Advising for Undergraduates
Academic Advising
- Monday: 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM (By appointment or in-person drop-ins) - Merrill 27
- Tuesday: 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM (By appointment or in-person drop-ins) - Merrill 27
- Wednesday: 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM (By appointment or in-person drop-ins) - Merrill 27
- Thursday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (By appointment only) - Remote
Make an appointment on Navigate Slug Success. A Google Meet invite will be sent on the morning of your appointment.
If none of these times work for your advising needs, please email polimajor@ucsc.edu to arrange an alternative date and time.
Peer Advising WINTER 2025: Google Meet & Drop-In (In-Person / Remote)
Our trained Peer Advisors are current students who can assist with:
- Major and minor requirements
- Preparing a Declaration of Major/Minor paperwork (Academic planning form)
- Academic planning & Questions about our courses, opportunities, and major(POLI)/program(LGST)
- Guidance on UCDC, UC Center Sacramento, CUIP, and Study abroad program requirements
Google Meet Chat (Drop-In / Remote)
Peer Advisors can answer your questions remotely via Google Chat! To chat with us, add lgstpoli@ucsc.edu to your UCSC email's Google contacts and send us a message. More instructions can be found in the image below ("How to Google Chat an Advisor").
How to Google Chat an Advisor:
- Sign into your UCSC email
- In the lower left section, select the '+' to the right of your name and search for 'lgstpoli'
- Press 'lgstpoli@ucsc.edu' and now Google Chat!
In-Person Advising (Drop-In)
The Politics/Legal Studies Peer Advising Office is located in the Merrill College Academic Building, Room 8 (or Merrill 8).
In-Person Hours:
- Monday: 9:30am - 12:30pm
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Tuesday: 2pm - 5pm
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Wednesday: 9:30am - 12:30pm
- Thursday: 1pm - 5pm
Remote Advising (Drop-In)
Drop-In Hours:
- Friday: 10am - 2pm
Select an open time slot. Note that there might be a wait, so be patient and a Peer Advisor will assist you as soon as they are able.
Meet Our Advising Team!
Jerry Diaz, Politics Advisor
Jerry Diaz is a Banana Slug alumnus (Sociology & education minor). He has a Master’s degree in Higher Education with an emphasis on theories of student development from the University of Michigan, Ann-Arbor. Jerry has exercised a lifelong passion for student affairs work in academic advising and guidance since 2012. When not in the office he enjoys a good run, cooking, a hockey game, and a nice read. Jerry is committed to your academic success and invites you to connect for an academic advising session this Spring Quarter.
Lesly Lizarraga, Politics & Legal Studies Lead Peer Advisor
Hello everyone! My name is Lesly Lizarraga (she/her) and I’m currently a third-year student pursuing a major in Politics and minor in Legal Studies. Beyond my education, I enjoy reading, journaling, and going on spontaneous adventures either by myself or with friends. After graduation, I plan on attending Law School in hopes of becoming an immigration lawyer and maybe even move back to Tucson, Arizona (where I was born). In addition to being a Politics and Legal Studies Peer Advisor, I’m also a Perk employee and a Mentor for the Mentor Collective Program. I’m more than excited to be joining the POLI/LGST Advising team and can’t wait to provide my peers with both support and guidance as they embark on their academic journey.
Cat Comella, Politics & Legal Studies Peer Advisor
Hi everyone! My name is Cat (they/she). I am a third-year double majoring in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Legal Studies. In my free time, I love exploring new coffee shops, reading books, and watching Formula 1 Racing! I also serve as a Resident Assistant for the Crown & Merrill Apartments, and as a Research Assistant for the Sexual and Gender Diversity Laboratory. After graduation, I plan on earning my Masters of Social Work, and becoming a Criminal Legal Social Worker! I am super excited to help my fellow Politics and Legal Studies peers as they set out on their academic career!
Winter 2025 Declaration of Major deadline, February 10.
If you intend to declare our major make sure to first: 1) complete 2 POLI lower division courses (1-70), 2) Fill and complete an academic plan form and share it with polimajor@ucsc.edu, and 3) submit your petition to declare e-form on your student portal before the deadline. If you are already declared in a major please ask your major advisor to update your existing academic plan prior to attempting to declare the POLI major or minor.
Writing Tutor Assistance
Learning Support Services offers free drop-in writing tutoring, especially for many Politics Core classes. Make sure to visit the LSS website for quarterly services and schedules. If you need assistance, you can contact LSS directly at (831) 459-4333.
Learning Accommodations
Politics staff and faculty are responsive to disabled students' concerns and special needs. We work with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to ensure appropriate accommodations. If you need assistance, contact the DRC directly at (831) 459-2089.
See Also
