March 9, 2021 - Berkeley Life Roundup: Spring Break Ideas

This message was sent to all undergraduate and graduate students on 03/09/21:

Dear undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students,

The second week of March marks one year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and since UC Berkeley switched to primarily remote instruction. Our campus community has shown its resiliency throughout, from faculty and students gathering on Zoom to everyone wearing face coverings, testing, and practicing physical distancing. I am proud of you Golden Bears for the way our community came together. 

The work is not yet over. Spring Recess (spring break) is coming up on March 22–26, and because we strongly discourage spring break travel (especially outside of the Bay Area), this month’s Roundup offers ideas and activities to keep you inspired. 

Here are this month’s key takeaways:

Take a break! Yes, we need to be resilient, but let’s also enjoy spring break. One of our students worked with staff to collect a list of things to do during spring break. Need a short break right now? Check out Anywhere Diaries, a new IGTV series that follows Berkeley students throughout their day. Or review pandemic. life at Berkeley in forty photos.
 

Health and Safety

Spring Break Update
Campus leaders are strongly discouraging spring break travel, especially outside of the Bay Area. The campus has created a collection of short, informative videos that help explain travel risks, as well as other COVID-related information.The weather is getting warmer, and there are many local, outdoor, virtual, and physically distanced activities you can join in this spring break. Read our Berkeley Life article for some fun and useful ideas. Don’t forget: Cesar Chavez Day is March 26, which is an academic and administrative holiday. For those on campus, be sure to check UHS COVID testing and Cal Dining spring break schedules. 

Testing Badges Explained
How does the badge testing system work? Watch as we break down the different color badges and what it means for you if you're coming to campus. 

Mental Health Support
Your physical and mental health is important and University Health Services is here for you. Watch a video on how to easily make a virtual or in-person appointment.

Connecting and Community

Rec Sports Virtual Hiring Fair
If you’re looking for a summer or fall 2021 job, please join Rec Sports at its Virtual Hiring Fair March 9 and 10 from 7 to 8 p.m. to find your fit and work with Berkeley Rec Sports.

IGTV Anywhere Diaries
Anywhere Diaries is a new Berkeley Life IGTV series that follows Berkeley students throughout their day. Follow along with senior and media studies major Gabby H. as she shares how she manages school and work while also running a small business. 

Online Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon with the Library
Fire up your laptop for the annual Wikipedia-Edit-aThon, featuring keynote speaker Alexandria Lockett, professor of English at Spelman College and scholar of Wikipedia and new media technologies. Dr. Lockett will discuss how editors can meaningfully contribute to underrepresented knowledge of Wikipedia through alternative research practices. Volunteers can drop in to the Zoom room to edit with other members, and newbies can attend workshops on editing. Registration is required for the online event, sponsored by the Library and scheduled for March 10, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Pandemic-Era Berkeley
Whether you’re living on campus, elsewhere in the Bay Area, or on distant shores, Berkeley’s campus may feel like a much-used adjective these days — remote. With the second semester well under way, our News Center provides a peek at your campus, where we hope you’ll be glad to see that signs of perseverance, resilience, and newness are as prevalent as the coming of spring.

Mapmaking Contest
This month, the Earth Sciences and Map Library is kicking off its second annual mapmaking contest, inviting students to capture the magic, or illustrate the realities, of the Bay Area. Works that are entered into the contest, called Map the Bay, can be realistic or fantastical, and can come in an array of mediums, from computer-aided to hand-drawn. Four winners will receive $50 gift cards.

Resources and Support

Support for Asian and Asian American Students
After recent unprovoked attacks in the Bay Area against Asian and Asian Americans, campus leaders reaffirmed their support for Asian and Asian American students at Berkeley.  Find where to get support and make a report or find a counselor who specializes in support for Asian Pacific Islander students.

Get Tutoring and Academic Support 
Midterms are upon us and finals are just around the corner. If you need academic support, the Student Learning Center programs range from tutoring in writing to language exchange to support in courses ranging from economics to chemistry. 

Estimate Summer Financial Aid
You can now estimate your cost and financial aid for Summer Sessions in CalCentral. The Summer 2021 Cost and Aid Estimator can be found under the Summer Sessions heading in the Financial Resources section of CalCentral. To be eligible for aid, be sure to submit a 2020–21 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or California Dream Act application by June 1 and enroll in a minimum of six units for summer. To view additional eligibility criteria and learn more about the process, visit the Summer Aid web page.

Free LastPass Account and a Chance to Win
LastPass is a secure password manager that stores all of your usernames and passwords in one safe place. Sign up for a free LastPass account during the month of March and enter to win one of ten Amazon Gift Cards, courtesy of our Information Security Office.

Enjoy your spring break!
 

Sincerely,
Stephen C. Sutton, Ed.D.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
 

Berkeley Life Roundup is a monthly email with news just for students: health and wellness information, a summary of important campus updates, resources and support, and opportunities to connect, engage, and learn. Please also check out Berkeley Life hub and Berkeley Life Instagram. Graduate students can also connect with Graduate Division Instagram, as well as other platforms.

This message was sent to all undergraduate and graduate students.