Calfresh is now available to more college students!
As of June 1, 2026, getting help to pay for groceries has never been easier! If you're enrolled in an associate or bachelor's program at a California community college, CSU, or UC, you may qualify for Calfresh! We strongly recommend undergraduate students at UCSB to visit the Food Security and Basic Needs Advising center and meet with a Calfresh Advocate to help check your eligibility; we are open Monday - Friday from 9am - 5pm. Be sure to fill out our Calfresh pre-screen
form!
CLAS services are open for summer!
CLAS — UCSB's campus tutoring service — is a great resource to utilize if you're having difficulty with a course, or if you just need some extra support. You can find out the schedule for course specific CLAS services, when drop-in hours are offered, and make individual appointments at the
UCSB CLAS website. Session B schedules will be published on August 3.
Home and Well Being Study
This research study will gather data across the UC system to describe how LGBTQIA+ students are impacted by housing insecurity. Having safe, reliable, and affordable housing is essential to the well-being and success of every student, however LGBTQIA+ students experience housing insecurity at disproportionate rates. This study will utilize your experiences to help shape how UC campuses can better support LGBTQIA+ students and meet their basic needs.
Online Survey: Surveys will be online using QuestionPro where participants will complete two surveys about three months apart. Participants will receive a $15 gift card after completing the first survey, and a $25 gift card after the second survey. Each survey will not exceed 45-50 minutes.
Zoom Interview: Participants who've experienced housing insecurity during their time as a UC student are eligible to participate in a life history interview; It will take place over zoom and will not exceed 90 minutes. Participants will receive a $75 gift card for their participation in the interview.
This study has been approved by the University of California, Irvine IRB and is supported by the Center for Economic Justice and Action
The Climate Scholars Community Service Fellowship is a program designed for UCSB students who have been regularly volunteering in the community before the start of this program and are looking for opportunities to serve more, build their public service skill set, and expand their relationships in the climate action and environmental field. Students will provide service to people of all ages and will grow a better understanding of our local community. Service placements will all be related to climate action and environmental education with local environmental non-profits. Current community host partners include Heal the Ocean, Santa Barbara Green Business Program, SB MOVE, Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education Foundation/Sweet Wheel Farm, Planet Protectors, SB Audubon, Coastal Ranches Conservancy, and Nature Track. Descriptions of work at each organization can be found here:
https://sicr.sa.ucsb.edu/climate-scholars. We anticipate most students in this program to have one primary placement where they will do the majority of their hours and 1-2 secondary placements to diversify their service experience.
Participating students will commit to put in 360 volunteer hours of hands-on work in the public service climate action field (about 12-15 hrs a week) during the 2026-2027 academic year (September 28th, 2027 - June 6th, 2027) and will also receive 90 hrs of training in advanced skills related to civic engagement and public service. This will total 450 hrs of service and training total. The fellows will be a part of a cohort of other students with a passion and commitment for community service. Fellows will meet with this cohort weekly throughout the year. Since this particular cohort is focused on students who are already volunteering regularly in this field, the training will be more in depth and address more complicated and interesting issues than in the regular College Corps Climate Action Program. Students may receive academic credit for their internships (up to 4 units per quarter). Students will also have access to extensive networking opportunities with the local environmental community.
This program is an offshoot of the UCSB College Corps Program, but comes with a different set of benefits and is structured differently. Participating students in this program will attend broader cohort meetings for UCSB College Corps and will be invited to regional and statewide gatherings of College Corps. They will also receive additional training specific to the Climate Scholars program which will go above and beyond the training offered to the broader cohort members. Fellows will receive an education award of $3,000 at the end of the service year when they complete all 450 hours. There is no stipend of payment prior to this education award at the end of the service year. For locations not accessible by bus, transportation reimbursements may be available during the year. This is primarily a volunteer position and not a paid employment opportunity. We are dedicated to the professional development of the fellows in this program and have set aside funding to support training and conferences linked to the work the students are doing as a part of this fellowship.
Basic Needs Tech Resources 💻:
The Basic Needs Technology Equity Program is dedicated to closing the digital divide by ensuring students have a reliable device for their studies.If you currently lack access to a laptop or a device that supports your coursework, please fill out this
form to request temporary support. We will use your answers to match you with the resources you are eligible for — no further steps or forms are necessary.
Resources Available:
Short Term Loaner Laptops (Chromebooks): For students who indicate a short term laptop need, we are able to issue a laptop for temporary use. Borrowers will be asked to sign a borrowing agreement, be prompted to set up a time to pick up the loaner from SNAC and then return the device to the SNAC within a 30 day period.
A.S. Ipads for Equity (Loaner Ipads): Loaner iPads are provided with styluses, brought to you by Associated Students. Students must be a currently enrolled undergraduate for consideration. Maximum loan period is one quarter in length. ALL components of the iPad loan kit must be returned including the ipad ziplock bag, ipad, charging block and cord, stylus and stylus charging cable.
GSA Loaner Laptops (Macbooks and Dell Laptops): The Graduate Student Association of UCSB offers 10 laptops for free rental by graduate students whose own laptops have been damaged or are otherwise unusable. The program aims to help bridge the financial gap for students who need to purchase a new laptop. In conjunction with the Basic Needs Program, GSA provides five Mac units and five PC/Dell units for short-term loan. Once the loan period is 10 weeks or through the quarter (whichever occurs first), there is a possibility of renewal for an additional 10 weeks. This program is available to all currently enrolled graduate students at UCSB.
Check out our resource guide attached in this email or the Basic Needs website for more information. You can also drop-in to the Food Security and Basic Needs Advising Center with any questions!
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Events
UCSB Wellbeing Day on Wednesday, July 22!
The Wellness Walk & Expo is a summertime event designed to bring the community together and engage with many resources, programs, and opportunities that promote a healthy and thriving campus life. UCSB Wellbeing Day begins at 10:30 am at Storke Plaza. To learn more information and register, check out the sign up
form or use the QR code down below ⬇️ !

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Drop-In Hours
If you need assistance with your basic needs such as food, housing, technology, Calfresh benefits, financial assistance, etc. stop by the Food Security and Basic Needs Advising Center! No appointment needed. Walk-ins welcome.
Questions? Call us at 805-893-2786 or
email us at sa-bas...@ucsb.edu
The center is located across from the Campus Store inside the UCEN
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Miramar Pantry
If you need assistance with food insecurity, the Miramar Pantry —
located in the Sierra Madre Villages —
offers current registered undergraduate and graduate UCSB students free food. For any questions please contact the Miramar Pantry at Mirama...@housing.ucsb.edu. ______________________________
A.S. Food Bank
The A.S. Food Bank Pantry also provides students free produce, pantry staples, toiletries, and other basic care products to UCSB students. The A.S. Food Bank is located in the University Center next to Subway.