University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA

F
Score: 37/100
23,205
Undergraduate students
$15,460
Annual tuition
75 / 100
Diversity Index
Large Campus
Large Campus
public
Public University
Suburban Campus
Suburban Campus
West Region
Description

"As a disabled student myself, I’m often only catered to on a case-by-case basis, or depending on whether my professor wants to be nice to me, and that’s not really what I would consider equitable education," said one student in the Daily Nexus, the independent student newspaper of UC Santa Barbara, calling for better training for faculty on working with students with disabilities.

In 2023, CalMatters reported that the ratio of students registered with the Disabled Students Program (DSP) to the number of disability specialists on staff was 500:1 even though the ideal ratio is 250 students per disability specialist. The understaffing may explain why students on Reddit have complained about the services at DSP. One student writes, "I had an issue in the fall with trying to activate one of my accommodations for a class and I emailed my DSP counselor like 5 times for an update over like 6 weeks and never got a response. I ended up just not going to the class anymore and getting a lower grade because I wasn't able to get my accommodation (an already approved one I was just trying to use for that class). It's very frustrating, I know they are understaffed so I don't even necessarily blame my counselor but the school really needs to hire a few more people if they can't help everyone who needs DSP accommodations."

In 2024, the Commission on Disability Equity (CODE) announced the opening of a Disability Cultural Center (DCC) on campus, after eight years of planning and development.

UC Santa Barbara is currently ranked 39th by U.S. News. It was ranked 35th in 2024.

Has the university committed to maintaining its DEI programs?

NO

UC Santa Barbara has removed its DEI webpage.

What types of activities exist on campus for disability inclusion, advocacy, and recreation?

Disability Cultural Center

YES

Adaptive sports programs

NO

Student organizations

YES

Other

YES

In 2024, Daily Nexus reported on the planned opening of a Disability Cultural Center (DCC) on the third floor of the University Center by the end of the year although the space will be undergoing extensive renovations for the next two to five years. The DCC doesn't yet have its own website although it is essentially a project of the UC Santa Barbara Associated Students’ Commission on Disability Equity, which is "a student-run organization that hopes to foster and maintain an intersectional and holistic approach to universal access, disability awareness, and appreciation creating a student-centered space that celebrates and commemorates disability justice, history, and culture."

The Mental Health Peer Program is a project of Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). They organize workshops on mental health, conduct outreach on campus, and offer peer counseling services.

The number of disability-centered articles published in the campus newspaper last year

3

Does the university use stigmatizing language about mental illness or disability on its website?

YES

The "REFER A GAUCHO" Student of Concern report form states "avoid documenting subjective interpretations of behavior," but the UCSB Distressed Students Response Protocol lists "Bizarre thoughts or behavior" as an indicator, which is not only subjective, but often code for neurodivergence.

Does the university provide an alternative-to-police mental health crisis response team?

NO

According to the UCSB Distressed Students Response Protocol, "UCPD is the campus community’s emergency response service for medical, psychiatric, and safety concerns."

Does the university offer a Disability Studies major?

Disability Studies major

NO

Disability Studies minor or certificate

NO

One or more classes in Disability Studies

YES
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