On January 9, 2024, the College Nine and John R. Lewis College Multipurpose Room buzzed with excitement during the Winter Welcome and Resource Fair. Over 150 new students met their future teachers and advisors, fellow students, and explored resources that will help them be successful at UC Santa Cruz.
The inaugural Winter Welcome was organized in close collaboration with the Council of Provosts, Senior Directors of College Student Life, College Governments, and Academic Divisions.
“We wanted these students, who might otherwise have felt a bit invisible, to find connection with each other and campus resources," said Carrie Malcom, Colleges Academic Project Policy Analyst and one of the event organizers. “We felt the event could play a crucial role in community building and provide an opportunity to make personal connections that will likely continue throughout their time at UCSC.”
The event was a fun addition to a robust winter orientation—a series of information sessions, workshops, classes, and presentations that were hosted from January 3 through the 17 to help students begin their academic journey at UCSC.
While enjoying food and drink, students explored resource tables hosted by student groups and campus organizations. Students were encouraged to participate in a raffle by completing a resource table bingo card and over 40 lucky raffle winners took home gift cards from the Baytree Bookstore and Bookshop Santa Cruz.
In the future, the Winter Welcome and Resource Fair aims to become a new tradition, building community during students’ first weeks at UCSC and setting the stage for welcoming spaces to ensure every student feels supported.
