University of California, Santa Barbara

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University of California, Santa Barbara


Motto	Fiat lux (Let There Be Light)
Established	1905, independently from the UC system. Joined UC in 1944
Type	Public
Endowment	$227,129,000 [1]
Chancellor	Henry T. Yang
Faculty	1,054
Undergraduates	17,726
Postgraduates	2,833
Location	Santa Barbara, California, USA
Campus	Suburban, 989 acres (4.0 km²)
Nickname	Gauchos
Affiliations	University of California, Big West Conference
Nobel Laureates	6
Website	www.ucsb.edu

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is a coeducational public university located on the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara County, California, USA. It is one out of 11 campuses of the University of California. Its current student body is around 18,000. U.S. News ranks UCSB the 47th best university in the United States.^[1]

[edit] Admissions

The Princeton Review rates the University of California, Santa Barbara with an Admission Selectivity of 94 out of 99 points. Admissions are classified as "Most Selective" by US News,^[2] with a freshman admitted GPA of 3.97, and a freshman enrolled mean GPA of 3.74. 61% of Fall 2006 entering class had a GPA of 3.7 or higher.^[3] 95% of freshman UCSB applicants are in the top ten percent of their High School class and 52.8% of freshman students who applied for admission in Fall 2005 were admitted. Also, 70.6% of transfer students who applied for Fall 2005 were admitted, and the mean GPA for those admitted was 3.17.^[4] The application fee is $60. Applications can be completed on the internet.

[edit] Vietnam War era

UCSB became nationally known as a hotbed of anti Vietnam War activity in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Other than UC Berkeley, no other California college received as much attention from the national media for its anti war activities. Events during the era included a bombing at the school's faculty club, burning of the Bank of America branch building in the student community of Isla Vista, and then Governor Ronald Reagan imposing a curfew and ordering the national guard to enforce it during the 1971-72 school year. Weapon carrying guardsmen were a common sight on campus and in Isla Vista during this time. A number of noteworthy anti war speakers made UCSB a key stop on national speaking tours. Among them were Jesse Jackson, Ralph Abernathy, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Eldridge Cleaver, Eugene McCarthy, and George McGovern. In a later era, John Anderson was the only Presidential candidate in the 1980 election to speak at the school.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Reputation

View of the UCSB Lagoon and the Marine Biotechnology Labatory

Newsweek named UCSB one of America’s 25 Hottest Colleges of 2005.^[5] It is currently ranked 47th among national universities (13th among public national universities) by US News and World Report.^[6] UCSB was also ranked #59 of the Top 100 Global Universities by Newsweek Magazine in 2006.^[7]

Admissions are classified as "Most Selective" by US News, with a freshman admissions average GPA of 3.99 and average SAT of 1250 for the Fall 2005 class.^[8]

UCSB's demand for admissions is constantly rising^{[citation needed]}. The faculty of UCSB received five Nobel Prizes since 1998, for landmark research in chemistry, physics, and economics.^[9]

Various achievements and information about UCSB can also be obtained from the UCSB website: http://www.ucsb.edu/pop/index.shtml

In April 2006, Playboy Magazine named UCSB the #2 party school in its College Girl Edition.^[10] In 2005, the Princeton Review ranked it as the #4 party school in the nation, up from #22. However in 2006, UCSB dropped to the position of #10 in the nation.^{[citation needed]}

In recent years, a number of professors in UCSB have won Nobel Prizes in different subject areas.^[11] Additionally, UCSB is the only university to have two Nobel Prize winners in the same year on two separate occasions.^{[citation needed]}

UCSB is also a politically active campus. The UCSB Campus Democrats and the UCSB College Republicans are also among the most active organizations on campus. Over the years, other political parties and organizations have also been known to be extremely active on campus, such as the Environmental Affairs Board, Green Party, Libertarians, NORML, and the Queer Student Union.^{[citation needed]}

(2006) U.S. News and World Report ranks the following UCSB graduate programs as follows:

Biology (40th),
Chemical Engineering (9th),
Chemistry (31st),
Computer Science (34th),
Earth Sciences (21st),
Economics (36th),
Electrical Engineering (19th),
English (28th),
History (32nd),
Materials Science and Engineering (3rd),
Mathematics (42nd),
Physics (10th),
Political Science (48th),
Psychology (47th),
Sociology (29th).

The Geography graduate program is ranked 4th in the nation by the National Research Council Report on Quality in Ph.D. Education in the U.S.

The UCSB School Psychology program is ranked 2nd in the nation in a study published in The School Psychologist Winter 2007.^[12]

In 2004, ISI Essential Science Indicators found that publications by the UCSB Electrical Engineering program were cited more in "Thomson ISI-indexed journals of electrical & electronic engineering between 1998 and 2002." than any other institution's publications.^[13]

UCSB is especially active in the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology and nanoscience. In addition to the California NanoSystems Institute,^[14] an internationlly renowned center for research in the physical sciences, UCSB also hosts the Center for Nanotechnology in Society,^[15] a national center for research in the humanities and social sciences.

[edit] Academics

The Storke Tower and the University Center in front of the UCSB Lagoon.

UC Santa Barbara is one of only 62 research-intensive institutions elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. UCSB celebrates the five Nobel Prizes won by faculty members since 1998 for landmark research in chemistry, physics, and economics. U.S. News and World Report's guide, "America's Best Colleges," the most widely read college guide in the country, ranks UCSB the 16th best public university in the nation. UCSB was selected as one of the first California Institutes for Science and Innovation. Among all applicants (47,893 for Fall 2006), 12,033 had a high school Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher. The predecessor to UCSB, Santa Barbara State College, focused on teacher training, industrial arts, home economics, and foreign languages. Intense lobbying by an interest group in the City of Santa Barbara led by Thomas Storke and Pearl Chase persuaded the State Legislature, Governor Earl Warren, and the Regents of the University of California to move the State College over to the more research-oriented University of California system in 1944 during World War II. The State College system actually sued to stop the takeover, but the Governor did not support the suit. A state initiative was passed, however, to stop subsequent conversions of State Colleges to University of California campuses.^{[citation needed]}

Originally, the vision for the UC Santa Barbara Campus was a small, several thousand-student liberal arts college, a so-called `Williams College of the West'. Chronologically, UCSB is only the 3rd general-education campus of the University of California, after Berkeley and UCLA. The post WWII baby boom, the availability of a relatively spacious ex-Marine Base in Goleta for a campus led to a change of plans in the late 1950s, when UCSB was designated a multi-college campus with a Chancellor instead of a Provost. UCSB now has three undergraduate colleges: the College of Letters & Science, the College of Engineering, and the College of Creative Studies. The College of Creative Studies offers students an alternative approach to education by allowing them to pursue advanced, independent work in the arts, mathematics, and sciences. The campus also has two professional schools, the Donald Bren School of Environmental Science, located in Bren Hall, and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. UCSB also hosts eight National Research Centers, including the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (at which many of the world's prominent theoretical physicists, including Stephen Hawking, are regular visitors) and the Materials Research Laboratory. Five of these Centers are supported by the National Science Foundation. Its faculty includes 6 Nobel laureates, 25 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 27 members of the National Academy of Engineering, and 21 members of the Academy of Arts and Sciences.^{[citation needed]}

UCSB is third in applications received in the UC system, behind UCLA and UCSD, and was the fourth most selective in admissions in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

This is partly due to the 20,000 cap on the student population. 10–15% of this population is graduate students.^[16]

[edit] Geography

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Buildings on the east side of campus overlooking the cliffs

UCSB is notable for being located on cliffs directly above the Pacific Ocean.

UCSB's campus has not been annexed by the city of Santa Barbara and is not technically part of the city. While it appears closer to the recently formed city of Goleta, a parcel of the City of Santa Barbara that forms a strip of "city" through the ocean to the Santa Barbara airport, runs through the west entrance to the university campus. Although UCSB has a Santa Barbara mailing address, as do other unincorporated areas around the city, only this entry parcel is in the Santa Barbara city limits. Like all other UC and CSU campuses, it is self-governing and cannot be incorporated into either city. The campus is divided into four parts: Main campus (708 acres that houses all academic units plus the majority of Undergraduate housing), Storke campus, West campus and North Campus. The campuses surround the community of Isla Vista.

[edit] Athletics

The UCSB Gauchos

The mascot of UCSB is the Gaucho and the school colors are blue and gold. UCSB's sports teams compete in the Big West Conference, with the exception of the men's and women's water polo teams and the men's volleyball team, which are in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Santa Barbara is best known for its women's basketball and men's soccer teams.

Athletics at UCSB is not limited to the Intercollegiate Athletic Department. While there are some 400 students in ICA, there are over 700 in Recreational Sports Teams including: Alpine Racing, Cycling, Fencing, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Rugby, Sailing, Soccer, Triathlon, Ultimate, Water Ski and Rowing. Many of these teams are highly regarded and compete against Intercollegiate teams from across the US. For example Rowing has produced several national team members including Nine-time National Rowing Team member Amy Fuller, winner of several Olympic and World Championship medals and currently head of the UCLA Rowing Program.

Many other hundreds of students participate in a large Intramural program consisting of Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Flag Football, Golf, Floor Hockey, Indoor and Outdoor Soccer, Racquetball, Squash, Running, Softball, Tennis, Frisbee Ultimate, Volleyball, Inner tube water polo, and Kickball.

[edit] Soccer

In 2004, the men's soccer team advanced to the College Cup (the final four of college soccer). UCSB routed Duke in the semifinals 5-0, and lost in the championship match to Indiana on penalty kicks.

In 2006 UCSB again advanced to the College Cup. In the semi-finals, the Gauchos and 2nd seed Wake Forest played to a 0-0 tie; UCSB won the game on penalty kicks 4-3. In the championship game UCSB faced the UCLA Bruins and won by a score of 2-1 to win their first NCAA Men's Soccer title and the second overall NCAA championship (1979 water polo) in school history.^[17]

[edit] Basketball

In 2005, the women's basketball team won its unprecedented ninth straight Big West Conference Championship. The team had its best year in history during the 2004 season when it advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 where it lost to eventual champion University of Connecticut.

The Gauchos men's basketball team had its best years in the late '80s and early '90s under coach Jerry Pimm, highlighted by a 77-70 victory over #1 UNLV in 1990, and NCAA tournament appearances in 1988 (lost to Maryland) and 1990 (defeated Houston and lost to Michigan State). The Gauchos returned to the NCAA tournament in 2002 where they nearly upset powerhouse Arizona in the opening round. UCSB basketball and volleyball teams play at the UCSB Events Center, commonly known as the Thunderdome (capacity 6,000).

[edit] Water polo and volleyball

UCSB won the 1979 national championship in men's water polo, defeating UCLA in the championship match by a score of 11-3. The men's volleyball team has finished as the NCAA runner up 4 times, most recently in 1988.

[edit] Lacrosse

UCSB Men's Lacrosse team is one of the best club teams in the nation. The program boasts 2 National Championships and consistently is in the top tier of the WCLL (Western Collegiate Lacrosse League).

[edit] Gaucho Locos

Since 1998, UCSB athletics have received support from a booster club, the Gaucho Locos, founded by the UCSB student body. The Gaucho Locos were originally known as the Gauchoholics but changed its name due to negative connotations. The Gaucho Locos could be spotted at UCSB athletic events with their signature golden yellow t-shirts with a top ten list on their back, similar to the ones on The Late Show with David Letterman.

The Locos are also accompanied by their famous mascot, "The Fantom of the Thunderdome" a man with a Zorro mask and a black cape, who usually wears denim shorts along with a golden yellow UCSB basketball jersey and a Gaucho loco t-shirt underneath.

[edit] Famous alumni

Jim Rome, Sports Radio Talk Show Host
Steve Czaban, Host of the First Team on Fox Sports Radio
Benjamin Bratt, American actor
Don Hertzfeldt, Academy Award nominated filmmaker
Jack Johnson, Musician, Filmmaker, Surfer.
Michael Douglas, American actor
Robby Krieger, Doors Songwriter and Guitarist (didn't graduate)
Gwyneth Paltrow, American Actress (didn't graduate)
Bahar Soomekh, American actress
Robert Ballard, Oceanographer, discoverer of Titanic shipwreck
Tera Patrick, Adult Film Actress

UCSB's most famous athletic alumni are National Basketball Association former player and current Laker assistant coach Brian Shaw, Major League Baseball (MLB) all-star shortstop Michael Young, 3-time U.S. Olympic Water Polo goalie Craig Wilson, and MLB player Barry Zito, who transferred to USC after a year at Santa Barbara.

Other Gauchos who made the pros in their respective sports include:

Richard Anderson: NBA forward, Clippers, Trailblazers, and Nuggets
Ivan Becerra: MLS Forward, Columbus Crew
Erin Buescher: WNBA forward, Sacramento Monarchs
Dave Chapple: NFL punter, Rams. Led NFC in punting in 1971.
Kayte Christensen: WNBA forward, Phoenix Mercury
Larry Dierker: former major league pitcher and manager
Eric Fonoimoana: USA 2000 Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Beach Volleyball
Rob Friend: Dutch Ere Divisie Forward, Heerenveen; MLS Chicago Fire
Conner Henry: NBA guard, Rockets and Celtics
Dan Kennedy: USL Div. 1 Goalkeeper, Puerto Rico Islanders; MLS Metrostars (now New York Red Bull)
Joe Kmak: MLB catcher, Brewers
Mark Leonard: MLB outfielder, Giants
Tony Lochhead: MLS Defender, New England Revolution
Kristen Mann: WNBA forward, Minesota Lynx
Thiago Martins: Norway Division 1 Forward, Bodø/Glimt; MLS, Chivas USA
Mike Martz: former head coach of the St. Louis Rams and current offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions (Martz transferred to Fresno State after UCSB dropped football in 1972).
Joe Redfield: MLB shortstop, Pirates
Jerry Reuss: MLB pitcher, Cardinals, Astros, Pirates, Dodgers
Skip Schumaker: MLB Outfielder, Cardinals
Chris Speier: MLB shortstop, primarily with the Giants and Expos
Ryan Spilborghs: outfielder, Colorado Rockies
Lindsay Taylor: WNBA center, Seattle Storm
John Tschogl: NBA forward, Golden State Warriers, New Orleans Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers
Dave Walsh: MLB pitcher, Dodgers
Barry Zito MLB Pitcher, Giants

[edit] Accommodation for students

One of the main entrances to the Anacapa residence hall. Five of the on-campus residence halls are named after the islands in the nearby Channel Islands chain.

There are eight residence halls at UCSB, seven of which are located at the Main campus, and one of which, Francisco Torres, is located near the entrance to West campus north of Isla Vista. Francisco Torres has its own dining commons.

The Main Campus residence halls are found in two different locations. On the east end of campus are the residence halls named after five of the Channel Islands: Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, San Miguel and San Nicolas. There are two dining commons located near the Channel Islands residence halls. The Ortega Dining Commons is located between San Miguel and the University Center (Ucen), and the De La Guerra Dining Commons (better known as DLG) is located between Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and San Nicolas.

The two other residence halls, San Rafael and Manzanita Village, are located on the west side of campus and primarily house continuing and transfer students. The Carrillo Dining Commons is located in Manzanita Village, right next to San Rafael Hall. Manzanita Village was completed in 2002, and is the newest dorm on campus.

UCSB does not require freshmen to live on campus, but the vast majority chooses to either live in university-owned housing or in university-affiliated housing.

Students may also choose to rent housing in the bordering community of Isla Vista. Rent varies, but is generally high. An estimated average for rent costs is $500–$800 US/month to share a bedroom, and includes trash pickup and water utilities. Low-cost housing is limited, with the cheapest source being the Santa Barbara Student Housing Cooperative.

Other sources of housing include the Greek System, and outlying communities (i.e. Goleta, Santa Barbara, Isla Vista, Montecito).

[edit] Campus activities

There are a variety of on campus centers offering social, recreational and preprofessional activities for students. The UCSB Multicultural Center puts on numerous activities every year to support students of color and promote awareness of diversity issues on campus. Other organizations and centers include the Daily Nexus, the campus newspaper, the La Cumbre Yearbook and the school radio station, KCSB 91.9. The UCSB Recreation Center also hosts a variety of activities, from Adventure Programs to ballroom dancing classes.

Students grab food and hang out at the Arbor, the Ucen, the Coral Tree Cafe the Courtyard Cafe and for a special lunch, the Faculty Club.

[edit] Greek life

Greek life, while it has grown in prominence in recent years, is not as significant at UCSB as it is at some of California's other major universities (notably USC, UCLA, and UC Berkeley).^{[citation needed]} Consequently there is less animosity between students who are part of Greek life and those who are not.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Collegiate Pan-Hellenic sororities

[edit] National Interfraternity Conference fraternities

Alpha Epsilon Pi ΑΕΠ (AEPi) Sigma Beta Chapter located at 761 Camino Pescadero.
Alpha Gamma Omega ΑΓΩ (AGO) Zeta Chapter located at 6509 Madrid Rd
Alpha Tau Omega ΑΤΩ (ATO) located at 734 Embarcadero Del Norte
Beta Theta Pi ΒΘΠ (Beta) Epsilon Pi Chapter is located at 750 Embarcadero Del Mar
Kappa Sigma ΚΣ (Kappa Sig or K Sig) Epsilon Theta Chapter located at 6519 Cervantes
Phi Sigma Kappa ΦΣΚ (phi Sig) Kappa Pentaton Chapter is located at 6535 Cordoba Rd
Pi Kappa Alpha ΠΚΑ (Pike) Iota Kappa Chapter is located at 760 Embarcadero del Norte
Sigma Alpha Epsilon ΣΑΕ (SAE) California Eta Chapter is located at 765 Embarcadero del Norte
Sigma Alpha Mu ΣΑΜ (Sammy) Unchartered Colony Status No chapter house
Sigma Nu ΣΝ (Sigma Nu) Kappa Eta Chapter is located at 6540 Segovia Rd
Sigma Phi Epsilon ΣΦΕ (Sig Ep)CA Gamma Chapter is Located at 795 Embarcadero del Norte
Sigma Pi ΣΠ (Simga Pi) Alpha Omicron(rechartering) Unchartered Colony No Chapter house

[edit] National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)

Alpha Phi Alpha ΑΦΑ (historically African-American)
Delta Sigma Theta ΔΣΘ (historically African-American)
Kappa Alpha Psi ΚΑΨ (historically African-American)
Zeta Phi Beta ΖΦΒ (historically African-American)

[edit] United Fraternity/Sorority Council (UFSC)

alpha Kappa Delta Phi αΚΔΦ (Asian-American interest)
Chi Delta Theta ΧΔΘ (Asian-American interest)
Gamma Zeta Alpha ΓΖΑ (Latino interest)
Lambda Sigma Gamma ΛΣΓ (multicultural interest)
Lambda Theta Nu ΛΘΝ (Latina/Chicana interest)
Nu Alpha Kappa ΝΑΚ (Latino interest)
Sigma Alpha Zeta ΣΑΖ (multicultural interest)
Sigma Chi Omega ΣΧΩ (multicultural interest)
Sigma Kappa Chi ΣΚΧ (Asian American interest)
Zeta Phi Rho ΖΦΡ (multicultural interest)

[edit] Professional Fraternities

Alpha Kappa Psi AKΨ (Co-ed Business Fraternity) Omicron Omega Chapter
Phi Alpha Delta ΦAΔ (Co-ed Law Fraternity)

[edit] Other information

Storke Tower, completed in 1969, is the tallest building in Santa Barbara County. It's home to a five-octave, 61-bell carillon. All UCSB students are free to access the top of Storke Tower once they check out a key from the Visitor's Center.
Davidson Library, located in the middle of the UCSB campus holds 2.8 million bound volumes and millions of microforms, government documents, manuscripts, maps, satellite and aerial images, sound recordings, and other materials. The 24 Hour Study Room, formerly known as the RBR (Reserved Book Room) is located adjacent to the Davidson Library.
KCSB 91.9 broadcasts from beneath Storke Tower.
SexInfo, which was started in 2001 by Professors John and Janice Baldwin, is run by students doing advanced course work and research on sexuality through UCSB's Sociology Department. The site is dedicated to providing accurate information about sexuality in a way that is both informative and personal. SexInfo answers questions sent in by readers from all over the world, as well as regularly updates and posts articles on various topics related to human sexuality.
Campbell Hall is the university's largest lecture hall with 860 seats. It is also the main venue for the UCSB Arts and Lectures series, which presents special performances, films, and lectures for the UCSB campus and Santa Barbara community.
The Lagoon is a large man-made body of water adjacent to the coastline, between San Rafael and San Miguel Residence Halls. It was created from a former tidal salt marsh flat and is fed by a combination of run-off and ocean water used by the Marine Science Building's aquatic life tanks; thus, it is a combination of fresh and salt water. The Rowing Team has been using the lagoon for instruction for over 40 years.
ARPANET, the world's first electronic computer network, was established on October 29, 1969 between nodes at UCLA and the Stanford Research Institute, in Menlo Park, CA. [2]. In addition to SRI and UCLA, UCSB and the University of Utah were part of the original four network nodes. By December 5, 1969, the entire 4-node network was connected.
Isla Vista — Many students live in Isla Vista, which is immediately adjacent to campus. Isla Vista since the early 1960s has been among the most wide open student ghettos in the world; however its image has greatly improved over the past several years with better clean-up, renovations, and increased law enforcement by the Isla Vista Foot Patrol (IVFP).
The Ucen is built on Chumash burial grounds.
Some student groups inside UCSB jokingly refer to the school as the "Harvard of Party Schools" because of its high academic standards in comparison to other schools with a "party-school" reputation.
UCSB is the only campus in the state of California to offer an undergraduate B.S. degree in Pharmacology.
UCSB is the only UC campus with its own Paramedic Rescue Unit. It is staffed by full-time professional paramedics and part-time undergraduate EMTs.[3]

[edit] Notable faculty

Further information: List of University of California, Santa Barbara people

Finn E. Kydland [4], Professor of Economics and 2004 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics
David J. Gross [5], Director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics and 2004 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics
Alan J. Heeger [6], Professor of Physics and of Materials and 2000 Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry
Herbert Kroemer [7], Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and of Materials and 2000 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics
Free to view video interview with Alan Heeger (Nobel Laureate at UCSB) provided by the Vega Science Trust.
Walter Kohn [8], Founding director, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Research Professor of Physics and 1998 Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry
Free to view video interview with Walter Kohn (Nobel Laureate at UCSB) provided by the Vega Science Trust.
Shuji Nakamura [9] Japanese inventor of the bright green, white and blue GaN LEDs and a blue laser. In 2006, Prof. Nakamura received the Millennium Technology Prize from the Finnish Government.

[edit] Notable alumni