Be Well Cal

Destress with some furry friends 🐶👋

Join the UHS Health Promotion team today, Tuesday, May 5, from 12 to 1 pm at Memorial Glade for the last Pet Hugs event of the semester. See you there!

Learn more at uhs.berkeley.edu/pethugs

The SHIP 2026-27 waiver period is now open!

All registered UC Berkeley undergrad and grad students are automatically enrolled in the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) as a way to meet the University of California’s health insurance mandate as set by the UC Regents.

Effective August 1, 2026, our new health insurance carrier for Berkeley SHIP will be Aetna Student Health. More information about this transition can be found at uhs.berkeley.edu/shipupdates.

If you have comparable health insurance that meets the SHIP waiver criteria and do not wish to have dual coverage, you can submit an online waiver application to waive your enrollment in SHIP. The waiver must be filled out annually.

The deadline to waive without a late fee is July 15. No waivers will be accepted after August 15. SHIP coverage starts August 1.

More info at uhs.berkeley.edu/shipwaiver

SHIP 2025-26 coverage ends on July 31, 2026. Whether you are graduating or leaving UC Berkeley, the ending of SHIP is considered a qualifying event that opens a 60-day special enrollment period for you to enroll in other insurance plans.

Learn more about your options on our Insurance after Graduation webpage. The SHIP office is also available to help: call (510) 642-5700 or email ship[at]berkeley.edu.

Learn more: uhs.berkeley.edu/graduation

Did you get an email about HOF funding at the beginning of the fall or spring semester? Check your HOF Fund balance in your Cal 1 Card account and make sure you have used all of your allocated funds!

HOF is available on a first-come, first-served basis until the pool of funds is exhausted.

More information about HOF at uhs.berkeley.edu/hof

No problem is too big or too small! If you need to talk to someone, connect with one of our mental health counselors.

UHS mental health services are FREE for all UC Berkeley students, regardless of insurance. Call (510) 642-9494 to make an appointment.

For more information, visit uhs.berkeley.edu/caps

Hey, UC Berkeley students! The UHS Health Worker Program is still accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis for the remaining spots in the residential halls listed in this post. If you're interested, please email [email protected].

For more information, visit uhs.berkeley.edu/hwp

Planning on using cannabis today? Here are some tips that you can use to reduce your risk of harm and bad experiences.

To learn more, please visit uhs.berkeley.edu/cannabis

Let’s talk about BORGs!

Are BORGs really safer? While pouring your own drinks can be a harm-reduction strategy, most BORGs contain far more alcohol than UC Berkeley students typically drink on any given occasion, making them riskier for the majority of our student population.

Many believe BORGs are safer because the electrolytes counteract the alcohol. While this may sound logical, it is not supported by evidence. Plus, many electrolyte packets contain caffeine. Mixing caffeine and alcohol can be risky and place additional stress on the heart.

When it comes to BORGs, know the facts and take out the guesswork: Use a BORG calculator to determine how many shots go into your BORG for safer* drinking.

Learn more about AOD hard reduction resources at uhs.berkeley.edu/partysafe

University Health Services will be closed on March 27-29.

For assistance when we are closed, please visit uhs.berkeley.edu/afterhours

Enjoy your spring break, bears! We hope this break provides you with a chance to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. 😌 🛏️ 🌅

Did you know, according to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, there are seven types of rest: physical, mental, sensory, creative, emotional, social, and spiritual?

Which type of rest are you most looking forward to? We'd love to hear about your plans!