Graduate Student Commons
The Graduate Student Commons (GSC) was completed in 2001 and is located at the Quarry Plaza, across from the UCSC Bookstore. The goal for this facility is to provide a comfortable and welcoming space that will attract a wide spectrum of graduate students and foster graduate student interaction and a sense of community.
The GSC offers a variety of spaces, including small study rooms, computer terminals, and a lounge for social interaction. The aim is to make it a resource for graduate students to stop between classes where they may check email, hold office hours, attend or hold a meeting, or join a homework study group, for example. The Graduate Student Commons is a dedicated space for graduate students and all graduate students can obtain 24 hour access to the space.
The GSC is run by two entities, the Director of Graduate Student Life and the GSC Governance Board (GSCGB). The Director of Graduate Student Life is responsible for the day-to-day management of the GSC, while the GSCGB enacts usage policies of the GSC. The GSCGB is composed primarily of 19 graduate students–president, vVice president, treasurer and program coordinator, and 15 regular voting members. GSC Governing Board meetings are held once a month. GSC Governing Board members must attend two out of the three quarterly meetings, serve on a subcommittee (Programming, Outreach or Finance), support committee initiatives, and be present and volunteer at three events per quarter. Voting members may earn a quarterly stipend for their involvement. If you are interested in serving on the GSCGB, please contact the Graduate Commons on our contact page.
The Graduate Student Commons (GSC) hosts a variety of student life well-being programming including personal and professional development, social, health, wellness, spiritual, and financial events that are designed to help graduate students succeed at UC Santa Cruz, and in the world beyond. The GSC designs these workshops as seminars, panel discussions, community work sessions, social events and adventure outings that are offered throughout the academic year. The GSC believes all programming is important to the development and retention of well-rounded and healthy graduate students. All GSC events are open to all currently enrolled graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
The Graduate Student Commons established the Graduate Student Peer Mentorship Program in 2022-23. The program creates a safe space for all incoming graduate students, as well as returning graduate students, who need space to connect with experienced graduate peers.