For the second time in less than three months, we have lost a beloved member of our Merritt Family. Jim Gordon, our Principal Library Technician, passed away on Tuesday, September 6. He succumbed to injuries sustained after being hit by a cyclist while walking near his home in Sausalito. As his family shared, “we can only make sense of this tragedy knowing that the organs and tissues he donated are helping to save the lives of others.” Jim came to Merritt College several years ago, and immediately became a beloved figure on campus. Jim was funny, caring, and extremely intelligent. The Merritt community saw his patience and selflessness first-hand, as he would stop to help students who were wandering the campus, and we take comfort in being able to remember him so fondly as such a dignified and kind man.

The Berkeley Public Schools Fund awarded a LEADING for Equity Grant of $25,00 for “Grow our Own: Berkeley Teacher of Color Preparation Pipeline.” The project was designed and will be jointly led by a partnership between the Berkeley Unified School District, Berkeley City College, and the City of Berkeley. Education program coordinator Dr. Joya Chavarin is a chief collaborator on this project to develop a framework for adapting and extending the reach of BCC’s Teacher Preparation Program to BUSD students and classified staff.

Berkeley City College students Starlissah Stewart and Tyler Bennett were recently awarded the first round of the Alameda County Behavioral Health Career Pipeline Scholarship and Mentorship Program. The award, which could reach $10,000, will support their tuition at their transfer universities.

Merritt College Free4Fall

Having passed the Census Date and completed the first few weeks of the Fall 2022 semester, Merritt is pleased to report that Free 4 Fall Campaign is having a positive effect on enrollment and morale. Given the number of late-start and dual enrollment sections that Merritt has in the schedule and are yet to be counted, the college expects to surpass our FTES total from Fall 2021. 

Laney Experiences Fall Enrollment Boost

Fueled by the Fall is Free campaign and buttressed by an unprecedented level of employee collaboration during the Summer, Laney College has seen its fall enrollment increase by 11% from the previous year despite a schedule that, by the same comparison, was 8% smaller.

College of Alameda Fall Flex Presentations Highlight Recent Accomplishments and Focus on the Future

CoA President Dr. Nathaniel Jones III kicked off the Fall Flex presentations on August 19, 2022, with a State of the College address that celebrated the College’s accomplishments from the past academic year (AY), reviewed the imperative for implementing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) measures going forward, and detailed the College’s AY 2022-2023 priorities and key goals.

Enrollment Recap: Who’s at Berkeley City College?

The Fall 2022 semester is underway at Berkeley City College! There’s a definitive buzz around campus as the college hosts our welcome events, registration workshops, and an increased in-person campus. BCC’s outreach efforts including recruitment efforts at local high schools, marketing and news coverage of the “Fall is Free at BCC” campaign have brought a lot of new faces and returning students back to campus.

COA President takes temporary assignment to lead the District Finance and Administration Department; COA Vice President of Instruction to become Acting President

OAKLAND, Calif., September 6, 2022 – Earlier today, Peralta Community College District Interim Chancellor Dr. Jannett N. Jackson notified employees regarding a leadership change at the College of Alameda (COA), with Dr. Diana Bajrami to become Acting President on September 12, 2022, filling in for Dr. Nathaniel Jones III, who is on a temporary assignment as Acting Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration for the District. The temporary assignments for both Dr. Jones and Dr. Bajrami are for six months, with an option to extend if needed.