MultiCultural Center (MCC) Support Fee
Do you wish to continue a mandatory fee of $8.52 ($7.06 in summer) per graduate student per quarter to support the MultiCultural Center’s (MCC) operating and programming costs, (Breakdown: fall/winter/spring: $6.83 is for the MCC, $1.69 is for return to aid; summer $5.55 is for the MCC, $1.51 is for return to aid)? Of $5.08 of the $6.83 for the MCC ($4.55 of the $7.06 in summer), a 7% administrative assessment will be charged to all non-capital expenditures. If reaffirmed, the fee will continue to be collected until subject to reaffirmation in spring 2026.
The MCC Support Fee allows the MCC to provide a shared community space that prioritizes educational programming, student engagement, community outreach, and professional development opportunities for all students and career staff from a diverse group of marginalized communities. This fee also supports the maintenance, improvement, and operating costs of the MCC, including its extended hours of operation and ability to offer student employment. The MCC presents approximately 80 programs per year that include lectures, films, panel discussions, readings, art exhibits, plays, and musical performances. Events are open to the public, and by supporting this fee, most events incur no additional charges. In addition, MCC facilities are available for students to use as a study/lounge space, reserve for meetings and programs, and prepare food for their events. These resources and services foster a mutually supportive relationship between the MCC, students, and the campus at large, while also serving as a bridge to the surrounding community.
Approval of the compulsory fee will guarantee continued improvement of academic support services to all eligible graduate students with disabilities. These services include: readers, note takers, sign language interpreters/transliterators, library assistance, laboratory assistance, and adaptive computing to ensure equal access to all academic support services related to the completion of graduate degrees.
The travel grant fee is necessary to offer financial support for graduate students in attending conferences that are essential for their professional development. Currently the GSA grants roughly forty-five $200 travel grants to graduate students each quarter. Re-affirmation of this fee will ensure this support will continue until 2026.
The fee would maintain the childcare grant fund for registered UCSB graduate students with dependents. Grants are limited to one award per graduate student per quarter and students may receive a maximum of five awards during their academic tenure at UCSB. In order to qualify, graduate students must provide proof of dependent(s) care and verification of enrollment. Revenue will be accrued to the UCSB Graduate Students' Association, who will assume responsibility for disbursement of funds to qualified graduate students. Policies and procedures governing eligibility and issuance of these grants shall be determined by the Graduate Students’ Association in accordance with existing university policies.
Graduate Student Association Food Bank Fund
Do you wish to continue a mandatory fee, contingent upon successful reaffirmation of the AS Undergraduate Food Bank Fee Initiative, of $0.85 per graduate student, per quarter (excluding summer) to help fund the operational and food expense costs of the Associated Students Food Bank? Of the $0.85 collected, $0.60 goes to the fund, $0.21 is for return-to-aid, $0.04 is for a 7% campus-based administrative tax. If passed, the fee would continue to be collected until subject to reaffirmation in spring 2026.
The fee increase would allow the GSA to meet the current demand for this grant and award approximately 10 more allocations for graduate students with dependents.
These funds will enable A&L to continue the significant ticket discounts currently available to all UCSB students and support technology-based services, including a mobile-based ticket platform for ticket purchases. A&L is requesting student support in order to maintain the level of programming and student subsidies (up to 83% off of the top-tier general ticket price).
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Support Fee
This fee allows Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) to continue to support and respond to undergraduate and graduate students’ need for crisis intervention, ongoing therapy, therapy groups, and other services to promote psychological well-being for individuals and the campus community. It also funds suicide prevention efforts, 24/7 phone counseling, and has allowed CAPS to provide clinicians, mental health peers and support staff to reduce wait times, and enhance linguistic and cultural diversity of the CAPS staff.
*Fees subject to a COLA remain stagnant for five years. After five years, the compound rate of inflation/deflation the rate of inflation/deflation over the previous five years is calculated and applied cumulatively to the fee.
This fee allows TGIF to support sustainability projects that reduce UCSB's impact on the environment. Overseen by a student-majority committee, projects are selected based on their ability to measurably reduce emissions, waste, energy, and water use on campus. Projects involve student participation and include public outreach/education.
Since its inception in 2006, TGIF has funded over 190 projects, including sustainable & equitable food systems, waste reduction projects, solar projects, LED lighting, sustainable lab assessments, and student internships to support these projects. UCSB has committed to reducing its net greenhouse gas operating emissions to zero by 2025, and the projects funded by TGIF assist the campus in achieving this goal.
This fee allows continued funding for the operation of intramurals, club sports, adventure programs, student events, and open recreation programs. The fee reduces participation costs for all students and provides employment opportunities for over 300 students annually.