On this page:

• Advising Mission
• Student Rights
• Student Responsibilities
   

Advising Mission

Our mission as advisers in the College of Environmental Design is to:

• help students learn, understand, and adhere to University, college, and departmental rules and regulations;
   
• offer advice on appropriate procedures for navigating the day-to-day operational aspects of your program of study; and
   
• help you plan a complete program, term by term, in order to complete the necessary course work for all requirements in a timely manner.
   

Student Rights

The college abides by the Berkeley Campus Policy Governing Disclosure of Information from Student Records. The Undergraduate Office and each of the college's department offices have established procedures for implementing the campus policy.

Public Records

The following types of information kept in 232 Wurster Hall are considered matters of public record and are available upon written request. The information is not released if the student has requested in writing that it not be disclosed as a matter of public record. In case of clear necessity, inquiries by phone or in person will be honored.

All other records are considered confidential.

The following persons have access to these records: the deans, the ombudspersons, the academic advisers, and the college office staff. Other campus personnel are granted access when such access is necessary for the normal performance of their assigned duties. The procedures by which students and persons outside the campus may gain access to records and challenges of records are available in 232 Wurster Hall. Students have the right to inspect their own confidential records, provided they present adequate identification.

Student Record Archives

Complete records of graduates of the college are kept for two years after graduation and the conference card (which records action on petitions and contact with advisers or deans) for another three years. Complete records of students with inactive files are kept for five years; college evaluations of transfer work and conference cards with numerous entries are kept for another 20 years. Grade records of current students are destroyed as current copies are received.

Student Responsibilities

You and the University share responsibility for your education. Our most successful students recognize the responsibility they must assume for their own progress. At UC Berkeley, you have both the freedom and the responsibility to make sound decisions about your academic career. With this freedom comes the need to be responsible not only about your academics, but also about the administrative duties you need to complete in order to graduate.

In the College of Environmental Design's academic departments, advisers are ready to answer your questions and to help you explore options and alternatives available to you.

As a student in the CED, you are expected to:

• Be aware of the degree requirements and all relevant policies outlined in the current General Catalog and on the CED Undergraduate Advising website. If you don't understand a particular policy or requirement, ask an academic adviser to explain it to you.
   
• Be familiar with the academic calendar for such information as add/drop/grading option and withdrawal deadlines, Tele-BEARS registration dates, and the final exam schedule.
   
• Verify your course enrollments through Tele-BEARS or Bear Facts at the beginning of the term and once again right before the drop deadline. You are responsible for confirming all course and wait list adds and drops, as well as all grading option choices, by the relevant deadlines.
   
• Review your DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) Report regularly for accuracy and to inform yourself of remaining requirements for graduation. Notify the CED Office of Undergraduate Advising, your major adviser, and/or the Office of the Registrar of any discrepancy noted between our records and yours.
   
• Remember to consult with your major adviser to make certain you are up-to-date on departmental requirements for graduation.
   
• Keep your departmental adviser informed of situations that may disrupt your academic work. Consult an adviser immediately if a serious problem (medical, financial, personal) affects your ability to attend classes or interferes with your ability to focus on your education and to do your best academic work.
   
• Ensure that your contact information and email address are up to date, and review your UC Berkeley e-mail account on a regular basis for notices and updates.
   
• Be proactive, plan ahead, and take advantage of the many resources at UC Berkeley.

We look forward to helping you make informed and responsible decisions about your education at Cal.