Student Life
Here at UCSB, we believe that getting involved on campus and having an active student life is just as important as academic success. OISS belongs to the Division of Student Affairs, a branch of the university that prioritizes student wellbeing outside the classroom. Both Student Affairs and the value of campus involvement are an important part of the American higher education experience.
Being active in Gaucho life will provide you with unique and enriching experiences, and it will even help you network and polish important life skills outside of the classroom. Not to mention the treasured memories!
Watch this one-minute glimpse into the life of a Gaucho.
Campus Organizations and Events
Shoreline is UCSB's official student engagement platform. On Shoreline, you'll find over 500 departments and student groups for you to browse and request to join. You can also browse upcoming events that you can register to attend. While you browse, be sure to use the handy filters to find groups and events that are within your interest.
OISS hosts all events on Shoreline as well. Check out our events page for all upcoming events. To get started, check out the Shoreline 101 video tutorial.
Campus organizations (also known as clubs) can cater to a certain culture, identity, major, career path, or general interest. If you're looking for a group that shares some or many of your interests, campus organizations can be a great outlet.
You may have heard of "Greek Life," and wondered what it is. The phrase refers to the fraternities and sororities UCSB students can join for intellectual, interpersonal, cultural, and social development. More information is available on the UCSB Fraternity & Sorority life page.
Residence Halls Association (RHA) is the student government for the eight University-owned and operated residence halls on-campus. RHA provides educational, social, cultural, and recreational programming for residence halls, as well as a place for student on-campus residents to voice concerns about housing and the community. Additionally, RHA provides rental equipment and funding to students hosting campus events.
Involvement in RHA can be a great lead-in to Associated Students, which is explained in the next video.
Student Leadership
A great way to get involved in UCSB student life is to become a student leader. You can do this in many ways: join student government, become an officer for a student organization, serve on a campus board or committee...those are just some ideas!
As a student leader, you will gain valuable organizational and communication experience, and you will have the opportunity to advocate for the student voice on campus (including the voice of international students that needs to be heard).
Here is a Welcome Video from Timothy Grigsby, who is the Campus Support Advisor for Associated Students. In the video, he explains what Associated Students (AS) is, and how to get involved in student government as a Gaucho!
The Pearman Fellowship is a unique opportunity that allows students to intern with AS in different offices.
AS also has International Senators and a Global Gaucho Commission who specifically serve the international community! Both can be used as resources or you can get elected to participate in them.
Resource Centers
You may end up finding community in one of UCSB's many resource centers. Students hold multiple identities, some of which might be linked to a specific resource center— view a list of resource centers here.
OISS has a recommended resource list, which introduces you to certain departments that meet certain needs. Our campus works hard to de-stigmatize mental health and counseling. It is perfectly normal to ask for help! At CAPS, CARE, and Student Health Services, there are many professionals ready to provide assistance. No issue is too small.
