The Lower Sproul Plaza fee is continuing to fund the transformation of Lower Sproul Plaza into the vibrant, student-oriented space it is today. The project addressed physical deficiencies, added new facilities and services, and enhanced outdoor amenities. The revitalized Plaza offers 24-hour study spaces, multicultural community centers, performance venues, and more, fostering a more engaging student environment. It began in 2010 at a rate of $35 per semester and will periodically increase each year until it reaches its maximum of $396 in 2041, continuing until the outstanding debt is paid (estimated to be 2046).
The Wellness and Recreation Fee (WRF) financed the construction and operation of the new Wellness Center and Memorial Stadium Fitness Center and eliminated the RecSports membership fee. The fee has funded various wellness programs, fitness equipment, and recreational activities and continues to improve services related to recreation and wellbeing.
The campus health care fee is designed to improve student access to top-notch medical and mental health services at UHS. It supports urgent care, medical appointments, counseling, psychiatry, and preventive health services. Furthermore, the fee enables upgrades in technology, like online scheduling, and provides financial aid to assist students in need. Ultimately, it ensures that students have affordable and reliable health care options, tackling rising costs while enhancing campus resources.
The Life Safety Fee provides funding to improve building seismic safety and supplement necessary renovations of facilities on campus. One of the main projects it has supported was the renovation of the Recreational Sports Facility, both the fieldhouse and the main gymnasium.
The ASUC Fee is distributed by the Associated Students of the University of California, the main student governing body of UC Berkeley. The majority of the funding is used to sponsor registered student organizations (RSOs) at UC Berkeley. These organizations offer the opportunity for students to explore and expand upon their academic and recreational interests and play a key role in the student experience at Berkeley.
The Campus Climate and Equity Fee provides funding to the Centers for Educational Justice & Community Engagement (EJCE) which are focused on enhancing inclusivity and student support services through leadership development, access, activism, academic excellence and social justice. It funds programming, student projects, and staffing, fostering a diverse and equitable campus environment. EJCE received $1.8 million from this fee in Fall 2023. In Spring 2024, a referendum to increase the Big C fee from $33 to $50 failed to pass. The fee expires at the end of the 2027 academic year.
The STARR fee aims to provide long-term funding for UC Berkeley's Multicultural Resource Center and its affiliated Recruitment and Retention Centers (RRCs). This fee directly supports over 300 student-initiated services, including mentorship programs, community outreach, and professional development events. The services provided under this fee support first-generation, low-income students of color, fostering a more inclusive campus climate. It is paid only by undergraduate students.
The GOLD fee provides funding to the CE3 (Centers for Educational Equity & Excellence) at UC Berkeley which support a diverse range of students, offering counseling, scholarships, and aid. The programs included under the CE3 include the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Transfer Student Services Center (TSSC), Student Parent Center (SPC), Re-Entry Student Program (RSP), Undocumented Student Program (USP), Cal Independent Students Network (CISN serves orphans and foster youth), and the Veteran Services Center (VSC).The goal is to empower students from diverse backgrounds to succeed academically and beyond.
The Student Basic Needs Fee at UC Berkeley supports a range of services to ensure students' basic needs security. This includes emergency food relief, financial aid counseling, and housing support, with a focus on preventing homelessness and promoting financial stability. The program also offers assistance to undocumented students and aims to create an inclusive campus environment where all students can thrive.
The goal of The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) is to improve sustainability at UC Berkeley and mitigate its environmental impact. TGIF funds projects aimed at improving energy efficiency, increasing the campus's use of renewable energy, and reducing waste production. Projects can be proposed by any member of the UC Berkeley community, including students, staff, and faculty. Notably, a minimum of 20% of all funded projects are student-led initiatives.
The Save the Daily Cal Initiative is a fee that supports UC Berkeley’s award-winning, independent, student-run newspaper that informs readers on campus and community news. This fund allows the newspaper to continue its weekly print while expanding its online presence. It was approved in 2012.
The Housing Security Fee aims to address UC Berkeley's housing crisis by providing financial aid and support to housing insecure students. It supplements the Financial Aid Department to offer loan scholarships and consultations for students struggling with housing costs. The initiative acknowledges the mental health, academic, and economic impacts of housing instability and aims to alleviate financial barriers such as security deposits.
The Ethnic Studies Fee funds the Department of Ethnic Studies. Since the late 1960s, scholars have examined how race and racism shape society, culture, and politics, and their intersections with gender, class, sexuality, and legal status. UC Berkeley's Department of Ethnic Studies, one of the first in the nation to be established, has been a hub for pioneering and influential research in this field.