Letter from the Faculty Director
As Director of Berkeley Connect, I feel profoundly grateful to serve such an impactful program. It’s a source of great satisfaction to help integrate our world-renowned university, to strengthen our community of learning laterally and vertically by providing structures for students to befriend their peers, to get to know graduate students, and to make meaningful contact with faculty.
I’m deeply grateful for the involvement of central campus and alumni in this program. Through support from the Division of Undergraduate Education and through generous contributions from donors, Berkeley Connect has been able to expand to new departments and to develop new dimensions for student experiences. Now, more than ever, Berkeley Connect situates students in their departments, their campus, and the broader world as it connects them with campus resources, alumni, and fields of intellectual and professional interest.
We’ve come a long way in the last ten years. We also have a vision of where we want to go, with your help.
Catherine Flynn
About Berkeley Connect
As one of the most highly ranked universities in the world, UC Berkeley offers life-changing opportunity. But, for some students, the large classes, sprawling campus, and a massive student body can be overwhelming and lead to feelings of isolation and doubts about their place in the institution.
Berkeley Connect responds to these issues by fostering the warmth and inclusiveness associated with small liberal arts colleges. We provide undergraduate students with graduate student mentors and opportunities for peer-to-peer connection within a small group environment. Through our program, students are offered a variety of special events- such as field trips, panel discussions, and presentations from other campus programs- which encourage meaningful interaction and connect students to campus resources.
When students connect with graduate students, faculty, and one other, they develop a sense of belonging that allows them to engage with the challenges and opportunities Berkeley provides. By fostering a sense of belonging, supporting gains in social and cultural capital, and boosting confidence, Berkeley Connect helps students to thrive at Cal.
“It's easy to feel alone and overwhelmed on such an enormous and vibrant campus. Berkeley Connect has helped me understand that I'm not alone -- that my very experiences of alienation are shared, and that my peers are willing and interested to discuss their own doubts and ambitions. I think any student on this campus could benefit from that kind of space.” - Berkeley Connect Student
Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Belonging
Berkeley Connect serves about 2,100 students each year. Approximately half of Berkeley Connect participants are transfer students, one third identify as an under-represented minority (URM), and one third are first-generation college students.
How Berkeley Connect Students Compare to UC Berkeley's General Population
"Berkeley Connect has helped me feel more acclimated with the Cal environment. I gained insight and tools into navigating the resources available as a transfer student in this personalized mentorship space. Specifically, this program has made me feel more confident in my ability to succeed at Cal and affirmed my belonging." - Berkeley Connect Student
Consistent Impact for Students
Student feedback on the Berkeley Connect program is overwhelmingly positive. Every semester, the students in Berkeley Connect participate in an exit survey assessing their experience in the program. Because completing the survey is a course requirement, the response rate is close to 100%.
In spring 2023:
- 96% of participants would recommend the program to a friend
- 98% reported increased awareness of available educational resources
- 98% reported deepened knowledge of academic discipline
- 96% met others who share their academic interests
- 98% increased their sense of belonging at Berkeley
- 98% increased their confidence that they can succeed at Berkeley
“Our grad student mentor and faculty mentor were exceptionally open, helpful and proactive in guiding us towards resources and helping us tackle big questions about our goals and expectations” - Berkeley Connect Student
Growing to Serve More Students
At Berkeley Connect, growth is all about serving more students.
In the past 10 years, Berkeley Connect grew from operating in 10 academic departments to operating in 16 departments across 5 different colleges. Five years ago, we launched three summer programs for incoming students enabling them to develop a sense of belonging at Berkeley before their first semester. Collectively, we now serve over 2,250 students a year. It would be ideal to have every incoming undergraduate enroll in Berkeley Connect.
With the help of our supporters, we will continue to enrich our program by building on existing partnerships and establishing new ones.
“My one-on-one mentorship with my graduate mentor allowed me opportunities to ask specific and personalized questions which not only allowed me to gain confidence but it also created more confidence with my place on campus.” - Berkeley Connect Student
Looking Forward
With additional financial support we can:
- Expand Berkeley Connect to more departments, especially those which have historically had low representation of students from marginalized communities.
- Fully fund our plan to host Berkeley Connect satellite groups in partnership with identity-based campus programs.
- Annually increase the fellowship stipends for our graduate mentors to keep pace with the rising cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area.