Maintained by drc@ucsc.edu

Prospective UC Santa Cruz Students

The links below answer commonly asked questions about the DRC and how to access services. If after reviewing the links you still have questions, feel free to contact us at 831-459-2089 (V) or 831-459-4806 (TTY). We would be happy to speak with you.

Admission to UCSC Qualify for Services with the DRC DRC Services Housing Accommodations Physical Accessibility of the Campus Things to Know about Transitioning to College DRC Orientation Days

Important Timeline Incoming Student Checklist

Can the DRC help me with admission to UCSC?

Students with disabilities are admitted to UC Santa Cruz under the general admission requirements; there is no separate admission procedure. All applicants are reviewed by the Office of Admissions using 14 comprehensive criteria. This includes academic accomplishment despite educational disadvantage, such as a disability.

Within the UC application there is the opportunity for you to address your disability, the challenges it presents, strategies used to overcome these challenges, and your academic achievements. These issues are often described in the response to Question #3 of the Personal Statement section which concerns Academic Accomplishments within Life Experience.

If you are notified that you have not been accepted to the University, you may contact the Office of Admissions for information about the appeal process. If you are a freshman click here. If you are a transfer student click here. This information is also posted on their website after decision letters have been distributed.

It is during the appeal process that the Office of Admissions will consult with the Disability Resource Center. It is not required, but could be helpful during an appeal if you fax your medical or psycho-educational documentation to the DRC. The DRC will make recommendations and the Office of Admissions will make the final decision. Appeal information for freshmen applicants can be found here. Appeal information for transfer applicants can be found here.

How does a student qualify for services with the DRC?

In order to establish eligibility with the DRC, you must provide medical documentation, and be an admitted UCSC student who has submitted your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). Documentation must be from an appropriate medical provider, be current (usually no more than three years old, or 6-12 months old for psychological documentation), and must meet specific UC system-wide guidelines for documentation.

There are four types of guidelines for assessing disabilities. Be sure to review, below, the one(s) appropriate for you. If you have more than one disability please provide adequate documentation for each:

Send or bring documentation to:

Be sure to include Medical Documentation Cover Page when submitting your documents

Disability Resource Center
146 Hahn Student Services
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Fax: 831-459-5064

Note: You are strongly advised to give a copy of the guidelines to your treating clinician. Insufficient documentation that does not meet UC criteria may result in a delay of services. Disabilities have a wide range of severity and effect. The more specific information we receive, the better we can determine appropriate accommodations for you.

Documentation can be faxed, mailed or hand-delivered to our office. Be sure to call us at 831-459-2089 (V) or 831-459-4806 (TTY). If you ask the doctor to send your documentation to us directly, be sure to follow up by calling us to make sure it has arrived, and confirm it meets our criteria.

The DRC does not conduct assessments for Learning Disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorder, nor is it done anywhere on campus. Prospective students (high school juniors and seniors) should request an assessment from the high school, as described in the UCSC guidelines; it may be available through your school district at no cost. The DRC requires adult testing.

What services can the DRC offer me?

What kind of housing accommodations are available?

If you have disabilities that require wheelchair accessibility or other extensive living adaptations, you are strongly encouraged to visit the colleges to personally view the housing facilities, and to discuss any concerns with college Housing Coordinators.

Once you accept the offer of admission to UC Santa Cruz and become affiliated with one of our ten colleges, you will be sent instructions for completing the online housing application/contract process. In addition to applying for housing, you will also need to submit a DRC Housing Accommodation Request form to our office. If you have a disability that requires the use of a Service Animal and you plan to live in University Housing, you will need to follow the UC Santa Cruz Service Animal Policy before being allowed to have a Service Animal in residence.

We will review your request form and the supporting documentation before making any accommodation recommendation to your college housing staff. Be sure to follow up with the Housing Coordinator at your college after submitting your request to the DRC.

Please note that we will not be able to process your accommodation request unless you have met our criteria for medical documentation and established contact with our office.

What is the physical accessibility of the campus?

UCSC is a beautiful campus resting on a hill in the midst of tall California Redwood trees. Due to its natural setting in the woods away from downtown Santa Cruz (about 10-15 minutes), it can also present some physical challenges for those with mobility disabilities.

However, this should not deter any student from considering UCSC. We have had several students with mobility challenges attend UCSC, including those with quadriplegia, visual impairments, cerebral palsy and other conditions. The campus is accessible to all if one is willing to be flexible.

Getting around on campus:

UCSC is hilly with steep inclines. Some power scooters and chairs can navigate parts of the campus, but most students with mobility disabilities rely heavily on the Disability Van Service, which is operated by Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS). The van can provide door to door service throughout campus free of charge with authorization from the DRC.

For those who have DMV handicapped placards or cannot use the Disability Van Service for disability-related reasons, parking authorizations can be obtained from the DRC. For more information on campus policy regarding disability parking, go to Disabled Parking.

If you use a wheelchair or have problems with stairs or hills, check out the ADA Compliance website to find out more about campus access, including the UCSC Wheelchair User’s Survival Guide. This guide shows the most accessible routes on campus.

Things to know about transitioning to college

DRC Orientation Days

In the Spring (usually March and April), the DRC schedules informational meetings for prospective students. If you are planning to visit UCSC in the Spring and want to know more about our services, be sure to sign up for one of these sessions.

The DRC also attends the campus-wide summer orientations. Look for our table at the resource fair.

In the Fall, the DRC has a new student orientation for in-coming students. The orientation allows you to meet staff, learn about specific services, how to advocate for yourself, and to meet current UCSC students with disabilities.