This committee of volunteers works in cooperation with International House, the YWCA (on Brancroft), and the Berkeley International Office (BIO) to provide the following services for international students, scholars, their spouses and children.

The Centre

The Centre, located at the University YWCA, 2600 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, offers spouses and children of visiting international students and scholars an introduction to the community and a friendly place to meet every Thursday during the academic year from 9:30 AM to 12 noon. Summer 10 AM to 12 noon.  New volunteers welcome.

Click here for The Centre - Calendar of Events. 

The International House Holiday Party for the children and their families spending their first holiday season at the University is always a great success.  It is scheduled for Sat. Dec. 5, 2009, 2 - 4 PM in the Great Hall.   

Equipment Loan Center:

THE EQUIPMENT LOAN CENTER provides household necessities, such as cooking pots, dishes, and bedding, for international students and scholars who have been at U.C. Berkeley less than a year.  International students and scholars can borrow items starting at a minimum $10 cash fee.  Please bring current CAL ID. It is a quick and inexpensive way for newcomers to acquire some basic supplies.  Contributions are always welcome. The Center is open first, third and fifth Wednesday from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM during June, every Wednesday the Summer months from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, then the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM. from October through March, closed in April for re-organization, and reopens for May, (Closed the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.)  Contact the Co-Chairs (usectionclub@berkeley.edu, include your phone number and best times to call) for special arrangements if you are unable to come at the scheduled Wednesdays. It is located in Building F on Haste Street, between Telegraph and Bowditch. Donations are welcome and tax-deductible. 

Orientations:

Orientations are provided every month at International House and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab to cover important immigration matters for new arrivals. Our volunteers talk about campus and community services. An invitation is extended to come to The Centre and the Equipment Loan Center.

Student Grants assist individual students referred to us by a network of advisors throughout the campus. Donations and the Section Club fundraising events support these grants, a lifeline for students.

Since the founding of the Section Club, S.O.S., with generous donations from our members and fundraising events, provides support to the university student community. The Sylvia Elberg Memorial Fund gives Emergency Grants to aid students and their families. The S.O.S. Fund is for student related special projects, which are requested by campus departments through S.O.S. Liaisons. Twice a year, the S.O.S. Committee meets to allocate the funds for the projects. S.O.S. encourages Section Club members to serve as volunteers at the Tang Center (University Health Services) and University Village in Albany.

University Section Club, Inc.
UC Berkeley, Tang Center

A Non-Profit Organization in the State of California

Email:  usectionclub@berkeley.edu