Fiona M. Doyle

I’m delighted to share excellent news about next year’s medical, vision, and dental coverage for graduate students!

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) contracts for 2016-17 will expand benefits while containing cost increases (to about $200 per semester in most cases). For many graduate students, SHIP premiums are paid by GSI or GSR appointments or by fellowships; for others, SHIP may be waived with proof of comparable insurance. Of great importance to many students, coverage for dependents will be available at reasonable cost. For more details, see the UHS website.

These positive developments resulted from extensive input from student leaders on the Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee, in the Graduate Assembly, and in the ASUC who worked with administrative leaders of University Health Services and the Budget Office. The Graduate Division and the Division of Student Affairs advocated for student interests as well.

I’d like to note in particular the contributions of Bahar Navab, former president of the Graduate Assembly. Now the UHS’s Student Health Insurance Manager, Bahar was instrumental in promoting collaborative communications among campus stakeholders and in achieving these very constructive outcomes.

On another happy topic, I invite you to join me the afternoon of Monday, March 28, at our Grad Slam finalist competition, where ten of your peers will vie for the chance to represent Berkeley at the UC-wide Grad Slam competition in April. Come to gain inspiration for honing your TED Talk-style presentation (or “elevator speech”) for your own professional development — and cheer on your colleagues! Please see the Grad Slam webpage for full details.

Finally, enjoy the upcoming Spring Break! Take advantage of time off to relax, refresh, and rejuvenate. Maybe I’ll see a few of you on the ski slopes, or hiking in one of the wonderful parks right here in the Bay Area.

Safe travels!

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Fiona M. Doyle
Dean of the Graduate Division
Donald H. McLaughlin Professor of Mineral Engineering