A Message from the iDean
A very warm welcome to all of our CCS students! We have 112 new students entering the College, bringing the total enrollment up to 407 for 2017-18. I encourage our continuing students to join me in welcoming these new students, creating a spirit of collaboration and inclusivity across all of the majors. As former Dean Tiffney often remarked, “We are not in competition against each other, but against ignorance.” Meet students outside of your major, attend transdisciplinary events, and care for one another.
As many of you know, this year marks the 50th Anniversary of the College of Creative Studies, which was founded by Professor Marvin Mudrick in 1967 (yes, The Summer of Love). The College has evolved, but holds true to the core ideals of an immersive experience in a chosen field, with the goal of creating new knowledge or artistic works. Today, CCS is an integral part of UC Santa Barbara, offering just one of many exciting ways for students to pursue their undergraduate studies on our beautiful campus. To celebrate the Golden Anniversary – and envision the next 50 – the College is hosting a variety of events throughout the year. We invite alumni, parents of former and current students, the local community, faculty, staff, and students to participate in the events, including sharing stories and the impact CCS had on your life and career. Stay up to date on CCS 50th Anniversary events on our website.
Many of our current students are returning from summer internships, study abroad, or finishing up summer research or creative projects. These out-of-the-classroom experiences are where the deepest learning occurs and I am excited to hear about what our students have accomplished. This year, CCS will hold the first annual Research and Creative Activities Conference (RACA-CON), offering students the opportunity to present their work in a professional setting. The event will be held during Parents Weekend on Saturday, November 4th. CCS alumni Parry Grip (Lit ’92) and Alex Fillipenko (Physics ’79) will be featured guest speakers. RACA-CON is free and open to the public, but we do ask that you RSVP if you plan on attending.
It’s been my honor to serve as the Interim Dean this past year, and it looks like I will continue on for a bit longer until the campus makes a decision regarding the new Dean. I want to remind our students that I have an open-door policy – the iDean is available if the door is open! I hope to see you at our 50th events and especially at our weekly CCS coffee hour (Wednesdays 3-4 PM).