Student Services

The Chicana/o Studies Department engages students in the interdisciplinary study of Chicana and Chicano history, culture, and politics. Our students explore Chicana/o experiences in their most broad, comprehensive sense, informed by several philosophical and theoretical schools, historical and political scholarship, literary and religious traditions, artistic movements, mass media, and video and film. In partnership with affiliated faculty across campus and feminist and Black Studies Ph.D. emphasis programs, the B.A./Honors/M.A./Ph.D. programs in Chicana and Chicano Studies challenge students to link theory with practice, scholarship with teaching, and the academy with the community.

The Chicano Studies Institute at UC Santa Barbara facilitates interdisciplinary and field-specific research as scholars and students from all disciplines pursue work that helps policy makers, fellow researchers, educators, service providers and the interested public better understand the most pressing issues pertaining to Chicana/o and Latina/o populations.  Addressing topics such as community formation, academic achievement, health education, cultural literacy, and math/science proficiency from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, the rich collaborations at the Institute cultivate a better understanding regarding the ways that local, state-wide, national and international forces interact, often times with profound impact.  Of crucial importance is the Institute's role in training future generations of scholars equipped to tackle these fundamentally important issues.

The Chicanx/Latinx Cultural Resource Center (CLCRC) provides a culturally enriched environment where students, faculty, and staff of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds can learn about a diverse culture. Our objective is to educate and unify the UCSB and Chicanx/Latinx community through the mediums of art, language, people, food, and traditions. At the Chicanx/Latinx Cultural Resource Center (located in the Student Resource Building) and El Centro Arnulfo Casillas (Building #406), the UCSB community can develop an understanding and appreciation of Chicanx/Latinx cultural heritage and history.

CEMA was established in 1988. Since that time, numerous organizations and individuals have committed to establishing their archives, papers, and other holdings in this program.

Information about finding aids may be found by connecting to the link to that collection. Some of our collections have links to guides in the Online Archive of California (OAC) or guides in PDF format.

In 2014, UCSB was recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education, making the campus eligible for new federal funding to develop new capacities and programs. The ONDAS Student Center (OSC) is funded by a Department of Education Title V HSI grant that supports these purposes The ONDAS Student Center at UCSB promotes the success and retention of first-generation college students with an emphasis on the first year transition and underrepresented student experience. We provide mentoring and academic support in a learning-centered space for students to connect with faculty, staff, and peers in order to grow personally and excel academically.