A quick note: Learning during a pandemic is challenging. And while you surely didn’t plan to take all of your courses online, we’re glad you’re here. All students come to UC Santa Cruz with diverse life experiences, identities, prior knowledge, motivation for learning, and academic and cultural strengths, which creates a unique educational ecosystem in our classrooms, remote or otherwise.
🌎🌍🌏 Are you taking this course in another country? Here's more information about connecting to the VPN.
One way to make sure you have complete access to this course and other online resources at UCSC is to install and use the university's VPN (virtual private network), which allows you use the internet as if you were on UCSC's campus. This is how you do it: 1. DownloadLinks to an external site. the VPN Client using your CruzID and Gold password. 2. Install and launch the VPN. 3. To establish a VPN connection, type vpn.ucsc.edu into the connect box then enter your username (CruzID) and password (Gold password).
🔐 Visit this ITS page for tips on logging into UCSC accounts and systems with multi-factor authentication.
💻 And this page to learn more about operating system details.
Ask a Slug
If you have any other questions related to studying at UCSC, Ask a SlugLinks to an external site. is a peer-support (student-led) network designed to connect you with campus resources that will best address your questions. No matter the kind of assistance you need, you can Ask a Slug for help! Click on the button to the right to Ask a Slug!
Slug Support
If you are struggling with financial, housing, or food insecurity or do not have the equipment you need to complete classes online, please contact Slug Support at the Dean of Students' office (deanofstudents@ucsc.edu).
Counseling & Psychological Services
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides UCSC students with a wide range of mental health and wellness services and is now open for telehealth. There is no out-of-pocket fee for CAPS services, and you don't need UC SHIP or CruzCare to be seen at CAPS.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
If you’re experiencing technical difficulties, try these common troubleshooting techniques first:
Turn your computer off and on again.
Use Chrome, Firefox or Edge as your browser. Safari is incompatible with Canvas and many other websites.
If you can't open a page, or your submission isn't registering, try a different browser.
If the problem persists, contact ITS for support, either online at https://itrequest.ucsc.edu, via email (help@ucsc.edu), or by phone: (831) 459-HELP (4357).
If you need support specifically for Canvas, click on Help (the question mark icon) on the left side of any Canvas page to:
Ask a Slug (see above)
Search the Canvas Guides if you need to learn how to do something (submitting an assignment, checking your grades, etc.)
Report a Problem to create a help desk ticket
Chat with Canvas Support for more immediate help (available 24/7)
Additional Campus Resources
Click on the tabs below for information about additional campus resources.
Visit Keep Learning (keeplearning.ucsc.edu) for remote learning resources. This webpage includes information such as effective strategies for remote learning, links for advising, tutoring, staying motivated and more!
Accessibility
Your access to the materials and activities in this course is important! Captions (in English … and in Spanish for courses taught in Spanish) are available for all videos, and all texts are compatible with screen readers. Please bring any oversights to your instructor's attention.
The Remote Lab is a web-based service that allows you to remotely access a workstation in UCSC's physical computer labs from anywhere via a web browser. You can use this service to do your coursework, use specialized software, and remotely participate in computer lab-based classes.
Accessing the Library
Need to find online articles, e-books, or primary sources for your assignments? The Library can help!
The Digital Scholarship Commons (DSC) is a resource to support your digital assignments.
Visit the DSC website to learn more about the department, look through guides, or learn more about upcoming workshops.
Global Mentorship Program
Are you an international student who is new to UC Santa Cruz? If so, the Global Mentorship Program will connect you with an international student mentor who can give you an insider’s guide to being a student at UCSC. Your mentor will help you connect with other international students, get access to community events, and provide opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Title IX
The university cherishes the free and open exchange of ideas and enlargement of knowledge. To maintain this freedom and openness requires objectivity, mutual trust, and confidence; it requires the absence of coercion, intimidation, or exploitation. The principal responsibility for maintaining these conditions must rest upon those members of the university community who exercise most authority and leadership: faculty, managers, and supervisors.
The university has therefore instituted a number of measures designed to protect its community from sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other related prohibited conduct. Information about the Title IX Office, the online reporting link, applicable campus resources, reporting responsibilities, the UC Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment and the UC Santa Cruz Procedures for Reporting and Responding to Reports of Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment can be found on the Title IX Office's website.
UC Santa Cruz's Title IX/Sexual Harassment Office is located at 105 Kerr Hall. In addition to the online reporting option, you can contact the Title IX Office by calling 831-459-2462.
The University of California, Santa Cruz is committed to maintaining an objective, civil, diverse and supportive community, free of coercion, bias, hate, intimidation, dehumanization or exploitation. To report an incident of hate or bias, please use the resources below: