Since 1984, CalSERVE has been committed to making a positive impact on the UC Berkeley campus, the community, and the world. Although there is no way to compile the hundreds of accomplishments CalSERVE leaders have achieved over the last 30 years, below is a small sample.

CalSERVE Accomplishments in the ASUC, 2013-Present

CalSERVE won three out of four partisan ASUC executive seats in the 2013 ASUC elections, marking the first time since 2009 it held a majority of executive seats. Since this “comeback” (as many termed it), CalSERVE has made remarkable changes to the ASUC and the campus.

Authored more Senate bills than any other party in the 2013-14 legislative session (and in the lead for the 2014-15 session!)
Secured more grant money through the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Student Services and Fees grant program than any other party (over $350,000 between 2013-2015!). We even secured more money than any campus department that applied, meaning that more student money remained in student control!
Removed partisanship from the ASUC funding process, allowing organizations to apply for funding through an open application rather than through sponsorship from a Senator
Created the Student Space Reservation Fund to provide funding for student organizations to reserve costly event spaces on and near campus, including Alumni House and International House
Established and/or implemented scholarships for undocumented students, student parents, and for students of all income levels to pay for textbooks
Created the Wheeler Late Night Program, creating late night study space capacity for hundreds more students nightly
Initiated negotiations with BART Board Director Rebecca Saltzman about securing a BART discount for students
Developed a stronger pipeline for students to connect with opportunities to serve on Berkeley city commissions
Secured over $100,000 for ADA upgrades for Anna Head Alumnae Hall
Started livestreaming and archiving of Senate meetings on YouTube
Created the ASUC Central Drive, a central source for student to find up-to-the-second versions of Senate bills, agendas, minutes, and governing documents.
Spearheaded complete overhaul of ASUC governing documents to increase accountability and efficiency
Launched full rebranding of ASUC to create a clear brand identity for students and campus leaders, including beautiful new logos
Created a Campus Sustainability Master Plan that sets a vision for sustainability that goes beyond “Zero Waste” to encompass environmental justice and food security
Saved Cal Lodge from financial disaster and created a long-term plan to make it a profitable space for student organizations and alumni to use
Condemned cultural appropriation and created an agenda for inclusivity education
Worked with Academic Senate to put Campus Wellness Resources on bCourses and course syllabi in numerous departments
Participated in the development of a six-year plan to end hunger and malnutrition at UC Berkeley, and secured official ASUC support through a bill by Senator Dejen and AAVP Chou
Organized more lobby visits to Sacramento in one year than the previous two Student Action EAVP’s combined
Created the Cal Consent Campaign and institutionalized the Sexual Assault Commission as an ASUC program
Secured $10,000 for the ASUC and Mental Health Coalition to run a professionally-designed survey on student mental health
Increased visibility and utilization of the Cooperative Opportunity Fund
Oversaw and supported the expansion of the LEAD Center and Event Services, which support student organizations
Developed a bill in support of structural reform to tenure and salary-setting practices to increase faculty diversity at Cal
Launched two new grants: the ADA Accessibility Fund and the Educational Equity & Excellence Fund
Created the ASUC Wiki to help students learn about and better navigate our student government
Mobilized students to pressure city leaders to increase the minimum wage in Berkeley
Introduced the position of ASUC Controller General (now Chief Accountability Officer) to make the ASUC more transparent and hold ASUC officials accountable
Founded the “Half of Us Campaign”, working to destigmatize mental health and improve University mental health services
Created semesterly “Wellness Week” programming to bring attention to the importance of practicing wellness before Finals Week
Secured funding to provide Mental Health First Aid training to student organization leaders
Lowered healthcare fees for low-income students on SHIP
Organized “Fireside Chats” with Chancellor Dirks, which is now a monthly tradition
Co-Sponsored the 2014 Night of Cultural Resistance, which brought Talib Kweli and Blue Scholars to campus
Engaged hundreds of students in UC advocacy through UC Student Association Congress and Students of Color Conference
Institutionalized a “Student Organization Services” department in EVP to be a lifeline for student organizations
Streamlined the Spring Budget and Space Allocation processes
Organized the largest Spring Admit Welcome Week in ASUC history

Accomplishments 2005-2013

Increased Financial Aid for International Students
Registered Over 10,000 Students to Vote in the 2008 Presidential Election
Implemented Disability Awareness Week
Elected First Openly-Undocumented Students to the ASUC
Doubled Grant Applications
Elected two of the first openly queer senate candidates (1987 & 1988)
Secured a $210 million campus commitment from the University for Lower Sproul Redevelopment
Led Joint Campus and City Project by Conducting Safety Walkthroughs
Created the First ASUC Berkeley Student Cooperative Affairs Officer position
Increased Resources to Potential and Current International Students
Actively Engaged Students in Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
Created Berkeley SafeRenting
Divested 3.5 million dollars from Bank of America to be moved to a more financially responsible institution
Only Organization on Campus to Lead Yes on Prop 30 Campaign in 2012
Protecting Student Interests in New Lower Sproul (meditation space, student-controlled office space, larger space for ASUC)
Worked to Ban Plastic Bags in Berkeley
Created ASUC Deficit Task Force
Created the 6000 in Solidarity Campaign, the first major campaign to bring attention to sexual assault at Berkeley
ASUC Textbook Scholarship
Extended Business Hours on Telegraph, increasing entertainment opportunities and safety
Created the Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC)
Coordinated State-Wide Count Me in! Campaign
Created Cooperative Fund in Collaboration with the Co-op Senator
Helped form the Pilipino Community Council
Established the first Vote Latino RAZA Coalition
Created Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Transfer, Re-entry, Student Parents, & Student Veterans (now Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Work and Family)
Helped Secure Office Space for Bridges Multicultural Center in New Lower Sproul
Expanded Eligibility Requirements of the RISE Scholarship for AB 540 and Undocumented Students
Created the 1st Campus-Wide Queer Newsletter, distributed in the Daily Cal in March 2013
Developing & Implementing Inclusivity Training
Mandated Appointment of a Student bridges Board Member to the Academic Senate Committee on Admission, Enrollment, and Preperatory Education
Spearheaded Transfer Student & Queer Town Halls
Passed the Queer Advocacy Agenda
A Bill in Support of Gender Neutral Restrooms
A Bill in Support of Trans* Students at UC Berkeley
A Bill A Bill in Support of LGBTQ Inclusivity Education for Faculty, Staff, and Administration at UC Berkeley
A Bill in Support of Gender Inclusive Spaces in the Recreational Sports Facility
A Bill in Support of Stipends to LGBTQ/Queer Campus Organizers
A Bill in Support of Gender Inclusive Overnight Programs
A Bill in Support of Inclusivity Education for Incoming Students
A Bill in Support of Inclusivity within UC Berkeley’s Greek Life
A Bill in Support of Queer and Trans* Inclusive Materials at Cal Student Orientation Sessions
A Bill in Support of the Visibility and Recruitment of Queer Students in the UC System
Passed a Bill for Divestment from Fossil Fuels
Passed a Bill in Collaboration with the Black Student Union Recognizing the History of Lynching
Passed a Bill of No Confidence in the University’s Handling of Sexual Assault (SB130)
Passed Bill Requiring ASUC Execs to Deliver Written Reports
Passed a Bill to Improve UC SHIP
Passed a Bill Opposing Discriminatory Practices of the Salvation Army
Passed Bills in Support of both Black History Month & National Women’s History Month
Passed a Bill for Divesting Funds from Conflict Mineral Resources
Passed Bill Opposing the Sit-Lie Ordinance in Berkeley

For more information about CalSERVE’s historical accomplishments, check out the CalSERVE history page.