# Community
**Source**: https://admit.berkeley.edu/community/
**Parent**: https://admit.berkeley.edu/calday/
UC Berkeley offers vibrant student life that intertwines with a rich tapestry of opportunities for growth and connection. From forging lifelong friendships in our diverse housing communities to navigating campus safely, our community thrives on fostering meaningful connections. Explore a multitude of student organizations and tap into the vast resources UC Berkeley offers, empowering you to excel both academically and personally.
Community & Support
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- Student Life
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With the vibrant heart of student life at UC Berkeley, opportunities for involvement abound. Engage in shaping campus culture through active participation in student organizations, or make your voice heard in the ASUC student government. Explore a diverse array of fraternities and sororities, alongside countless other avenues for connection and community-building, enriching your UC Berkeley experience beyond the classroom. [Learn more about student leadership and engagement](https://lead.berkeley.edu/).
- The Bay Area
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Discover what makes Berkeley, well, Berkeley – pizza co-ops, independent bookshops, architectural wonders, eclectic live music venues, farmer’s markets, idyllic swimming holes, breathtaking scenic lookouts, charming neighborhoods, and more. Enjoy exploring a college town nestled in a bustling city. And should you want to discover further, Oakland and San Francisco are just a short BART ride away. And within 40 miles you’ll have access to the Napa Valley as well as the tech hub of Silicon Valley. [Learn more about the Bay Area](https://www.visitcalifornia.com/region/san-francisco-bay-area/).
- Safety
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While UC Berkeley is in an urban environment, the campus offers a wide range of [safety services](https://nightsafety.berkeley.edu/home) such as late-night shuttles, campus escorts, and self-defense courses. The UC Berkeley campus has a dedicated, [full-service police department](https://ucpd.berkeley.edu/) with more than 50 officers, full-time non-sworn personnel, and student employees.
- Recreation & Wellbeing
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Recreation & Wellbeing is dedicated to providing inclusive services, programs, and facilities to members, visitors, and staff reflective of the cultural richness and diversity of our community. Berkeley continues to offer the breadth and depth of services and resources that have long supported students, and promoted physical and mental wellness for the entire campus community. Recreation & Wellbeing (RecWell) offers numerous programs from club sports, to fitness facilities, to e-sports and other offerings. [Learn more about RecWell.](https://recwell.berkeley.edu/)
- Berkeley Athletics
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UC Berkeley’s Division I athletic program is legendary. Our historic program has been home to some of the best athletes in the world, in football, basketball, soccer, swimming, and more. And you don’t have to be an athlete to participate in UC Berkeley traditions. From the Cal Band, to the historic card stunts, Sproul Plaza rallies, and more, the UC Berkeley community always finds tradition in cheering on the California Golden Bears. [Learn more about Cal Athletics](https://calbears.com/).
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## Resources and Support Services
### [Berkeley Dining](https://dining.berkeley.edu/)
2610 Channing Way | (510) 643-8323 | dining@berkeley.edu
At Berkeley Dining you can purchase meal plans with the flexibility, convenience, and value you need while serving nutritious, local, and sustainable food.
[Meal plans](https://dining.berkeley.edu/meal-plans/) are available for:
- On-campus – students living in the residence halls
- Off-campus – students living in off-campus housing or university-owned/affiliated apartments, as well as graduate/extension students
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### [UC Berkeley Housing](https://housing.berkeley.edu/?utm_source=admitportal&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=housingyield2024)
2610 Channing Way | (510) 642-4108 | reshall@berkeley.edu
UC Berkeley’s campus housing provides an inviting home where you’ll create memories, share ideas, and grow alongside friends. Make the most of Berkeley’s world-class education by living on campus and alongside your peers.
- [Housing info for newly-admitted students](https://housing.berkeley.edu/explore-housing-options/housing-by-user-type/newly-admitted-students/?utm_source=admitportal&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=housingyield2023)
- Transfer student housing info
- [Residence halls](https://housing.berkeley.edu/explore-housing-options/residence-halls?utm_source=admitportal&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=housingyield2024)
- [Theme programs](https://reslife.berkeley.edu/academics/theme-programs/?utm_source=admitportal&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=housingyield2024)
- [Apartments](https://housing.berkeley.edu/explore-housing-options/apartments/?utm_source=admitportal&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=housingyield2024)
- [Video tours](https://housing.berkeley.edu/resources/tours/?utm_source=admitportal&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=housingyield2023)
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### [Berkeley Parents & Families](http://parents.berkeley.edu)
(510) 642-7147 | parents@berkeley.edu
The University of California, Berkeley’s Cal Parents and Families program helps parents, families and supporters of enrolled Berkeley students engage with the campus and support the University.
Cal Parents’ four primary objectives:
- Serve as the central resource for connecting undergraduate parents and families to Berkeley
- Empower parents to help their students successfully navigate their Berkeley experience
- Invite parents to support the University through philanthropic donations
- Offer volunteer opportunities for parents to serve as Ambassadors and connect with the Berkeley community
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### [Center for Financial Wellness](https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/financial-literacy-and-resources/center-for-financial-wellness/)
211 Sproul Hall | financialwellness@berkeley.edu
Center for Financial Wellness is a peer-to-peer financial wellness program housed in the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office at UC Berkeley. We offer workshops and one-on-one appointments to help students manage their personal finances in college and beyond. Check out the [Center for Financial Wellness web page](https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/financial-literacy-and-resources/center-for-financial-wellness/) for valuable resources and tips to help you manage your money. Additionally, you can view our event calendar, request a presentation, or schedule an appointment with us online.
Center for Financial Wellness Facebook
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### [Cal Student Central and Financial Aid & Scholarships Office](http://studentcentral.berkeley.edu/)
120 Sproul Hall | (510) 664-9181
- Cal Student Central answers questions about financial aid; fees and tuition; billing, payments, and disbursements; registration and enrollment; and student records.
- Students can use the website to [open a case online](https://studentcentral.berkeley.edu/open-case) to have specific questions answered.
- Cal Student Central is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Appointments are not required.
- Cal Student Central and Financial Aid and Scholarships will be open on Cal Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Congratulations and thank you for your patience during peak periods!
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### [Disabled Students’ Program](http://dsp.berkeley.edu/)
260 Cesar Chavez Student Center | (510) 642-0518 (Voice) | (510) 642-6376 (TTY) | dsp@berkeley.edu
The Disabled Students’ Program promotes an inclusive environment for students with disabilities. We equip students with appropriate accommodations and services to achieve their individual academic goals. We are dedicated to supporting students and collaborating with the campus community to remove barriers to educational access and embrace the University’s values of equity and inclusion. We believe that an accessible environment universally benefits everyone.
Services we provide include:
- Academic accommodations
- Alternative formats: Braille and e-text
- Communications accommodations: ASL, CART live captioning, media captioning
- [TRIO-Disability program](https://dsp.berkeley.edu/support-services/trio-dsp-student-support-services); high touch academic and social support
- [Career Counseling](https://dsp.berkeley.edu/support-services/career-services#:~:text=DSP%20offers%20specialized%20career%20services,an%20employee%20with%20a%20disability.)
- [Autism support services](https://dsp.berkeley.edu/support-services/autism-spectrum-services)
- [Disability Cultural Community Center](https://dsp.berkeley.edu/faq/donations/disability-cultural-community-center)
For much more information and to apply for services, please visit [the DSP website](https://dsp.berkeley.edu/).
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Appointments and walk-ins (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) welcome.
- Admitted students may [apply for Disabled Students’ Program services](http://dsp.berkeley.edu/students/new-students). After application, please submit documentation and schedule an intake appointment.
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### [New Student Services](https://orientation.berkeley.edu/)
(510) 642-7733 | nss@berkeley.edu
New Student Services empowers undergraduates to succeed and facilitates their transition to life at UC Berkeley. We do this through teaching new students and their support networks about academic success, campus resources, traditions and culture, and by helping them build community. These goals are achieved when students participate in the Golden Bear Experience: Golden Bear Advising, Golden Bear Prep, Golden Bear Orientation and Getting Your Bearings.\
Learn about each component at [orientation.berkeley.edu](http://orientation.berkeley.edu).
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### [UC Berkeley Libraries](http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/)
Considered the crown jewel of higher education in the entire state, UC Berkeley relies on the Library every day to support its world-class teaching and cutting-edge research, and to enrich the experience of its thousands of students. The UC Berkeley Library has 20 unique locations, including Doe, a beacon of information standing in the shadow of the iconic Campanile, and libraries focused on specific fields, such as art history, earth science, and music.
WATCH: [At the Library, we live for the aha moments](https://vimeo.com/307130179)!
To visit the libraries in person, [see the hours here](https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/hours).
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### [Visitor Services](http://visit.berkeley.edu/)
Koret Visitor Center at California Memorial Stadium | 2227 Piedmont Avenue | (510) 642-5215 | tour@berkeley.edu
- Visitor Center Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Weekends & Friday, March 29, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Visit the [new admit page](http://caladmit.com/) of the Visitor Services website for details and tour reservations.
- Tour reservations are preferred, but all newly admitted & waitlisted students and their families will be able to join the tour of their choice even without a reservation.
[Campus Visitor Map](https://www.berkeley.edu/map)