Kresge College
Kresge College—UC Santa Cruz’s creative haven—fosters an inclusive environment where students engage in personal and intellectual growth within a close-knit community. Its interdisciplinary curriculum encourages students to live and learn with purpose, cultivate a deep awareness of the natural world, and approach complex social, political, and ecological challenges with creativity and intention.
Through generous donor funds, Kresge offers several impactful courses and opportunities for students, including:
- Making Media for Climate Justice (KRSG 70)
- Power of Filmmaking (KRSG 2)
- An internship in partnership with Services for Transfer Re-Entry Resilient Scholars (STARRS)
- An internship in partnership with Services for Transfer Re-Entry Resilient Scholars (STARRS)
- A new two-unit seminar series, Learning to Love Reading Again
“My vision for Kresge College is one where students get to think about learning as intrinsic to itself—learning because it’s something that makes you excited, not because you’re trying to tick a box.”
—Mayanthi Fernando, Kresge College Provost
Reigniting students’ passion for reading and increasing transfer student retention
Funding for Kresge College courses makes a significant impact. For Learning to Love Reading Again, donor funds cover instructor fees and provide students with physical copies of readings. Provost Fernando created the series after talking to students in her core class and discovering that they don’t actually dislike reading—rather, reading has become either too transactional or students simply lack time for leisurely reading. The program addresses this through three goals: reading for the sake of reading, deepening students’ insight through discussion, and encouraging reading on paper rather than screens.
Kresge has always been a home for transfer students. Working with STARRS has increased retention rates for transfer students and helped them find their community at UC Santa Cruz. The college’s artistic emphasis encourages students to solve problems creatively, extending beyond traditional humanities and arts approaches to all disciplines.
“Kresge students have a certain willingness to experiment and let their creativity flourish no matter their major.”
—Mayanthi Fernando, Kresge College Provost
Impact of donor-funded scholarships
Students have access to scholarships and funding through Kresge College thanks to the generosity of donors like alumna Reyna Grande (Kresge ’99, creative writing, film and video). With the support of the Reyna Grande Scholarship, Kresge student Viviana Raker was able to feature her short film in the Watsonville Film Festival.
Alumni can play a large role in the success of current students, whether through philanthropy—providing scholarships and programmatic support—or offering educational and career advice.
Provost Fernando invites Kresge alumni to visit their former college home and interact with current students.