UHS Monthly Student Newsletter

May 2026

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UHS May 2026 Calendar 🗓️

5/1: Mental Health Awareness Month - Learn more

5/1: SHIP 2026-27 Waiver Period Opens - Learn more

5/1: ASUC Mental Health Carnival & Llamapalooza at Memorial Glade, 10 am - 2 pm - More info

5/1-2: Free Drop-in Nutrition Counseling every Thurs/Fri from 12:30-1:30 pm - Learn more

5/1: Formal Classes at UC Berkeley End - Learn more

5/4 - 5/8: UC Berkeley Reading/Review/Recitation (RRR) Week - Learn more

5/5: Pet Hugs at Doe Library North Entrance from 12-1 pm - Learn more

5/6: Holistic Sleep Wellness Workshop at 3:30 pm via Zoom - Learn more

5/9 - 5/10: Last weekend UHS Urgent Care/Telehealth is open - View hours

5/11 - 5/15: Finals Week at UC Berkeley

5/16: UC Berkeley Commencement - Congrats, Class of 2026!

5/11: UHS Summer Service Begins (Reduced staffing / Closed on weekends) - View hours

5/25: UHS CLOSED: Academic & Administrative Holiday (Memorial Day) - After Hours Assistance

7/15: SHIP 2026-27 no fee waiver deadline - Learn more

7/31: SHIP 2025-26 coverage ends for Spring 2026 graduates - View Insurance After Graduation

8/1: SHIP 2026-27 coverage starts - Review SHIP benefits

8/15: Last day to submit SHIP 2026-27 waiver ($75 late fee included) - Learn more

SHIP Updates 🏥⚕️

New Insurance Carrier for 2026-2027 Benefit Year:

Effective August 1, 2026, our new health insurance carrier for Berkeley SHIP will be Aetna Student Health. More information on this transition can be found on our SHIP updates webpage. 

Assembly Bill 594 Effective July 1, 2026:

Starting July 1, 2026, students can waive SHIP if they have a health care plan that meets the Minimum Essential Coverage requirement. Students may also request to terminate SHIP coverage during the policy year under certain circumstances (e.g., upon graduation, withdrawal, or leave of absence) and receive a prorated refund for the period in which they are not covered.

SHIP Waiver Period Now Open!

All UC Berkeley students are automatically enrolled in the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) as a way to meet the University of California’s health insurance mandate.

If you have comparable insurance and do not want dual coverage, you may apply to waive enrollment by July 15, 2026 (no fee), or by August 15, 2026 (a $75 late fee will apply). No waiver will be accepted after August 15. The waiver must be filled out annually.

Reminder for Graduating Seniors w/SHIP: Coverage ends on July 31

SHIP 2025-26 coverage ends on July 31, 2026. Whether you are graduating or leaving UC Berkeley, the ending of SHIP is considered a qualifying event that opens a 60-day special enrollment period for you to enroll in other insurance plans.

Learn more about your options on our Insurance after Graduation webpage. The SHIP office is available to help: call (510) 642-5700 or email ship@berkeley.edu.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 🧠💚

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we want to remind UC Berkeley students that mental health services at UHS are available to all UC Berkeley students at no cost, regardless of insurance. Here are some of the services available to you: Let's Talk drop-in consultations with UHS counselors, Group Counseling, Individual and Couples Counseling, Career Counseling, and more!

Tips for RRR Week: The Pomodoro Technique 🍅

RRR and Finals Week Affirmations 🫶🏻

This is tough, but so am I.

I can do hard things.

I am going to figure this out.

I am capable, and I will get through this.

I will take things one step at a time.

I will strive for progress, not perfection.

I am allowed to ask for help.

Rest is both necessary and productive.

I am choosing to focus on what I can control.

I am so much more than my grades.

I inhale clarity and exhale stress.

I will be present and calm today.

It's okay if things don't go as planned; I can be flexible and find an alternative approach.

It doesn't need to be perfect; it just has to get done.

I will show myself patience and grace throughout this process.

I will focus on what's important and let the rest go.

Try it Out: Cognitive Shuffling 😴

Cognitive shuffling is a mental exercise that induces sleepiness by focusing on random, non-stressful thoughts. Begin with a random word, e.g., "Pluto," then list words starting with P: “Plane, poodle, peach.” After exhausting “P,” move to L—"Light, lemur, line,” and so on. Briefly visualize each word.

Write it Out: Journal Prompt 📝

Here’s a journal prompt to help you stay connected with yourself during finals week, a time that can be particularly stressful at the end of the semester: What obstacles or challenges may arise during this period, and how can I tackle them with resilience and creativity?

Summer Break Reminders 🔔