2Final_Student Life

transfers.berkeley.edu
Housing
and
Student
Life

Housing
Contents
Commuting To Campus 3
Commuting Resources 4
Cooperative Housing 5
Off-Campus Housing 6
On-Campus Housing 7
On/Off Campus Housing Resources 8
Public Transportation 9

COMMUTING TO CAMPUS
Some transfer students may choose to
commute to campus. They might live with
family members or loved ones, or even rent
an apartment farther from campus.
Commuting students have many options for
making their way over to campus for
schoolwork and other activities. These modes
of transportation may include taking the Bay
Area Rapid Transit, riding AC Transit, riding
their bike, or driving.
This housing option may be beneficial to
those who already live in the Bay Area, are
employed outside of the city of Berkeley, or
are looking for more affordable housing in
nearby cities.
Commuting students are encouraged to
explore on-campus activities to find other
ways to get involved with the social campus
climate, since they will not be living within oncampus
communities.
3

COMMUTING RESOURCES
Student parking permits are issued to students
residing outside of the designated campus
boundary.
Student parking permits are sold by the
semester and are valid for the semester in
which the permit was purchased. Student
permits must be renewed at the beginning of
each semester. Students are responsible for
purchasing and displaying a valid permit at the
start of each semester. Permits are pro-rated
after the start of each semester and are valid in
“S” lots only.
UC Berkeley encourages students, staff, and
faculty to carpool when necessary. Reserved
carpool parking spaces are available
throughout campus. Accessible on weekdays
until 10:00 a.m., these reserved spaces are
open to all carpoolers on a first-come, firstserved
basis, and not assigned to specific
carpool groups.
All UC Berkeley students are also given access
to the Bear Transit and AC Transit system with
their Cal 1 Card and Clipper Card.
Websites
pt.berkeley.edu/parking/student-permits
pt.berkeley.edu/StudentEasypass
4

COOPERATIVE HOUSING
The Berkeley Student Cooperative is a 501c3
nonprofit housing cooperative. The BSC
provides affordable housing and board to
students at UC Berkeley and other Bay Area
colleges and universities.
Their mission is to provide a quality, low-cost,
cooperative housing community to university
students, thereby providing an educational
opportunity for students who might not
otherwise be able to afford a university
education.
Presently, the BSC has over 1300 student
members living in or eating at one of
seventeen houses and three apartment
cooperatives around the UC Berkeley campus.
Each house is democratically run, and
housemates all contribute their labor to help
keep housing costs affordable. Founded in
1933, the BSC is the largest student housing
cooperative in the United States.
Website
bsc.coop
5

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
UC Berkeley offers a rental-listing service
called Cal Rentals, providing information and
advising for students, faculty and staff, and
UC Berkeley affiliates looking for off-campus
housing. The service is free for students.
Cal Rentals provides housing and roommate
listings for UC Berkeley students, faculty and
staff, and UC Berkeley affiliates , message
boards to find roommates, sublets, buy/sell
furniture, etc., easy access to off-campus
housing listings for students, parents, faculty,
and staff, and a place for area property
owners/managers to reach the UC Berkeley
community
Some students may also choose to find
housing outside of the university's affiliated
properties network. Students can visit local
apartment hunt sites, Facebook, and join
online networking groups to find off-campus
housing options.
Websites
housing.berkeley.edu/resources
facebook.com/groups/266259923468888/
sa.berkeley.edu/conduct/resources/housing
6

ON-CAMPUS HOUSING
Transfer students are encouraged to live on campus
for their first year at UC Berkeley, and as new
students to the university can anticipate receiving a
housing assignment provided they apply on time and
follow all directions in the housing application.
On-campus housing is comprised of single, double,
and triple unit dorms and single and double unit
apartments. Students enroll in a Meal Plan to access
UC Berkeley Dining Halls.
All of UC residence halls and most UC apartments
offer the same great staff and academic support, but
the choice of housing type really depends on the
student’s study habits, style and personality. The
three main aspects that affect decisions are: social,
financial and proximity/location. Other
considerations, such as whether students want to
reside in theme housing or substance-free housing,
may also influence housing preferences.
The Transfer Living and Learning Community is a
unique, community living experience for incoming
transfer students. As a community member, you will
have the opportunity to live in a Maximino Martinez
Commons residence hall with 45 new transfers, where
students are expected to cultivate strong
relationships with their peers, and actively participate
in floor social activities.
Websites
housing.berkeley.edu/undergraduate-students
transfers.berkeley.edu/tllc
7

ON/OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING RESOURCES
Academic Services in the Residence Halls
provides the academic support services and
resources necessary for residential students
to transition successfully into academic life at
Cal. An Academic Services Center is available
in each unit. These services and resources
include academic advising, tutoring, facultyinteraction
programs, study-space, residential
theme programs, and technology services.
Students may also benefit from the Theme
Program experience, which allows students
to enjoy the opportunities of a large
university while benefiting from being part of
a smaller and closer-knit residential
community of students who share a common
academic interest.
Students may also use resources and services
unaffiliated with UC Berkeley to find
information and support related to housing.
Students are encouraged to do substantial
research before committing to housing
contracts with local apartment complexes,
other students, and Berkeley community
members.
The university recognizes
that some students,
especially transfer students,
may be looking for offcampus
housing, and has
created various university
affiliated online services and
Facebook groups to help
students navigate the
process of finding housing.
Websites
housing.berkeley.edu/resources
facebook.com/groups/266259923468888/
sa.berkeley.edu/conduct/resources/housing
housing.berkeley.edu/undergraduate-students
8

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Bear Transit is UC Berkeley’s shuttle system,
servicing the campus and vicinity. Bear Transit
provides convenient transportation between
campus, Downtown Berkeley BART, parking lots,
Clark Kerr campus, the Hill area, residence halls,
Richmond Field Station (RFS) and Campus
Shared Services on 4th Street.
Student and Faculty EasyPasses are connected to
a specialized Clipper Card - while travelling for
free on all AC Transit lines, you can use Clipper
Cash on a myriad of transit agencies in the Bay
Area.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is a great way to
travel to UC Berkeley. The Downtown Berkeley
stop is one block from the west side of campus.
UC Berkeley offers comprehensive free night
safety services made up of BearWalk escort,
night shuttle buses, and a door-to-door service.
The time of day determines what services are
available.
Websites
pt.berkeley.edu/home
actransit.org
pt.berkeley.edu/StudentHandbook
nightsafety.berkeley.edu
9

CLUBS AND
ORGANIZATIONS
Contents
Associated Students of the
University of California 11
Greek Life 12
Student Organizations 13

ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (ASUC)
The Associated Students of the
University of California (ASUC), is the
officially recognized student
association at the University of
California, Berkeley. Known as one of
the largest and most autonomous
student organizations in the nation, the
ASUC is an independent 501(c)3 non
profit organization separate from
University governance.
In addition to controlling funding for
student clubs and organizations,
providing resources and student
programming, overseeing commercial
activities and student services including
the Cal Student Store and Lower
Sproul Plaza in partnership with the
ASUC Student Union, the ASUC
advocates for students on a University,
local, state, and national level and
represents the student body on
administrative campus committees.
ASUC helps create a better experience
for students on campus and in the
community by supporting student
services, organizations, and rights.
Location
412 Eshleman Hall
Website
asuc.org
11

GREEK LIFE
The CalGreeks community is comprised of
3,600 life-long, undergraduate members in
over 60+ local, national, and international
fraternities and sororities. In addition to their
chapters, members have the opportunity to
participate and take leadership roles in
CalGreeks affinity groups and governing
councils.
The Fraternity & Sorority Advising and
Leadership team supports individuals and
chapters in promoting the four CalGreeks
pillars: Community, Scholarship, Leadership,
and Service. You can find CalGreeks Advising in
the LEAD Center at 432 Eshleman Hall.
CalGreeks chapters are members of one of
four councils: IFC, MCGC, NPHC, and PHC.
Each chapter is listed within its council and
sorted alphabetically, including its address
(where applicable) and type (Fraternity or
Sorority).
Websites
lead.berkeley.edu/about-calgreeks
lead.berkeley.edu/find-a-chapter/how-to-join
12

STUDENT ORGANZATIONS
The UC Berkeley campus offers more than
1,200 student clubs and organizations, from
student government to advocacy groups, from
traditional Greek life to the Peace Corps, you
can get involved with as many student
organizations as your interests, schedule, and
scholastic pursuits permit.
UC Berkeley will encourage you to connect
with peers and engage with the campus
through activities beyond the classroom. It's
way to make the large campus of UC Berkeley
a little bit smaller. Many Berkeley students join
organizations based on their interest, passion,
or identity. Whether your interest is in service,
culture/religion, politics, an academic/
professional interest, or something else, there
is a student organization for you.
Berkeley students are leaders. Leadership
looks different for everyone, but all forms of
leadership are supported at Berkeley. For
students who are interested in getting
involved, a good place to get started is
through our LEAD Center (Leadership,
Engagement, Advising, and Development).
Websites
berkeley.edu/campus-life/student-organizations
callink.berkeley.edu/organizations
admissions.berkeley.edu/student-activities
13

BASIC
NEEDS
Contents
Basic Needs Center
CalFresh
UC Berkeley Food Pantry
15
16
17

BASIC NEEDS CENTER
Over the past six years, starting off initially
as a food pantry, Basic Needs efforts have
expanded to meet the need of the UC
Berkeley community. It has been the mission
of the Basic Needs efforts on campus to
work towards economic, food and housing
justice.
The Basic Needs Center envisions ongoing
economic, food and housing justice for all
UC Berkeley community members no
matter who they are or where they come
from.
They provide accessible and equitable
programming and resources; they research,
innovate, advocate and engage in coalition
building to lead systemic change.
They value compassion, dignity, diversity,
and generative, healing, interdependency,
multi-generational resilience
Location
MLK Student Union (BNorth),
Suite 72
Website
basicneeds.berkeley.edu
15

CALFRESH
CalFresh, also known as the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program SNAP, is an nutrition program
that can help you stretch your monthly
budget. CalFresh can provide eligible
students with the ability to buy and eat
nutritious and healthy food.
CalFresh benefits are pre-loaded
monthly into an EBT card that can be
used like a debit card at most major
chain grocery stores, like Trader Joe’s,
Safeway, and Costco. It can also be used
at some smaller stores, like the Berkeley
Student Food Collective!
Select farmers’ markets accept CalFresh
benefits too. Some listed farmers’
markets participate in the Market Match,
which matches the amount you spend at
the farmers’ market.
Website
calfresh.berkeley.edu
16

UC BERKELEY FOOD
PANTRY
The UC Berkeley Food Pantry is a direct
response to the need among the student and
staff population for more resources to fight
food insecurity––the lack of nutritious food.
With rising fees, textbook costs, and living
expenses, it has become increasingly difficult
for students to juggle the costs of living with
the costs of obtaining a university degree,
and thus many students are finding
themselves choosing between essentials such
as food and the costs of college.
The UC Berkeley Food Pantry was established
to provide emergency relief to help students
and staff at the University of California. It is a
part of the campus-wide food security
efforts.
Students and staff can visit the pantry as
many times as they need and take as much as
they need while being mindful that it is a
shared resource. Pantry operates on a selfassessed
need basis; there are no eligibility
requirements.
The pantry is not for students and staff who
need supplemental snacking food, but rather,
core food support.
Location
MLK Student Union (BNorth)
Website
pantry.berkeley.edu
17

STUDY ABROAD
Contents
Berkeley Global Internships 19
Berkeley Summer Abroad 20
UC Education Abroad Program 21

BERKELEY GLOBAL INTERNSHIPS
Berkeley Global Internships offers projectbased
academic internships in a variety of
industries in both domestic and
international locations. They partner with
leading organizations such as the Academic
Internship Council and EUSA to provide
you with internship programs and
comprehensive support, including: 0ne-onone
program advising, placement in an
internship based on your academic
background, experience, and interests, and
professional development workshops to
prepare you for your internship.
Berkeley Global Internships programs are
open to all University of California students
and visiting students from other colleges
and universities.
Through Berkeley Global Internships
programs, students may earn academic
credit while gaining practical internship
experience.
Drop-In Advising Location
160 Stephens Hall
Website
studyabroad.berkeley.edu/globalinternships
19

BERKELEY SUMMER
ABROAD
The Berkeley Summer Abroad program is
UC Berkeley’s own study abroad program
featuring intensive summer programs led
by Berkeley faculty and lecturers.
Students may earn Berkeley credit (or UC
credit for visiting students) while studying
abroad, live, study, and travel with
program students, and experience other
cultures through class excursions and
activities.
Berkeley Summer Abroad programs are
open to all University of California
students, visiting students from other
colleges and universities, and international
students.
Drop-In Advising
Location
160 Stephens Hall
Website
studyabroad.berkeley.edu /summerabroad
20

UC EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAM
(UCEAP)
As a University of California program,
UCEAP expands on the UC experience. It
introduces you to the people and places
where ideas are born. Journeying to a new
country, you'll encounter cultures,
traditions, languages, and stories that
surprise, delight, and expand your intellect.
As you shift your view of the world, you'll
test the boundaries of who you are and
what you're capable of achieving. You'll
discover unknown abilities that fuel your
confidence and empower you to seize new
challenges. Where will your journey take
you?
Savor the food, art, history, language,
politics, and traditions of distant cultures.
Explore ancient temples, soaring towers,
palaces, castles, and other wonders of the
world. And see the unique habitats, animals,
and awe-inspiring natural landscapes that
make every country unique.
Website
uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu
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