10 Interesting Facts about UC Berkeley

One of these facts about UC Berkeley might be one of the most important information you need if you want to continue your study into college. As you know, UC Berkeley is a public research university located in Berkeley, California, United States. It occupies about 1,232 acres on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay with the central campus resting on 178 acres. It is the flagship institution of the 10 campus University of California system and one of only UC campuses operating on a semester calendar, the other being UC Merced. To get to know more about this campus, here are some other facts about UC Berkeley you might like to know.

Facts about UC Berkeley 1: Academics

Berkeley is a large, primarily residential research university with a majority of enrollments in undergraduate programs but also offers a comprehensive doctoral graduate program. The university has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission since 194

Facts about UC Berkeley 2: Undergraduate Programs

The four-year, full-time undergraduate program has a focus on the arts and sciences with a high level of co-existence in undergraduate and graduate programs. Freshman admission is selective but there are high levels of transfer-in.

Facts about UC Berkeley 3: Research Activity

Berkeley is a research university with a “very high” level of research activity. There are 1,582 full-time and 500 part-time faculty members dispersed among more than 130 academic departments and more than 80 interdisciplinary research units.

Facts about UC Berkeley 4: Ranking

Berkeley was listed as a “Public Ivy” in Richard Mull’s 1985 Public Ivies. In the 2013 Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings, Berkeley was ranked the world’s 5th most prestigious university and one of six globally recognized “super brands”. 

Facts about UC Berkeley 5: Campus

The Berkeley campuses are occupied by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; other facilities above the main campus include the Lawrence Hall of Science and several research units, notably the Space Sciences Laboratory, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, an undeveloped 800-acre (320 ha) ecological preserve, the University of California Botanical Garden and a recreation center in Strawberry Canyon.

Facts about UC Berkeley 6: Natural Features

Flowing into the main campus are two branches of Strawberry Creek. The south fork enters a culvert upstream of the recreational complex at the mouth of Strawberry Canyon and passes beneath California Memorial Stadium before appearing again in Faculty Glade. It then runs through the center of the campus before disappearing underground at the west end of campus.

Facts about UC Berkeley 7: Finances

UC Berkeley receives funding from a variety of sources, including federal and state authorities, and private donors. With the exception of government contracts, public money is proportioned to UC Berkeley and the other 9 universities of the University of California system through the UC Office of the President.

Facts about UC Berkeley 8: Student Body

Berkeley enrolled 25,574 undergraduate and 10,125 graduate students in Fall 2012.Women make up 52.3% of undergraduate enrollments and 45.5% graduate and professional students. About 82% of undergraduates and 43% of graduate and professional students are California residents.

Facts about UC Berkeley 9: Library System

Berkeley’s 32 libraries tie together to make the fourth largest academic library in the United States surpassed only by Harvard University Library, Yale University Library and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library. However, considering the relative sizes and ages of these University libraries, Berkeley’s collections have been growing about as fast as those at Harvard and Yale combined: specifically, 1.8 times faster than Harvard, and 1.9 times faster than Yale.

Facts about UC Berkeley 10: Student Life

The official university mascot is Oski the Bear, who debuted in 1941. Previously, live bear cubs were used as mascots at Memorial Stadium. It was decided in 1940 that a costumed mascot would be a better alternative to a live bear. Named after the Oski-wow-wow yell, he is cared for by the Oski Committee, whose members have exclusive knowledge of the identity of the costume-wearer.

Hope you found those UC Berkeley facts really interesting and useful for you additional reading.