Graduate Division Corner

As the campus service center for the entire graduate enterprise, the Graduate Division(link is external) works with advisors to guide and assist students from the initial application and admission process, through the various milestones of their progress, to the completion of their degree requirements. We work with advising staff to provide academic, personal, and professional support services that are vital to the everyday well-being and life-long successes of Berkeley master’s, professional, and doctoral students.

As the authoritative resource and chief advocate for graduate education, the Graduate Division ensures the equitable administration of policies governing graduate studies across Berkeley’s 14 schools and colleges

Resources for Graduate Advisors

GSAO Meetings + Email Lists

The Graduate Division hosts monthly meetings for Graduate Student Affairs Officers and regularly emails this group with updates and announcements critical to graduate students. 

GradDashboard

The Graduate Division hosts the GradDashboard(link is external), a CalNet-protected portal for advising information, policies and resources for graduate staff and faculty advisors. This electronic portal contains procedure handbooks, process guides for departments interested in degree and program changes, and copies of graduate program assessments and outcomes. 

Quick Links: Fellowships Handbook(link is external) |  Degrees Handbook(link is external) | Admissions Handbook(link is external) | Resources and Forms(link is external) | GSAO Meeting Materials(link is external)

How the Graduate Division can support and inform your advising relationship:

Supporting Degree Progress, Academic Appointments, and Student Life 

  • Track academic progress from admission to candidacy and degree conferral

  • Verify eligibility for academic appointments/campus employment

  • Coordinate with graduate student life and campus wellness resources

  • Administer policies and programs for student parents

  • Consider exceptions to policies, grievances, and appeals

  • Visit the Graduate Division’s website for more information about degree progress(link is external), appointments(link is external), and general student resources(link is external)

  • See the newly released GSAO Homepage in Campus Solutions(link is external) for a collection of reports, eForms, job aids and other materials related to graduate students and graduate program management.

Funding Students and Academic Programs

  • Administer the campuswide fellowship competition

  • Provide block allocations and other student funds to academic programs

  • Fund student conference travel grants, parent grants, summer fellowships

  • Administer dissertation and doctoral completion fellowships

  • Ensure fairness and equity of funding to students across academic programs

  • Visit the Graduate Division’s website for more information about funding resources(link is external)

Training and Mentoring Students

Assuring the Fairness and Excellence of Academic Programs

  • Administer policies of the Graduate Council and Academic Senate

  • Streamline rules and regulations

  • Consult with Head Graduate Advisors, Chairs, and Deans of the Schools and Colleges

  • Provide professional development to Graduate Student Affairs Officers in academic programs

  • Maintain academic standards for graduate program admissions and continued study

  • Manage enrollment for optimal sizing of graduate programs

  • Help programs prepare new academic and professional degree proposals

  • Provide data on program quality

  • Participate in academic program reviews

  • Survey students (incoming, mid-career, graduating, first placements) and doctoral alumni

  • For more information on our policies, see the Graduate Division’s Guide to Graduate Policy(link is external)

Created by Andrea Rex, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services. Updated 6.15.20