About us

History Of Berkeley

The University of California—Berkeley is situated roughly 15 miles from San Francisco in what is known as the Bay Area. The public university, also commonly known as Berkeley or Cal, was founded in 1868. More than 70 percent of Berkeley students study at the undergraduate level. The university is divided into 14 colleges and schools, including the highly ranked Haas School of Business, College of Chemistry, College of Engineering, School of Public Health and School of Law. The academic calendar is semester-based and English is the language of instruction.
UC—Berkeley offers students around 350 degree programs. Some of the most popular majors for Berkeley undergraduates have included electrical engineering and computer science; economics; political science; business administration; and psychology. Around a quarter of undergraduate students live on campus, including some 95 percent of freshmen. Many graduate students live off campus, but they have the option to live in university-owned accommodations. Roughly 15 percent of the student body is international, and tuition and fees are higher for out-of-state students. Around 3,000 international scholars come to Berkeley each year in temporary teaching or research positions. Berkeley research is conducted not just within academic department labs and research centers but also in some of the school’s museums and university-managed biological field stations. Research in botany, zoology, ecosystems and forestry is undertaken at the remote field station sites. Berkeley researchers discovered several of the elements on the periodic table, including californium and berkelium.

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Achievement Awards

The Berkeley community is filled with people pushing the edges of what’s possible — business leaders whose achievements have shaped entire industries and benefited humankind; alumni whose dedication to Berkeley has had a profound and lasting impact on students and faculty; and young alumni whose early achievements are already showing great promise for their fields or communities. Each year, the university honors forward-thinking business leaders, gifted faculty, and dedicated and promising alumni with the Achievement Awards, co-presented by the UC Berkeley Foundation and the Cal Alumni Association.
he 2022 recipients were formally presented with their awards at the Berkeley Charter Gala on Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Elise and Walter A. Haas International Award

The Elise and Walter A. Haas International Award honors an alumnus/a who is a native, citizen, and resident of another country and who has a distinguished record of service to that country in the arts, science and engineering, education, business, environmental protection, government, or any other field. The award includes a cash prize of US $50,000 and an engraved medallion, and travel expenses (travel may be restricted based on local, national, and international health restrictions) for the recipient to attend the award presentation at Berkeley’s winter commencement on December 17, 2022.
The Haas International Award was established in 1964 by Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Haas, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Peter E. Haas, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard N. Goldman. Created to mark the 50th wedding anniversary of Walter, longtime head of Levi Strauss, and his wife, arts patron Elise, the award acknowledges their devotion to UC Berkeley and interest in international affairs. Its presentation at commencement echoes both the global character of Berkeley’s faculty, students, and curricula and the university’s long-standing commitment to improving the human condition around the world.

Peter E. Haas Public Service Award

The Peter E. Haas Public Service Award recognizes an alumnus/a of UC Berkeley who has made significant voluntary contributions to the betterment of society within the United States. It includes four major categories — community/social service, health care, the environment, and education — and especially acknowledges grassroots activities that illustrate the broad impact one individual can have in inspiring creative social change across communities. The winner receives $30,000, an engraved medallion, and an additional $30,000 to be donated to a charity of his/her choice. The award is presented at the May commencement ceremony on May 14, 2022. The recipient is asked to speak about the value of public service to Berkeley students and faculty.
Mrs. Peter E. Haas established the Haas Public Service Award on her husband’s 80th birthday. A counterpart to the Elise and Walter A. Haas International Award, which recognizes distinguished Berkeley alumni overseas, it honors alumni whose commitment to their community exemplifies the university’s mission to serve the public good.

Peter E. Haas Public Service Award

The Berkeley Citation is awarded to a variety of distinguished individuals or organizations, academic or nonacademic, whose contributions to UC Berkeley go beyond the call of duty and whose achievements exceed the standards of excellence in their fields. The Chancellor works closely with an advisory committee to confidentially select each recipient. The Chancellor or a delegate gives the citation at a public function, and recipients must be present to accept it.

Peter E. Haas Public Service Award

The Chancellor’s Citation is awarded to distinguished visitors, alumni and friends whose great achievements the university salutes and whose presence honors and benefits the campus. The Chancellor or a delegate gives the citation at a public function, and recipients must be present to accept it.

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