University of California , Santa Barbara The University of California , Santa Barbara ( commonly referred to as UC Santa Barbara or UCSB ) is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system . The main campus is located on a site in Goleta , California , United States , from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los Angeles . Founded in 1891 as an independent teachers ' college , UCSB joined the University of California system in 1944 and is the third - oldest general - education campus in the system . UCSB is one of America ' s Public Ivy universities , which recognizes top public research universities in the United States . The university is a comprehensive doctoral university and is organized into five colleges offering 87 undergraduate degrees and 55 graduate degrees . The campus is the 6th - largest in the UC system by enrollment with 18 , 620 undergraduate and 3 , 065 graduate students . The university granted 5 , 812 bachelors , 578 masters , and 354 PhD degrees in 2010 – 2011 . In 2012 , UCSB was ranked 41st among " National Universities " and 10th among public universities by " U . S . News & World Report " . The university was also ranked 35th worldwide by the " Times Higher Education World University Rankings " and 34th worldwide ( 6th worldwide for engineering ) by the " Academic Ranking of World Universities " in 2012 . < ref name = " Shanghairanking . com / FieldENG2012 " > < / ref > UC Santa Barbara is a " very high activity " research university and spent $ 191 . 2 million on research expenditures in the 2007 fiscal year , 97th - largest in the United States . UCSB houses twelve national research centers , including the renowned Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics . UCSB faculty includes five Nobel Prize laureates , one Fields Medal ist , 29 members of the National Academy of Sciences , 27 members of the National Academy of Engineering , and 23 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences . UCSB was elected to the Association of American Universities in 1995 . UCSB was the No . 3 host on the ARPAnet . The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos compete in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference . The Gauchos have won NCAA national championships in men ' s soccer and men ' s water polo . History . UCSB traces its origins back to the Anna Blake School which was founded in 1891 and offered training in home economics and industrial arts . The Anna Blake School was taken over by the state in 1909 and became the Santa Barbara State Normal School . The campus was on the Riviera , portions of which house today ' s Riviera Theatre . By 1913 , the Riviera neighborhood was established and housing for up to 40 faculty and students built . ( This housing is today ' s El Encanto Hotel . ) 1921 , a liberal arts program was authorized and the school was renamed again to Santa Barbara State College . Growth was so rapid that a new campus was needed . When the 1925 Earthquake destroyed Dibblee ' s imposing stone mansion , Punta Del Castillo , on the cliff overlooking the harbor , land was available , and , by 1932 , it had been purchased for the college . Remains of the mansion were cleared and the stone was used to build the retaining wall on Cliff Drive . The first building was completed in 1941 . Intense lobbying by an interest group in the City of Santa Barbara , led by Thomas Storke and Pearl Chase , persuaded the State Legislature , Governor Earl Warren , and the Regents of the University of California to move the State College over to the more research - oriented University of California system in 1944 . The State College system sued to stop the takeover , but the Governor did not support the suit . A state initiative was passed , however , to stop subsequent conversions of State Colleges to University of California campuses . From 1944 to 1958 the school was known as Santa Barbara College of the University of California , before taking on its current name . When the vacated Marine Corps training station in Goleta was purchased for the rapidly - growing college , Santa Barbara City College moved into the vacated State College buildings . Originally , the Regents envisioned a small , several thousand - student liberal arts college , a so - called " Williams College of the West " , at Santa Barbara . Chronologically , UCSB is the third general - education campus of the University of California , after Berkeley and UCLA ( the only other state campus to have been acquired by the UC system ) . The original campus the Regents acquired in Santa Barbara was located on only of largely unusable land on a seaside mesa . The availability of a portion of the land used as Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara until 1946 on another seaside mesa in Goleta , which the Regents could acquire for free from the federal government , led to that site becoming the Santa Barbara campus in 1949 . Originally , only 3000 – 3500 students were anticipated , but the post WWII baby boom led to the designation of general campus in 1958 , along with a name change from " Santa Barbara College " to " University of California , Santa Barbara , " and the discontinuation of the industrial arts program for which the State college was famous . A Chancellor , Samuel B . Gould , was appointed in 1959 . All of this change was done in accordance with the California Master Plan for Higher Education . In 1959 , UCSB Professor Douwe Stuurman hosted the English writer Aldous Huxley as the university ' s first visiting professor . Huxley delivered a lectures series called " The Human Situation " . In the late 1960s and early 1970s UCSB became nationally known as a hotbed of anti - Vietnam War activity . A bombing at the school ' s faculty club in 1969 killed the caretaker , Dover Sharp . In the spring 1970 multiple occasions of arson occurred , including a burning of the Bank of America branch building in the student community of Isla Vista , during which time one male student , Kevin Moran , was shot and killed by police . UCSB ' s anti - Vietnam activity impelled then Governor Ronald Reagan to impose a curfew and order the National Guard to enforce it . Weapon - carrying guardsmen were a common sight on campus and in Isla Vista during this time . In 1995 , UCSB was elected to the Association of American Universities , an organization of leading research universities , with a membership consisting of 59 universities in the United States ( both public and private ) and two universities in Canada . Provosts and Chancellors . Santa Barbara State College was under the supervision of a President , but in 1944 , when it became a campus of the University of California , the title of the chief executive was changed to Provost . In September 1958 , the Regents of the University of California established Santa Barbara as a general University campus and at the official title of the chief executive was changed to Chancellor . UCSB ' s first Provost was thus Clarence L . Phelps , while UCSB ' s first Chancellor was Samuel B . Gould . Campus . UCSB is located on cliffs directly above the Pacific Ocean . UCSB ' s campus is completely autonomous from local government and has not been annexed by the city of Santa Barbara and thus is not part of the city . While it appears closer to the recently formed city of Goleta , a parcel of the City of Santa Barbara that forms a strip of " city " through the ocean to the Santa Barbara airport , runs through the west entrance to the university campus . Although UCSB has a Santa Barbara mailing address , as do other unincorporated areas around the city , only this entry parcel is in the Santa Barbara city limits . Like all other UC and CSU campuses , it is self - governing and cannot be incorporated into either city . The campus is divided into four parts : Main ( East ) Campus that houses all academic units plus the majority of undergraduate housing , Storke Campus , West Campus and North Campus . The campuses surround the community of Isla Vista . UCSB is one of a few universities in the United States with its own beach . The campus , bordered on three sides by the Pacific Ocean , has miles of coastline as well as its own lagoon . The campus has numerous walking and bicycle paths across campus , around the lagoon and along the beach . Much of the campus ' early architecture was designed by famed architect William Pereira and his partner Charles Luckman , and made heavy use of custom tinted and patterned concrete block . This design element was carried over into many of the school ' s subsequent buildings . The Lagoon is a large body of water adjacent to the coastline , between San Rafael and San Miguel Residence Halls . It was created from a former tidal salt marsh flat and is fed by a combination of run - off and ocean water used by the Marine Science Building ' s aquatic life tanks ; thus , it is a unique combination of fresh and salt water . Many of the older campus buildings are being replaced with newer , more modern facilities . The UCSB Libraries , consisting of the Davidson Library and the Arts Library , hold more than 3 million bound volumes and millions of microform s , government documents , manuscripts , maps , satellite and aerial images , sound recordings , and other materials . The 24 Hour Study Room , formerly known as the RBR ( Reserved Book Room ) , is adjacent to the Davidson Library , which is located in the middle of the UCSB campus . Campbell Hall is the university ' s largest lecture hall with 862 seats . It is also the main venue for the UCSB Arts and Lectures series , which presents special performances , films , and lectures for the UCSB campus and Santa Barbara community . Storke Tower , completed in 1969 , is the tallest building in Santa Barbara County . It can be seen from most places on campus , and it overlooks Storke Plaza . It is home to a five - octave , 61 - bell carillon . KCSB 91 . 9 and the " Daily Nexus " have headquarters beneath Storke Tower . The UCSB Family Vacation Center founded in 1969 , is a summer family camp located on campus that draws over 2 , 000 guests each summer . The staff of over 50 includes many UCSB students who have been extensively trained as camp counselors . Layout . The university ( itself termed a " campus " of the University of California ) is divided into two physical campuses , a West Campus and East Campus . The vast majority of university facilities , including all lecture halls and laboratories , are in the East Campus . The two campuses are connected by a large strip ( known as the North and Storke Campuses ) to the north which contain university housing and athletic fields . Thus , the university surrounds Isla Vista on three sides . West Campus , aside from a few buildings dedicated to faculty housing , has largely been leased out to private organizations , and includes a school for the mentally disabled and a large nature preserve . The largest sand dunes on the south - facing coast of the Santa Barbara Channel are located here . The East Campus centers around two quadrangle s , separated from each other by the main library and bus circle , and the life sciences buildings . Along the western quad are Storke Plaza and buildings housing the various arts , social sciences , and humanities departments . The Student Resource Building and the Events Center are also located along this quad . Surrounding the wider , park - like eastern quad are buildings housing the physical sciences departments and the College of Engineering . Directly to the south of , but not adjacent to , the eastern quad are the life sciences and psychology departments , as well as most of the on - campus housing . The southernmost section of the campus is dominated by the lagoon . The peninsula extending from the beach into the lagoon contains an elaborate labyrinth . Ocean Science Education building . The new Ocean Science Education building will house the Outreach Center for Teaching Ocean Science ( OCTOS ) and incorporate the educational outreach program of UCSB ' s Marine Science Institute ( MS ) and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary ( CSMS ) OCTOS is designed to expand science education for kindergarten through 12th graders . It will also provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students , who will be voluntary guides , to learn about teaching science . The project will cost an estimated $ 20 million dollars , $ 8 million of which has already been provided by the federal government . The remaining $ 12 million will reportedly be made available through private funds raised by the university . The building was supposed to be completed in August 2011 but the university terminated their contract with their contractor because he was many months behind schedule and did not complete the building by the projected date . So at this time , the project remains unfinished . Bicycles . UCSB is known for its extensive biking system . Bicycles have exclusive right of way on paths throughout East Campus . Bicycle stand s and lockers are ubiquitous . UCSB is unique among bicycle - heavy areas in that most travel is done within a small radius . Academics . UC Santa Barbara is a large , comprehensive , primarily residential doctoral university . The full - time , four - year undergraduate program comprises the majority of enrollments and has an arts & sciences focus with high graduate co - existence . UCSB is organized into five colleges and schools offering 87 undergraduate degrees and 55 graduate degrees . The campus is the 6th - largest in the UC system by enrollment with 18 , 620 undergraduate and 3 , 065 graduate students . Admissions . Admission to UC Santa Barbara is rated as " most selective " by " U . S . News and World Report " . UC Santa Barbara received 54 , 832 applications for admission to the Fall 2012 incoming freshman class ; 24 , 133 were admitted ( 44 . 0 % ) . Enrolled freshmen had an average high school GPA of 3 . 91 , and an average combined SAT score of 1852 ( average SAT scores of 601 for Critical Reading , 633 for Mathematics , and 617 for Writing ) . 25 % of admitted students receive federal Pell grant s . Research activity . From 2005 – 2009 , UCSB was ranked fourth in terms of relative citation impact in the U . S . ( behind MIT , Caltech , and Princeton University ) according to Thomson Reuters . UCSB hosts 12 National Research Centers , including the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics , the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis , the Southern California Earthquake Center , the Center for Spatial Studies , an affiliate of the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis , and the California Nanosystems Institute . Eight of these centers are supported by the National Science Foundation . UCSB is also home to Microsoft Station Q , a research group working on topological quantum computing where American mathematician and Fields Medal ist Michael Freedman is the director . Teaching and degrees . The focus of the University of California is on research . Like all University of California campuses , UCSB prioritizes academic development over vocational learning . Undergraduate teaching is centered on lectures , with larger lecture classes having sections . Sections may be tutorial style , or they may be set up as seminars or discussions . For undergraduates , UCSB confers both B . A . and B . S . degrees . Music majors may pursue a Bachelor of Music degree . Graduate teaching involves seminar style classes and an emphasis on research and further study . UCSB confers M . A . , M . S . , and PhD degrees . Those studying music may pursue a M . M . or D . M . A . degree . Students pursuing a career in education may receive a M . Ed . or Ed . D . degree . Rankings . UCSB is considered to be a " Public Ivy " . In addition , the University of California , Santa Barbara is currently ranked 34th in the world and 26th nationally by the " Academic Ranking of World Universities " . The 2013 edition of " U . S . News & World Report " ranked UC Santa Barbara as the 41th best university in the nation , tied for 4th best of the UC schools and the 10th best public university in the United States . In 2013 " Kiplinger " ranked UCSB 14th out of the top 100 best - value public colleges and universities in the nation , and 4th in California . Research impact rankings . The " Times Higher Education World University Rankings " ranked UCSB 35th worldwide in 2012 , 23rd in the U . S . while the " Academic Ranking of World Universities " ( ARWU ) ranked UCSB 34rd , 26th in the nation . ARWU ranked UCSB 6th worldwide for engineering . In the United States National Research Council rankings of graduate programs , 10 UCSB departments were ranked in the top ten in the country : Materials , Chemical Engineering , Computer Science , Electrical and Computer Engineering , Mechanical Engineering , Physics , Marine Science Institute , Geography , History , and Theater and Dance . Among US university Materials Science and Engineering programs , UCSB was ranked first in each mesure of a study by the National Research Council of the NAS The " Centre for Science and Technologies Studies " at Leiden University in the Netherlands ranked UCSB as the 5th best research university in the world based on Mean normalized citation score ( MNCS ) , and as the 7th best in the world based on the proportion of the publications to the top 10 % most frequently cited . " The Global Research Report : United States " published by Thomson Reuters in November 2010 rated UCSB ' s research 4th nationally in citation impact . Among US university economics programs , in 2010 UCSB was ranked the 6th for experimental economics , 3rd for environmental economics , and 12th for cognitive and behavioral economics by RePEc . " Washington Monthly " , whose ranking focuses on public service and research impact , named UCSB as the 14th best national university in 2012 . Other rankings . In the United States National Research Council rankings of graduate programs , 10 UCSB departments were ranked in the top ten in the country : Materials , Chemical Engineering , Computer Science , Electrical and Computer Engineering , Mechanical Engineering , Physics , Marine Science Institute , Geography , History , and Theater and Dance . " US News & World Report " ranked UCSB ' s graduate programs in Materials Engineering and Chemical Engineering the 2nd and 8th best in the U . S . , respectively ; the graduate school for Physics was ranked 10th best , including the 3rd best program for Condensed Matter Physics , 5th best program for Quantum Physics and the 8th best program for Elementary Particles / Field / String Theory . In terms of the social sciences , UCSB ' s graduate program in Sociology is ranked 2nd for research in sex and gender and 7th for sociology of culture ; the History department is ranked 10th for women ' s history . UCSB ' s Department of Communication was recognized as top in the nation based on data from the National Research Council ’ s study . Several areas in UCSB ' s Department of Communication have been Ranked Best in Nation by the National Communication Association . Specifically , UCSB ' s Department of Communication has been ranked number 1 in the nation for Interpersonal and Small Group Communication , number 1 in the nation for Intercultural / International Communication , number 2 in the nation Organizational Communication , number 4 in the nation for Communication and Technology , and number 17 in the nation for Mass Communication . UCSB ' s Department of Communication has been ranked No . 3 in the nation in terms of research productivity , according to a recent analysis of scholarly articles that have appeared in eight academic journals sponsored by the National Communication Association and the International Communication Association . In addition , UCSB ' s Department of Communication has been named One of the Top High Impact Departments in the nation . Webometrics ranked UCSB 49th worldwide in its July 2012 ranking . In 2012 QS World University Rankings ranked UCSB 118th in the world . The lowest ranking received by the university from a major publication comes from " Forbes " which ranks the university 139th in the nation . That ranking focuses mainly on net positive financial impact , in contrast to other rankings , and generally ranks liberal arts colleges above most research universities . Organization . Santa Barbara is one of the ten major campuses affiliated with the University of California . The University of California is governed by a 26 - member Board of Regents , 18 of which are appointed by the Governor of California to 12 - year terms , 7 serving as " ex officio " members , and a single student regent . The position of Chancellor was created in 1952 to lead individual campuses . The Board of Regents appointed Henry T . Yang to be the 5th Chancellor of the university in 1994 . Colleges and schools . UC Santa Barbara has three colleges : the College of Letters & Science , the College of Engineering , and the College of Creative Studies . The College of Creative Studies offers students an alternative approach to education by supporting advanced , independent work in the arts , mathematics , and sciences . The campus also has two professional schools , the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management , located in Bren Hall , and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education . Academic year . The university runs on a quarter system . There are three terms in the normal academic year : fall , winter , and spring , as well as a summer term . At the beginning of each term , there are one to three days of Pre - instructional Activities , where faculty meet to discuss instructional plans . During this period , students acquaint themselves to the campus and have the opportunity to take placement tests . At the end of each term , one week is devoted to final exams and special academic activities . There are 146 days of instruction , with a minimum of 48 per term . Student activities and traditions . Social . UCSB is a politically active campus . For the 2008 presidential election , UCSB won a national college competition for student voter registration by registering 10857 voters , or 51 . 5 % of the student population . The UCSB Campus Democrats are one of the most active organizations on campus . Over the years , other political parties and organizations have also been known to be active on campus , such as the Environmental Affairs Board , Green Party , Libertarians , NORML , and the Queer Student Union . There are a variety of on campus centers offering social , recreational , religious , and preprofessional activities for students . The UCSB Multicultural Center puts on numerous activities every year to support students of color and promote awareness of diversity issues on campus . Other organizations and centers include the " Daily Nexus " , a daily newspaper , the La Cumbre Yearbook , the school radio station , KCSB 91 . 9 , " The Bottom Line " , a weekly newspaper , and the Gaucho Free Press , the campus ' s conservative magazine . The UCSB Recreation Center also hosts a variety of activities , from Adventure Programs to ballroom dancing classes . Further UCSB offers a space for UCSB ' s large Jewish population and a place for Jewish students to come together in a unique building in Isla Vista . Students socialize at the Arbor , the UCen , the Coral Tree Cafe the Courtyard Cafe and for a special lunch , the Faculty Club . UCSB is also known for its annual free music festival , Extravaganza . It is held at Harder Stadium in the spring and generally attracts around 8 , 000 people . Past performers have included Nas , T . I . , E - 40 , Sublime , Run - D . M . C . , The Pharcyde , Social Distortion , Jack Johnson , Drake and Snoop Dogg amongst many others . The Nu chapter of Phrateres , a non - exclusive , non - profit social - service club , was installed here in 1939 . Between 1924 and 1967 , 23 chapters of Phrateres were installed in universities across North America . Housing . There are eight residence halls at UCSB , seven of which are located at the main campus . One , Santa Catalina , is located near the entrance to West Campus north of Isla Vista . Santa Catalina has its own dining commons , Portola Dining Commons , as well as a heated swimming pool , two lounges , numerous study rooms , two recreational rooms , a gym , as well as tennis courts and an expansive lawn . Because Santa Catalina is nearly off - campus , it has its own campus police station as well as housing offices and Res - Net support center . The Main Campus residence halls are found in two different locations . On the east end of campus are the residence halls named after five of the Channel Islands : Santa Rosa , Santa Cruz , Anacapa , San Miguel and San Nicolas . There are two dining commons located near the Channel Islands residence halls . The Ortega Dining Commons is located between San Miguel and the University Center ( UCen ) , and the De La Guerra Dining Commons ( DLG ) is located between Santa Rosa , Santa Cruz , and San Nicolas . The two other residence halls , San Rafael and Manzanita Village , are located on the west side of campus and primarily house continuing and transfer students . The Carrillo Dining Commons is located in Manzanita Village , right next to San Rafael Hall . Manzanita Village was completed in 2002 , and is the newest residence hall on campus . In addition , the university also has four housing complexes for graduate students and their families : the recently completed San Clemente Villages for single graduate students , Santa Ynez Apartments , El Dorado Apartments , Westgate Apartments , and family student housing : West Campus Apartments and the Storke Apartment complexes . There is also Faculty Housing at the West Campus Point and new construction underway at the North Campus . Private residence halls are also available to UCSB students . Tropicana Del Norte , located directly adjacent to the Main Campus , houses UCSB students in 51 furnished suites and has an on - site dining hall and heated pool . Students may also choose to rent housing in the bordering community of Isla Vista . An estimated average for rent costs is $ 500 – $ 800 US / month to share a bedroom , and includes trash pickup and water utilities . Low - cost housing is limited , with the cheapest source being the Santa Barbara Student Housing Cooperative . Other sources of housing include the Greek System , and outlying communities ( i . e . Goleta , Santa Barbara , Isla Vista , Montecito ) . Some students live in Isla Vista , which is immediately adjacent to campus . Isla Vista since the early 1960s has a reputation of being a party environment . UCSB is also affiliated with the Santa Barbara Student Housing Cooperative in Isla Vista , which seeks to provide low rent co - op housing regardless of gender , race , social , political , or religious affiliation , and thereby influencing the community to eliminate prejudice and discrimination in the community . Services . There are a number of academic resources offered by the university , including a writing center , open computer lab s , a machine shop , and drop - in academic advising . A large Recreation Center provides classes and facilities for students and faculty . The Center has swimming pools , racquetball courts , a rock wall , and exercise machines . The University Center has facilities for meetings and presentations , and also contains a bookstore , restaurants and a cashier . UCSB has a health clinic . Students with ailments or seeking medical assistance may consult a physician at the clinic . The clinic also offers basic health care and provides emergency medicine and contraceptives . The university is the only UC campus with its own Paramedic Rescue Unit . It is staffed by full - time professional paramedics and part - time undergraduate EMT s . SexInfo , which was started in 1976 by Professors John and Janice Baldwin , is run by students doing advanced course work and research on sexuality through UCSB ' s Sociology Department . The site is dedicated to providing accurate information about sexuality in a way that is both informative and personal . SexInfo answers questions sent in by readers from all over the world , as well as regularly updates and posts articles on various topics related to human sexuality . This program helps students getting their degree in psychology . Free Student Programs . Campus Learning Assistance Services ( CLAS ) : This program provides course - specific tutoring as well as academic skills development . Over 7 , 000 students use these free services each year , proving it to be an essential component to academic success at UCSB . Education Abroad Program ( EAP ) Though all Universities of California share this study abroad program , each one must individually seek out funds in order to ensure longevity . The main goal is to " equip UC students with the knowledge , understanding , and skills for work and life in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world . " Students can choose from over 250 programs within 36 countries around the world . Education Opportunity Program ( EOP ) : This program helps provide support and information base aiming to keep students actively participating in the campus academic community . A main goal is to keep student encouraged by giving a sense of belonging . " EOP helps motivate and inform students to utilize services to enhance their preparation for the job market and / or graduate / professional school admission , " among other things . Although any student can take advantage of what EOP offers , serving low - income and first - generation undergraduates is the main focus . MultiCultural Center ( MCC ) : The mission of the MCC is to represent students of color , and provide awareness and education to the student body as a whole about cultural diversity . " In addition to continuing to provide a safe space for students of color , international students , and gay , lesbian , and bisexual students , the MCC serves as a bridge to the entire campus community . To that end , the MCC offers a broad spectrum of events including lectures , panel discussions , films and videos , musical , dance , and dramatic performances , and poetry readings , which are all open to the general public . " The MCC has many facilities , including a lounge / gallery , theater , meeting room , and kitchen . Career and Counseling Services : UCSB students as well as graduates are linked to the outside job market through this on - campus facility . Doors are open on weekdays allowing for students to drop in for advice , however appointments are recommended . While the online service Gaucholink is always available , the career fairs held are the primary way students successfully seek out a job or internship . Campus Security Organization ( CSO ) : This organization was created over 30 years ago acting as a liaison or mediator between students and residents of neighboring Isla Vista to the local police department . A few of the CSO goals are to provide a safe and aware environment for students , to establish an open line of communication on a peer group level , and to maintain a positive relationship between the students and police . Senior Class Gift : Each year , the graduating class chooses a program of students ’ choice to support as they leave UCSB . It is meant to act as a long - lasting legacy that students leave . Some notable gifts in the past went towards the Recreational Sports Legacy Fund and the Associated Students Food Bank . Many classes also decide to support the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund in addition . Funding . The UCSB Annual Fund is the nonprofit organization on campus that helps raise money to keep free programs available for students . About 250 gauchos per year call 40 , 000 parents and alumni in order to raise awareness of the financial situation the university is in . These students act as the mediator between the free programs and the donors by giving information about programs in need and helping keep them alive . The Office of Development is grateful for the support it receives in order to continue “ creating new , innovative fields of study , and preparing students for leadership in the new millennium . ” Currently , Brandon Friesen is the director and Deven Desai is the assistant director . The Hollister Research Center was the original location . In 2010 , the fundraising moved on campus to Phelps Hall , where it can be found to this day . Students use an automated calling system in order to reach the large amount of parents and alumni associated to the university . Athletics . The mascot of UCSB is the Gaucho and the school colors are blue and gold . UCSB ' s sports teams compete in the Big West Conference , with the exception of the men ' s water polo , men ' s and women ' s swimming , and the men ' s volleyball teams , which are in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . Santa Barbara is best known for its women ' s basketball and men ' s soccer teams . In 2006 , UCSB won their first NCAA Men ' s Soccer title and its second overall NCAA championship ( 1979 water polo ) in school history . While there are some 400 students in ICA , there are over 700 in Club Sports Teams including : Alpine Racing , Cycling , Fencing , Field Hockey , Lacrosse , Roller Hockey , Rugby , Sailing , Soccer , Triathlon , Ultimate Frisbee , Water Ski and Rowing . Many of these teams are highly regarded and compete against Intercollegiate teams from across the US . For example Rowing has produced several national team members including Nine - time National Rowing Team member Amy Fuller , winner of several Olympic and World Championship medals and currently head of the UCLA Rowing Program . The UCSB Cycling Team has also produced several national team members , Olympians , and members of numerous US and international professional teams . Many other hundreds of students participate in a large Intramural program consisting of Badminton , Basketball , Bowling , Flag Football , Golf , Floor Hockey , Indoor and Outdoor Soccer , Racquetball , Squash , Running , Softball , Tennis , Table Tennis , Ultimate Frisbee , Volleyball , Inner tube water polo , and Kickball . One non - sanctioned sport also draws many students to UCSB : surfing . The on - campus beaches include a number of decent surfing sites , including " Poles , " " Campus Point , " " Depressions " and " Sands " and " Devereaux Point " on the west campus . Because Campus Beach actually faces South and East , and is shielded by the Santa Barbara Channel Islands , the surf is usually quite small . However , a large North or West swell can wrap in to create great waves which are typically very clean and good for surfing . UCSB has a surf team that competes in NSSA ( National Scholastic Surfing Association ) competitions , and is generally considered one of the best in the nation . They continued their reputation by winning a record 14th National Title at the college level in 2010 ' s finals . Controversies . UCSB has refused to hire the disabled for certain jobs such as exam proctors and note takers . UCSB student Alexander Stern filed a lawsuit in federal court , " Alexander Stern v . Regents of the University of California " , as a response to the ban on disability hiring . As of June 2012 , the case has been settled . People . Notable faculty . Current UCSB faculty have received several prestigious awards , including five Nobel Prizes and a Fields Medal . In addition , there are 25 members of the National Academy of Sciences , 24 members of the National Academy of Engineering , and 21 members of the Academy of Arts and Sciences on the faculty .