October 12, 2021 - Flu Shots, Fall Events, Spring 2022

OCTOBER 2021

Dear undergraduate, graduate, and professional students,

Good news for spring 2022: the mode of instruction will be in-person, regardless of class size. The limited number of courses that have been designed and approved to be delivered in an alternate mode of instruction are listed accordingly in the Course Catalog.

Here are this month’s other key takeaways:

In October, we mark Disability Awareness Month and Filipino American History Month.

We’re proud of our record serving students with disabilities. In fact, UC Berkeley created the first college program designated to serve students with disabilities. We’re always striving to find new ways to work with this community; more than 8,100 Berkeley students report having a disability. A good place for students to reach out is with the Disabled Students’ Program or DSP and this screen-reader calendar of Disabled Empowerment Higher Education Month events. And be sure to read one student’s experience taking Professor Kleege’s course, English 175: Literature and Disability.

As we mark Filipino American History Month, the State of California has named Oct. 25 as Larry Itliong Day, honoring the Filipino-American workers rights activist who helped organize grape boycotts alongside Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in the 1960s. If you’re looking to connect with our campus Pilipinx community, two Pilipinx students share their best advice.

In addition, yesterday (October 11) we celebrated Indigenous People’s Day and National Coming Out Day. This Roundup includes more great resources and connections for these communities and events. 

Health and Safety

Flu Shot Clinics

Get a flu shot, not the flu! Drop-in clinics will be available to students on Oct. 14, 15, 18, 26, and 27 at MLK Building Pauley Ballroom from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Flu shots are free for students with SHIP. Without SHIP, the cost is $40; bring your Cal 1 Card. (You can get a copy of your receipt by sending a message in eTang to the Cashier to submit to your insurance for reimbursement.)

Cold, Flu, or COVID?

Symptoms of a cold, the flu, COVID-19, or even allergies can all be similar. How do you know what you might have? UHS has developed a Cold/Flu/Etc. Guide to help you quickly figure out what is going on, and to determine if you need to go in for care.

Free Rapid HIV Antibody Testing

The Sexual Health Education Program's Sexpert Education Clinic conducts free, anonymous rapid HIV antibody testing for Cal students. Testing method is a blood-based finger prick test with results provided in 30 minutes. Testing will be available Oct. 29 and Nov. 19 from noon to 3 p.m. in the Health Promotion Department on the second floor of University Health Services (see the UHS website for sexual health information and for additional HIV testing dates).

Health Opportunity Fund

The Health Opportunity Fund (HOF) is a set of funds available for use for services and prescriptions at the Tang Center to be used by Pell Grant and Dream Aid recipients;

graduate students who have filed a FAFSA for the current year and have Pell Grant equivalent eligibility; actively registered students in the Disabled Students Program (DSP).

This year, HOF is providing eligible students $350 to be used at University Health Services by May 13, 2022.

Connecting and Community

Connect to the Pilipinx Community

As our students can tell you, we have a strong and vibrant Filipinx/Pilipinx campus community. Our campus has at least eight Pilipinx undergraduate student organizations and three Pilipinx graduate student organizations, as well as annual events like Pilipinx Cultural Night. Learn more about our Pilipinx community and paths of connection from students Abigael Tabora and Brian Villa.

Plipinix Graduate Student Reception

The Pilipinx American Graduate Student Association (PAGaSA) invites Pilipinx graduate students to an informal reception on Oct. 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Please RSVP by emailing cal.pagasa@gmail.com; you’ll receive a calendar invitation with more details. 

Disability in Literature

Read this student’s take on how a Disability in Literature English course with Professor Kleege enlarged her perspective of people with disabilities.

Student Groups for those with Disabilities

“Disability” as a term on campus is very broad, ranging from the physical to non-visible (such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress, as well as learning disabilities and chronic health conditions.) Berkeley has a lot of ways for you to connect with these communities, as a member or a volunteer. Here are just a few: the Student Coalition for Disability Rights; Yo! Disabled and Proud; and Spectrum: Autism at Cal.

Disability Awareness Month Events

Mark your calendars for Wednesdays in October, starting tomorrow with Tabling at Sproul Plaza! This is when the Disability Cultural Community Center (DCC), the Disability Awareness Planning Committee, and campus partners will host activities to mark Disability Awareness Month. Find details and Zoom links via this 2021 Disability Awareness Month PDF (or Google Word document). Real-time captioning will be available. Please contact DCC for additional accommodations to facilitate your participation and access: awkwong@berkeley.edu Also be sure to check out this screen-reader calendar of Diabled Empowerment Higher Education Month events.

Reflecting on Indigenous People’s Day

Yesterday marked Indigenous People’s Day, and one way you can reflect on its meaning is to acknowledge the land that Berkeley sits on - the territory of Huichin, the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people. Read the UC Berkeley Land Acknowledgment developed in partnership with Native communities and learn more about how and why we use land acknowledgments.

Calling All Foodies

Save your appetite for mouthwatering campus dining socials featuring a special dish: Oct. 14 lunch at Crossroads - Sustainable Seafood; Oct. 20 lunch at Foothill - Go Organic; and Nov. 4 dinner at Clark Kerr - All-In All Local. Cal Dining has full menus and other details. Bonus: Email a pic of your dish to dining@berkeley.edu, and yours may be one of the top three photos (selected by Cal Dining!) to be eligible to win a gift card.

Cal Performances Flex Passes

There’s plenty more to the 2021-22 season at Cal Performances, including upcoming: Pilobolus dancers (Oct. 21 to 22, first Zellerbach performance in 35 years); Angélique Kidjo (Oct. 29); Frankenstein (Oct. 31). Berkeley students receive 50 percent off all events and can purchase $60 flex passes, good for any four performances. 

No Sweat Exercise Classes

No sweat to join, no sweat to meet new people...and lots of healthy sweat for fitness. Sign up for any of Rec Sports for Group X classes: Yoga and Pilates, Zumba, Cardio Dance, and more.

Resources and Support

2022/23 Financial Aid Applications

The 2022/23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the California Dream Act Application opened on October 1. The application priority deadline is March 2. If you file after March 2, some types of financial aid may be limited. Remember, you need to submit an application to apply for aid each year.

Disabled Students’ Program

If you have a disability and aren’t already connected with the Disabled Students’ Program, please reach out right away. The earlier you get connected to resources the better DSP staff can help you. 

Emergency Evacuation for DSP Students

Request a planning consult via access@berkeley.edu. If you would like to work on emergency evacuation planning on your own, feel free to access this UC Berkeley Emergency Planning & Evacuation for Disabled People.

LGBTQAI+ Coming Out Resources

Oct. 11 was National Coming Out Day, and to observe this occasion, UC Berkeley’s Gender and Equity Resource Center compiled information for folks who may be looking to come out as well as some helpful Do’s and Don’ts for when a friend or family member comes out to you. The Human Rights Campaign also has extensive resources on coming out available, including a guide for how to be an LGBTQ+ ally. 

Student Grievance Information

Student Affairs has updated its UC Berkeley Campus Grievance Procedures for Students page, covering processes such as disability compliance, the grade appeal process, and student conduct.

Study Abroad Week Oct. 18-22

Oh, to study ancient artifacts at London Museums! Or biology in New Zealand. Or French in Belgium. If this sounds like your dream, be sure to join in online for Study Abroad Week, Oct. 18 to 22. Learn how to select the right program, finance your studies abroad, apply, and get credit for courses taken. There will be specialized sessions for transfer students, Latinx students, and first-time travellers. 

#WaterMadeThis Contest

Create an Instagram post sharing how water helps you be well at UC Berkeley, and you may win a $50 campus restaurant gift card. Use hashtag #WaterMadeThis and tag @BeWellCal. Posts can be of you on campus, in nature, or showing your favorite reusable water bottle and fill station on campus. Each week between now and Oct. 31, University Health Services will pick two winners: one post at random, as well as a favorite post to share.

Save Your Semester Workshop

The College of Letters & Science is offering a Save Your Semester workshop via Zoom to help L&S majors navigate options to address mid-semester challenges and deficient grades. The workshop, Oct. 28 from 3 to 4 p.m., will focus on college policies such as grading option changes (P/NP), late-change petitions, incomplete grades, and withdrawal. Campus resources will also be discussed. This workshop is open to all L&S students, not just those on academic probation. And don’t forget to look up other fall 2021 L&S Academic Events. 

Free WSJ Subscription

Did you know that all UC Berkeley students can read The Wall Street Journal for free? The Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) and UC Berkeley Graduate Assembly (GA) worked together so you can activate your free subscription at www.WSJ.com/ASUCBerkeley.

Jobs, Careers, Volunteer 

Considering Graduate School?

UC Berkeley is holding its second annual Graduate Diversity Admissions Fair October 18 to 22 to help prospective professional, master's, and doctoral students learn more about UC Berkeley overall, its application and funding process, and departments in their area of interest. The program was developed specifically for underrepresented students, but is open to all students. Register now.

Become a Virtual Coach 

Are you interested in working with high potential Black and Latinx elementary, middle, and high school students? Apply to be a Pathways Coach at Stiles Hall!

I’m sure you’re as relieved as I am that the campus will return to mostly normal in-person operations and course offerings next spring. But, as always, plans are contingent upon the public health guidance in place at the time of their implementation and are subject to change. Keep your flexibility muscles in shape? Go, Bears!!

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.