Academic Accommodations and Resources - Spring 2023 Semester

January 10, 2023

Dear Campus Community,

We have both ethical and legal obligations to provide accommodations and other supportive measures to our students. We call your attention to important campus policies and guidelines concerning academic accommodations for religious observance, illness, disability, hardship, and other matters.

Academic Accommodations Hub

The Academic Accommodations Hub is the student and instructor portal for support resources and academic policies, including key information regarding academic accommodations, as well as links to mental health resources, resources for survivors of sexual violence and sexual harassment, and more. This hub is located on the website of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, and may also be accessed through bCourses (click “Academic Policies” in the bCourses navigation bar).

We strongly encourage all instructors to provide a link to the Academic Accommodations Hub in their course syllabi (evcp.berkeley.edu/programs-resources/academic-accommodations-hub) and to consult the Calendar of Religious and Cultural Holidays prior to scheduling midterms and assignment due dates. The Office for Faculty Equity & Welfare also has suggestions for referring to accommodations and campus resources in a supportive way on your course syllabus.

Additional Resources:

Disability Accommodations

The importance of providing required disability accommodations cannot be emphasized enough. Instructors who need assistance with DSP (Disabled Students’ Program) accommodations can now access a 10-point Guide to DSP Accommodations. The guide provides information about common issues that instructors may encounter in handling DSP accommodations. Instructors are also encouraged to take the DSP online training “Disability, Accommodation, and Access in the UC Classroom” (visit the DSP Resources for Faculty webpage and click on the training link). 

DSP staff and the DSP Faculty Liaisons are available to answer any questions you may have about a particular request. We remind faculty that University and campus policies (including APM 015) establish specific requirements regarding classroom instruction, examinations, and disability accommodations.

Important Semester Dates

See the Spring 2023 Academic Calendar maintained by the Office of the Registrar for the latest calendar information (students in degree programs that do not align with the standard academic calendar should consult with their department). Below are some important dates in the semester:

  • Academic and Administrative Holiday: Monday, January 16
  • Instruction Begins: Tuesday, January 17
  • Academic and Administrative Holiday: Monday, February 20
  • Midpoint grading rosters open for instructors: Tuesday, February 21-Wednesday, March 15 (9 a.m.)
  • Spring Recess: Monday, March 27-Friday, March 31
  • Academic and Administrative Holiday: Friday, March 31
  • Formal Classes End: Friday, April 28
  • Reading/Review/Recitation week: Monday, May 1-Friday, May 5
  • Last day of instruction: Friday, May 5
  • Final examinations: Monday, May 8-Friday, May 12

Thank you for your continued dedication, creativity, and flexibility as we begin the new year and semester.

Sincerely,

Benjamin E. Hermalin
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

Oliver M. O’Reilly
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education 

Lisa García Bedolla
Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate Division

Mary Ann Smart
Chair, Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate