Time to Change Relationship with SBCC?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Santa Barbara
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<p>Like many people across the country, I am shocked and saddened by the recent tragedy at IV. My heartfelt prayers go out to the family, friends, and everyone else affected by the actions of that sick boy. This marks the second time in the past few months that UCSB and IV have made national news for all the wrong reasons. My D was accepted to UCSB, but after two visits did not feel comfortable at the campus. After this weekend, I am sorry to say I am relieved she picked a different school.</p>

<p>While reading the thread "UCSB Campus Safety", I was shocked at mikemac's post that was re-posted by DrGoogle. </p>

<p>Here is the link to mikemac's original thread and a summary of his post from Dr. Google:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/468098-backdoor-way-to-get-into-ucsb.html"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/468098-backdoor-way-to-get-into-ucsb.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>*** Many students refuse to consider a community college because they want the full "college experience" and want to spend 4 years at the same place making friends, learning the ropes of the school, and getting to know the area. That's where UCSB is different, though. It's one of the few residential colleges in CA where students live on/near campus. So if you live in the community adjoining UCSB ("Isla Vista" AKA "IV"), you'll be in a much better position than a junior just showing up for the 1st time. By living in IV you can take advantage of the social opportunities, you'll be living in the same place as UCSB students, you can attend campus events and activities. You can participate in intramural sports at UCSB at a slightly higher fee than students pay, and you can join many of the same career-related clubs as a non-voting member. See UCSB Campus Organizations to contact clubs you're interested in and see if they allow sbcc students to join. And you can even join the UCSB Rec Center and use the weight room, climbing wall, etc. ***</p>

<p>In my opinion, the relationship between UCSB and SBCC which may have been positive in the past is moving towards being parasitic. During this year's open house, ALL of the UCSB students were quick to point out that the vast majority of the people cited in the Deltopia riot were not affiliated with UCSB. And now we have this recent tragedy inflicted on the UCSB family by an SBCC student. UCSB is an amazing institution that offers world class research and academic opportunities. I fear that all of the good aspects of UCSB are being overshadowed by problems emanating from IV. </p>

<p>Technically, we are told that IV is a separate living area that is not part of campus. Practically, IV is part of the campus. Anyone who has visited UCSB knows that there is literally no separation between the two areas. </p>

<p>In my opinion, I think it is time for UCSB to modify its relationship with SBCC. I realize this is in opposition to UC President Janet Napolitano (and the Board of Regents) who are looking at making it easier for community college students to transfer to UC. I am not aware of any other UC Campus that has problems with their CC counterpart. Something needs to be done or UCSB's reputation is going to sink so low it will be an embarrassment to the UC system. The thousands of students who enroll at UCSB each year busted their butts throughout high school to earn their spots at campus. In my opinion, the SBCC students should live closer to their home and have to earn their way onto the UCSB campus the same way.</p>

<p>Here are a few of my ideas:</p>

<p>1) End the policy that allows SBCC students to effectively live like UCSB students. I don't think they should be allowed to join clubs and play in IM sports, for instance.</p>

<p>2) Raise the GPA standards for SBCC students to transfer from a 3.0 to a 3.5. There are many thousands of HS seniors who had a 3.7-4.0 GPA who were denied admission. Why should the threshold be so much lower for CC transfers? </p>

<p>3) UC should acquire the rental properties on IV and turn them into UCSB students housing. They can approach the landlords and offer to sign multi-year master leases for these apartments at very competitive rates. The landlords should love the chance to get paid by a reliable tenant. UCSB can then re-let the units to their students, effectively pushing SBCC students off of IV. At a minimum, UCSB should do this for all the units within 3-4 blocks of "the campus border" to create a buffer.</p>

<p>I'm curious what other CC parents and students think about this. </p>

<p>*** It is not my intent to seem heartless during this tragic time for the UCSB family. It is probably not the best time to bring this up with so many people in shock and grief. Now that my D has made her decision, my time on CC (especially the UCSB thread) will be limited so I figured I better post this now before I forget.</p>

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<p>@Socaldad14, I’ve been thinking the same thing. I agree with you on all counts. </p>

<p>I started thinking this after the spring break riots. To be clear, the students at SBCC were not responsible for this most recent tragedy. But your points are very well taken, IMO. </p>

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<p>1) Which specific policy or policies that allow SBCC students to live like UCSB students?
-Office of Student Life: A registered campus organization is any group composed of University of California, Santa Barbara students, faculty, and/or staff who register with the Office of Student Life in order to have access to University facilities and/or resources.
-Like the recreation programs at many colleges and universities, intramural sports are open to students, staff, faculty, and community members associated with the university. Is allowing SBCC students to take yoga classes through Leisure Review or play IM tennis once a week on campus really such a problem?
-Some City College students take courses at UCSB through cross-enrollment, but so do many Berkeley City College students at UC Berkeley. </p>

<p>2) College GPAs are different than high school GPAs, they aren’t weighted by AP/IB or college courses. Community College students max out at a 4.0, unlike high school students who can have up to a 4.4. In fact, the average GPA drop from high school to college is an entire GPA point, the average GPA of UCSB students is around a 3.0. Also, the minimum transfer GPA for the entire UC system is a 2.4 for California residents, although last year the average admitted transfer GPA for UCSB students was a 3.55. Very few transfer students are admitted to UCSB below a 3.0. The TAG GPA is a 3.2, along with other requirements. If all transfer students were required to have a 3.5 GPA, UCSB along with all of the other UC schools would not meet their enrollment targets.</p>

<p>3) This past school year, UCSB leased out a private complex Westwinds apartments and offered it as UCSB student housing. UCSB is building additional large housing complexes within the next few years and has a goal to house around 80% of UCSB students in student housing. UCSB owned housing is on average much less expensive than landlord/management run apartments in Isla Vista. Renting or buying up properties is quite unrealistic. UCSB offers guaranteed housing for students for all four or two years already. </p>

<p>Isla Vista certainly does have many challenges and a long road ahead, but you can’t just kick out SBCC students, faculty, or other community members. </p>

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<p>I had sworn off CC because I don’t like the new “social media” layout, but these well reasoned comments have lured me back. I write as the mother of a second year UCSB student who lives on a street that the shooter drove down twice, guns blazing. Thankfully she was safe at our home for the Memorial Day weekend when the tragedy unfolded. When I dropped her off on Monday some deputies were evaluating bullet damage at the apartment complex across the street and news vans still trolled the streets. </p>

<p>I have a long list of concerns about the situation in IV, including the inexplicable failure of the county to erect a fence along the cliffs from which students fall to their deaths with some regularity. The City of Santa Barbara erected an unobtrusive fence along similar bluffs in Shoreline Park which led to a decrease in the number of injuries at that location. I am also appalled at the free reign the county appears to give IV landlords, allowing decrepit overcrowded living conditions in housing that would be barely acceptable in many third world nations. I agree that the University could do more to bring the area adjacent to the campus under their control, especially as the size of the campus grows. </p>

<p>In the past I have also been tempted to blame some of the ills of IV on the presence of SBCC kids. However my daughter has assured me that if anything, the SBCC kids are on average more mature and more hard working than many of the UCSB kids she has encountered. Have you heard about the UCSB student who accidentally fired one of his seven guns into an adjoining apartment on the morning of the memorial service for the six slain students? You give Deltopia as an example of SBCC kids causing trouble. The Sheriff’s department statistics show that more UCSB kids than SBCC kids were arrested during that event. According to my daughter, most of the trouble comes from people they refer to as “randoms”, not affiliated with either school. </p>

<p>And that brings us to the most recent incident. It’s not clear to me that killer was even currently enrolled at SBCC. News reports have stated that he had a taken a few classes, but was essentially just hanging out in the college town. Perhaps his parents hoped the laid back culture of IV would be good for him. How many others got their start at SBCC and went on to successfully graduate from UCSB? We can’t condemn the whole institution for the actions of one delusional madman. </p>

<p>It’s definitely been a rough road as a UCSB parent these past few years. If I were honest I would probably say I wish my daughter had chosen a different campus in retrospect. But what’s important is how she feels about her education, and so far she’s never had second thoughts about her choice. She’s had access to research and educational opportunities that just wouldn’t have been available on other campuses, all while living on the beach.</p>

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<p>SBCC students generally are not the problem in IV…it is usually the guests of those who live there or un-invited that cause most of the problems. My daughter just graduated from SBCC…and will be going to UCSB in the fall. She has lived in Isla Vista for 2 years and I can tell you for a fact she has really worked r hard the last few years, and she just finished SBCC with a 3.7 GPA and had a part time job to boot. </p>

<p>She is by no means a slouch, she graduated high school with a 3.9 GPA but because she graduated from high school early she could not go directly to a UC due to starting college in the spring…and as far as I know she has not caused too much trouble in IV nor has she been arrested. In fact, most of her friends from SBCC are in the exactly the same situation.</p>

<p>SoCalDad14, I must disagree with you, to stereotype all SBCC students as trouble-makers and ban them from Isla Vista is basically a ridiculous idea!! </p>