This is the kick-off event for Teaching Week 2026. The symposium will showcase the work of instructors (including grads, lecturers, senate faculty) presenting on a teaching innovation, activity, program, or scholarly work. Presentation modalities include posters and short spoken presentations.

Join us as Distinguished Teaching Award recipient Laurie Palmer, Professor of Art, shares her insights on teaching. This lecture is one of the key events featured in Teaching Week 2026.
Starting in 2018-2019, the Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes outstanding teaching on our campus. This annual award is an opportunity to acknowledge the pedagogical contributions of our colleagues that include—but also go beyond—any one particular course. It seeks to recognize an instructor that has made significant contributions to educational equity within and beyond UC Santa Cruz.

Join us for a conversation on labor, food, and justice with Will Work for Food co-author Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern and regional food production and service workers Veronica Rodriguez (Dole, Soledad), and X (Verve, Santa Cruz). Together, they will explore the often-overlooked role of labor in building a more just food system. Free and open to the public. Translation provided. 

The UCSC Celtic Music Ensemble performs live during a beginner-friendly, gender-neutral, darn good barn dance. Attendees are invited to dance, and partners are not needed. — ADMISSION – Open admission; […]