In October 2019, CoA received a United States Department of Education Title V Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Grant becoming PCCD’s first HSI college. In Fall Semester 2021, College of Alameda’s MESA Connect Project received additional grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve academic outcomes for LatinX students enrolled at HSIs.

On September 28, representatives from Upward Scholars delivered a cart full of laptops to be given to 53 BCC students in the adult education program.

It is with great sadness we share that Loretta Newsom passed away Friday, September 23rd in Oakland at the age of 91.

Berkeley City College English instructor Sharon Coleman was awarded the Maverick Award for poetry by the Ruth Weiss Foundation. Coleman has taught poetry, creative writing, and composition at BCC since 2022. Coleman’s submission, titled “was it for this,” is a section of a longer manuscript she’s been working on for four years titled “hand-me-down.”

A delegation of Berkeley City College students joined other representatives of the Peralta Community College District in traveling to Washington, D.C. for the Congressional Black Caucus 51st Annual Legislative Conference. The event spanned Wednesday, September 28th through Sunday, October 2nd. PCCD’s involvement has been ongoing for the past 18 years with support from Trustee Linda Handy and Representative Barbara Lee.

Leesa Hogan, a Merritt College graduate and continuing student who serves as a Student Trustee on the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees as well as President of the Associated Students of Merritt College was recently chosen to be a part of the Advisory Committee on Educational Services for the Community College League of California (CCLC). Student Trustee Hogan sat with Mark Johnson, Executive Director of Marketing, Communication, and Public Relations on September 16, 2022 to talk about this prestigious appointment and her experiences as a student leader at Merritt College and the Peralta Community College District.

OAKLAND, Calif., October 11, 2022 – Merritt College is pleased to announce a new partnership to advance our renowned cannabis education programming. Ms. Tanya Scott will take on an advisory role with the College, working closely with the faculty to expand the cannabis program’s curriculum in three distinct areas. The overarching goal is to support students in their preparation for high-demandcareers in this rapidly expanding industry.

Merritt is proud to recognize the success of one of its Alums: Ms. Brandi Howard. Last week, Ms. Howard was selected as the new President and CEO of the East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF).

College of Alameda Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) Supervisor Esther Cheng and six students volunteered to table at the Reid-Hillview Airport Aviation Career Exploration event on Saturday, September 3, 2022. The Aviation Career Exploration event was a wonderful opportunity to showcase CoA's AMT Program to the general public. Students had the opportunity to share their AMT experience and excitement about their futures in aviation.

On Wednesday, September 14, Berkeley City College invited the third cohort of the NOVA (Networking, Opportunities, Vision, and Action) program scholars back to campus for a certificate ceremony in the BCC Auditorium.