Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson is featured in a two-part episode of the EDUCATE. ELEVATE. podcast, exploring California’s new Black-Serving Institution (BSI) designation. This significant legislation, Senate Bill 1348, allows community colleges with a substantial Black student population (10% or 1,500 students) to seek BSI status. Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College are included among the California Community Colleges that meet the eligibility criteria to apply for the designation.
Being a Black Serving Institution requires a strong commitment to Black student success through dedicated support programs, comprehensive academic and basic needs assistance, and a focus on improving student outcomes. Dr. Gilkerson joined a panel that also included Dr. Luke Wood (Sacramento State University President); Pamela Haynes (Los Rios Community College District trustee and California Community Colleges Board of Governors member); and Joia Miller (Mt. San Jacinto College biology student). The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Abdimalik Buul, Visiting Executive of Institutional Equity, Innovation and Strategic Impact at the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.
Panelists emphasized the crucial role of BSI designation in holding colleges accountable for meaningfully serving Black students. They highlighted the need for targeted support, faculty training, and a commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by Black students. The legislation aims to address the concerning transfer rates for Black students, who often begin their higher education journey at community colleges but face significant barriers to transferring to four-year universities.
This podcast series offers valuable insights into the efforts to create more equitable and supportive learning environments for Black students across California. We encourage the Peralta community to check out these episodes of the EDUCATE. ELEVATE. podcast and learn more about this important initiative. Part One is posted on YouTube here while Part Two is here. You can also find the audio version of the podcast on all the major platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart and Podbean, or the Black and African American Student Success page at ICanGoToCollege.com.