UCSC’s primary mission is to provide world-class educational and research opportunities for a diverse body of students from all over the state of California. The campus population reflects the strong diversity of California, and that diversity is an important piece of our mission to educate the citizens of this vibrant state — nurturing generations of bright minds and future leaders — while contributing world-class research that benefits society at large.

UC Santa Cruz has been an integral part of the Santa Cruz community for more than half a century. UCSC faculty, staff, and students work tirelessly to balance the university’s educational mission with its responsibility to support, enrich, and protect the health and well-being of our community and region. UCSC strives to make a positive impact on the local economy, culture, and resources — and in turn, the community provides extraordinary experiences and opportunities for our Banana Slug family. Woven together, these threads of campus and community form a single, strong bond of caring and commitment — we are Better Together.

Is Santa Cruz the smallest community to host a UC campus?

No. UC Santa Barbara (with a student enrollment of 26,179), UC Davis (with a student enrollment of 39,074), and UC Santa Cruz (with a student enrollment of 19,161) are situated in communities of roughly equal size.

Despite what the name suggests, UC Santa Barbara is about 10 miles north of the city of Santa Barbara, nestled between the cities of Goleta (pop. 30,900) and Isla Vista (pop. 23,096). UC Davis is part of the City of Davis, which has a city population of 69,000 and thus is very close in size to the City of Santa Cruz (pop. 64,608). UC Davis is located in Yolo County, which has a population of about 200,000, and UC Davis’s student enrollment is about 50 percent greater than UC Santa Cruz.

The newest campus, UC Merced, sits just north of the City of Merced. Merced County has a population of about 277,600, which is similar in size to Santa Cruz County's population of 262,000. UC Merced currently enrolls more than 9,000 students and projects enrolling up to 15,000 students by 2030. Despite its rapid growth, UC Merced remains the smallest campus in the system, with UC Santa Cruz being the next-smallest campus.

The student populations of the 7 other undergraduate UC campuses range from highs of between 42,000-44,000 at UC Berkeley and UCLA (respectively) to between 26,000 to 39,000 at UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Davis, UC Riverside and UC Santa Barbara. On average, these 7 other undergraduate UC campuses have about 47% more undergraduate students than UCSC.

ABOUT LRDPs

What is a Long Range Development Plan?

A Long Range Development Plan, or LRDP, is a general framework to guide the physical development of the campus. All UC campuses are required by the UC Board of Regents to prepare an LRDP. Similar to a city’s general plan, the LRDP is a comprehensive plan that designates campus areas for certain types of uses, such as housing, classrooms, recreation, and open space. In addition to addressing land use designations, it guides the development of circulation, parking, infrastructure, and other land uses to facilitate the appropriate siting of capital projects.

Notably, an LRDP is not an approval to develop any particular building or facility, nor does it mandate enrollment growth. It is an important planning tool to ensure a well-thought-out campus design, support our academic and research mission, and facilitate the university’s goal to successfully educate students.

The UCSC LRDP currently being prepared will guide the physical development of the Main Residential Campus and the Westside Research Park through 2040. For the next opportunity to participate and provide feedback, please see the schedule.

Are all UC campuses required to have an LRDP?

Yes, all UC campuses are required by the UC Board of Regents to prepare an LRDP. Each campus’ LRDP can be found here.

Who approves the final plan?

Each UC campus is required to create a LRDP, and the LRDP must be approved by the UC Board of Regents. In addition, for each LRDP, UC is required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that analyzes and discloses the physical environmental impacts associated with the proposed LRDP. LRDP EIRs are certified by the UC Regents in support of the approval of an LRDP.

ABOUT UCSC’s 2021 LRDP

Who has been involved in the planning process?

Preparation of the LRDP is a collaborative process among the UC Regents, UC Santa Cruz, and the on-campus and off-campus communities. Students, faculty, staff, and community members have been integral partners in the planning process since work began in the Fall of 2017. Creating a comprehensive long-range plan requires participation and collaboration from multiple perspectives — vital components for a healthy process to which UCSC is committed. To ensure a holistic process, numerous committees and work groups were assembled and met throughout the planning phases to provide feedback and shape the vision for the campus. In addition, UCSC conducted campus and community workshops on multiple occasions.

The LRDP Planning Committee, made up of students, staff, faculty, and community members, oversees the LRDP process with the assistance of campus staff and the consultant team. A Community Advisory Group was formed to advise on critical community perspectives, and Expert Work Groups focusing on specific technical areas collaborated to identify key goals and strategies in the areas of transportation, carbon and energy, housing, and ecology. More information on who was involved in the planning process can be found here.

Open community forums held at critical milestones sought broader engagement from the public, with content focused specifically on issues, ideas, and priorities. This inclusive approach framed the work and influenced the direction of the LRDP. Resources from these workshops can be found here.

How was the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band included in the LRDP process and preparation of the EIR? How has the campus acted on the Tribal Band’s feedback?

UC Santa Cruz recognizes the history and presence of indigenous peoples and their enduring relationship to their traditional homelands. The traditional territory of the Amah Mutsun encompasses all or portions of the modern Counties of San Benito, Monterey, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz, including what is now the UC Santa Cruz campus. Historically comprised of more than 20 politically distinct peoples, the modern tribe represents the surviving descendant families of these historic groups.

Campus leaders have worked closely with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band in topics of shared interest, including campus land use.

From the beginning of the LRDP planning process, the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band has been part of land use discussions. Chairman Lopez of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band joined the first LRDP Planning Committee meeting to share his knowledge and information from surrounding California tribes. The LRDP Planning Committee also included a student representative appointed by the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to provide feedback and perspective on planning considerations and land use decisions.

It was during the first LRDP Planning Committee meeting that Chairman Lopez brought forth concerns about the symbolism of the mission bell on the residential campus. He explained that the bells are constant reminders of the disrespect the tribe faces, and deeply painful symbols that celebrate the destruction and erasure of his people. Campus leaders, working in partnership with Chairman Lopez, undertook a process that resulted in the removal of the bell in 2019. Campus leaders continue to listen and work with Chairman Lopez to assist the Tribe in their efforts of cultural revitalization, recuperation of dormant cultural knowledge, and environmental justice.

During preparation of the environmental impact report (EIR), the campus contacted the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to initiate formal consultation under Assembly Bill 52 (AB 52). Through that process, the campus consulted with Chairman Lopez regarding potential tribal cultural resources, including sharing resource surveys and discussion of the specific approach to mitigations. The goal of AB 52, approved by the governor in 2014, is to promote the involvement of California Native American Tribes in the decision-making process when it comes to identifying and developing mitigation for impacts to resources of importance to tribal cultures.

This outreach is documented in the EIR in Section 3.4 on Archeological, Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources in Table 3.4-1 (on page 14.) The information from these discussions informed the analysis and mitigations included in the Draft EIR.

AB 52 consultation with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band is ongoing. UC Santa Cruz is committed to preserving and protecting tribal cultural resources in stewardship of environmental justice of these lands now and in the future.

How were students involved in the LRDP process?

Students have been essential partners throughout the LRDP process and the insights and viewpoints they provided are reflected in the draft LRDP.

Both undergraduate and graduate students were members of the LRDP Planning Committee that guided decision-making and steered the project. Between April 2017 and November 2019 the committee met approximately 19 times. Input from students has been critical and valued, and shaped both the planning process and the plan itself in tangible ways.

Some examples of the most impactful feedback from students included the preference to keep housing as close as possible to the academic core to reduce the distance and changes in elevation to student resources. This feedback led in part to the strategy of a compact development footprint of the land use map. Students also provided insightful feedback on pedestrian circulation patterns, identifying gaps in the network to inform the pedestrian plan. Their ideas on outreach and engagement strategies that would resonate with students led directly to the visioning activity created in December 2018, an online engagement tool for public feedback. Graduate student representatives were vocal about the lack of graduate student resources for commons and other facilities, which informed the building program. Alumni were also included on the LRDP planning committee. Their feedback especially with regard to maintaining the college structure for student housing was incorporated into the plan.

The LRDP Executive Committee also included students, with representation from the president of the Student Union Assembly (SUA) and the president of the Graduate Student Association (GSA). Their responsibilities included bringing information back to their respective student groups for feedback throughout the process. The Executive Committee met approximately 14 times throughout the planning process.

In addition to the formal committees, multiple outreach events were conducted as public workshops and open houses. These were all held during the academic year, in various locations that would be convenient for a diverse group of stakeholders, including locations on campus so students could attend easily. In total, nine public workshops and open forums were held for the campus and community, in March 2018, December 2018 (online), October 2019, and December 2019. A list of these events is included in the appendix of the LRDP. Additional outreach on the LRDP was made to students in separate workshops and engagement sessions, including in January 2018, May 2018, and January 2021.

In March and April 2020, the campus held three separate public scoping sessions, where the public can provide comments on the scope of analysis they would like to see addressed in the EIR. In February 2021, two public hearings were held providing the public an opportunity to comment on the Draft EIR.

What do the student enrollment numbers used in planning mean?

The LRDP process requires UC campuses to project the potential maximum student enrollment increases during the planning period, in this plan through 2040. For the purposes of physical planning, the new LRDP is based on a potential, gradual student growth up to a maximum of 28,000 by 2040. The LRDP does not mandate this growth — or any growth at all — instead, it uses that maximum number to determine space needs, infrastructure projections, and other requirements for planning purposes.

Actual student enrollment is determined by a variety of factors, including the state’s assessment of need for public university education, the potential capacity of each campus, the availability of and interest in specific programs, and the individual decisions of potential students. Enrollment is often lower than the projected enrollment used for planning purposes; in fact, the 2005 LRDP projected a maximum enrollment of 19,500 in 2020, but current enrollment is roughly 18,500. The student enrollment reflects the campus’ commitment to continue to provide top-tier, higher education access for California’s young people – enhancing diversity, producing talented workers to fuel economic growth, and providing a path for social mobility.

Will campus invest in more infrastructure to support teaching, learning, research and the overall student experience?

UC Santa Cruz is committed to providing adequate infrastructure — including student housing — to facilitate world-class teaching, learning, and research and to optimize the experience of our students. To that end, the LRDP describes up to 3 million (assignable) square feet for Academic and Support space, which includes classrooms, research labs, faculty offices, and libraries, as well as student support services and public amenities. The LRDP also anticipates 2.5 million (assignable) square feet of student and employee housing on campus, which is adequate to house 100% of new students above 19,500, as well as up to 25% of employees, based on demand. While the LRDP designates land to accommodate these projected facilities, each specific capital project would be listed in the campus’ Ten Year Capital Financial Plan and go through a project-specific approval process.

What is the process to identify environmental impacts of the 2021 LRDP?

The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) will describe the physical environmental impacts associated with the LRDP across various topics and includes mitigation measures to reduce or avoid potentially significant impacts. UCSC anticipates that the DEIR will be released in early 2021. CEQA requires that the DEIR be available for public comment for a minimum of 45 days; during this time, the campus will hold public meetings to share the identified draft impacts and findings associated with the plan and to receive input, comments, and suggestions from stakeholders and the community.

Will campus plans affect water demand?

UCSC is committed to sustainably managing water resources. To that end, UCSC has markedly improved water conservation, reducing campus water use by 36% percent over the last 15 years per weighted campus user (which is similar to per capita but just weighted to account for residents vs non-residents.) Currently, the campus’ potable water demand accounts for approximately 6% of the Santa Cruz Water District supply.

In response to the 2013 to 2016 drought, UCSC implemented conservation projects that achieved reductions of 22 to 28% from the 2012-2013 peak season baseline, primarily attributable to reductions in landscape and turf irrigation; adoption of web-based water management systems; and extensive campus outreach and engagement to promote conservation.

Under the new LRDP, the campus is committed to continuing to reduce potable water demand. Developing non-potable water sources on campus has been a critical step in reducing reliance on potable water sources, including continuing stormwater and rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and irrigation needs, and exploring use of non-potable recycled water (as is currently included in the planned Student Housing West project.)

The campus is also guided by UC and campus policies that establish aggressive goals for reducing water demand. The UC Sustainable Practices policy calls for all campuses to reduce growth-adjusted potable water consumption by 36% by 2025, a milestone that the UCSC campus continues to meet. More information on additional goals for reducing water demand can be found here.

Will campus plans affect housing in the community?

UCSC currently houses more than 50% of its enrolled students on campus, which is one of the highest percentages of any UC campus. With the new LRDP, the campus proposes to provide on-campus housing for all newly enrolled students above 19,500. In addition, the campus proposes providing on-campus housing for up to 25% of new employees, based on demand.

By housing more students on campus, UCSC aims to minimize housing impacts in the community and optimize the students’ experiences; living proximate to classrooms and student support services found in the campus core has been associated with greater student success. It will also have other environmental benefits, including a de crease in vehicle trips and associated emissions and traffic.

Will the LRDP affect trips to and from campus?

Over the course of the last 15 years, the campus has been successful in reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicle trips to and from campus. 61 percent of all passenger (people) trips to campus are by alternative transportation, including biking, walking, transit, carpooling, vanpools, and teleworking. Since 2016, more than one quarter of all individuals (26 percent) who have come to campus have arrived on a Santa Cruz Metro bus. The number of vehicle trips to the UC Santa Cruz campus is roughly the same as 20 years ago, despite increases in on-campus population. These results are due to intentional planning that promoted increased transit ridership and improved bicycle facilities.

As the campus grows, the LRDP envisions an integrated transportation strategy that focuses on reduced dependence on single-occupancy vehicles and provides better connectivity for all forms of mobility. Toward that end, the LRDP includes the following physical planning principles, among others: consolidate parking at the periphery of the academic core; prioritize efficient transit access and routes; expand comprehensive program of travel demand management to incentivize alternative modes of travel; strive to provide equal access throughout campus, extend the pattern of east-west pedestrian paths, improve existing pathways to reinforce walkability. The proposed on-campus housing in the LRDP for both students and employees will also significantly reduce vehicle trips on and off campus.

How will campus plans allow for use of campus for recreational activities like mountain biking, hiking etc.?

The campus is a public resource open to the surrounding community as well as the campus community, and will continue to be a resource for recreational activities under the new LRDP. The campus is uniquely sited between multiple state and city parks. Bicycles continue to be permitted on fire roads to help facilitate regional connections with adjacent parks.

The campus has always balanced environmental stewardship and conservation of natural resources with recreation and will continue to do so. The LRDP includes an integrated transportation strategy to optimize through-campus routes for better connectivity throughout campus while continuing to prioritize access for student research areas and responsible care of the land, including erosion and stormwater management strategies.

The EIR is a very large document; where should I start?

To guide the public through the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process, we created a Community Handbook. At 28 pages, the Handbook describes and summarizes the plan and objectives; contents of the Draft EIR; and the project impacts, mitigation measures, and project alternatives. It is intended as a first step to get oriented to the information included in the Draft EIR.

The DEIR also contains an Executive Summary, which—much like the Community Handbook—summarizes the analysis and conclusions in the DEIR.

How did the university arrive at the 28,000 student enrollment horizon in 2040?

UCSC was founded in 1965, at the same time that UC San Diego and UC Irvine were established, responding to significant growth in enrollment demand, due in part to the coming of age of “Baby Boomers” and of robust post-war population growth in the state. City and campus leaders in the 1960s envisioned the university reaching 27,500 students by 1990.

Fifty-five years later, driven by the continuing growth of the state’s population, the UC system – and UC Santa Cruz – continues to see demand for enrollment from highly qualified students. The number of students applying to UC Santa Cruz has doubled in the past fifteen years, forcing the campus to turn away many qualified California high school graduates.

The projected enrollment number is based on the City’s and UC’s plans at the time the campus was founded, is driven by a demonstrated need for public university capacity in California, and reflects the actual enrollment growth rate at UC Santa Cruz over the last twenty years. It reflects the campus’s commitment to expand opportunity for California’s residents – enhancing diversity, producing more college graduates to fuel economic growth, and continuing to provide a path for social mobility.

Some projects/spaces are noted as “already planned” or “already approved.” What does that mean?

Several projects noted in the Draft 2021 LRDP are approved or planned under the 2005 LRDP but are not yet operational. These include the Kresge Renewal Project, which is currently under construction, and the Student Housing West Project, which is planned and anticipated to be approved prior to approval of the 2021 LRDP. The proposed Student Housing West project, which is located at the corner of Hagar Drive and Coolidge Drive and on Heller Drive, is shown as an “approved project,” as it was originally approved by the Regents in 2019; however, project implementation was delayed due to a legal challenge to the EIR. The Superior Court upheld the adequacy of the EIR but overturned the approval based on issues with the Regents’ approval process. It is anticipated that the Regents will consider re-approval of the Student Housing West project prior to certification of the 2021 LRDP EIR.

What facilities and infrastructure have been built under the 2005 LRDP?

An LRDP is not a building, finance, or development plan, but a land-use map. An LRDP, like the general plans developed by city and county governments, is meant to designate certain areas for specific uses and potential areas for development; it does not approve or mandate development.

The 2005 LRDP helped guide campus development for many new projects. The campus has built several significant new academic and support buildings and spaces since 2005 on the main residential campus, including the McHenry Library Addition and Renovation, the Digital Arts Resource Center, Biomedical Science, Quarry Amphitheater Renovation, Cowell Student Health Center Renovation and Expansion, the Humanities and Social Sciences facility, and the Environmental Health and Safety facility. At the West side Research Park, significant space has been renovated for academic research programs. In addition, the Kresge Renewal Project is currently under construction, which includes a new academic center with lecture halls, classrooms and department space, and renovated buildings for student support spaces for health and wellness programs. The project also will provide a cluster of three new residential halls with 400 beds, and renovated apartments for continuing students.

Residential projects have included the Porter Residential Halls A and B and the Dining Commons Major Capital Renewal, the capital improvements of the Merrill College Residential Buildings and the Merrill Cultural Center, the new Merrill Plaza Building, and the Crown College Upper Quad Major Maintenance.

The campus has also improved critical infrastructure, such as the bike path that runs through the Great Meadow.

In many cases over the last 15 years, the campus has been able to densify new developments, intensifying usage without having to increase the building envelope or build out, and reimagine how some spaces are used. Better use of current space has been key to keep pace with demand for academic and housing space. While the campus hasn’t increased the envelope size for many developments, it has provided alternative spaces. Additionally, UC Santa Cruz established the Scotts Valley Center, which provides office space to many staff members, especially those who do not work directly with students.

Despite these additions to square footage, the campus still has unmet space needs, most notably classroom and teaching labs and student services spaces. The 2021 LRDP building program includes this demand.

Have questions or concerns? Send us a message at lrdp@ucsc.edu