are strictly enforced, and all eligible students who bring a car to campus must purchase a permit in advance. First-year students and sophomores who live in University housing (including The Village, University Inn and University Town Center) are not eligible for a parking permit. Eligible students must apply for a parking permit through Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS). Contact the TAPS Sales Office at (831) 459-4543 if you have questions about parking. Even without a car, movement around our spacious campus is made easier by the network of foot and bicycle paths, and an extensive intra-campus shuttle system. Both day and night shuttles provide wheelchair accessible services and are free of charge. TAPS also operates a Disability Van Service, which provides transportation to those with mobility impairments. Additionally, the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (Metro) provides regular and convenient bus transportation to campus and to outlying areas around the Santa Cruz community. This service is funded by a mandatory student fee. You may ride any Metro bus without additional charge by showing your currently validated UCSC identification card to the driver.
UC Santa Cruz is also among a growing list of college communities that support a new alternative to car ownership: Zipcar. Zipcar allows you to use a car when needed, while avoiding the costs and headaches of car ownership. Zipcar provides self-service access to safe, convenient, reliable cars located on campus. For more information, visit the TAPS website.
I'm flying in - how do I get from the airport to Santa Cruz?
UC Santa Cruz is located approximately 40 miles south of San Jose International Airport and about 70 miles south of San Francisco International and Oakland International Airports. Visit the campus Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) website for information about travel to and from local airports.
How do I get to Santa Cruz and the campus?
The Campus Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) website has information about travel and transportation services. They include information on getting to and from local airports, including door-to-door shuttle services; traveling to other cities and universities; transportation alternatives, such as the Zipcar rental program, and links to local public transportation such as BART, Greyhound and Amtrak.
How do I get around campus, to town and elsewhere?
There are a variety of transportation options available.
Around Campus:
Day and Night Campus Shuttles: The campus operates shuttles with various routes both day and night. A fare is not required; the shuttle is supported by the Student Transit Fee.
Disability Van Service: For those not able to access the day and night shuttles because of a permanent or temporary disability, there is a Disability Van Service. Reservations and medical documentation are required, however a fare is not required.
To and From Downtown and County-wide:
Santa Cruz Metro Bus Services (Metro) operates wheelchair-accessible routes that serve the campus, including a "Night Owl" on Friday and Saturday nights until about 2:00 a.m. A currently validated UCSC Student ID serves as a bus pass.
Bicycle Trailer and Shuttle: The campus operates a bike trailer and van shuttle from Mission Street to Campus. Cyclists can avoid the hill up to the campus and at the end of the day ride their bikes down the hill.
