Frequently Asked Questions

Friday, September 13, 2019 at 11:59 PM PST

On Saturday at 12:15pm, registration tables will be on Latimer Hall Plaza directly south of Latimer Hall to pick up your name badges and programs. Please allow time to register and collect your name tag and program.

If you are hearing- or vision-impaired, need on-campus transport assistance, or require any ADA special assistance, please email coc_events@berkeley.edu before Friday, September 13, and we will be happy to assist you. 

We recommend parking in the Maxwell Field Garage located directly North of Memorial Stadium. The cost is $4 per hour. Street parking in the neighborhood surrounding Berkeley Chemistry is controlled by parking restrictions (e.g., two-hour limits). If you park in the City of Berkeley, please check carefully for posted parking restrictions. Most parking meters now take both coins and credit cards. 

On Saturday night, there is a concert at the Greek Theatre, which will impact the amount of parking spaces that are available later in the day. The start time for the concert is 7:30 PM, and we expect parking to start to fill up after 5:00 pm. The concert will not impact those leaving at the end of the event, but it is important to be mindful of the extra traffic and potentially higher parking rates. Here is a list of parking lots near campus and a map of nearby parking structures.

Business casual is recommended for Saturday’s events and activities.

There are several hotels on/close to campus that offer UC Berkeley rates. Hotel rates and availability are subject to change and may become unavailable closer to ChemX weekend. Call hotels for current rates. Area hotels include:

Berkeley City Club
510.848.7800
Ask for the UC Berkeley discount 

The Claremont Hotel
1.888.560.4455
No discount available

Doubletree Berkeley Marina
510.548.7920
Ask for UC Berkeley discount

Hotel Shattuck Plaza
510.845.7300
No discount available

back to ChemX Conference webpage

The minimum grade point average required for admission is 3.0.

Due to the uncertainty of testing centers being available for the GRE due to COVID-19, we will not require General or Subject test scores during the Fall 2023 admissions cycle. Our department conducts holistic reviews, and carefully considers the context of each applicant's past achievements and academic record. The admission committee will make no assumptions if GRE scores are not included with an application.

Undergraduate research is a decisive factor in admission. It reflects the applicant's depth of interest in chemistry, potential for commitment to a doctoral program, and potential scientific creativity.

All students admitted to our graduate program receive a stipend for the duration of study in the form of teaching and research assistantships as long as they are in residence and demonstrate good progress toward the degree. Most funds for this support derive from research contracts and grants.

Your application must be complete, including letters of recommendation, transcripts and test scores, by the application deadline to be eligible.

The numbers vary, but the department usually receives about 800 applications each year. The number of applicants offered admission depends on the admission allotments determined annually by the Graduate Division. Each year the department receives far more qualified applicants than can be admitted.

The department only admits students for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. Students normally complete the Ph.D. program in four to six years.

Due to funding considerations only a few of the most outstanding international students can be admitted each year. However, we are firmly committed to the continued admission of exceptionally qualified international students

Yes, the TOEFL requirement can be waived if you have completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better in residence at a U.S. university at the time of application. Please see https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/requirements/ for more information about TOEFL/IELTS.

No, we admit our students to begin their studies in the fall semester only.

The ceremony lasts approximately 2 hours.

Doors will open for guests at 1pm.

Commencement parking is available in any “S” student lot without a permit.  Tickets to display on your dashboard may be purchased from an attendant or a dispensing machine on site.  For a listing of “S” lots please visit the Commencement Ceremony Parking & Transportation website.

Yes. All guests must have a ticket to enter Zellerbach Auditorium. Tickets are available for students to pick up in advance (there is a limit of 5 and priced at 5.00 each). Each graduating student that signs up to participate in the ceremony may pick up tickets in person at the College of Chemistry Ticket Distribution in April. Detailed emails are sent to students in regards to how to obtain tickets.

According to Zellerbach Auditorium policy infants and toddlers will need their own ticket.

Yes. All graduates will be individually recognized and called up on stage. 

Students are asked to spell their names phonetically when they RSVP for the ceremony.  The faculty try to get the pronunciation right.

No. Attending the commencement ceremony does not mean that a student has graduated. Some students attend the ceremony in May and will not finish all degree requirements until the end of summer session or the following Fall semester. The ceremony takes place before the final grades and GPA are filed for the Spring semester. The ceremony is strictly celebratory.

It takes up to four months for all of the degree checks and verifications to be processed. Diplomas are not mailed automatically because students often leave Berkeley without updating their addresses. Students can arrange for a final transcript and diploma to be sent to them by visiting the Office of Registrar's website.

Convocation, the University graduation Ceremony, will be held May 15th 2023 at Memorial Stadium . All graduating students (regardless of their major) are welcome to attend this event. This is a ticketed event. 

For a listing of restaurants and hotels in the Berkeley area, please visit the Berkeley's Visitor Bureau website.

On any page, select Quick Links on the right side of the header. On the opened menu, click Building Access. You will be taken directly to the Building Management webpage where the login link resides. You can also click on Admin & Support and select Building Access Information. It will also take you to the Building Management page.

Please contact John Borland at jborland@berkeley.edu for all technical issues.

If you already have a CalNet ID, log into the application (BUILDING ACCESS), complete the required fields, and “Submit.” You will receive an email confirmation of the submission and your PI, Supervisor or group delegate will be asked to approve your access and appointment information. You will also receive an email upon approval or denial of your request. Once approved, you will need to go to the CoC Building Management Office in 119 Gilman to pick up any physical keys. Please read Key Policy for hours of business and deposit requirements.

If you are a first year graduate student in the departments of Chemistry or Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, then your record will have already been added to our system. You will be placed under your Departmental Chair until you join a research group.

If you do not have a CalNet ID,please got to https://calnetweb.berkeley.edu/calnet-me/manage-my-calnet-account to learn if you qualify for a CalNet ID and how to obtain one. A CalNet ID is required to gain access to the College facilities.

If your employee ID and/or email address are still the same, your old record will be retrieved when you log into the application (BUILDING ACCESS). Once in the system, please update your information and add your current appointment. After submission, you will receive an email confirmation and your PI, Supervisor or group delegate will be asked to approve your access and appointment information. You will also receive an email upon approval or denial of your request. Once approved, you will need to go to the CoC Building Management Office in 119 Gilman to pick up any physical keys. Please read the Key Policy for hours of business and deposit requirements.

If your employee ID and email address are not the same, then you will need to apply as if you were new to the College of Chemistry (see question above).

Check the Research Facilities web site  and look up the process to gain access to the facility you want to use.  Any electronic access has to be approved and requested by the facility manager.

Please follow the step outlined in the question "I am new to the College of Chemistry...". In the appointment section, if you cannot find your PI's name in the drop down list, then you cannot proceed. You can contact chemrecharge@berkeley.edu to check if an account is in the process of being created. If the name of your PI is on the list but after submitting you get an error message stating that a valid PI cannot be found, that means that your PI's information might be incomplete. Please contact  John Borland at jborland@berkeley.edu to resolve the issue.

Please contact your supervisor, PI or delegate. This person will create a request for you. Then, you will need to go to the CoC Building Management Office in 119 Gilman to pick up any physical keys. Please read Key Policy for hours of business and deposit requirements.

As a PI/Supervisor/Delegate, you can request keys for another person, even if the person is not part of your group/unit.

If the person is already in the System, select "Find a Person." Query the System for the person you are looking for and click "View" to open the record. Under "Request Additional Keys," select the location for additional access. After changes are saved, a confirmation email will be sent to the person and Building Management.

If the person is not yet in the System, then the person must follow the step outlined in the question "I am new to the College of Chemistry..."

Yes, you will need update your record in the system since access is contingent upon each person's unique proximity number that is read by the door controllers. Log into the application (BUILDING ACCESS), go to "My Record," and update the Cal1 and proximity number (usually the first set of 5 or 6 digits). Once Updated, an email will alert Building Management to the new proximity number.

If you are a supervisor, PI or delegate for a research group or administrative unit, you will receive requests from new personnel and existing personnel with updates. Log into the application (BUILDING ACCESS) and you will be taken to the requests page. Review each request and make any necessary edits to approve, or you may deny the request entirely. If you are denying the request, please include a comment for the reason. The requester will receive a message about your decision either way. Upon approval, Building Management will receive electronic notification to dispense any requested keys and set electronic card access.

If you are not the supervisor, PI or delegate for that person, then check that your own record and appointments are up to date. You can deny the request if you believe that the person has selected the wrong research group or administrative unit. Report any problems to John Borland at jborland@berkeley.edu.

If you are a PI/Supervisor/Delegate, you can end an appointment for a person who has left your group/unit. Log into the application (BUILDING ACCESS) and select "My Group/Unit." Click the "View" button for the individual. On the current record page, under Appointments, click the End button for the appointment you want to end. Fill in the end date and the comment field, then Confirm your action. The person will still be active in the System but will not be associated with your group/unit anymore. A confirmation email will be sent to you, Building Management, and the individual.

If you are a PI/Supervisor/Delegate, you can add the person to your group/unit. Log into the application (BUILDING ACCESS) and select "Find a Person" on the main page. Query the system for the person you are looking for. If the person's name is listed, click "View" to open the record. On the current record page, under Appointments, click "Add a new Appt". On the appointment page, fill the required fields and click the Add button. You will then be able to request additional keys and/or access for the individual, if necessary, on the Current Record page. A confirmation email will be sent to you, Building Management, and the individual.

If the person's name is not listed, then the person is not in the System and will need to follow the steps in the question "I am new to the College of Chemistry."

If you are already affiliated with the College of Chemistry, log into the application (BUILDING ACCESS) and go to "My Record." You will see that you either already have Storeroom access or there is a box for you to select yes to "Do you need stockroom access?" Click Update to save your changes. An email will be sent to your PI/Supervisor/Delegate requesting approval. Upon approval, you will receive an email with instructions and a form to complete before taking the mandatory tour of the Storeroom with the Storeroom Manager who will then grant you access. A confirmation email will be sent to you and your PI/Supervisor/Delegate.

If you are not affiliated with the College of Chemistry, you will need a paper Interdepartmental Order/Charge (formerly IOC form) that you will present to the Storeroom Manager during regular business hours to establish access. For customers who would like to use the storeroom on a regular basis, please contact chemrecharge@berkeley.edu with the name and department of the PI to be recharged as well as a valid chart string (and speedtype if available). Once the recharge information is added to our system, users can request storeroom access using the Building Access application.

If you are a PI/Supervisor/Delegate, you can check what access/keys your group and unit members have under "My Unit/Group." You can check individual records by clicking on the "View" button. The list also displays who has Storeroom access.

Go to "My Record." If you have no updates to make to the first page, click "Continue," which will take you to the appointment records. For each appointment, a Default Speedtype can be entered. Click "Update" to save. Your PI/Supervisor/Delegate will receive an email asking for approval of the update. Once approved, your default speedtype will be set.

Select "My Unit/Group." The list of group/unit members displays the current default speedtype. You can change or add a Default Speedtype by clicking "View" for a specific record and updating the Default Speedtype field under the appointment. Click "Update" to save any changes.

All keys should be returned to Building Management prior to your appointment being ended in the System (See Key Policy). Once the keys are returned, Building Management will return your key deposit and update the access in the System. Alternatively, a police report has to be completed for all non-returned keys.

Log into the application (BUILDING ACCESS) and then you may update the information for yourself by going to "My Record." If you are a PI/Supervisor/Delegate, you can update the record of person in your group/unit. Select "My Group/Unit" and "View" to open the record of the person to update the necessary information. Save the changes. A confirmation email will be sent to you and your PI/Supervisor/Delegate.

Please contact  John Borland at jborland@berkeley.edu if you have any questions or comments.