The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is now accepting applications!! The program is funded by the Basic Needs Fee, which the student body (YOU) passed in Spring 2019!
This fund aims to help stabilize housing for undergraduate and graduate students in emergency financial situations by providing them with a month’s rent. For information on how to apply, read through the info sheet: https://tinyurl.com/CalRentalAssistanceInfo
Attention Berkeley students: please be mindful of the university’s Accommodation of Religious Creed. It is the official policy of the University of California at Berkeley to permit any student to undergo a test or examination, without penalty, at a time when that activity would not violate the student’s religious creed.
Please make accommodation requests for the first semester to the relevant professors or graduate student instructors within the FIRST TWO WEEKS of instruction. Note that you can appeal to Department Chairs if you face any obstacles.
For a calendar of religious holidays falling within the 2019-2020 academic year, please refer to this link: https://teaching.berkeley.edu/
Education Opportunity Program (EOP) will be holding Fall Satellite Advising hours with advisors from different departments on campus. Students will need to use their respective tinyurl-link to sign up for an appointment. The start dates and appointment locations vary for each department, so see the infographic below for information specific to your inquiry.
*Please note that the the Berkeley Student Co-ops, Financial Aid & L&S will host their hours in Chavez. The remaining departments will be in the MLK B North space.
The Office of ASUC Senator Carolyn Le has partnered with Educational Opportunity Program, Berkeley Parking & Transportation, and the Graduate Assembly to provide free Carpool Commuter Permits for low income students. To see if you are eligible, check the undergraduate or graduate student infographic below.
[embeddoc url=”http://advocate.studentorg.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Provider_Graphic_Final.pdf” download=”all”]
All students enrolled in the University of California system are required to have health insurance that meets a set criteria. Students are automatically enrolled in SHIP, but can waive out with their own insurance if it meets the criteria. Berkeley SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan) is the health care plan offered by UC Berkeley to enrolled students. While many students choose to keep their current insurance, SHIP is a comprehensive health insurance plan that is a great choice for many students.
2023-2024 Waiver Deadlines:
Periods of Coverage:
Still deciding on whether to waive out of SHIP?
If you would like to waive out of SHIP:
Waivers can be denied for several reasons:
If you feel there has been an error in your waiver denial, you may submit an appeal.
Your appeal must be submitted within ten (10) days of the date of notice of denial. Appeals received after the ten-day grace period will not be considered. Enclose a copy of your Waiver Application Denial with your appeal.
Appeals will be considered for the current term only. Waivers granted on appeal will NOT be applied to any previous school term.
Evaluation of your appeal will be based on comparability guidelines in effect at the time of the original waiver application.
If your waiver application was denied because you missed the final waiver application deadline for Fall, DO NOT FILE AN APPEAL. Appeals will not be considered for students missing the waiver deadline.
Click here for information Taxes, 1095b tax form & SHIP.
Click here for the UHS’s Statement on Potential Affordable Care Act (ACA) Repeal.
The Student Health Insurance Office at (510) 642-5700, email your questions to ship@berkeley.edu, or currently enrolled students can send a secure message to the SHIO office via the eTang patient portal.
If you would like additional assistance regarding SHIP, completing waiver appeals, or billing, the ASUC Student Advocate’s Office provides free and confidential peer advising. You can call us at (510) 642-6912 or email us at help@berkeleysao.org.
If you are planning to participate in a protest*, whether on or off campus, it is important to be aware of your rights. Below are some protestor rights infographics created by the SAO team that can serve as an important reference — we hope that reading through these resources and others before engaging in a protest will ensure that you remain safe and that your voice is heard.
Before your protest:
Filing post-protest police complaints:
Please stay safe, and as always, reach out to our office if you have university related concerns regarding protesting.
*This post is solely meant to provide information and resources to students. It does not serve as an endorsement of any particular protest or political movement, whether on or off campus.
This police department is located on campus and available 24/7. Tasked with the particular duties of keeping the U.C. Berkeley campus area safe, you can report a non-emergency at any time to (510) 642-6760 or call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance.
To find the police department, head into:
1 Sproul Hall Berkeley, CA 94720http://police.berkeley.edu
This office will handle any formal grievance procedure regarding harassment or discrimination of any kind you bring forward. The staff is your liaison between your desired outcome and the university. Typically OPHD launches investigations that conclude with resolutions to your case.
Please direct inquiries to:
Denise W. Oldham
Director and Title IX Officer and Officer for OPHD
dwoldham@berkeley.edu
685 University Hall, #1120 Berkeley, CA 94720(510) 643-7985
http://ophd.berkeley.edu
Visit Tang for medical services, counseling, and other related health and wellness issues. Tang is the campus’ most available medical resource and accommodates the university’s students, faculty, and staff.
Please visit Tang at:
2222 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94720Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-5pm
To make an appointment: https://uhs.berkeley.edu
For After Hours Assistance call (510) 643-7197
For an Advice Nurse call (510) 6437197
Other useful resources in Tang:
This campus resource is incredibly useful as a community center for students in any issue regarding gender and sexuality. You will find both support and avenues for advocacy. Overflowing with brochures of community centers on and off campus related to issues of women’s and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender communities and knowledgeable staff willing to help you find adequate resources, the GenEq Center is invaluable.
202 Cesar Chavez Berkeley, CA 94720(510) 642-4786
http://geneq.berkeley.edu
If you are in need of immediate financial help, the Financial Aid Office will grant you an emergency, interest free, loan up to a maximum of $1,435 for tuition and $1,000 for living expenses. The loan must be repaid in full through the CARES billing statement within 60 days. Emergency loans can be used for any unexpected expenses or to cover costs if there is a delay in the disbursement of a student’s financial aid refund. Read more information on Emergency Loans.
Work study amounts may be able to be converted to loans if you decide that you do not want to take a work-study job. However, it is more difficult to convert loans to work study as the money is allocated according to the initial requests for work study. If you are even marginally interested in work-study, be sure to check “yes” for the FAFSA question that pertains to your interest in work-study. For more information on work study/loan conversions, click here.
Read frequently asked questions here: Work Study Frequently Asked Questions
Work Study versus Loans:
As part of your financial aid package, work study jobs provide an amazing opportunity to:
Work Study versus Not Work Study:
You’re a highly sought-after employee, because work-study saves employers money! If a department pays you $16/hour, it costs the employer $8/hour. That subsidy is what makes work-study a financial aid program.
Work-study earnings don’t count against your aid eligibility when you fill out next year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Non-work-study earnings are considered “additional income” on the FAFSA and may affect your financial aid package.
Consult an experienced caseworker to help you complete your appeal! You can contact us at:
Are you considering completing a financial aid appeal? You can also learn more about the process here.
Cost of Attendance Adjustment Requests (formerly known as Budget Appeals)
If your school expenses are greater than the amount the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office determines as the standard student budget, then you may appeal for an increased budget. To do this, you must document the need for an increased budget, such as increased rent or living expenses Read more about the Cost of Attendance Adjustment Requests here.
Student Contribution Appeals
If you have experienced a significant change in the financial resources available to you, you can appeal to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office for change your Expected Student Contribution. The following circumstances are considered for a Student Contribution Appeal: Loss of employment, reduction in earnings, medical costs not covered by insurance, death of a spouse, or legal separation or divorce. Access the Student Contribution Appeal form here.
Parent Contribution Appeals
If there is a significant change in your parent(s) income since the previous year, you may appeal to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office to change the Expected Parental Contribution. Appeals can be made on the basis of increased family medical expenses, loss of employment, or reduced income for the upcoming year. Access the Parent Contribution Appeal form here.