Dear Peralta Colleagues,
In case anyone needs a reminder, the Peralta Community College District will be closed for our winter break from Friday, December 23rd, 2022, through Monday, January 2nd, 2023.
Of course, this closure does not apply to those working on the College of Alameda Winter Intersession which runs from December 19th to January 13th. I want to congratulate COA Acting President Dr. Diana Bajrami, Maurice Jones (Acting Vice President of Instruction), and the team at COA who report that the classes are 98% full representing the best turnout since before the pandemic.
There are many, many other people across the district who need to be congratulated. As I reflect back on 2022, I’m amazed - but not surprised - by how much we have accomplished. By working together in the spirit of Ubuntu, and always prioritizing the needs of students, we can move mountains...and this year, some mountains have shifted for sure! Here’s an incomplete list of our major accomplishments from 2022:
FCMAT – On December 31, 2021, we submitted our response to FCMAT and the state chancellor’s office. There has not been any additional request for follow-up.
Accreditation – In January our status was reduced from Probation to Warning, and our October 2022 Reports make a very strong case that the colleges/district fully meet the standards of accreditation.
Mission statement – Also in January, the Board of Trustees approved a new mission statement for PCCD following extensive workshopping and collaboration across the community:
"The Peralta Community College District is a collaborative of colleges advancing social and economic transformation for students and the community through quality education, rooted in equity, social justice, environmental sustainability, and partnerships."
Redistricting – In February, the Board of Trustees adopted new territories for trustees, updated with 2020 census data. This special project happens once every decade following the census.
Website – In February, the new website at www.peralta.edu went live on the HubSpot platform – the first design update in 10+ years, now mobile optimized and accessible. Read more about the launch in Peralta Gems.
PeopleSoft – In April, we launched new modules in PeopleSoft for Human Resources and Financial Management. This was a massive effort from the IT team, but also the HR and Finance teams, and everyone who went through the training process. Thank you for moving us forward with this important software upgrade.
Graduations – In May, for the first time since 2019, we had live celebrations including a full ceremony at Merritt and more informal in-person events at BCC, COA, and Laney. Virtual video graduations were also produced for all four colleges.
Finance – PCCD received a “clean” audit report from FY 2020-21 and another “clean” audit for FY 2021-22 per the Dec BOT meeting. Congratulations to our colleagues in Finance & Administration, who have worked incredibly hard on these audits. All audit reports are posted on the Finance website here.
Compensation – Employees received a 10% across-the-board increase (Administrators received 8%) effective on July 1, 2022, funded from state COLA and by shifting to SISC for health coverage – bringing PCCD in greater alignment with other Bay Area district compensation.
Peralta Colleges Foundation – the Foundation had a banner year including their golf tournament fundraiser in May and particularly the September kickoff of the partnership with PepsiCo Foundation for the Uplift Scholarship Program. This is an exciting program for students and a model for industry partnerships.
Bond Program – In November, a $151 million bond sale closed providing money to fund construction at all four colleges. The Citizen’s Bond Measures Oversight Committee (BMOC) found PCCD to be in compliance with the law.
Enrollment – Fall is Free and related Spring is Free enrollment campaigns result in curbing the enrollment decline, stabilizing enrollment for the first time in 5+ years
Media Coverage – The combination of ethical governance by the Board, financial stability, and the enrollment offers for students all resulted in good media coverage for the district, such as this article from the San Francisco Chronicle. The Meltwater “Sentiment Monitor” rating of Peralta media coverage was as positive as it’s been in at least 3 years.
Peralta Charrette – Our first-ever Charrette community event brought over 150 community stakeholders together to help inform our 5-year strategic plan.
Of course, there are many more highlights, particularly accomplishments at each of the colleges. All of these successes were also accompanied while navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic! While Governor Newsom has announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency in California will end on February 28, 2023, the coronavirus is still being spread. If you plan to gather with family and friends over the holidays, please follow the safety recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): get vaccinated and boosted, test often, wear a mask, and stay home if you are sick. Visit Safe Peralta at https://safe.peralta.edu for the latest information regarding COVID in our district.
I’m so proud of the work done across the Peralta Community College District in 2022. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.
I wish you and yours a happy, restful, and safe winter break.
In Collaboration,
JANNETT N JACKSON, PhD
Interim Chancellor