June 22, 2021 - Berkeley Life Roundup: Happy Pride Plus Vaccination Updates

This message was sent to all undergraduate and graduate students on 06/22/21:

Dear undergraduate, graduate, and professional students,

June is Pride Month, and we send warm wishes to all who celebrate. Pride is about honoring the LGBTQIA+ community who came before, as well as respecting those who are fighting for better legal protections and societal acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community. In this Roundup, we feature links to some of the many campus resources for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Here are this month’s other key takeaways:

The campus will begin in-person instruction at the start of the fall semester (for most programs, Aug. 25, 2021) rather than observing a seven-day period of remote instruction as previously announced. This decision is in line with most University of California campuses, due to a pending vaccine mandate for students, staff, faculty and academic appointees; the widespread availability of vaccines; and steadily improving local conditions. We included what we know, including vaccination news, in this Roundup, and we plan to have more updates in our July Roundup and in our special Back-to-School August Roundup. 

We’d appreciate your sharing your thoughts about returning to campus this fall; please fill out this short Back-to-School survey...and you might even win an Amazon gift card!

In the meantime, you can refer to Berkeley Life Fall 2021 Resource Guide, or visit the Student Affairs Toolkit or UC Berkeley’s Return to Campus page for the most current updates, plans, and anticipated recovery efforts.
 

Health and Safety
 

Vaccination Mandate

The UC system will move forward with a vaccine mandate policy, which will be issued by July 15 and will go into effect on August 4, as shared in a recent campus email. If you received the vaccine at an off-campus vaccination site, you will need to upload a record of your vaccination to the secure eTang portal. This will help us better understand vaccination levels within the campus community and will be required once the policy goes into effect. (If you were or will be vaccinated on campus, no further action is required.)

Arrival Guidelines for Students

To help you plan for your arrival to campus in the fall, University Health Services has developed testing, vaccination, and self-sequester arrival guidelines for students. The guidelines pertain to all students, with specific details as well for those planning to live in on-campus housing or coming from abroad.

Get Your Vaccine and Campus COVID Test Now

Before you can take in-person classes and access campus facilities this fall, you’ll need both to get the COVID-19 vaccine and to take at least one campus COVID-19 test. If you live in or around Berkeley, you can take advantage of available UHS appointments for both vaccines and testing before everyone arrives for fall term in August. (If you’re not living locally, you’ll still be able to get both vaccines and tests from UHS when you arrive.)

Don’t forget: Even if you’ve already been vaccinated and uploaded your vaccine records in eTang, you will still need to take at least one COVID-19 test through a campus testing site in order to receive a compliant green testing badge in eTang. If you take your campus COVID test anytime this summer, it will be valid for 180 days from the date you were fully vaccinated. (If you already have a green badge and your vaccine records are uploaded, it will already be indicated and your next testing date would be 180 days from your fully vaccinated date.) Once fully vaccinated, no regular surveillance testing is necessary. Book your appointments now in eTang. 

White House Vaccine Challenge

The White House and the U.S. Department of Education have challenged colleges and universities to join in their efforts to end the pandemic via the COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge. By accepting the challenge, UC Berkeley has committed to continue taking three key actions to help get the campus communities vaccinated: engaging every student, faculty, and staff member; organizing the campus communities; and delivering vaccine access for all.

COVID-Related Restrictions Update

The Temporary Provisions, 102.28, set forth in the Code of Student Conduct that have been in place since fall of 2020, have been revised. The revision lifts the prohibition on student organization gatherings; however, it also requires students to wear face coverings when on-campus, in or outdoors, and requires them to follow any remaining COVID-19-related rules. The campus is currently evaluating when the face covering requirement might be modified for vaccinated students, in light of CDC and California Department of Public Health guidance. Check out Berkeley Life IG for a quick overview of the Temporary Provisions.

Summer Housing Health-Related Policies

Students living in summer campus housing were notified of changes to health-related policies in the residence halls and dining commons. For example, students may now dine in person at Crossroads and may use lounge spaces in some buildings. Students are still required to wear face coverings when outside their room or apartment.

Connecting and Community

Student Review: The Art of Drag

In Berkeley Life’s nod to Pride Month, student Noah Larsen gives his take on the Art of Drag, held annually by Residential Life’s UNITY Theme Program.

Test Your Knowledge of LGBTQIA+ History at UC 

Think you know about LGBTQIA+ history at the University of California? Test your UC rainbow knowledge with the quiz!

Acknowledging Juneteenth

Juneteenth (June 19), the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, is now an official federal holiday as well as an official UC holiday. UC Berkeley acknowledges the significance of Juneteenth as a good place to start thinking about how we lift each other up rather than holding some among us down. This year, the UC system will observe Juneteenth on Monday, June 28; thereafter, we will celebrate based on the federal calendar. For books, films, and other information about this important holiday, please visit this Berkeley Diversity web page.

RSF Open for In-Person Workouts

The RSF (Recreational Sports Facility) is open for in-person workouts, with a few new processes to follow. Here is what the RSF student experience looks like, from making a reservation and checking in through working out and cleaning up before you leave. 

Free Cal Adventures Pass

Start the summer on the water with the new Bay Experience Pass, free for Berkeley students. Take a sunset paddle, try sea kayaking, or get into windsurfing. Just choose an Experience-the-Bay Program and enjoy the San Francisco Bay at your own pace with Cal Adventure’s equipment rentals.

Berkeley Art Studio Now Open

The Berkeley Art Studio is now offering outdoor classes on-campus, including drawing, photography, and plein-air-painting. Ceramics classes will start in mid-July. Virtual classes are still available online for those far from campus or wanting to take creative classes from the comfort of their home.

Reflections of a Cal Grad

Paraphrasing Shawn Mendes, let’s write our story and sing our songs...and reflect on our years at UC Berkeley. Thanks for sharing, Kaylie Chen!

Share Your Thoughts about Fall 2021

What are you looking forward to most about returning to campus? If you’re coming to Berkeley for the first time, what are your hopes, feelings, questions? Please let us know. Student Affairs would love to hear your stories and perspectives on Back-to-School 2021. If you complete this short survey by July 16, you’ll be eligible to win an Amazon gift card!

Resources and Support

LGBTQIA+ Campus Resources

Pride Month is a great time for us to point out some of the campus resources for Berkeley’s gay community. Thank you all for bringing your authentic selves to the campus community!

• LGBTQIA+ Health Services

• Gender Equity Resource Center

• Queer Alliance & Resource Center

• LGBTQIA+ University Housing Requests

• UNITY Theme Program

• LavenderCal

• Cal Pride Scholarship

• Resource List

Berkeley Libraries Reopening

Starting July 12, three libraries on campus will open with limited services. Then, in time for the start of fall 2021 instruction, the rest of UC Berkeley’s libraries will reopen August 25. The Library’s plans also include winding down Oski Xpress, the Library’s contactless pickup service, and HathiTrust’s Emergency Temporary Access Service. You can learn more from the Library’s Reopening web page.

How to Find Off-Campus Housing 

Cal Rentals is a free resource to help students find off-campus housing. Pro tip: Send an email to homeinfo@berkeley.edu for a list of private rooming options. Get more tips about finding housing from Cal Rentals or read advice for your housing search from Berkeley students.  

Financial Aid Verification Priority Deadline: June 30

Students attending Berkeley in fall 2021 have until June 30 to complete their financial aid verification requirements to ensure funding by the start of the fall term. Visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships website to learn more about the Verification Process and review your outstanding tasks in CalCentral. It can take six to eight weeks to process verification documents — submit your verification documents as soon as possible to avoid delaying your financial aid disbursement.

Apply for Subsidized Broadband

Eligible students (including those with a Pell Grant or who have experienced significant income loss since February 2020) may apply for Emergency Broadband Benefits to receive substantially subsidized broadband service. You need to register, enroll, and work through the FCC verification process. You can find out more about this and other COVID-19-related financial aid assistance from our Financial Aid and Scholarships Office COVID-19 updates web page.

Find a Work-Study Job

If you have been offered and have accepted a work-study award for the 2021–22 academic year, you are eligible to earn work-study starting July 1. Search for and apply for work-study jobs on the student portal Work-Study Management System. There are job postings year-round — for example, Cal Student Central currently is looking for Peer Advisors (Job Number 7338317791 on WSMS). If you haven’t received a work-study award in your financial aid, you might be able to convert need-based loans to work-study. You can complete a conversion request on CalCentral, under “My Finances, View Awards, Loans.”

Reserve an Outdoor Venue

The ASUC Student Union Events Team will continue to accept reservation requests for a limited number of outdoor venues. 

SHIP Waiver July Deadline

Advance reminder: The deadline to waive SHIP Insurance without a fee is Thursday, July 15, 2021.

Food Pantry Summer Hours

The UC Berkeley Food Pantry has new summer hours. The pantry is on the first floor of the MLK Jr. Building, north side of Lower Sproul Plaza. 

Stay safe, have fun, and we’ll touch base with you in July. 

Sincerely,
Stephen C. Sutton, Ed.D. (he/him/his)
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.