Grief (including student or employee death)

The death of someone in your life presents a very difficult time. Resources on campus are available to you if you have been impacted by the death of a family member, colleague, friend, or a student or employee of UC Berkeley.

Some resources and policies differ for students and employees. On this page, you can jump to:

Resources for all
Student resources
Employee and postdoc resources
Death of a UCB student or employee

Resources for all

Navigating Grief and Loss

From the University Health Services

Student resources

UHS Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

CAPS supports the emotional, psychological, educational, social, and cultural development of all UC Berkeley students through a wide range of multiculturally based counseling, psychiatric, career, consultation, training and educational services.

Requests for flexibility or time off

You are encouraged to talk with your instructor if you need time off or flexibility due to grief or bereavement. A CAPS counselor can help you prepare to talk about your request.

Employee and postdoc resources

Be Well at Work - Employee Assistance

Provides no-cost confidential counseling and referral for UC Berkeley faculty, staff, visiting scholars, and postdocs.

Bereavement leave policies:

For policy-covered staff, PPSM 2.210: Absence from Work. For assistance: People & Culture
For represented staff, please consult your bargaining unit contract(link is external). For assistance: Employee and Labor Relations(link is external).
For faculty, the APM - 758 - Leaves of Absence/Other Leaves With Pay(PDF file)(link is external). For assistance: Academic Personnel Office(link is external).
ASEs and GSRs may also be eligible for various paid and unpaid leaves, including for bereavement. Please refer to the Graduate Student Employee Leave Chart(PDF file)(link is external) for details. For assistance: Graduate Division's Graduate Student Life team(link is external).

Death of a UC Berkeley student or employee

Topics

Personal support services topic page