Diversity and Inclusion Resources

I School Resources

Leadership Development Program for Gender Equity

The School of Information Leadership Development Program (LDP) for Gender Equity aims to increase advancement of women and non-binary students in technology leadership roles through a career development program that is open to I School graduate students interested in advancing to tech leadership roles and exploring the experiences of women and non-binary professionals in technology. The LDP program includes a mentorship program, workshop series, self-assessments, peer coaching, and service learning. The LDP is cohort based and applications open annually in early fall.

Women in MIDS

The Women in MIDS initiative hosts focused discussions for women in the program — including faculty, students, and alumni — about their experiences in the program and their respective fields/professional domains. The group hosts regular online meetings as well as a designated discussion channel on Slack.

Faculty Equity Advisor

Each department or school at Berkeley has a faculty equity advisor who helps ensure that diversity and equity are considered in all aspects of the academic mission. Faculty equity advisors participate in strategic planning, faculty recruitment and retention, graduate student admission and advancement, fostering a climate of equity and inclusion.

Information Management Student Association (IMSA)

The Information Management Student Association represents MIMS student perspectives, organizes events, and promotes community within the I School. IMSA's Recruitment Chair provides outreach to admitted students to welcome them into the I School community, and the Social Good Chair pursues initiatives that benefit society, including diversity, inclusion, and equity projects. 

UC Berkeley Campus Resources

American Indian Graduate Program

As part of UC Berkeley's mission to foster academic excellence through diversity, the American Indian Graduate Program (AIGP) seeks, through outreach, individual recruitment, and student services, to counteract the barriers that prevent the full participation of American Indian and Alaska Native students in graduate education.

Berkeley International Office

The Berkeley International Office's mission is to enhance the academic experiences of international students and scholars by providing the highest levels of knowledge and expertise in advising, immigration services, advocacy, and programming to the UC Berkeley campus community. BIO provides advising for nonimmigrant students, scholars, staff, and faculty; visa document production for nonimmigrant students and scholars; programs and workshops for students and scholars; and training and support for campus administrators and faculty. Drop-in advising is available.

Black Graduate Engineering and Science Students

Graduate group, founded in 1987 by a group of African American graduate students enrolled at Berkeley. BGESS has dedicated itself to the nurturing of academic and social support systems for students of African Heritage, whose contributions to the fields of Graduate Engineering and Physical Sciences have been historically underrepresented.

Black Graduate Student Association

The Black Graduate Student Association primarily seeks to build community amongst incoming and continuing graduate students of African descent across the African diaspora. BGSA also seeks to reach out and support other members of the Black community on the UC Berkeley campus and in the East Bay. BGSA's creation was sparked by graduate students' firm belief in the power of having an organized and active space for Black graduate students to know each other, support each other, and address various concerns of the Black community both inside and outside of the University.

Cal NERDS

CalNERDS provides programs and initiatives that support non-traditional undergraduate and graduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, with a special emphasis on working with students in physical sciences, technology, and engineering fields. The community is made up of diverse NERDS including LGBTQ, low-income, first-generation, underrepresented, student parents, transfer, re-entry, disabled, foster, undocumented, and women. Programs include faculty mentored research opportunities, specialized tech training, graduate school and career preparation, and professional development to high achieving diversity undergraduate and graduate students in STEM. 

Cal Veteran Services Center

The Cal Veteran Services Center is dedicated to providing programs and services in support of the academic and personal success of student veterans.

Disability Access and Compliance

The office of Disability Access and Compliance supports a university environment accessible to all people, regardless of their relative level of ability. DAC connects the UC Berkeley community with the resources, training, evaluative tools, and services that support equal access to students, staff, faculty, and visitors with disabilities to participate in university-sponsored non-course-related programs or activities.

Disabled Students Program

The Disabled Students Program promotes an inclusive environment for students with disabilities and equips students with appropriate accommodations and services to achieve their individual academic goals.

Gender Equity Resource Center

The Gender Equity Resource Center, fondly referred to as GenEq, is a UC Berkeley campus community center committed to fostering an inclusive Cal experience for all. GenEq is the campus location where students, faculty, staff and alumni connect for resources, services, education and leadership programs related to gender and sexuality.

Latino/a Association of Graduate Students in Engineering and Science

LAGSES is an inclusive multicultural organization that strives to increase diversity on campus by recruiting, retaining, and graduating underrepresented advanced degree students in STEM. LAGSES aims to provide a support network for minority graduate students by organizing outreach, networking, and community service activities throughout the year. LAGSES also organizes social events to create a cohesive group of members that extends beyond the academic setting and include other on-campus organizations and nearby universities to amplify our reach.

Multicultural Community Center

A student-won, student-led space, the Multicultural Community Center strives to integrate student-driven and community-oriented management, decision-making and visioning in everything that we do. In conjunction with our close partners, the MCC facilitates students' greater involvement in multicultural-related education, collaborations, and cross/inter-cultural community building.

Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination

The Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) is responsible for ensuring the University provides an environment for faculty, staff, and students that is free from discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence.  OPHD takes reports alleging discrimination and harassment on the basis of categories including race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation/identity, including allegations of sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Othering & Belonging Institute

The UC Berkeley Othering & Belonging Institute brings together researchers and policymakers to identify and eliminate the barriers to an inclusive, just, and sustainable society in order to create transformative change. We are a diverse and vibrant hub generating work centered on realizing a world where all people belong, where belonging entails being respected at a level that includes the right to both contribute and make demands upon society and political and cultural institutions.

PATH to Care Center

The PATH to Care Center provides affirming, empowering, and confidential support for survivors and those who have experienced gendered violence, including sexual harassment, dating and intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sexual exploitation. Confidential advocates bring a non-judgmental, caring approach to exploring all options, rights, and resources.

Restorative Justice Center

The Restorative Justice Center offers strategies and processes to help individuals and campus communities respond to “harm events,” including offensive or harmful speech and behavior, that cause people to feel marginalized or excluded based on ethnicity, gender identity or other identity category.

Staff Alliance for Disability Access

The Staff Alliance for Disability Access is a collaborative and supportive campus staff organization that addresses the needs of UC Berkeley staff members with disabilities.

STEM*FYI (First-Year Initiative)

STEM*FYI supports first-year historically underrpresented STEM scholars, including students of color, women, LGBTQ+, low income, first-generation, disabled, and undocumented students. Sign up here

Student Parent Center

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. The 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 setback, and form lasting friendships.

Beyond UC Berkeley

AAUW Career Development Grants

Career Development Grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or reenter the workforce. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents; see website for additional eligibility requirements.

ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing

The Tapia Conferences brings together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, researchers, and professionals in computing from all backgrounds and ethnicities to celebrate the diversity that exists in computing; connect with others with common backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, and gender so as to create communities that extend beyond the conference; obtain advice from and make contacts with computing leaders in academia and industry; be inspired by great presentations and conversations with leaders with common backgrounds. Current I School students may consult student affairs staff regarding opportunities to attend.

Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing

The Grace Hopper Celebration is the world's largest gathering of women technologists. It is produced by AnitaB.org and presented in partnership with ACM. Current I School students may consult student affairs staff regarding opportunities to attend.

National Center for Women in Information Technology

NCWIT is a non-profit community that convenes, equips, and unites change leader organizations to increase the meaningful participation of all women — at the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, age, sexual orientation, and disability status — in the influential field of computing, particularly in terms of innovation and development.