Each Veterans Day, we take time to honor the individuals who have served and the contributions they bring to the UC Berkeley community.
While Memorial Day honors military personnel who have given their lives for this country and Armed Forces Day celebrates those on active duty; Veterans Day is unique in that it allows us to thank and honor the public service of our veteran and military-connected community. November is also when military families are honored for their service. The theme of Veterans Day this year is "A Legacy of Loyalty and Service.” Our Cal Veteran Service Center Alumni demonstrate their loyalty and service through volunteering their time and efforts with current students through mentorship, networking and more.
Service and scholarship
We have 801 students Veterans Administration Education Benefits certified* and 132 staff and 32 faculty self-identified veterans at UC Berkeley and many more military-connected family members who support active duty and veteran service members. In leadership positions on campus, David C. Wilson, dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy, is a military veteran with 19 years of service in the US Army Reserves, including combat tours for Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Jim Knowlton, director of Cal Athletics, served for 26 years on active duty in the US Army.
Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy had been selected as one of 12 campuses nationwide for a new Service to Service initiative to increase awareness of public service career opportunities among the military community, enroll military-connected students in master’s programs at schools of public service, and connect initiative participants to state and local government roles following degree attainment.
Student Orgs and Advocacy Groups
Student, Staff, and Faculty Resources
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The Cal Veteran Services Center (CVSC) provides programs and support, such as financial aid counseling, mental health counseling in partnership with the San Francisco VA Student Veteran Health Program, and peer advising. The CVSC career mentorship program partners with active Berkeley alumni, such as Clayton Chan ‘87, COO and co-owner of Ladle & Leaf, who are helping our veteran and military-connected (such as partners, siblings and children of military) students and young alums achieve their professional and personal career goals.
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The Veterans Benefits unit in the Office of the Registrar assists student veterans with using their educational benefits while pursuing their academic careers.
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Berkeley Law offers the Veterans Law Practicum, in which law students advocate on behalf of veterans. The program is currently focused on correcting discharge statuses due to Don't Ask, Don't Tell
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On campus San Francisco Veterans Health Administration support Artur Akkerman, LCSW, is at the Cal Veterans Service Center every Tuesday from 9am to 4:30pm providing mental health support, resource referrals, and enrolling veterans in the SFVHA
2024-2025 Undergraduate Admits
Berkeley Life Blog
- Meet Anthony, co-president of the Cal Veterans Group in "Support & Orgs for Veterans @ Cal" via Berkeley Life