New Graduates
You’re a Slug for life.
Welcome to your Alumni Association. You’ve joined over 150,000 Banana Slugs across the globe! Your University is here for you; we encourage you to stay involved and connected. Explore the resources available to you as a recent grad below.
A note from UCSC Alumni Association President
Congratulations, new graduates! You are now part of a powerful, supportive alumni network of over 150,000 UC Santa Cruz alumni. We all share the experience of receiving an exceptional education and a unique college experience that helped shape who we are today. When we come together to support each other and our alma mater, we change lives for the better.
Alumni enjoy exclusive UCSC benefits and services. We offer events across the globe to connect the alumni network. We publish fascinating and cutting-edge stories and engage communities built around identities, interests, and locations. Let us know what you would like to gain from your alumni network, and we’ll do our best to match you with the right opportunity.
I’ve had the pleasure of serving on the Association’s Alumni Council for ten years, and I can’t emphasize enough what an incredible joy it is to connect with alumni. I have built my professional network, made new friends, and stayed connected to people I knew when I was a student.
Your UCSC Alumni Association is here for you! Tell us how we can make the UCSC alumni community more relevant in your life. Email alumni@ucsc.edu
John Madrid (Oakes ’98, language studies)
Getting Started
At UCSC we believe “once a Slug, always a Slug.” Learn how to get the most out of your Alumni Association membership – no dues or fees required – by following the
steps below:
✓ Complete the First Destination Survey
✓ Update your information
✓ Get your Alumni ID card
✓ Mark your calendar for upcoming events
✓ Consider making a gift to support your University
Learn about the benefits of being a UCSC Alumni
First Destination Survey
We want to hear from you! Whether you are working, seeking employment, pursuing graduate studies, or following other interests, it takes just 5 minutes to share your path since graduation in the First Destination Survey.
The survey is used to create “Life Beyond the Redwoods,” an annual report about the achievements of our graduates. Read the 2023 report.
Update your information
Things change after graduation, but your University will always be here for you. Update your contact information to stay in the loop about events, reunions, important UCSC news, events, and more.
Events & programs
The UCSC Alumni Association plans dozens of events each year just for you! Join us for virtual lectures, stay in the loop about regional events near you, or if you live locally, join us for Santa Cruz events on campus and in the community.
Ready to come back to campus already? Mark your calendar for Return to the Redwoods, August 16-18, 2025.
Join us for Welcome to the City 2025: Alumni Hikes. Get outside and meet fellow slugs near you on a trail near you! Registration coming soon.
Career Success
UC Santa Cruz Career Success provides alumni with free access to online tools, including Handshake job listings, workshops, and job fairs. Alumni are also eligible for one-on-one coaching for up to two years after graduation, covering job search strategies, resume reviews, graduate school advice, interview preparation, and career decision-making.
Giving
Giving back to UC Santa Cruz has an immense impact on our students, faculty, and campus community. Your generosity funds scholarships, student enrichment, groundbreaking research, and countless other opportunities.