Retention

Tutoring

We have a team of tutors and advisors who work weekly with students to ensure their academic success. We also offer support with grad school and law school applications, scholarships, and fellowship applications. 

Financial Aid Advising

We partner with the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office to provide financial aid advising tailored to Underground Scholars members.

Nav Cal Class

NavCal assists incoming and historically marginalized students in navigating University of California, Berkeley through a hands-on approach that involves active engagement by students as well as coaching and mentorship by student mentors. Click here for more information.

 

Underground Scholars Initiative

USI is a student group that supports formerly incarcerated students by building community, hosting events, and engaging on campus in various ways. USI also does outreach and tabling at community events. To join, please click here.

ResearcH

Our staff and advisors provide support and guidance for our members to pursue top research opportunities with highly acclaimed programs such as: George A. Miller Scholars Program, McNair Scholars Program, Haas Scholars Program, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships and the Firebaugh Scholars Program.

Original Research Projects Include:

Creating Career Opportunities for Formerly Incarcerated Firefighters by Elizabeth Brown, James Carlin, Martin Lara, Eli Martinez and Erin Katherine McCall | Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (September 27, 2022)

Criminal Background Checks in California Public Higher Education Hiring: A Closer Look From the Perspective of College Graduates With a Criminal Record by McArthur Hoang, Founder and Lead Researcher with Aminah Elster, Apolonio Rosas Hernandez, Arturo Calvario-Diaz, Brittany Kulusich, Cynthia Meza, Dean Tanioka, Dustin Wallace, Fernanda Ochoa, Karla Covarrubias-Foster, Maia Payne, Naomi Eden, Stephanie Luna-Lopez, Tanaell Villanueva Reyes, Tonatiuh Beltran, and Zenith Kissana (November 2020)

Criminal Record Stigma in the College-Educated Labor Market by Michael Cerda-Jara, Aminah Elster and David Harding (May 2020)

Leadership Development

We provide training and opportunities for students to engage as leaders in BUS, USI, the broader UC Berkeley community and the communities the students represent. We do this through political education, creating opportunities for students to teach & present their research, creating supported leadership roles for students, and connecting students to other leaders and mentors at UC Berkeley and beyond.

Recent Events

 
 
 

Space & Other Resources

We have space at Stiles Hall where students can meet in groups, study quietly, get support, coffee/tea, blue books, and free printing.

Berkeley Underground Scholars members are encouraged to explore the other incredible programs at Cal to support you including: