Campus Resources
Berkeley Law Student Academic Advising and Support Services
Each year Berkeley Law welcomes current, new, and expectant parents to its campus. The Student Academic Advising and Support Services (SAASS) team at the Law School helps students as they manage the varying responsibilities of academic life and parenthood. We encourage students to use our office as a source of support at Berkeley Law and hope the information provided here is a useful starting point. For more resources and information, please contact any advisor on the Student Support Services website.
The Student Parent Center
The Student Parent Center is a centralized multi-purpose campus resource where students can seek informed advice, develop leadership skills, engage in informal study groups, nurse babies, change diapers, celebrate achievements, recover from setbacks, and form lasting friendships. The Student Parent Center is “committed to the holistic support and success of a highly motivated population of undergraduate and graduate students who are engaged scholars, as well as devoted parents at UC Berkeley.” More information is available at http://studentparents.berkeley.edu/
Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (including Title IX Compliance)
OPHD supports students to access leave and accommodations related to pregnancy and post-pregnancy. As stated on their website, “OPHD is responsible for ensuring the University of California provides an environment for faculty, staff, and students that is free from discrimination and harassment on the basis of categories including pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), race, color, national origin, gender, age, and sexual orientation/identity. In addition, OPHD has the specific responsibility for providing prompt and effective responses to all complaints of sex discrimination or harassment for faculty, staff, and students.” Contact information, policies, and procedures are all listed at https://ophd.berkeley.edu/. OPHD can be contacted directly via email at ask_ophd@berkeley.edu and by phone at 510-643-7985.
Breastfeeding Support Program
The Law School has a lactation room located in 289 Simon Hall. There is a refrigerator in the Student Center. In order to receive the code for the lactation room, you need to register through University Health Services Breastfeeding Support Program. The Program can also be reached at 510-643-4646 or by emailing breastfeeding@lists.berkeley.edu.
Campus and Law School Policies
Pregnancy-related Exam Accommodations
Berkeley Law offers off-the-clock breaks during exams for pregnant and nursing students. Please reach out to Chelsea Yuan, Director of SAASS, Accessible Education, at cdyuan@berkeley.edu to request these accommodations or if you have any questions. If you go into labor before or during finals, please contact Chelsea to discuss adjustments to your finals schedule.
Graduate Student Parent Grants
Registered graduate student parents who live with dependent children and demonstrate financial need may be eligible for a grant that may be applied toward housing/living expenses, dependent health insurance, child care, and/or tuition. Find more information and access the application at https://grad.berkeley.edu/financial/families/. Additionally, the University offers access to highly subsidized in-home or center-based back-up child care. More information is available at the Back-Up Child Care Website.
Berkeley Graduate Division: Student Parent Policy
The University is committed to supporting policies, programs, and services to help graduate student parents meet their family care obligations while they pursue their academic goals. Information about the policy (including eligibility, enrollment, and accommodations) and other resources for student parents is available on the Graduate Division website: https://grad.berkeley.edu/policy/degrees-policy/#f6-student-parent-policies.
Berkeley Law: Voluntary Withdrawal and Readmission Policy
Campus policy allows students to take a parental leave of absence due to pregnancy, childbirth, and/or to care for and bond with their newborn child or a child placed with the student for adoption or foster care for up to one academic year (two semesters). For more information, please see the “Policy on Parenting Leave with Re-enrollment” on the Withdrawal Notice on the Law School Registrar’s website. An international student wanting to take Parenting Leave must first consult with the Berkeley International Office (BIO) regarding implications for visa requirements.
Berkeley Law: Priority Enrollment Appointments
Student parents may be eligible to receive priority enrollment appointments. Eligibility is determined by the main campus Registrar’s Office (not the Law School Registrar’s Office). Please note that, per campus policy, new students are ineligible to receive priority enrollment in their first term. For more information, contact the Student Parent Center or Graduate Division.
Additional Resources
Berkeley Law Career Development Office (CDO)
If you have questions about how/when to tell your summer or future employer that you are pregnant or a parent, please contact the Career Development Office (CDO). They can discuss with you how best to approach this conversations with employers as this can vary by employer. The CDO is located in 290 Simon Hall and can be reached at 510-643-5370.