Clubs and organizations
Student organizations at Berkeley cover a wide range of interests in academics, sports, recreational, professional, religious, service, political, and social issues. Student organizations registered in Spring 2009 are described in the Extra matter section of Resource. To see a current list of organizations, start your own student organization, or to find funding options for student organization activities, visit the Center for Student Leadership (studentorgs.berkeley.edu; 102 Sproul Hall; 510/642-5171).
Center for Student Leadership
The Center for Student Leadership is a great starting point for those looking to get involved on campus. It offers hundreds of involvement opportunities, including student organizations and activities, fraternities and sororities, and participation in several leadership development programs (studentorgs.berkeley.edu; leadership.berkeley.edu; 102 Sproul Hall; 510/642-5171).
Here’s a list of the programs and services offered:
Campus sponsored student organizations (see here)
Events advising
Fraternity and sorority life (see below)
Leadership development programs (see here)
Student organization registration and advising (check the Extra Matter section for a list of groups from Spring 2009)
Student organization advising
The Center for Student Leadership advises recognized student organizations and their members on campus policies, event planning, conflict resolution, and leadership development. For recognition by the University, and to be funded by the ASUC or Graduate Assembly, student organizations must register with the Center for Student Leadership each academic year. Registration requires four signatories (students who are responsible for the organization’s actions), a constitution, and completion of an online quiz. Recognized student organizations may reserve campus facilities for meetings and events, including classrooms, the Savio Steps on Upper Sproul Plaza for rallies, and Lower Sproul Plaza for concerts and cultural events (studentorgs.berkeley.edu).
See here for more information about the Center for Student Leadership.
Campus sponsored organizations
These organizations differ from other student groups in that they are officially sponsored by the University; therefore they have University advisers and monetary support. Here is a partial list:
Cal in the Capital and Cal in Sacramento (see here).
Cal Forensics assists experienced students in developing the skills to participate in competitive debates. Intercollegiate teams have been nationally ranked and have traveled extensively to college tournaments (cll.berkeley.edu; 510/642-5171).
Californians Class of 2011 organizes events for their class, develops the class identity, creates the class banner, and begins the search for their class commencement speaker. They also organize the annual December Graduation Convocation (californians.berkeley.edu).
Californians Classes of 2012 and 2013 organize class-related events in conjunction with the California Alumni Association (californians.berkeley.edu).
UC Berkeley Model United Nations (UCBMUN) is dedicated to enhancing students’ knowledge and skills in public speaking, and negotiation through discussions on current international events and a simulation of the United Nations’ session. Members participate in inter-university conventions and host an annual convention in San Francisco (ucbmunc.org; 102 Sproul Hall; 510/642-5171).
UC Rally Committee promotes crowd enthusiasm at sports and alumni events (ucrc.berkeley.edu).
The fraternity and sorority community (Greek life)
Cal is proud of its fraternity and sorority traditions. The first Greek chapter at Cal was established in 1870. Today, there are 66 recognized fraternities and sororities that are advised through the Center for Student Leadership and under one of four governing councils (IFC, MCGC, NPHC, and PHC).
As an integral part of the campus community for 140 years, fraternities and sororities offer a values-based developmental experience and foster the personal, ethical growth of members. Grounded in four pillars of leadership, scholarship, friendship, and service, these organizations provide life-long membership with involvement opportunities beyond the undergraduate years. Above all, being in a fraternity or sorority is fun (greeks.berkeley.edu; Center for Student Leadership, 102 Sproul Hall; 510/642-5171).
Some fraternities and sororities are not recognized by the University and are not subject to oversight by University staff. Visit greeks.berkeley.edu for a listing of recognized chapters.
The Interfraternity Council (IFC) is the governing body for 37 of Berkeley’s fraternities. Members are selected during formal and informal recruitment periods. All undergraduate men are invited to join at the start of each semester, and most fraternities continue to recruit throughout the academic year (greeks.berkeley.edu).
The Multi-Cultural Greek Council (MCGC) is the governing body for culturally-based fraternities and sororities whose goals are to give prominence to various heritages and promote service to the community. MCGC is currently comprised of 10 fraternities and sororities (greeks.berkeley.edu).
The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is the umbrella organization for the seven service-based, historically African-American fraternities and sororities at Cal (greeks.berkeley.edu).
The Panhellenic Council (PHC) invites women to join one of its 12 sororities. Prospective members attend events hosted by the sororities and have the opportunity to meet chapter members while learning about sorority life. Although the main recruitment events are in the fall, some sororities continue to recruit new members throughout the year. Registration forms for sorority recruitment are available during orientation programs, Fall Welcome, the first week of classes, in 102 Sproul Hall, and on the web (greeks.berkeley.edu).
Other Greek organizations
Coeducational Greek letter organizations are registered as student organizations, including those focused on community service, religious interests, culture, and professional networking (see here).
See here for a list of student organizations, including current Greek organizations.
Honor societies
Many scholastic single-discipline honor societies exist at Cal. Check with your academic department or college for information about honor societies for your major. The following multi-disciplinary honor societies can be found online and at the Center for Student Leadership (studentorgs.berkeley.edu; 102 Sproul Hall; 510/642-5171).
Golden Key International Honour Society (www.goldenkey.org)
Honor Students’ Society (students.berkeley.edu/osl/studentorganizations.asp?id=1069)
Mortar Board National Senior Honor Society (www.mortarboard.org)
National Society of Collegiate Scholars (www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~nscs)
Order of Omega National Greek Honor Society (greeks.berkeley.edu)
Phi Beta Kappa Alpha of California (pbk.berkeley.edu)
Prytanean (Pri-ta-NEE-an) Women’s Honor Society (www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~prytnean/)
ASUC Office of Student Affairs
The Office of Student Affairs offers financial and program support for ASUC-sponsored student organizations to promote and encourage the diversity of student life.
Student Affairs assists more than 500 ASUC-funded student groups with resources to enhance their social, cultural, academic, and service communities. ASUC advisers have a strong working knowledge of the ASUC and the University. The office conducts workshops that teach student groups how to develop programs and manage financial resources. More information on topics for student groups is available (asuc.berkeley.edu; 400 Eshleman Hall; 510/642-4536).
ASUC Reservations Office provides rooms in the MLK Jr. Student Union for meetings, lectures, banquets, or conferences. Reservations are also available for the Bear’s Lair and Pauley Ballroom, and the office approves the hanging of banners on the Student Union railings. You may request room reservations online (asuc.berkeley.edu; 23 MLK Jr. Student Union; 510/642-1141).
YWCA @ UC Berkeley
In addition to volunteer placements, the YWCA has many services and programs for all students (not just women) including international dance and fitness classes (www.ywca-berkeley.org; 2600 Bancroft Way at Bowditch; info@ywca-berkeley.org; 848-6370).
Health, fitness, and dance programs are available in over 30 classes offered every semester; they include yoga, ballroom dancing, salsa, flamenco, bellydance, hip hop, jazz funk, Brazilian dance, pilates, self-defense, and much more.
The Student Leadership Board (SLB) designs and implements a wide variety of programs for students and the community, including Week Without Violence, a high school “Shadow Day” at Cal, multicultural programs, holiday projects, and international awareness YWCA events.
The Women’s Resource Library offers a vast array of books by and about women.
See here for more information about the YWCA.
California Alumni Association
Since 1872, the California Alumni Association (CAA) has supported the interests of students, alumni, and the University of California at large. CAA is your connection to the 430,000 alumni of UC Berkeley; it supports 800 students annually with nearly $2 million in alumni scholarships such as the Leadership Award Alumni Scholarship or the Achievement Award Program. The Association also has an online student-to-alumni mentorship program. The Student Homecoming Team and the Alumni Scholars Association, which are both advised and supported by CAA, provide students with leadership and campus/community volunteer opportunities (alumni.berkeley.edu/students; Alumni House, 888/CAL-ALUM).
The Student Homecoming Team engages nearly 5000 students in Cal spirit each fall with events such as the Homecoming Dance, t-shirt giveaways, canned food drives, and Picnic Day.