This is a living page. It will be frequently updated with links and information from campus partners to address common questions about WE Launch. If you have a question that’s not addressed, please email the EWMBA Program Office at [email protected].
You can also check out the New Admit Tools & Resources page and General Student FAQ for information about topics like bConnected, CalNet ID, Billing & Payments and more!
Schedule
WE Launch 2024 Schedule
To view the WE Launch 2024 Schedule, please open the Google Sheet.
REQUIRED WE Launch Weekend: Friday July 19 (~10AM) – Sunday July 21 (~3PM)
Haas School of Business
Please stay tuned for updates with the complete weekend schedule.
The mandatory in-person WE Launch weekend will begin at 10:30AM on Friday, July 19th, 2024.
We anticipate students should plan to arrive at the Double Tree Berkeley Marina no later than 10AM. The EWMBA Program Office will provide a complimentary shuttle service from the DoubleTree Berkeley Marina to Haas. Ensure that you give yourself enough time to park, drop your luggage at the hotel and are ready to board the shuttle by 10AM. Shuttles will leave promptly and anyone who misses the bus will need to make their way to Haas independently and at their own cost.
We are still working out the details of the complete schedule, but we anticipate the mandatory in-person WE Launch weekend to conclude at 2:15PM on Sunday, July 21st, 2024.
Students are REQUIRED to attend and participate in all sessions during the WE Launch weekend (July 19th – July 21st) in order to start the EWMBA Program.
There will be a check-in each day.
All pre-work is be available on the learning management system, bCourses.
Hotel
The EW Program has partnered with the DoubleTree Hotel Berkeley Marina to provide pre-arranged double-occupancy rooms (e.g. shared with another incoming student) for all of our EW students at no cost to you.
Hotel arrangements have been managed by the EWMBA Program Office. There is no additional action or payment needed from you.
EWMBA students are REQUIRED to stay at the hotel regardless of where they live. Staying at the hotel will give you opportunities to continue bonding with your classmates even after the official programming concludes.
When you arrive at the Double Tree Berkeley Marina before 10AM on Friday July 19th, you will be directed to a secure room to store your luggage.
You will be able to pick up your luggage and officially check in to the hotel that night after the sessions at Haas are complete, at approximately 9PM.
Students who reside ‘Outside of the Bay Area’ (OOBA) which is defined 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, will be eligible to request arriving on Thursday at no expense to the student. Please note that the room accommodations are the exact same as those arriving Friday, which means double occupancy with a classmate.
The Program Office will start contacting those eligible students around late May/early June to gather those requests from incoming students. Eligibility is gathered and checked based on the address provided at the time of admittance.
We will communicate with you as we get closer to the event with any further information about the check-in process.
Early check-in is not available.
Students will check out of the hotel on Sunday, July 21st prior to the start of that day’s programming at Haas.
Logistics
We will provide you with all meals during the duration of the WE Launch weekend starting with a light lunch on Friday July 19th until lunch on Sunday July 21st. Please make sure to update your Student Preferences via the admissions portal to indicate any dietary restrictions.
Yes! We are excited to provide you with Berkeley Haas branded swag, including a Class of 2027 Berkeley Haas t-shirt. You will receive it during WE Launch Registration on Friday, July 19.
A form for your T-Shirt size preference will be sent at a later date. It is vital that you send us your preferred t-shirt size. If you do not provide a t-shirt size, a size Large will be ordered for you as a default. The Program Office will not be doing size exchanges.
Friday, July 19: Business casual
Saturday, July 20: Casual and comfortable. We recommend wearing layers as the temperature can shift throughout the day. Please wear the Berkeley Haas t-shirt you receive on Friday July 19.
Sunday, July 21: Casual and comfortable
You will not need your laptop for any of the sessions throughout the weekend.
Suggested items:
- Government-issued ID (required to release your Cal 1 Card)
- A bag/backpack for the day
- Comfortable shoes
- Layers/light jacket
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Pen and paper
- Any pre-work notes
- Enthusiasm!
We will be handing out Cal 1 Cards during WE Launch weekend for students who submitted an approved photo on or before July 5th.
Please bring a government-issued ID in order to receive it, e.g. driver’s license, passport, ID card, etc.
Important clarification:
The CalCentral due date for online photo submission is standardized to be “Matriculation + 7 days” for all graduate students and is intended to be the first prompt you receive to complete that step. Accordingly, the deadline will be different for students that have different/delayed matriculations
If you are need of a Letter of Support for your Visa Application, please email the Program Office at [email protected] with the subject line, “WE Launch Visa Application Letter of Support”.
Students will be required to check in with Haas staff each morning. The anticipated schedule is as follows but is subject to change:
- Friday 7/19 10:30AM – 12PM
- Haas Courtyard
- Bring your government-issued ID to check in so you can pick up your Cal1Card
- Saturday 7/20 8:30AM – 9:15AM
- Haas Courtyard
- Bring your Cal1Card to check-in
- Sunday 7/21 8:30AM – 9:15AM
- Haas Courtyard
- Bring your Cal1Card to check-in
Transportation
We have arranged for a secure room at the DoubleTree Berkeley Marina for all students to drop off their luggage on Friday, July 19 before heading to Haas.
On Sunday, July 21, we will have a secure luggage room available at Haas. Staff and volunteers will direct you when you arrive at Haas
Please come directly to the DoubleTree Berkeley Marina on Friday, July 19. Enter the self-parking area of the hotel. Parking at the hotel will be included at no cost to you. You will use your hotel key card should you need to go in and out during your stay.
On Sunday, students will park on campus (Underhill Lot). Parking instructions for the day will depend on the transportation preference listed in the Student Preferences Form. More specific instructions will be shared closer to the event.
Transportation to Haas:
Friday, July 19:
A shuttle will take you from DoubleTree Berkeley Marina to Haas at 10AM.
Saturday, July 20:
A shuttle will take you from DoubleTree Berkeley Marina to Haas at 8AM.
Sunday, July 21:
Check out of the hotel prior to the first session at Haas. Use your room key to get out of the self-parking lot and drive to the designated campus parking lot, Underhill Lot (at Haste Street and College Avenue). If you didn’t drive to the hotel, please make your own arrangements to get to Haas. Options include Uber, Lyft or grabbing a ride with another classmate.
Parking instructions for the day will depend on the transportation preference listed in the Student Preferences Form. More specific information will follow as we get closer to the event.