The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) is a well-known research-based higher education institution that currently operates under the umbrella of the University of California system. The university has been consistently highly ranked among similar research institutions both inside and outside the US. The idea for the establishment of the university came as a direct result of a bid to the governing board of the University of California system to equip Santa Cruz with a competitive public institution of higher education. Opened in the fall of 1965, the university is committed to equipping students with the most relevant and up-to-date knowledge in their chosen academic discipline. With over 60 undergraduate and 40 graduate degree programs, UCSC has developed itself as an arena for interdisciplinary education and research opportunities in arts, engineering, humanities, physical and biological sciences, and social sciences. Covering over 810 hectares of land surrounded by Santa Cruz Mountains, the main university campus hosts 10 residential colleges, and the modern McHenry library, gathering publications related to arts, humanities and social sciences. Alongside their work on campus, scholars are also encouraged to benefit from the university’s strong connections and complete work experience in the industry. Alternatively, students can choose to complete a yearlong exchange programme with a partner university, such as the University of New Mexico or the University of New Hampshire. The university attempts to act as a driver of change in the local area, encouraging sustainability initiatives which are an integral part of life on campus. UCSC has made a considerable effort related to preservation of local water resources, traffic reduction and recycling, and was able to achieve a notable reduction in traffic congestion locally, among other things. Famous people to name UCSC as their alma-mater include film director Cary Fukunaga and CEO of Buzzfeed and the Huffington Post, Jonah Peretti.