What's up Berkeley! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: A Midsummer Night's Dream - Free Shakespeare in the Park and 10 more events.
Today's riddle: Why are elevator jokes so good ? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Does your Berkeley student have a disability? Here's what to know about BUSD's special education services. (berkeleyside.org) — Families in Berkeley Unified can access a wide range of special education supports, from IEP evaluations starting at age 3 to counseling-enriched programs at Berkeley High and home-based services. This guide walks you through how to request assessments, what services exist at different campuses, how funding and staffing affect programs, and where to find advocacy and parent support groups if your child's needs aren't being met.
2. Application Information (berkeley.edu) — Prospective graduate students in Berkeley can now prepare applications for UC Berkeley's Ph.D. programs in Hispanic and Romance Languages, with deadlines in mid-December 2026 and early January 2027. The department outlines required statements, writing samples, recommendations, and GPA expectations, emphasizing alignment with Berkeley's Principles of Community and timely submission through the university's online portal.
3. Cal Cybersecurity Research Fellowship Fall 2026 (berkeley.edu) — UC Berkeley's Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity is offering a Fall 2026 Cal Cybersecurity Research Fellowship of up to $15,000 for campus researchers focused on AI and cybersecurity. Berkeley graduate students, postdocs, and pre-tenure faculty can apply by October 16 with a five-page proposal exploring topics like cognitive firewalls, adversarial defenses, and computational trust models to strengthen AI systems against manipulation.
4. Large Crowd Anticipated In Berkeley For Cal's Opener Against UCLA (recentlyheard.com) — Cal's home opener against UCLA is expected to pack California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley tonight, with some sections already sold out and special Joe Roth throwback uniforms and rally towels planned. Local fans can still buy tickets, enjoy cool evening temperatures in the low 60s, and watch national ACC Network coverage broadcasting live from campus for this high-profile start to Cal's seven-game home slate.
5. New Digital Tool Shows How Climate Change Might Disrupt California's Water Supply (berkeley.edu) — UC Berkeley researchers are leading a new statewide COEQWAL project that lets Californians explore how different water policies could affect cities, farms, and ecosystems under climate change. Using an accessible website built on complex state models, the tool helps residents and small organizations understand trade-offs around groundwater limits, river flows, and Delta protections so they can better engage in water decisions.
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Ok Berkeley! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Because they work on so many levels ! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
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