Mission

With a commitment to promoting equity, inclusion, and a sense of wellbeing 
for all of our students, our mission is to support the development of the ‘whole’ 
student, using research-based, innovative best practices that enable UC Santa Cruz 
students to thrive academically, professionally, and personally.

Guiding Principles

Our work is guided by three fundamental principles:

• Educational equity: student outcomes should be the same regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability/disability, family income, or first-generation status.
• Institutional responsibility: there is much that campus leadership, faculty, and staff can and should do to improve student success and educational equity.
• Whole student: what happens inside and outside of the academic setting is connected, and we should address student success holistically.

Our Divisional Outcomes

Our goal is to create an environment where students...

• Feel they belong, and are welcome and supported at a campus with a positive climate;

• Experience the same student success outcomes, including graduation rates and GPAs, whatever their identity, family income, or life background;

• Are engaged and challenged by instructors who are intentional about pedagogy and focused on student learning;

• Are healthy socially, emotionally, and physically;

• Are engaged in communities and networks;

• Have excellent and equitable access to educational opportunities and services;

• Have transformative educational experiences, including co-curricular activities and community engagement;

• Have a voice in shaping and defining how the campus understands and supports student success; and

• Are prepared for opportunities after graduation that they find fulfilling, including employment, graduate or professional school, and civic engagement.