Here at UCSB, we take pride in the strong commitment to the success of Chicanx/Latinx communities. As a Hispanic Serving Institution, we continue to provide students with tools and resources needed to accomplish great feats during UCSB, and beyond. Get involved with El Congreso, a Latinx activist organization, or one of the many professional organizations, like Los Ingenieros. Or hang out at El Centro, where you can learn about these organizations!
Featured Event
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 7:30 PM | Campbell Hall
Born into a family of migrant farmworkers, José Hernández didn’t speak English until he was 12. Yet through resilience and determination, he defied the odds – becoming an engineer, an astronaut and the first Mexican-American to travel to space.
Point of Pride
El Centro
In 1969, the Chicano Coordinating Council on Higher Education met at UC Santa Barbara to draft El Plan de Santa Barbara, a document that served as the foundation for educational curriculum and community organizing across California. Another outcome was the formation of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA).
Alumni Spotlight: Maria
“The community I built at UCSB provided me with the reassurance to take on challenging classes and to not be afraid to shape my own unique educational experience. The friends I made through LEAD all had such diverse journeys when it came to entering the law field, which helped me realize that there is no one specific route to reaching your goals. Despite not entering the law field myself, the lessons and skills I learned at UCSB have propelled me toward starting my journey of earning a Master's Degree in School Counseling that still values the specific tenets I sought after in a career in law.”
UC Application Tutorial Spanish Video
View our Spanish UC Application Tutorial here!
Visit our YouTube channel for a variety of playlists—including Major Spotlights videos and a Faculty Lecture Series—to learn even more about the UCSB experience.