Slug Summer Send-Off Series
Welcoming our newest
Banana Slugs
Slug Summer Send-Offs are an opportunity for incoming first-year and transfer students, along with their families, to connect with fellow Slugs in their local communities before arriving on campus in the fall. Join us for refreshments, icebreakers, and a Q&A with UCSC students and staff from the Division of Student Affairs & Success, Admissions, Orientation and University Advancement.
These events are generously hosted by current UCSC families, alumni, and friends of the University. If you are interested in hosting or sponsoring a 2025 Slug Summer Send-Off, we’d love to hear from you. Please complete the form below or contact us at sendoffs@ucsc.edu.
Seeking hosts and sponsors for 2025
Hosts open their home, office, or an alternative location (such as a restaurant or private club) to welcome a group of incoming students and their families. The location should be suitable for at least 50 attendees. As a host, your role is to provide light refreshments and serve as a warm and welcoming ambassador for UC Santa Cruz, while University staff manage the program activities. Interested? Please complete the host interest form below.
If hosting at home isn’t an option, consider becoming a sponsor! Sponsored Send-Offs are held at local venues, with all event planning managed by UCSC staff. As a sponsor, you’ll attend the event and represent UC Santa Cruz as a friendly ambassador. A Full Sponsorship gift of $2500 will help cover the total expense of a Summer Send-Off, but contributions at any level help sustain this vital program for our incoming students and their families. Gifts can be made at the link below.
Questions? Contact us at sendoffs@ucsc.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Summer Send-Offs mandatory for incoming students?
Send-Offs are optional events designed to welcome students and families. None of the information provided at Send-Offs is exclusive to these events. Our goal is to help our incoming students and their families feel comfortable and excited about starting their first year at UCSC!
Are Send-Offs the same as New Student Orientation?
No. These events are primarily designed to serve as community-building social gatherings. All incoming students must participate in New Student Orientation and more information on the onboarding process can be found here.
Why are these events hosted by Alumni Engagement?
While you’re only a student for a few years, you’ll be an Alum forever! The Alumni Association is an amazing resource to make the most of your connection to UC Santa Cruz, and we want to introduce ourselves early on.
What is the suggested dress code for Send-Offs?
There is no formal dress code for UCSC Slug Summer Send-Offs. Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable, appropriate clothing. Bring out your Banana Slug attire!
How can families get involved in the UCSC community?
- Visit the Slug Families website at families.ucsc.edu
- Participate in student’s College’s Family Days
Will a UCSC representative attend these events?
At least one member of the Alumni Engagement team and one member of College Student Life will be present for all of the Send-Offs. Additional staff from the Office of Admissions or the Office of Development may join the celebration.
What other resources are available for incoming Slug families?
Why aren’t there any Send-Offs in my area?
The Send-Off team does our best to accommodate as many students and families as possible with these events which means hosting in areas with the greatest number of incoming students. Unfortunately, this means we may not be able to host an event in your area.
A virtual Send-Off was hosted for those unable to attend an in-person event on June 25, 2024. You can watch a recording of that event on the UCSC Alumni Youtube page.
If you are interested in hosting or sponsoring a Send-Off for local incoming students please email sendoffs@ucsc.edu.
Have additional questions about Send-Offs? Please contact sendoffs@ucsc.edu. For general questions about UC Santa Cruz, please visit the Undergraduate Admissions FAQ page.
Interested in hosting a send-off? Please contact us.
Photos from past Send-Offs
