The Budget Appeal form became available on September 14 so we expect a large number of appeals to be submitted early on. The wait time will probably be at least four to six weeks, depending on the date that the appeal was submitted.

The goal of the new “Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan” is to ensure that UC systemwide fees do not deter California households with incomes below $60,000 from aspiring to a UC education. For 2009-10 these fees are $7,788 which includes the 9.3% proposed fee increase.

All sources of scholarship and grant awards (federal, State, institutional, and private sources including outside agency scholarships) will count towards covering these Systemwide fees and meeting the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan commitment.

If your family makes less than $60,000, you should add up all of the scholarships and grants in your Berkeley aid package. You will typically find that you have at least $7,788 in grants and scholarships. For the few of you in that income category that do not have at least that much, the office plans to identify students needing additional grant funds to meet this new plan in the early fall.

Your refund amount could be different in the spring. If you have more bills due in spring than you did in the fall you will receive less, or vice versa. If you received your entire annual scholarship from an outside donor in the fall, then you will have less financial aid and scholarships applied to your spring bills.

Send your scholarship check to UC Berkeley, Financial Aid Office,
201 Sproul Hall #1960,
Berkeley, CA 94720-1960. The check should include the student's name, SID, and if possible, a letter of instructions from the donor. Have the donor write the check payable to "UC Regents," if possible.