Frequently Asked Questions
Cowell College Dorm - Lower Quad. Photo by Jessie Case
The Cowell Core Course:
How does a student enroll?Students self-enroll in the core course in August for Fall quarter and November for Winter quarter. Core course information can be found here.
Questions about your Student’s Academic Record:
It’s the end of the quarter and I still haven’t received any notification of my son/daughter’s grades. When are we notified?Students are notified of their grades through their online student portal. Grades are usually available one week after the end of finals. Due to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we are unable to release student grades to third parties. We rely on students to notify others of their grades.
My son/daughter has a 3.0 and qualifies for my insurance company’s good student discount. How do I get verification of their grades?
Your son/daughter may request a Certification of Enrollment from the Office of the Registrar in person or in writing. More information can be found at: http://reg.ucsc.edu/.
How can I talk to an adviser about my son/daughter’s academics?
Academic advisers at Cowell College strongly recommend that you communicate regularly with your student about their academic record. Due to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we are restricted from sharing information with third parties. Students can, however, request that their information be released to third parties by signing a release of information waiver. This waiver only applies to one instance.
What about computers?
We strongly recommend that all students have computers. The campus is transitioning to a wireless network environment. Laptop computers work best with this system, however most desktops computers will also work with the wireless system. There is also a computer lab located in Cowell for student use.
Questions about Mail:
For more information, please look at the mailroom website.
Can students receive packages?Yes, they will receive a notice in their box informing them that they have a package.
Should I send cash in the mail?
Please do not send cash in the mail—it may not be secure.
How should I address mail to my student?
Cowell College:
Name
UCSC, Cowell College, #XXX
501 Cowell Service Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Stevenson College:
Name
UCSC Stevenson College #XXX
551 Stevenson Service Rd
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Please include the correct mailbox number to avoid delays in delivery (mailbox assignments will be given to students with their room assignments). Please do not use the words “P.O.” or “Box”—this can confuse the U.S. Post Office causing mail to be misplaced or delayed. When addressing mail to your student, please use the name under which they are registered at UCSC, rather than a nickname.
How can students send mail or packages?
For letters there is a U.S. mailbox for outgoing mail located near the parking lot between Stevenson and Cowell Colleges. To send a package from campus, go to the self service Postal Kiosk on the first floor of the Bay Tree Bookstore.
For more information about mail services, visit the Campus Mail Services website.
