Belonging

New Student Services’ mission is to give each student the support and resources needed for a successful transition to the Berkeley campus: academically, socially, emotionally, and culturally. Student will receive more information about Golden Bear Orientation through the Cal Central portal. 

Living on campus adds to the value of your campus experience. Residential life helps students build community by connecting with other students with similar interests and backgrounds. Check out this residence hall tour from one of our current Berkeley students.

Be a big part of a small community through our Housing Theme programs. Live and connect with others who share an interest, identity, or values. Learn more about the 8 theme programs.

• African American (AATP) Unit 1 (Christian Hall)
• Bloom Asian American (Bloom) Unit 2 (Towle Hall)
• Casa Magdalena Mora (Casa) Unit 3 (Beverly Cleary)
• Global Environment Theme House (GETH) Clark Kerr Campus
• Native American (NATP) Unit 1 (Slottman Hall)
• South Asian, Southwest Asian, and North African Living Community Pilot Program (SSWANA) Unit 2 (Towle Hall)
• UNITY Theme Program (UNITY) Unit 3 (Spens-Black Hall)
• Empowering Womxn in STEAM (WiSE) Unit 4 (Stern)

At Berkeley, we see YOU.

And Berkeley is at its best when you bring your whole self: the community you come from, the questions you dare to ask, the challenges you’ve conquered to get here, and the dreams about how you’ll make a difference.

Berkeley’s strength lies in our diverse student population. Our undergraduates hail from all 50 states, 74 countries, and speak over 20 languages. No matter where you come from, you belong here. Berkeley is dedicated to providing inclusive centers and spaces, dedicated staff, and countless student organizations that are here to help you build community and make our campus your new home.

The Division of Equity & Inclusion provides services, opportunities, and support through a wide range of programs available to students, staff, and faculty. 

Land Acknowledgement
UC Berkeley sits on the territory of xučyun (Huichin), the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people, the successors of the sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County.

Berkeley’s thriving initiative work is to help influence policies and increase opportunities for our systematically marginalized students, staff and faculty. These initiatives were put in place to help support you throughout your Berkeley journey. Berkeley is committed to helping you thrive. 

Berkeley's several thriving initiatives include: 

• African American Thriving Initiatives (AATI)
• Asian American & Pacific Islander (AA & PI) Thriving Initiatives
• Disability Justice
• Latinx Thriving Initiatives (LTI)
• Native American Thriving Initiatives (NATI)
• Pell and Low-Income Thriving
• STEM Equity & Inclusion Initiative

View our thriving initiatives page to learn more. 

Centers for Educational Justice & Community Engagement (CEJCE)

African American Student Development Office

247 César Chavez Student Center, #2440  |  flhbrc@berkeley.edu

African American Student Development (AASD) creates programs and activities that facilitate retention and graduation, encourages matriculation to graduate and professional school, and enhances undergraduate experiences. Activities include scholarly, social-cultural and leadership engagement.

• Hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Appointments and walk-ins welcome

African American Student Development

• The African American Student Development Office is the Academic, Social-Emotional, Professional Development, Community and Cultural Support Center for Students of African/Black Ancestry at the University of California at Berkeley.
• In partnership with students, staff, faculty, campus and community partners, we develop, deliver and implement student development programs, opportunities and events centered around the diversity mission of the University of California.
• Our programs, events and activities enhance our student experiences and facilitate the retention and graduation of Black students by:
  
  • Engaging in critical academic inquiry, reflection and research
  • Inviting, developing and supporting student leadership
  • Building community and partnerships on and off campus
  • Encouraging matriculation to graduate and professional school
  • Equipping students with the tools to navigate pathways to professional opportunities
  • Supporting student academic, personal and social-emotional, career, and community development

Fannie Lou Hamer Black Resource Center

Hearst Field Annex D3

• Black & students, plus staff, faculty and other black organizations, use the space daily. The Black community has more than 30 organizations that represent academic, business, civic, fraternal, social, and cultural communities. The composite of these organizations host more than 200 events and activities throughout the year.
• The center also provides programs and events in collaboration with campus and community partners.
• Fannie Lou Hamer provides multiple benefits to the community including:Student Group Convening Space
• Programming Space: undergraduates, graduates, staff and faculty
• Enhanced Academic Support and Workshops including:
  
  • Tutoring, advising and study skill support
  • Writing workshops, Science and Math Support
  • Studying, homework space
  • Professional Development and Networking Events
  • Academic and Community Lecture Series
  • Cultural Programs: festivals, art galleries, exhibits
  • Special Talks and Workshops On: mental and physical health
  • Alumni, Faculty and Staff Events
• Black History Month Programming
• African American Theme Program
• Student Group Day Showcase
• Black Wednesday with rotating Black organizations hosting
• Welcome Black Breakfast at the beginning of each semester
• Black2Cal Celebration Connecting Alum, Students, & Staff, Faculty, and Administrators
• HBCU Exchange Program
• Black Joy Parade

AASD Instagram

Asian Pacific American Student Development

249 Cesar Chavez Student Center  |  (510) 643-5497  |  apasdoffice@gmail.com

The Asian Pacific American Student Development (APASD) office serves the diverse and changing needs of Asian American, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Southwest Asian and North African (AA/PI/SSWANA) communities by equipping students with the tools and resources to transform themselves and their communities. APASD focuses on facilitating self-reflection, developing holistic wellness, providing political education, cultivating community, and encouraging collective action. We strive to enact change rooted in the liberation of all people.

Locations:

• APASD Lobby: 249 César E. Chávez Student Center
• Asian American Political Activation (AAPA) Program: 249A César E. Chávez Student Center
• Pacific Islander Initiative (PI) Office: Front Room, Multicultural Community Center, MLK Building
• South, Southwest Asian and North African (SSWANA) Initiative Office: Room 153, Stiles Hall, 2400 Bancroft Way

Office Hours: The APASD Lobby is open from Monday-Thursday 10AM-5:30PM. Other offices are appointment only. Reach out to our staff to make appointments.
Phone: (510) 643-5497
Email: apasd@berkeley.edu

We are also on social media:

• APASD Facebook
  APASD Instagram
•  

The APASD office houses 3 programs:

Pacific Islander (PI) Initiative

The Pacific Islander (PI) Initiative is a student-centered program started through student activism at the University of California, Berkeley that serves the diverse and changing needs of Pacific Islander communities. The PI Initiative seeks to develop and maintain cultural interests, promote cross-cultural community building, and address disparities by increasing access to relevant and responsive resources.

• To schedule an appointment, email the Assistant Director, Angel Halafihi at halafihi@berkeley.edu.
• Keep in touch! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @calpiinitiative, and sign up for our newsletter.

SSWANA Initiative

The South, Southwest Asian, and North African (SSWANA) Initiative was advocated for and created by student activists that felt this student population lacked representation and resources at the University of California at Berkeley. The SSWANA Initiative seeks to provide personalized access to resources on campus, accessible programming, promote cross-cultural community building, and advocate for social justice in SSWANA communities through education and empowerment.

• If you would like to schedule one on one time with the SSWANA Program Director, Doaa Dorgham, please do so by going to https://calendly.com/doaadorgham
• Check out our website
• Stay up to date by following us on Instagram
• Join our newsletter

Asian American Political Activation (AAPA) Program

Grounded in this legacy of the Asian American Movement, the Asian American Political Activation (AAPA) Program offers internships, events, and programs to grow Asian American students’ political consciousness around Asian American, Pacific Islander, and South Asian, Southwest Asian, and North African experiences, history, and community issues both on and off campus. We are excited to connect and grow with you all!

• You can also connect with us via email, Instagram, and Facebook
• To schedule an appointment, email the APASD Assistant Director for AAPA, Miya Sommers at miyasommers@berkeley.edu

Chicanx Latinx Student Development Center

Hearst Gym, Suite #2 and 245 Cesar E. Chavez Center  |  (510) 642-1802  |  officemanager.clsd@gmail.com

The Chicanx Latinx Student Development (CLSD) Center’s focus is threefold: 1) advocate for the retention and graduation of Chicanx Latinx students; 2) empower students to become scholars, leaders and professionals; 3)create community between Chicanx Latinx spaces/places on and off campus.

We are a multi-cultural/bi-lingual space, where we use a family, community and generational model to deliver all our services.

• Hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. (walk-ins welcome)
• To schedule an appointment, email Director, Lupe Gallegos-Diaz or Assistant Directors Evelyn Rojo or Gladys Perez or Program Coordinator Alexandra Acevedo Graves
• Educational Justice Programs (partial list):
  
  • Casa Magdalena Mora – a first-year community living and learning academic theme program. Casa Mora holds a weekly seminar and plans yearly events for the entire campus.
  • From Day One program–program engages graduate students from all disciplines to demystify graduate/professional school with undergraduates.
  • Leadership Seminar – a Fall/Spring course designed to help students transition into Cal and also navigate what it means to be Chicanx Latinx at Cal.
  • Latinxs and the Environment Initiative – engages undergraduate/graduate students in conducting research with /faculty, policy makers and nonprofits that focus on environment issues via classes, internships, and summits.
  • Sharing Wisdom Across Generations (SWAG) – a yearly conference that brings together Chicanx Latinx Alumni and undergraduates/graduate students to share professional consejos and become mentors/mentees.
• Community Engagement Celebrations, Events and Partnerships:
  
  • Celebrations – Fiestas Patrias, Dia de los Muertos, Gran Tamalada and Chicanx Latinx Graduation.
  • César Chávez y Dolores Huerta Commemoration – Recognition of our national leaders. This is a partnership between the City of Berkeley, Berkeley Unified School District, Berkeley Community College and UC Berkeley.
  • Entre Muxeres/MALCS – a womxn’s) identified support group that empowers and encourages muxeres to become scholars and leaders. Workshop topics include: well-being, school and work balance, family responsibilities and financial literacy

Gender Equity Resource Center

202 César Chávez Student Center  |  (510) 642-4788  |  geneq@berkeley.edu

The Gender Equity Resource Center (GenEq) provides programs and services to the campus Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Women*’s communities. It is also a campus location for education on sexual harassment and sexual violence as well as bias/hate incidents response (stophate.berkeley.edu).

Students connect with us for events, support, education and for off campus community resources. We are committed to fostering an inclusive Cal experience for all.

Through our many programs and services we strive to:

• Provide a space for respectful and dynamic dialogue about sexuality and gender
• Illuminate the interrelationship of sexism, homophobia, transphobia, gender bias & violence
• Create a campus free of violence and hate
• Provide leadership opportunities
• Support survivors of sexual, hate, dating and gender violence
• Foster a community of women and LGBTQ+ leaders
• Be a portal to campus and community resources on LGBTQ+, Women, and the many intersections of identity (eg race, class, ability, size etc…)

GenEq is a member of the Centers for Educational Justice & Community Engagement, which is a collaborative within the Division of Equity & Inclusion at University of California, Berkeley.
*We welcome all who experience life through the lens of woman in body, spirit, identity - past, present, future, and fluid.

Native American Student Development

241 Cesar Chavez Student Center  |  (510) 725-7370  |  nasd@berkeley.edu

Native Community Center is located in Anthony Hall on the UC Berkeley campus

The Native American Student Development Office (NASD) supports Native and Indigenous students at UC Berkeley with the transitions to the campus and navigating the many resources and opportunities provided on campus. We take a holistic and inclusive approach to support and provide programs and services that foster community, develop leadership skills, promote academic excellence, critical inquiry and student wellness for the future generation of indigenous leadership.

We offer:

• Academic support through programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Mentoring programs
• Connections to student organizations,
• Support in navigating the university
• Community building opportunities
• Advocacy for Native students and issues affecting the Native community

NASD also oversees the Native Community Center on campus - a resource for the Native & Indigenous community (all students, faculty & staff) providing space for programming, workshops, events and community gatherings. It is also a space that welcomes visitors from tribes and the off campus community.
NASD is a member of the Centers for Educational Justice & Community Engagement, diversity.berkley.edu/ejce which is a collaborative within the Division of Equity & Inclusion at University of California, Berkeley.

Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence (CE3)

CE3 offers a comprehensive array of counseling programs, supplemental aid, and scholarships to support former foster youth, veterans, student parents, undocumented students, first generation students, low-income students, and transfer students of all ages and life experiences. We connect students in need with critical resources — from holistic academic guidance, scholarships, mentoring, and career preparation to nutrition and child care support. The students we serve come from diverse backgrounds and the programs we offer reflect the complexity of their experience. Review our questionnaire to learn which programs you may be eligible for.

CE3 Units

• Berkeley Hope Scholars (BHS)
• Cal Veteran Services Center (CVSC)
• Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
• Miller Scholars Program
• Re-entry Student Program (RSP)
• Student Parent Center (SPC)
• Student Support Services (SSS)
• Transfer Student Center (TSC)
• Undocumented Student Program (USP)

Berkeley Hope Scholars (BHS)

109 Cesar Chavez  |  bhs@berkeley.edu

Berkeley Hope Scholars (BHS) is the academic retention program at UC Berkeley supporting all incoming first-year, transfer, graduate, and continuing students who are current and former foster youth, probation foster youth, or were orphaned before the age of 18. Berkeley Hope Scholars delivers comprehensive services to BHS students to ensure their academic success, personal development, and realization of educational and career goals. Based on notions of mutual support, self-advocacy and mentoring, BHS assists students in their transition to college and pathway through the University.

Community Space Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Friday 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Virtual drop-in hours
Thursdays 10;00 am - 1:00 pm HERE
Thursdays 10:00 am – 1:00 pm https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/97123485195

Cal Veteran Services Center (CVSC)

Hearst Memorial Gym, Room 102  |  (510) 643-0083  |  veterancenter@berkeley.edu

The Cal Veteran Services Center at UC Berkeley expands access and empowers veteran and military-connected student engagement within this public research university. We increase veteran and military-connected student enrollment, support academic and co-curricular experiences, and facilitate preparation for goals beyond graduation. Our work engages individuals and the broader community to facilitate a transformation of higher education experience for veteran and military-connected students.

Hours:

• In-person:
  • M-Th 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
  • F 9:00 am to 5:00pm
• Virtual (https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/98227505347):
  • Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays
    • 10:00a.m. to 11:00a.m.
    • 2:00p.m. to 3:00p.m.
  • Tuesdays/Thursdays
    • 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.
    • 4:00p.m. to 5:00p.m.
  • Wednesdays
    • 5:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)

119 Cesar Chavez Student Center  |  (510) 642-7224  |  EOPNewAdmit@berkeley.edu

For over 55 years, the Educational Opportunity Program at Cal has provided first generation and low-income college students with the guidance and resources necessary to succeed at the best public university in the world.

• New Admits are welcome to schedule an EOP advising appointment after: 1) Accepting their offer of admissions to Cal AND 2) Completing their Golden Bear Advising modules in June.
• Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m & Friday 9:30 a.m. -3 p.m.
• Students can access EOP Academic Counseling appointments through the following options listed on this website:
  • Pre-scheduled appointments Monday – Thursday 10am-4pm available up to 2 weeks in advance
  • Same-day appointments are available Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm
  • Peer Academic Counselors are available Monday – Friday 10am-4pm in MLK BNorth
• EOP academic counselors and student staff work alongside amazing students who, despite their unique responsibilities and challenges, transform their lives through academic achievement and personal growth. EOP’s individualized academic counseling, support services, and extensive campus referral network help students develop the unique gifts and talents they each bring to the university while empowering them to achieve. We offer the following services:
  • Holistic academic counseling
  • Financial Assistance
  • Graduate school & career exploration
  • EOP STEM academic and personal enrichment programming
  • Community building & leadership opportunities
• Check out the EOP website for more information and stay connected through the EOP Facebook page and follow us on Instagram: @EOPATCAL
• Learn more about resources at our EOP New Admit website
• Contact EOPNewAdmit@berkeley.edu for questions

Re-entry Student Program

BNorth of the ASUC Student Union MLK Jr. Building  |  reentry@berkeley.edu

The Re-entry Student Program cultivates community amongst undergraduates who are 25 and older at Berkeley. Our students come from diverse backgrounds and work together to advance their personal and professional journey. We provide holistic, individualized support services through advising, transition courses and resource workshops. We also offer scholarships to new and continuing students, as well as leadership and career development activities. We have a community space for studying and socializing with other Older Wiser Learners (OWLs) and offer various social and community-building events throughout the year.
Follow us on Instagram (@ReentryBerkeley) and learn more at: reentry.berkeley.edu.

Student Parent Center

100 Chavez and MLK Student Union Bldg (B-North)  |  Studentparents@berkeley.edu

The Student Parent Center is committed to the holistic support and success of a highly motivated population of undergraduate and graduate students who are engaged scholars, as well as devoted parents at UC Berkeley.
The center is a centralized multi-purpose campus resource, where students can seek informed advice, develop leadership skills, engage in informal study groups, nurse babies, change diapers, celebrate achievements, recover from setbacks, and form lasting friendships.

Monday-Thursday 9a-5p
Friday 9a-4p
Summer Hours – Mon-Thurs 10a-4p

Transfer Student Center

100 Cesar Chavez  |  Berkeley, CA 94720  |  510-642-4257

For over 20 years, the Transfer Student Center at Cal has provided transfer students with the guidance and resources necessary to succeed at the best public university in the world.
The Transfer Student Center provides services to assist students who transfer to Cal from other colleges and universities with navigating the academic and cultural landscape of this research university. Our programs and services focus on supporting a successful transition, helping transfers build connections and community, and assisting students as they explore and pursue their academic and career goals.

Services:

• Transition Courses
• Academic Counseling
• Starting Point Mentorship Program
• Transfer Community
• Leadership Opportunities

Learn More About the Transfer Student Center through our website:
transfers.berkeley.edu

Connect with us on Social Media:
@CalTransfers

Undocumented Student Program

180 Cesar Chavez Student Center  |  undocu@berkeley.edu

The Undocumented Student Program (USP) supports the advancement of undocumented students within higher education and promotes pathways for engaged scholarship. USP practices a holistic, multicultural and solution-focused approach that delivers individualized service for each student. Our offerings to undocumented students include:

• Mental Health Support
• Academic Counseling
• Free Immigration Legal Support
• Financial support
• Undocumented Community Resource Center
• Community building events and other workshops
• Transcending Beyond Berkeley Fellowship & other professional development opportunities
• Post-graduation support
• Extensive referral network

Through its offerings, USP helps students develop the unique gifts and talents they each bring to the university, while empowering a sense of belonging.

bridges Multicultural Resource Center

Hearst Field Annex, Building D, Room 37 

First-year students: seniorweekendbridges@gmail.com  |  Transfer students: bridgestransfers@gmail.com

bridges Multicultural Resource Center seeks to make higher education accessible for historically underrepresented, low-income, and first generation college students. We are a student- led and student -initiated coalition of seven Recruitment and Retention Centers (RRCs) who aim to empower and encourage students from our communities to create their path towards higher education.

We host and facilitate campus visits with guided tours, student panels, and academic & resource workshops along with our multicultural coalition of RRCs:

• BRRC – Black Retention and Recruitment Center
• INC – Indigenous and Native Coalition Recruitment and Retention Center (formerly known as the Native American Recruitment and Retention Center)
• MENA-RRC – Middle Eastern North African Recruitment and Retention Center (formerly known as the Arab Recruitment and Retention Center)
• Mixed @ Berkeley Recruitment and Retention Center (formerly known as Mixed Student Union)
• PASS – Pilipinx Academic Student Services
• Raíces (formally known as Raza) – Chicanx/Latinx Recruitment and Retention Center
• REACH! – Retention and Empowerment of Asian and Asian-American Youths Considering Higher Education Recruitment and Retention Center

UC Berkeley’s Disability Cultural Community Center (DCC)

Hearst Field Annex D

For more information, contact DCC Coordinator, Ann Wai Yee Kwong, awkwong@berkeley.edu

UC Berkeley’s Disability Cultural Community Center (DCC) serves as a platform to advocate, educate, and collaborate among students, faculty, and staff living with disabilities to advance and empower both the community on campus and beyond so persons with disabilities can fully learn, work, and live with dignity.

The DCC fosters connections among current students, alumni, faculty, and staff to encourage authentic networks and leadership development. In alignment with the student movement that helped shift the conversation from a model of compliance to one of community in January 2018, the accessible, safe, and welcoming space is designed to incorporate support to navigate academic and disability success while acknowledging and affirming intersectionality and belonging. The Center facilitates community organizing, empowering awareness events, and critical opportunities around disability identity development for current and future generations of students with disabilities.

• Services:
  
  • Accessible study space
  • Computer lab with assistive technology
  • Conference room for organizing activities and
  • Disability Studies events
  • Peer mentoring
  • Self advocacy coaching
  • Referrals

PATH to Care Center 

Main Office: (510) 642 - 1988  |  24/7 CARE Line: (510) 643 - 2005  |  pathtocare@berkeley.edu

The PATH to Care Center leads the efforts to transform our campus into a community that is free of sexual violence, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, and stalking through prevention, advocacy, training, and healing. We collaborate with the campus community to make social change with the goals of preventing, intervening in, and responding to harassment and violence, eliminating oppression, and creating the culture and environment we all aspire to and deserve.

We offer:

• Comprehensive SVSH prevention services for the campus community including workshops, consultations, new student education, and social norms campaigns
• Free and confidential advocacy services (remote and in-person) to support those impacted by SVSH by:
  
  • providing information on rights, reporting options, & resources
    offering emotional support
  • assisting with reporting and providing accompaniment to legal, medical, & administrative appointments
  • supporting with individualized safety planning, emergency housing and basic needs resources
  • providing supportive measures for academic and workplace needs
• 24/7 CARE Line for urgent support related to SVSH
• Healing programs including support groups, somatic healing, sound healing, and art modality healing

Restorative Justice Center

Location: Inside the Latinx Students Resource Center, Hearst Field Annex, Building B  |  510 859-3780  |  rjcenterberkeley@gmail.com

The Restorative Justice Center offers proactive workshops and circles for building and strengthening relationships in student orgs, living spaces and learning spaces through the development of shared values and community agreements and opportunities for storytelling and deep listening.

We also offer restorative responses to conflict and harm.

We hire undergraduate and graduate students as RJ Student Leaders to provide these services to their peers.
Please consider joining our teams!