Gaucho Parent & Family Newsletter

November 2025

Hello, Gaucho parents & families!

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Your student is likely busy completing midterms, managing winter quarter class registration, and looking ahead to final exams. This month's newsletter includes information about continuing housing options for the 2026-27 school year, the latest UCSB rankings, resources for supporting your student's wellbeing during this holiday season, and more.

Gifts to the Parents Fund support the top priorities and most pressing needs of our university. Whether it’s furthering scholarly inquiry or making a difference in the lives of students, The Parents Fund provides flexible support for our community’s most pressing needs. Want to learn more? Connect with UCSB’s Parent & Family Giving Team.

Painting a rich picture of a campus known for its innovative spirit, dynamic culture and vibrant community, a host of recent rankings uphold UC Santa Barbara’s status as a leading university across a range of categories — from veterans support to social mobility to academic excellence. Learn more about the latest rankings.

A new 25-year data dashboard shows that UC degrees fuel high-growth careers, often in the industries that have made California the world’s fourth-largest economy, including biotech, computing, engineering, finance, education, health care, and the entertainment industry. Learn more about UC alums in high-growth careers across industry sectors. 

From the local level to the global stage, UC Santa Barbara research is helping to improve the present and secure the future. Follow along.

We asked UCSB orientation leaders to recommend a course every student should take, and they offered up a wide-range of unique classes that broadened their knowledge, from intro to acting to oceanography, computer science, music appreciation and more.

As the quarter wraps up and students prepare to head home for Winter break, it’s a great time to check in on how they’re doing—both emotionally and academically. College life can be exciting and rewarding, but it can also bring challenges that impact mental health and overall wellbeing.

At UC Santa Barbara, student wellbeing is a shared priority. Our campus Wellbeing website offers a wide range of tools and resources designed to support every aspect of student wellness—from mental health and physical health to community connection and academic balance. 

Before or during the holidays, consider starting a conversation with your student. Sometimes a simple, caring question can open the door to meaningful reflection and support. Here are a few helpful questions to guide your check-in:

*How are you feeling about the quarter so far—academically, socially, and personally?
*What’s been going well for you lately? What’s been challenging?
*Have you been finding time to rest, eat well, and recharge?
*Are there any campus resources or areas of support you’d like help connecting with?
*Is there anything you wish was different about your experience right now?

If your student shares that they’re struggling or could use extra support, remind them that help is available. The Wellbeing website can point them toward resources like Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), Health & Wellness, academic support programs, and more. If you have concerns about your student and are not sure how to get them connected, our UCSB Student Mental Health Coordinators can help you and your student navigate wellbeing services. If you need support more broadly connecting to the University, the Student Parent Liaison within the Dean of Students Office can also provide assistance.

Mental health and wellbeing aren’t just vital for personal fulfillment—they’re also key components of academic success here at UCSB. Taking time to care for these areas during college helps students thrive not only inside and outside the classroom, but also helps them build important life-long skills. 

Together, we can help our Gauchos stay healthy, connected, and resilient through every season.

Academic Calendar
Information on quarterly instruction dates and holidays.

Campus Calendar
Displays all the events happening around campus. You can filter by event types, target audience, or topic and stay informed on what UCSB has to offer each quarter. 

Campus Map
UC Santa Barbara’s newly launched, interactive campus map can help you navigate our beautiful campus on your next visit. 

Club & Guest House
Visit your student and stay in UCSB's boutique hotel with 34 guest rooms, a restaurant with fine-dining lunch service, and event facility conveniently located on campus with lagoon and ocean views. 

The Current
UC Santa Barbara’s official news source. Subscribe now!

Gaucho Parents Facebook Page
The official UCSB Parents & Family Facebook page.

Gaucho Parents Website
Connects parents and supporters of UCSB students to valuable resources and offices on campus in order to better address questions and concerns. 

Parent & Family Giving 
Interested in getting more involved with UCSB? Learn how parents can make an impact at our University. 

Student Affairs Departments & Resources
A centralized list of all services in Student Affairs and the easiest ways to contact departments.

University & Community Housing Services
Handles all housing processes for UCSB residence halls and apartments, and offers resources for community housing such as rental listings, conflict resolution, and rental advice.

Need help finding an answer to a question? We are here to help!
sa-ucsbparents@ucsb.edu