ACCJC Reaffirms Berkeley City College’s Accreditation

Berkeley City College is proud to announce that on Thursday, January 26, President Angélica Garcia received communication from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC, or the Commission) reaffirming accreditation for Berkeley City College and its sister colleges in the Peralta Community College District.

The news validates the rewarding, and at times difficult, work BCC’s administration, faculty, and classified staff have committed to since PCCD was placed under “Probation” status by the ACCJC in January 2020.

“It has been an honor to work with such dedicated colleagues throughout the BCC and PCCD community. Over the past 3 years, we have engaged in extensive work to support the District in correcting the deficiencies and non- compliance issues from the Commission,” said President Garcia. “Through our participatory governance processes, we have kept this work moving forward and transparent in our regular engagement with the broader BCC community.”

Berkeley City College students continue to be the beneficiaries of this work and the results are evident with increased enrollment and persistence in the wake of the pandemic, increased transfer and degrees awarded to students from the region’s most historically minoritized communities, and the expansion of BCC’s operations in staffing and services offered. BCC’s commitment to equitable student completion has been persistent over this period, and the college’s future is bright. The Commission’s decision affords greater attention to students and outcomes, including the work of addressing the ACCJC Site Visit team’s recommendation for improvement in self-evaluation of our governance and the use of disaggregated data in our decision-making. Institutional effectiveness is an iterative process, and we will remain steadfast in our accreditation work. Berkeley City College looks forward to building upon this success in our midterm report to the ACCJC on March 15, 2025.

In a message to BCC faculty, administrators, and classified staff, President Garcia thanked everyone in the BCC community for their diligence and commitment to uplifting the College from a trying period in its herstory. President Garcia gave special recognition to colleagues in Business & Administrative Services, BCC’s Accreditation Steering Committee, the college governance bodies, the Office of Financial Aid, the President’s Cabinet, our Accreditation Liaison Officer Kuni Hay, and most of all students who continue to choose Berkeley City College to achieve their future goals. BCC truly lives by its motto to “Transform Lives.”

BCC’s 2nd Annual Career Fair is HERE!

Throughout February Berkeley City College is hosting #CareerPrepThursdays, leading up to the 2nd Annual Career Fair on February 23! Every Thursday in the Student Lounge on the 5th floor, students will be given free lunch and career-centered workshops with amazing speakers to help students develop their professional skills and reach their career goals. The workshops are hosted by the workforce development group RepresentEd, who work to launch careers of people from historically minoritized communities.

The first workshop was held Thursday, February 2 titled “Mastering Self & Rejecting Imposter Syndrome.” 57 students attended the workshop led by Maya Lefao of RepresentEd. Students were engaged from beginning to end, learning how to cultivate self-motivation, self-presentation, communication skills, and confidence in professional spaces.

Other workshops include “Professional Portfolio: Resume, LinkedIn, Elevator Pitch” focusing on building competitive resumes, effective social media profiles, and elevator pitches to enhance marketability for the workforce. On February 16, students may attend an Interviewing Workshop to help prepare for interviews and opportunities for students to partake in mock interviews.

The events will culminate with the Second Annual Career Fair on February 23. In the morning session, students will learn about career education from BCC faculty and hear from special keynote speaker Ruby Ibarra. By day, Ruby is a scientist at a Bay Area biotech company, working in the quality-control department on COVID-19 test kits and even a vaccine. By night, she’s an up-and-coming hip-hop artist, performing sold-out shows with her band of eight, the Balikbayans.

In the afternoon session, students can chat with over 35 local employers who are ready to connect with Berkeley City College students! Keep an eye on BCC’s Instagram @berkeleycitycollege for continued updates and coverage of these events.

Castlemont High School Seniors Visit BCC

Over 50 seniors from Castlemont High School visited Berkeley City College on Wednesday, February 8. The students were introduced to campus resources such as the Society of Scholars learning communities and the Undocumented Community Resource Center. A panel of student workers shared their experiences, tips, and asked questions for the panel. The students then were given a tour of the campus by the BCC Student Ambassadors and were provided with lunch.

We thank counselors Skyler Barton and Dri Regalado for organizing and hosting the event, the classified staff and administrators for their involvement, and the student panel for their valuable insights on BCC campus life.

BCC Educational Master Plan Campus Forum

On Friday, February 3, Berkeley City College hosted an Educational Master Plan (EMP) 2024-2028 Campus Forum hosted by the Administrative Team and members of the EMP Steering Committee.

Agenda items for the forum included a review of the genesis and progress of the drafting process from the June 22, 2022 President’s Cabinet retreat to today. The team reviewed the preliminary strategic priorities for the EMP, the high-level timelines of production for Berkeley City College and the Peralta Community College District, and the cross-college makeup of the EMP Steering Committee. Attendees were given a status update of the EMP Drafting Process, the EMP Shared Vision visual narrative (included here), and examples of measures of success. The hosts finished the forum by opening the floor for 30 minutes of addressing questions and collecting ideas and feedback from the BCC community, many of which will be critical in advancing the EMP and identifying strategies and measures of success.

Umoja Scholars Build Community at Traditional Meet & Greet

“It was exciting to see our scholars reconnecting after the long winter break,” said Umoja counselor Shannon Penn. “Lots of hugs, warm greetings, and some words of advice shared by scholars that are launching their last semester at BCC before transfer.”

The gathering was kicked off with a quote from Tupac that served as a reminder that regardless of academic performance last semester, it can be counted as a win if they seek the lesson in it.

Penn reminded the Umoja scholars about important resources such as Umoja tutors who can provide culturally responsive support for those enrolled in math and science classes. Volunteers signed up to help organize and prepare the annual BCC Umoja Event on February 21.

“We look forward to continuing to follow the Umoja community and their accomplishments throughout the Spring semester.”

BCC Lunar New Year Events Sponsored by AANAPISI Cooperative Grant

Berkeley City College and Laney College collaborated on four Lunar New Year events to welcome the year of the Water Rabbit.

• On Wednesday, January 25, Berkeley City College students gathered in the campus atrium to listen, learn, talk, and play games as a way to ring in the new year with love and laughter with friends and family.
• On Thursday, January 26, BCC students traveled to Laney College to celebrate and kick off the new year and the AANAPISI Cooperative Grant between the two colleges.
• On Friday, January 27, the International Student Program, AANAPISI Healthy Transitions Project, and AAPI LEAD students continued the celebration by gathering in the student lounge for lunch and a lantern-making activity.
• On Monday, January 30, the AANAPISI Healthy Transitions Project, AAPI LEAD, and BCC’s Health and Wellness program collaborated on a presentation titled “Health and Wellness in the Year of the Water Rabbit.” The presentation engaged the BCC community in celebrating the Lunar New Year by centering on the topic of health and wellness and bringing awareness about AAPI mental health throughout the year. The year of the Water Rabbit is predicted to bring calmness and hope.

“In the first two weeks of the Lunar New Year, families who celebrate take part in traditional community activities, and we wanted to bring this family feel to the BCC community,” said interim AANAPISI Director Susan Truong. “The belief is that what you do in the start of the new year is what you will engage in for the rest of the year.”

“Spring to Success”: First Free Meal Distribution at BCC

The Berkeley City College Basic Needs team hosted its first meal distribution on Tuesday, February 7. 300 meals from Crave Subs were distributed to students in the campus atrium during college hours. All students needed to do was fill out a form and they were given a free sandwich. Weekly meal distribution is part of the Spring to Success program and will be offered every Tuesday for the rest of the semester. A different meal option will be provided each week from local businesses.

The food distribution program builds upon BCC’s food pantry program, which is held every Thursday. Students are welcome to drop by and pick up free groceries in the atrium. We thank the BCC Basic Needs team and the Student Ambassadors for their work in supporting students with these valuable resources outside of the classroom.

Warm Welcome to New Berkeley City College Employees and Roles!

Berkeley City College is honored to share Lissette Flores is joining our community as the new Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Director. Prior to joining BCC, Lissette served as the Associate Director for the Latinx Center of Excellence in Behavioral Health at the UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare. There, she managed a federal grant to recruit and train undergraduate and graduate Latinx students dedicated to serving the behavioral health needs of Latinx communities in the Bay Area. A community college transfer student, Lissette received her bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley and her Master’s in Public Health from UCLA. Supporting the academic and professional development of underrepresented students is the common thread in all of Lissette’s professional work. She is overjoyed to be working at BCC.

Izabela “Izzie” Villanueva, M.S. (pronouns: they/ them/theirs) is joining Berkeley City College as the inaugural Basic Needs Coordinator. Izzie received their Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Asian American Studies with minors in Education and Sexuality Studies from UC Davis and received their Master’s degree in Critical Ethnic and Community Studies from UMass Boston. Inspired by the resiliency of their communities and the desire to empower students, Izzie has worked as an educator in different K-12 and higher education systems for over 8 years. Izzie will continue to build upon the efforts of the BCC Basic Needs team to create more resources for students around food security & CalFresh, housing, transportation, and more. Please join us in welcoming Izzie to the BCC family!

Berkeley City College is pleased to welcome Multimedia faculty member Kelly Whalen! Kelly has more than 25 years of professional practice as a documentary director, producer, cinematographer, and editor. Most recently she worked as a senior video producer at San Francisco’s PBS/NPR affiliate KQED, where she created and led numerous Emmy-winning shorts, series, and long-form documentaries featuring the region’s artists and culture makers. The KQED documentary she directed and edited, “When the Waters Get Deep,” a story about healing from gun violence, won Best Short at the Oakland International Film Festival and the National Black Film Festival. Prior to teaching at Berkeley City College, Kelly taught at San Francisco State University, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Miami, and Eastern Europe. She earned a master’s of journalism from the University of California at Berkeley.

Berkeley City College is excited to announce Counseling Faculty Susan Truong, M.S. is serving as the Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) Faculty Project Coordinator this spring 2023 semester! In her role, she will be coordinating activities of the grant, developing an advisory committee, gathering input from the BCC community, and engaging with mental health services to support our AAPI community.

With over 19 years of experience in higher education, and eight years at BCC, including serving as Counseling Department Co-Chair for over seven years, Susan’s experience and skill set directly support the needs of starting up this new $5 million grant in partnership with Laney College. Please join us in welcoming Susan into this new role!

President’s Message: Recognizing Black History Month

Dear Berkeley City College Community,

February marks the beginning of Black History Month, a time to reflect, recognize, and remember the stories and contributions of Black Americans in our nation’s history. I am honored to serve as President of Berkeley City College, where the diverse community of students, faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and alumni actively strive for racial justice and work tirelessly toward building an anti-racist and pro-Black community.

On February 4, I was at the 14th annual professional development summit for the African American Regional Educational Alliances held at CSU East Bay. Joining me on a panel were representatives from the UC, CSU, and K-12 systems, as well as a UC Berkeley student. The theme of the day was “Dialogue Across the Diaspora: An Intentional Opportunity to Align, Build, and Connect.” Grounded in supporting Black student excellence, the day provided rich intersections of students, such as the Young, Gifted, and Black program, and educators from all educational systems coming together – Harambee! Harambee derives from the Swahili word, meaning synergy and to “pull together.” It’s all about working together, helping each other, and being part of the community.

It is great comfort to me that so many in our institution have pledged toward working together for equitable student achievement and completion, and that these goals are being written into the very framework of Berkeley City College’s Educational Master Plan for years to come. I am a firm believer that education is key to overcoming poverty, gentrification, and political oppression that historically minoritized communities have faced throughout our nation’s history. We must educate ourselves on the African Diaspora and the roles we must each hold to dismantle oppressive and anti-black structures.

I’m saddened to see the news reports from around the country about high schools and universities ending their African American Studies programs, often at the behest of state and local governments. These acts of censorship and fear only highlight the necessity of continuing the conversation about the intersection of Black History and American History, because there is no American History without Black History. The stories are entwined, often with different viewpoints and understanding, but entwined, nonetheless. Our very own colleague, Ramona Butler, sends us daily messages throughout Black History month to learn about change agents among the African American/Black community. Take the time to review those, share them with your families, friends, and students. Engage in active learning and dialogue to be an ally. Only through constant dialogue of education and understanding may we find peace and action towards equity and racial justice.

The California Community Colleges have the statewide “Black Student Success Week,” April 24 through April 28, calling on every one of our colleges to center the experiences, success, and completion of Black students. Please keep an eye out for upcoming student-led events that will hold space for these types of discussions throughout Black History Month, so that we may grow our college community at the cultural and individual level.

In community,

Dr. Angélica Garcia (she| her| ella) President

Berkeley City College

This article is taken from the President’s Report, written by Dr. Angélica Garcia, Berkeley City College President, that was presented to the PCCD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 14, 2023. To view it as a pdf, click here.