John R. Lewis College
Academic Emphases
John R. Lewis College’s theme of Social Justice and Community addresses a range of social, political, and economic inequalities--from racism and xenophobia to incarceration and educational inequity--and their impacts on society. In particular, our academic and co-curricular programs consider the injustices that many people confront in their lives, and situate them in historical, political, and structural contexts, informing possible pathways for resistance and change. John R. Lewis College provides students with opportunities to make their own positive contributions to social change through community involvement and/or scholarly research.
Additional information about John R. Lewis College academics, including Core Course requirements and other academic programs, is available here.
College Community
College Ten, the newest college at UC Santa Cruz was founded in 2002. On May 6, 2022, it was dedicated as John R. Lewis College, a naming that was made possible by the generosity of anonymous donors who are inspired by the life and legacy of the Civil Rights Leader and member of Congress. John R. Lewis College creates an integrated living-and-learning environment through engaging academic and extracurricular programs focusing on the theme of Social Justice and Community. Student leaders, faculty, and staff collaborate to develop an array of programs exploring the many aspects of social justice. Some of the programs include faculty presentations, guest speakers, debates, films, arts events, courses, and interactive workshops. These programs unite community members in an atmosphere of mutual respect, in which contemporary and controversial issues are discussed.
College Nights
College Nights are community programs that feature a special dinner menu, entertainment, educational displays, and activities that often relate to the college theme of Social Justice and Community. College Nights provide an opportunity to gather as a community several times a year to enjoy a meal and share conversations. Planned by students and staff, past College Nights have focused on Earth Day and sustainability; music and dance from around the world; and popular culture. College Nights are held in the Dining Commons and open to all students.
Student Government
The John R. Lewis College Governing Cooperative serves as the student government for John R. Lewis College and represents its students to the college and campus administrations and to the Student Union Assembly (SUA), the campuswide governance board. The Governing Cooperative appoints representatives to campus and college committees, provides monetary support to student organizations, hosts community programs, and consults with college administration on policy development.
Rumi’s Field
Named after a renowned peace-seeking Sufi poet, Rumi’s Field offers an opportunity for students who wish to learn, live, and interact using the skills of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and exploring social justice through the lens of nonviolence. Nonviolent Communication strengthens one’s ability to inspire empathy from others and respond compassionately even under difficult circumstances. This community of John R. Lewis College first-year and continuing students offers the opportunity to engage in dialogue and resolve conflict using NVC consciousness as a tool for personal and societal transformation.
Co-Curricular Programs and Opportunities
College Nine and John R. Lewis are the only colleges, so far, on UCSC’s campus with a dedicated Co-curricular Programs office. The CoCo, as it is affectionately known, has been providing dynamic involvement and leadership opportunities for students for more than two decades. Through these student leadership opportunities, and more, The CoCo seeks to provide academic and social spaces that embody and blend the themes and curriculum of our colleges. Getting involved in co-curricular activities is a predictor of college success. Not only do college activities help students make friends, they foster leadership and group cooperation and build the key skills that are needed to build a more peaceful, knowledgeable, and empathetic society as we trek deeper into the 21st century. There are many opportunities at John R. Lewis College for student involvement. These include the following groups as well as many other programs, activities, and clubs. The CoCo is located on the ground floor of Social Science Building 1, next to the College Nine mailroom/package pick up. Follow @ucsc9_jrl on Instagram to see what’s going on at The CoCo.
Practical Activism: Tools for Local and Global Change
The annual Practical Activism Conference is a daylong, student-led conference featuring keynote speakers, multiple workshops, various on- and off-campus organizations, performances, and a variety of hands-on activism activities. Students interested in planning the conference enroll in the JRLC-120 course in the fall and winter quarters to gain valuable leadership and organizing skills which aid in developing and planning this exceptional program, which involves collaboration among faculty, staff and the local community. Visit practicalactivism.ucsc.edu for more information. Follow the Practical Activism Conference on Instagram @practicalactivism.
(H)ACER
The (H)ACER Program at College Nine and John R. Lewis College integrates experiential learning with community-engaged research opportunities to train undergraduate students in community engagement and envision themselves as knowledge producers. Students can participate in anywhere from one-day critical service learning experiences to yearlong research apprenticeships. In collaboration with our community partners, students engage in projects that address pressing issues such as social, economic, educational, and environmental injustice through an approach that pushes against deficit and damage-centered frameworks and honors the knowledge of community members.
Intercultural Community Weekend
This two-day retreat provides students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to explore aspects of College Nine and John R. Lewis' themes through a series of exercises and discussions. The theme of this yearly retreat rotates between the College Nine theme and the John R. Lewis College theme as they share much overlap. Participants explore issues impacting our individual identities (e.g., race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion); increase their understanding of the complexities of communicating across diverse experiences and backgrounds; build communication skills; and share in celebrating and deconstructing the diversity of our community. Students apply for this opportunity in the fall.
Terry Freitas Commons
Located at John R. Lewis College, the Terry Freitas Commons is a student-run lounge with a long legacy as a favorite gathering place among students. It is open daily for study and socializing, periodically hosts events, and is home to a basic needs pantry. The Commons is named after former UCSC student Terry Freitas, who worked closely with the U’Wa people of Colombia. Terry dedicated his life to making the world a more socially just place. Follow us on Instagram @tfc_ucsc.
Community Garden
The Community Garden Club meets weekly to discuss sustainability issues, integrate the themes of our colleges into the garden design and practice, and work together on soil preparation, planting, and harvesting. Members of the Garden Club learn about opportunities to work with our sister garden at Calabasas Elementary School in Watsonville. The Community Garden Club raises grant funding to support four staff positions to sustain the garden and run the Garden Club.
Physical Surroundings
John R. Lewis College is situated in a redwood grove next to the Social Sciences 1 and 2 Buildings near the heart of campus. One of the campus’s Instructional Computing Labs is conveniently located in Social Sciences 1. A nature preserve serves as John R. Lewis College’s “backyard.” John R. Lewis College students have immediate access to hiking, running, and mountain bike trails in the adjacent forest.
Residence halls offer approximately 600 single and triple bedrooms. These fully furnished residence halls include student study spaces, recreational areas, and WiFi. In addition, there is a state-of-the-art dining hall with an adjoining recreational lounge and Terry Freitas Café, a coffee lounge for both Colleges Nine and Ten. Colleges Ten and Nine also house approximately 400 upper-division students in apartments, with single, double, and triple bedrooms. All apartments have full kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and WiFi. Ground-floor apartments have decks, and most upper apartments have private balconies.
For more information about academic or general college programs, call (831) 459-5034, email 910capc@ucsc.edu, or visit the John R. Lewis College website.
John R. Lewis College Fellows and Staff
John R. Lewis College faculty fellows are listed on the college's faculty directory.
John R. Lewis College staff are listed on the college's staff page.