Navigating Alumni Registration and Accessing Resources at UC Berkeley

For graduates of UC Berkeley, the connection to the university doesn't end with commencement. The university provides various resources and opportunities for alumni to stay connected, continue their professional development, and contribute to the Cal community. This article provides a comprehensive guide to alumni registration, accessing services like Handshake and library privileges, and staying involved through alumni associations and chapters.

Accessing Handshake for Career Development

Handshake is a valuable platform for career development, connecting students and alumni with job opportunities, internships, and career resources. Recent graduates and those within a certain timeframe post-graduation have specific access protocols.

Recent Graduates (Within 2 Years)

If you've graduated within the past two years, your access to Handshake is automatically extended. You can log in to Handshake using your CalNet credentials without any additional steps. Your CalNet will continue to work on the Handshake platform for 24 months following graduation.

Alumni Within Five Years Post-Graduation

Alumni retain ongoing access to Handshake for five years post-graduation. You will be able to CalNet into Handshake for a full 24 months post-graduation, with no action necessary. If your CalNet login does not work, you can instead complete the Alumni Services Request Form so we can activate your Handshake as an Alumni.

Alumni Beyond Five Years Post-Graduation

After five years from your graduation month, you are no longer eligible for Handshake access through the university's alumni services. The university's services are designed to meet the needs of current students and recent graduates. Alumni who are more than five years out are better served utilizing other career resources designed to serve individuals who are beyond their initial employment experience.

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Handshake Account Inactivity

It's important to note that the university occasionally archives Alumni Handshake accounts after six months or more of inactivity.

Troubleshooting Handshake Access

If you encounter issues accessing Handshake, several solutions are available:

Alumni Services Request Form: If you are unable to access Handshake, complete the Alumni Services Request Form to request that your account be activated.
CalNet Login Issues: If your CalNet login does not work, use the Alumni Services Request Form to activate your Handshake as an Alumni.

Extended Access to 1:1 Counseling

Thanks to support from UDAR, extended access to 1:1 counseling to alumni beginning with our May '22 grads is available. 1:1 counseling services will expire two years after your graduation date, however all other services remain in effect for the full 5 years.

Cal Alumni Association (CAA) Membership

The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) offers a way to connect with the university. Everyone is welcome to join the Cal Alumni Association. Your membership comes with special benefits, including UC Library access and discounts on travel, dining, and education.

Benefits of CAA Membership

CAA membership provides various benefits, including:

UC Library Access: CAA members can obtain a library card and check out books from all campus libraries (excluding the Berkeley Law Library). Members can check out up to 20 books at one time and can use OskiCat to search the library catalogs, place materials on hold, and renew books online.
Supporting the Cal Community: Your membership dues support our alumni and student communities in important ways. Through the help of our members, CAA provides undergraduate scholarships, student programs, and alumni events, publishes the award-winning California magazine, and much more.

Membership Details

Our annual and life memberships are open to the general public.

Maintaining Your Alumni Google Account

UC Berkeley provides alumni with Google accounts, offering access to various online services. Maintaining these accounts requires adherence to specific guidelines.

Activity Requirement

Alumni will need to log in to their Google account with their CalNet credentials at least once every 6 months to meet the activity requirement. An account that is in use is considered active. Preferred activity: Logging in through a web browser with CalNet credentials at least once every 6 months. If your account is not used within 6 months (180 days), it will be deemed inactive, and its contents may be deleted. After 6 months (180 days) of inactivity, your account will be disabled. Once disabled, you will not be able to regain full access, but you may request temporary access to retrieve information. Requests must be made within 365 days of being disabled. Requests require an active CalNet ID.

Storage Limit

To keep your account in good standing, you must occupy no more than 5GB of storage space in your Google Account. The transition process includes an initial renewal of the service, acknowledgment of these terms, and reductions to below 5 GB of total storage usage across all associated Google account services.

Staying Connected Through Alumni Chapters

The Alumni Chapters Program offers alumni the opportunity to stay involved with and connect to the University, students, and fellow alumni. Alumni chapter volunteers are instrumental in bringing alumni closer together while enriching their own lives and the lives of future Cal alumni. The Alumni Chapters program provides an official mechanism for Cal alumni to form their own network in order to reach and engage their constituency. Through chartered Alumni Chapters, thousands of alumni are engaged with the university nationwide. Alumni chapter volunteers provide field leadership, organize events, raise money, help with CAA’s scholarship award process, welcome new students to Cal, and offer many other activities to support UC Berkeley. We invite you to be a part of our far-reaching network, an important component of CAA’s effort to reach all alumni.

Ways to Get Involved

There are many ways for alumni to connect with their alma mater through the Cal Alumni Association and alumni chapters. CAA’s Alumni Chapter advisors are committed to partnering with you to create vibrant organizations.

Alumni Ambassador Program

Become an Alumni Ambassador for Berkeley College! Alumni Ambassadors are alumni who volunteer their time for the benefit of fellow graduates and current Berkeley College students. Volunteer opportunities include speaking engagements, marketing testimonials, the Alumni Leadership Council, internship hosting, and more.

Updating Contact Information

Please update your contact information with us to receive news and information on upcoming events. Moved recently?

Additional Resources and Support

Berkeley’s commitment to students does not end with graduation. Through the Office of Alumni Relations and Career Services, Berkeley graduates are part of a network of nearly 65,000 alumni worldwide. Berkeley College is committed to providing free career assistance for our alumni, and we look forward to providing the tools and support you need to succeed.

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