College can be a challenging time, and during moments of stress, it’s not always easy to know where to turn. The UCSC Slug Support Program was created to offer early support to undergraduate and graduate students navigating difficult situations—helping to address concerns before they grow into larger challenges or become crises.

Slug Support is made up of caring, non-clinical case managers who work one-on-one with students—both undergraduate and graduate—to create personalized, student-centered plans and help remove the barriers that may be getting in the way of their well-being and success.

Responding to student needs

Slug Support case managers are here to assist students who may be facing a range of challenges—from adjusting to college life, to needing additional resources, to navigating campus systems and services.

Our case managers serve as a direct point of contact for students, as well as for staff, faculty, and family members who are concerned about a student’s well-being or are unsure how to offer support. Case managers work closely with students to understand their unique situations, create personalized action plans, and connect them with the right campus and community resources to help them move forward.

How we help

Slug Support staff provide personalized support to help students overcome challenges and stay on track academically and personally. When appropriate, Slug Support can:

• Collaborate with campus partners such as Counseling and Psychological Services, Financial Aid, the Disability Resource Center, Academic Advising, Housing, and others to ensure coordinated care
• Help students access the most appropriate campus and community resources to address their specific concerns
• Provide emergency financial support for essential needs like food, emergency housing, and other urgent expenses
• Follow up with students to encourage continued use of available resources and, when appropriate, share significant updates with the original referring party

Emergency funding

As one part of Slug Support’s case management program, we have an emergency fund that students can apply for when faced with unforeseen gaps for basic needs costs that they are unable to cover using their financial aid, income from work, savings…etc.

Currently enrolled UCSC degree-seeking graduate and undergraduate students facing an emergency gap for basic needs costs are eligible for consideration. Financial assistance is need-based and for emergencies only. Slug Support does not reimburse students for expenses they have already covered. There is a cap for funding per academic year, and approvals are on a case by case basis.

As part of our assessment process, we ask that all students in need of financial assistance complete a Basic Needs Assessment (BNA) so our team can best determine the gaps in your budget and help you create a holistic plan to the best of our ability. If you already use a different template to track your expenses, please feel free to share that instead as well (estimated numbers are just fine). This assessment is not meant to criticize any spending habits, only to get a better understanding of your financial situation so we can find the best ways to help. Please complete the BNA and upload it to the Slug Support intake form, along with documentation of the expense you are requesting assistance for. If possible, do this ahead of time. If you need assistance completing the assessment, you can wait and complete it with your case manager at your appointment.

Complete the Basic Needs Assessment (BNA)

Fill out the Slug Support intake form

Common unforeseen gaps that our program may assist with:

• Rent
• Security deposits
• Food
• Home utility bills such as electricity, water, heating
• Medical/dental care costs 
• Mental health care costs
• Emergency transportation costs 
• Car repair costs
• Laptop repair costs
• Textbooks
• Enrollment holds

Below is a non-exhaustive list of expenses that our program generally cannot assist with:

• Study abroad expenses
• Tuition/registration fees*
• Cell phone bills
• Credit, debt/loan payments
• Housing cancellation fees, lockout fees, improper checkout fees
• Furniture 
• Taxes
• Car payments, car insurance, registration, routine maintenance such as oil changes
• Routine or leisure travel costs
• Professional development costs including conference registration & travel, certifications, licenses 
• Fines or penalties such as speeding or parking tickets, towing costs
• Legal costs such as attorney fees
• Sorority/fraternity dues, other club or org memberships
• Gym memberships, recreation rentals
• Laptop, cell phone, or other tech purchases
• Graduate school application fees and/or testing costs (e.g. GRE, GMAT, MCAT)

*We may provide limited assistance if a student has an enrollment hold and needs to enroll in a subsequent quarter

Emergency food assistance

Currently enrolled degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students facing immediate food insecurity may qualify for short-term emergency food assistance via meal swipes or a grocery gift card while we help them get connected with longer term resources for food security such as accessing additional financial aid, upgrading their meal plan, or applying for CalFresh…etc.

Students needing immediate food assistance can fill out the Emergency Meal Swipes Request form. For emergency assistance via a grocery gift card, please contact our crisis line (831-459-7003) during business hours. 

Fill out the Emergency Meal Swipes request form - students can receive assistance via this form up to two times per academic year. 

Learn more about the UCSC Basic Needs on-campus food resources

Emergency housing

Currently enrolled degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students without access to safe or stable housing may qualify for temporary emergency housing for up to 30 days per academic year while they are actively working on identifying longer-term housing options. 

Emergency housing placements are made by a Slug Support case manager after meeting with the student to assess their eligibility and determine their needs. Housing placements are primarily on campus, however an off-campus hotel is an option as needed.

Students are expected to meet with the case manager while they are staying in emergency housing to help them make a plan for long-term housing as needed.

Students needing temporary emergency housing should contact our crisis line (831-459-7003) during business hours.