This is a living page and will continually be edited, addressing the common questions students have about Biz Comm. If you have a question that’s not addressed on these pages, please reach out to the Program Office ([email protected])
Schedule
Biz Comm 2026 will be held Friday January 16 – Sunday January 18, 2026.*
Please see the Student Schedule of events on the bCourse page “EWMBA 205D – Business Communication in Diverse Work Environments”
To see a day-by-day breakdown of events, please see the Biz Comm 2026 Event Schedule(opens in a new tab).
* Exact times subject to change
Biz Comm will begin with you parking at the UC Berkeley Campus and registering with the EWMBA program office. Registration starts at approximately 8 AM PT on Friday January 16.
- Please note: You will check-in to the hotel after programming ends at approximately 6:30PM PT.
We anticipate Biz Comm weekend to conclude on Sunday, January 18 approximately at 4PM PT.
No. Biz Comm is a graded, 1-unit course and is your final core requirement. Attendance and full participation in every session is required to pass the course. Failure to attend or fully participate can result in a delay in your graduation. If you cannot attend Biz Comm, please contact your academic advisor and fill out an exception request.
No. The teams for Biz Comm weekend have been already been formed and chosen by the Academics team.
Consult with your Academic Advisor so that they are aware. Chances are your interviews will be done before that Friday, but you will want to let your Advisor know just in case. If you are scheduled to interview on that Friday, please try to schedule an interview at the earliest possible time that day.
Hotel
The EW Program has partnered with Double Tree Berkeley Marina in Berkeley, CA, and has arranged for rooms for our EW students at no cost to you.
- All students will receive their official hotel and roommate confirmations the week of January 5th, 2026.
You will be able to check in to the hotel on Friday, January 16, at approximately 6:30 PM PT. More details about the check-in process will be communicated in the “[EWMBA] Biz Comm 2026 – Hotel Confirmation” email.
Please reach out to the Program Office if you need special accommodations. Please note: DoubleTree Berkeley cannot guarantee an early check in.
Eligible students (those who live Out of the Bay Area) can request to arrive one day early and check in on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
- This request must be submitted in the Biz Comm 2026 Enrollment Form and will be tentatively confirmed/denied the week of November 17, 2025.
“Out of the Bay Area” (OOBA) is defined as residing outside the nine counties that directly border on San Francisco Bay: San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, and Marin Counties.
Students will check out of the hotel on Sunday, January 18, prior to the start of the morning programming at the Hotel.
On Friday, January 16, you will leave your luggage in your vehicle when you arrive for the start of the programming at approximately 10:00 AM PT. You can move your luggage into your room after check-in at approximately 6:30 PM PT.
- Any charge incurred by holding luggage at the front desk will NOT be covered by Haas.
Logistics
Yes, we will provide all meals during the duration of the Biz Comm weekend. Friday, January 16, will start with a light breakfast.
If you need to adjust your dietary preferences after submitting the Biz Comm 2026 Registration Form, please email the Program Office.
Yes! We are excited to provide you with Berkeley Haas branded jackets.
- Friday, January 16 – Sunday, January 19: Casual and comfortable attire during the entire weekend. We recommend you bring layers as the temperature can shift throughout the day.
- Saturday, January 17: We will have a party on Saturday evening and will communicate further details about this.
Transportation
Please reach out to the Program Office if you need special accommodations.
You can park your vehicle at no cost to you at the DoubleTree Berkeley anywhere that isn’t reserved for Valet parking.
Yes, there will be shuttles to and from the hotel to Haas on Saturday and Sunday.
Miscellaneous
No, you cannot bring your family. We do not have the capacity to put everyone up at the hotel. You will also be engaged in classwork for the entire weekend and not available for free time with your family.
Yes! Please email our Flex Program Manager, Patte Hochkeppel with this request.
No. Biz Comm is not one of the courses available for waiving. We encourage you to be #StudentAlways and take this as an opportunity to grow professionally and learn more about your classmates.
Communication
To prepare for Biz Comm, please download “Canvas” onto your mobile device. You can access bCourses through the Canvas app.
Yes. Each day of Biz Comm will require you to have fully charged laptops.