Department/Campus Resources

Written by Jordan Schwartz

In addition to receiving advice from course staff, there are many resources available to students through the department and university. Often, finding and accessing these resources can be overwhelming or challenging, but we hope to provide you with an outline of resources available and somewhere to start.

This list is not complete and is subject to change and be updated. If you know of a resource that is missing, feel free to email cs61a@berkeley.edu!

Reporting an Incident

We recognize that disputes and conflicts can occur between students, staff, instructors, etc. There are many different types of incidents, including but not limited to discrimination, assault, conflict, etc., so we want to provide some resources to help absolve any conflict you may face.

If you are feeling lost or overwhelmed, please feel free to make an appointment with someone on staff (we are happy to point you in the right direction!) through advising.

  • The EECS department provides many ways to report issues within the department, including general incidents, grievances with faculty, sexual harassment, and discrimination. Please report any incidents to us or to the department using the department form, so that we can continue to improve the CS student experience. Thank you!
  • The Student Advocate’s Office (SAO) "is a student-run organization that helps students litigate issues with professors."
  • The Ombudsperson for Students "can be your first step, your last resort, or anything in between. The Ombudsperson will listen to your concerns, serve as a sounding board, discuss your options with you, and help you get a new perspective and determine the next steps to take."
  • Lastly, many resources of support and ways to report issues are provided by the university as well.

Advising

Advising is meant as a resource to help guide you as a student through your education and time at Berkeley. Some examples are to help with degree or graduation requirements as well as campus policies and procedures. Outside of 61A where we have advising OH appointments, there are different types of advising at Berkeley depending on your college.

Still not sure where to start/go? Come ask someone on staff!

College of Letters and Science

Within L&S there are a few different types of advising: college, major, and peer advising. College advisors take a broader view of your academics while major advisors focus on your specific major. This comprehensive guide explains their differences and how to access them.

The virtual front desk, which is staffed by both staff and peer advisors, can also give more immediate advice.

There is also peer advising which is based on the major/department you have questions for! We highly recommend starting here as they have all the resources from the school and department while also being able to understand your experience from a potentially similar perspective. Here are a few listed, if you don’t see one that is applicable to your situation, try searching in a browser for “[department or college name] peer advising Berkeley”.

College of Engineering

Advising through CoE is mainly run through Engineering Student Services. This website provides a thorough overview of the services and different types of engineering offered.

  • ESS provides an academic advisor for pretty much anything related to your undergraduate education.
  • Faculty advisors provide academic mentors and can help with selecting courses or potential career paths for example.
  • Departmental advising provides advisors focused on your specific major and are most knowledgeable about programs, resources, and services for students of your major.
  • Peer advisors are trained and knowledgeable students who are equipped to help answer any questions you may have about navigating Berkeley.

Resources for Women

  • Association of Women in EECS (AWE): "a student-run organization at UC Berkeley that seeks to empower female and non-binary undergraduate students pursuing Computer Science and/or Electrical Engineering disciplines. AWE hosts a variety of academic, industry, and social events throughout the year to support and connect our members."
  • Society of Women Engineers (SWE): "a national nonprofit organization which strives to highlight the achievements of women as leaders and engineers."
  • CSM Affinity Sections for Women: Sections that are for and run by women.
  • Gender Equity Resource Center
  • More student organizations listed here!

Resources for Queer Students

Resources for Students of Color

Resources for Transfer Students

  • Transfer Student Center
  • CSM Affinity Sections for Transfer Students: Sections that are run for and by transfer students.

Other Academic Resources

  • EECS 101 Piazza: Place for announcements and advice from the EECS department. To join, navigate to Piazza, click "Join Another Class," select term "Other," search for "EECS 101".
  • DATA 001 Piazza: Place for announcements and advice from the Data Science department. To join, navigate to Piazza, click "Join Another Class," select term "Other," search for "DATA 001".
  • COGSCI Piazza: Place for announcements and advice from the Cognitive Science department. To join, navigate to Piazza, click "Join Another Class," select term "Other," search for "COGSCI".

  • Computer Science Mentors (CSM): "a student-run organization that provides guidance and resources in a smaller classroom environment through group tutoring sessions. Each section has 4-6 students and focuses on material from lower division CS and EECS courses at Berkeley. Section sign-ups will open within the first few weeks of classes. CSM also sometimes offers affinity sections for no prior experience students, women, LGBTQ students, and transfer students."

    • CSM will also be running No Prior Experience (NPE) Affinity Sections for students with no to limited experience in CS.
  • eta kappa nu (HKN): "the national Electrical and Computer Engineering honor society. HKN offers many student services for both CS and EECS courses as well. There is tutoring including office hours, advising, exam preparation, course surveys, and peer advising."
  • The Center for Access to Engineering Excellence "is committed to providing a supportive and welcoming environment conducive to academic and personal success. They pride themselves as champions for diversity, equity and inclusion in all of their programs and services."
  • Private Tutoring: the EECS advising department compiles a list of private student tutors. Tutors are often most useful for understanding content but not for completing assignments, especially to follow academic integrity expectations. Link will be updated once the spring 2022 list is released.
  • Student Learning Center (SLC) "supports a global community of learners as they navigate the cultural expectations and academic rigor of UC Berkeley. Through service models that honor their diverse starting points and meet them where they are, we aim to empower all students to realize their full academic potential and aspirations."
  • Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) "provides students who identify as first-generation, low-income, and/or historically underrepresented college students with the guidance, support, and resources to succeed at Berkeley and take meaningful steps toward achieving their personal and professional goals."

Mental Health Resources At Berkeley

Sexual Harrassment and Sexual Assault Resources

  • Path to Care / Care Line: "24/7, confidential, free, campus-based resource for urgent support around sexual assault, sexual harassment, interpersonal violence, stalking, and invasion of sexual privacy."
  • See also Reporting an Incident

Basic Needs Resources

COVID-19 Resources

UC Berkeley COVID-19 Dashboard