Achieving Success By Exceeding All Expectations

Berkeley Hope Scholars (formerly the Cal Independent Scholars Network) is the academic retention program at UC Berkeley supporting all incoming freshman, transfer, graduate, and continuing students who are current and former foster youth, probation youth, or were orphaned before the age of 18. You can read more about our eligibility here. As a unit of the Centers for Educational Equity & Excellence (CE3), our goal is to create a safe and welcoming community and provide our students with a variety of resources. Founded in 2005 with one student, the Berkeley Hope Scholars program has delivered direct services to over 360 students. Currently, we are 150 students strong!