Pros
World-class research and educational institution and system. Amazing students of the highest caliber, and a joy to serve. Dedicated and passionate staff and faculty. If fortunate enough to be employed before July 1, 2013 employees have a rich pension plan. Located on the beach in the 'American Riviera', Santa Barbara is one of the most desirable (and expensive) locales to call home. It can't get any better than this. The working class is resilient, and does more than any other campus with the least. Remarkable.
Cons
UCSB is rife with politics (no worries, enjoy), misogyny, and weak senior management. The management group is much less than should be desired by the shareholders (the citizens of the great state of California) – excluding many of course, and President Janet Naplitano (she's bomb). The campus as a whole pays rank and file employees +20% below the local market rate, even the ones that do not have the future benefit of the pension plan. All things considered, of the 10 UC campuses, UCSB receives the least from the UC system/state. That's on Dr. Yang and his staff. Shameful.