UC Berkeley Student Learning Center

Thank you to those who joined us this week for Neuro Nexus: A Student-Faculty Conversation on Neurodivergent Student Learning!

Hosted by the SLC Strategic Learning Program Neurodivergent Student Advisory Board, this event brought faculty and neurodivergent students together for discussions that sparked deep connection, genuine mutual understanding, and honest dialogue about what learning and teaching at Berkeley are truly like. Listening to one another’s lived experiences highlighted just how powerful empathy and open conversation can be in shaping inclusive classrooms where every student feels seen and valued.

A heartfelt thank you to every student and faculty member who joined us, shared their stories, and built community around the table. We are so inspired by the insights shared and are excited to host more opportunities soon to keep this vital conversation going! 💙💛

This past Sunday, November 1, the SLC’s Language Exchange Program (LEP) hosted an excursion to the Día de los Mu***os Festival in Oakland! Led by our LEP and Summer Bridge peer staff, students enjoyed the full vibrancy of Día de los Mu***os in the Fruitvale. The intergenerational festival featured colorful ofrendas, traditional dance performances, vendors, and more.

LEP is dedicated to supporting Cal students in sharing their language skills and cultural knowledge, and this outing was an opportunity not only to practice Spanish, but also to learn about and share Día de los Mu***os traditions and engage with the rich diversity of Oakland. Students, we invite you to join the Language Exchange Program for more language practice and community socials! Visit slc.berkeley.edu/lep to learn more.

Happy November, Cal Writers!

We hope you're staying warm and dry and that your writing's going splendidly too!

With weeks of writing still left in the semester, we especially encourage you to make use of our 30-minute Drop-in sessions. Writing is an evolving process: revisiting a draft can reveal new ideas and opportunities to deepen your analysis. Join us for an in-person or virtual session to go beyond your first ideas and build momentum for the next draft.

Looking forward to talking with you soon!

Today is Election Day! We encourage you to make your voice heard by casting your ballot.

At the SLC, we aspire to “Seek Knowledge. Locate Passion. Change the World.” That’s why we urge you to educate yourself about the issues, connect with others in the community, advocate for the causes you care about, and vote on Election Day.

Check out the UC Berkeley Library Voting Guide (https://bit.ly/golden-bear-voting-guide) for ballot info, voting locations, and other resources.

Today, and every day, let’s use our collective power, greatness, and ability to impact positive change in the world.

Greetings, DeCal facilitators! 🍂

We know that those proposal deadlines are looming, and the Undergraduate Course Facilitator Training and Resources program wants to support you in bringing your DeCal to life! This upcoming week is one of our busiest in UCFTR, as we’re thrilled to offer 5 opportunities for Spring 2027 facilitators to fulfill the mandatory pedagogical training requirement.

Join us on Monday (11/2, 2-3:30PM) or Wednesday (11/4, 4-5:30PM) for our workshop “Three Pillars of a Student-Centered Syllabus.” In this collaborative session, we’ll dive into crafting syllabi that leverage intentionality, functionality, and accessibility/inclusivity to set the stage for meaningful learning. More info at bit.ly/regis-syl.

Or, sign up for our workshop “Facilitation Habits That Enhance Student Learning” on Tuesday (11/3, 3-4PM), Thursday (11/4, 2-3PM), or Friday (11/6, 11AM-12PM). This hourlong workshop is a chance to connect with fellow facilitators and explore facilitation techniques that will engage your students from day 1. Register at bit.ly/regis-cfh.

Just want to check-in, ask a couple questions, or get feedback on your proposal? We encourage you to book a consultation with us at bit.ly/ucftr-consultation or stop by for drop-in hours. Check out the drop-in schedule at slc.berkeley.edu/ucftr.

You got this, facilitators! We’re wishing you the best of luck, and we’ll see you soon!

"Greetings, science learners!

As you progress through the second half of the semester, now is the perfect time to tap into opportunities to further build your knowledge, skills, and learning community.
Read on for a refresher on Science Program offerings available for you:

Drop-In Tutoring: Real-time support tailored to meet your course learning goals. A flexible space to ask questions, review lecture material, work through practice problems, and collaborate with peers.
In-Person Drop-in Hours: Monday–Thursday from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM on the Student Center, 2nd Floor
Zoom Drop-in Hours: Monday–Thursday from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Friday 12:00 – 4:00 PM

Virtual Topic Reviews: Weekly 50-minute sessions to practice active recall and application of essential course concepts. A trained peer facilitator will guide you through recalling key concepts and solving high-yield problems.

Exam Reviews: Problem-based sessions offered at key points in the course to test your understanding, identify focus areas, and enhance your studying. Typically held the weekend before each exam.

For service schedules, Zoom links, and more details, visit slc.berkeley.edu/science or reach out to [email protected].

We look forward to connecting with you soon!"

CelebrateDía de los Mu***os Excursion with the SLC Language Exchange Program!

Día de los Mu***os is a rich Mexican holiday focused on celebrating the continuity of life, honoring loved ones, and welcoming their spirits back through music, colorful altars, and incredible food.

Join us for a group trip to Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood to immerse ourselves in a day filled with community, art, and remembrance.

Excursion Details:
📍 Meeting Point: Sunday November1, 11:00 AM in front of the Student Center
🚄 Transit: We’ll walk to BART and travel to Fruitvale together as a group
💳 What to Bring: Clipper card ($8.40 round trip) + cash/card for local food vendors

Connect with new friends and celebrate community culture! Reserve your spot now: bit.ly/lep-muertos-26!

Greetings from UCFTR, DeCal facilitators!

The Undergraduate Course Facilitator Training and Resources (UCFTR) program wants to make sure your next few weeks are a treat, not a trick, especially as we approach the proposal deadlines for Spring 2027 DeCals! We’ve added additional workshops for November, and hope to see you there.

This week on Thursday (5-6PM) and on several days next week, we welcome you to the training workshop “Facilitation Habits that Enhance Student Learning,” where we’ll collaboratively develop a toolkit of facilitation strategies for engaging and dynamic classrooms. For more details and to register, visit bit.ly/regis-cfh.

Next week on Wednesday, 11/4 (4-5:30PM), we invite you to our training workshop “Three Pillars of a Student-Centered Syllabus,” focused on crafting inviting, intentional syllabi that serve as a course blueprint for both your students and yourself! Find more info and register at bit.ly/regis-syl.

And throughout the week, please join us for consultations or drop-in hours to get support and feedback, wherever you are in the proposal process. Book a consultation at bit.ly/ucftr-consultation or visit our website, slc.berkeley.edu/ucftr, for the drop-in schedule.

DeCal facilitators, how are your syllabi coming along?

Your syllabus is really the heart of your DeCal proposal: more than just identifying your class topic and schedule, a syllabus tells a story to your future students, faculty sponsor, department, and even the Academic Senate about the kind of experience that students will have in your class. By putting students at the center of your planning process, and crafting an intentional, functional, and inclusive/accessible syllabus, you can set your DeCal up for success.

You’ll have a chance to explore this approach to course planning, plus connect with fellow facilitators, at our training workshop, “Three Pillars of a Student-Centered Syllabus.” This collaborative workshop fulfills the mandatory pedagogical training requirement for first-time DeCal facilitators.

Our next session is this Thursday, October 22 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Zoom. Visit bit.ly/regi-syl to register and learn more.

Planning a DeCal is exciting, but it can also be challenging: from finding a faculty sponsor, to developing your course learning outcomes, to drafting your syllabus and schedule, there are a lot of parts to piece together.

In the SLC’s Undergraduate Course Facilitator Training and Resources (UCFTR) program, we know that having a thought partner can make a big difference. That’s why we are happy to offer consultations for folks who are currently planning or facilitating a DeCal.

Consultations are a great way to get individualized support with creating your DeCal. Meeting with a member of the UCFTR team, you’ll have a chance to discuss your DeCal ideas, get feedback on your syllabus, and seek guidance on any part of the proposal process and facilitation itself. You are welcome to come by yourself or to bring your whole facilitation team.

You can schedule a virtual consultation at https://bit.ly/ucftr-consultation or find our drop-in schedule on the UCFTR page, slc.berkeley.edu/ucftr. We look forward to connecting with you soon!