 The undergraduate program , with only the partial exception of those majors run through the university 's School of Engineering , is still based on the version of the " residential college system " outlined by Clark Kerr and Dean McHenry at the inception of their original plans for the campus ( see History , above ) . Upon admission , all undergraduate students have the opportunity to choose one of ten colleges , with which they usually stay affiliated for their entire undergraduate careers . There are cases where some students switch college affiliations as each college holds a different graduation ceremony . Almost all faculty members are affiliated with a college as well . The individual colleges provide housing and dining services , while the university as a whole offers courses and majors to the general student community . Other universities with similar college systems include Rice University and the University of California , San Diego . 
