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Help Banana Slugs stay on track. Support the Slug Support Emergency Fund

At UC Santa Cruz, we believe no student should have to choose between basic needs and their education. The Slug Support Emergency Fund exists to respond to urgent life circumstances, remove financial barriers, and ensure every student has the opportunity to make academic progress and graduate.

Why it matters

Students can face sudden, overwhelming challenges—food and housing insecurity, medical emergencies, family crises, or loss of income—that threaten their ability to stay enrolled. The Slug Support Emergency Fund is a lifeline in these moments, helping students bridge financial gaps and regain stability.

This fund provides support for:

• Other essential resources that support student well-being and academic persistence
• Emergency housing
• Grocery and meal cards
• Mental health and wellness needs
• Timely medical care
• School supplies 

How it works

The fund is administered by the Slug Support team. Each student is paired with a trained, non-clinical case manager who provides personalized support with the long-term goal of helping the student regain stability and stay on track toward graduation.

Each year, Slug Support serves approximately 2,000 UCSC students. With your support, we can continue to assist students facing challenges and help them feel seen, supported, and able to move forward.