Annual Community Partner Breakfast

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, CoA hosted our Annual Community Partner Breakfast, bringing together over 50 community partners, which included OUSD, AUSD, SLUSD, UC Berkeley, and local charter schools. The event is designed to sustain our partnerships with local high school counselors and community-based organizations to ensure that prospective students are aware of everything CoA has to offer. We provided a comprehensive presentation highlighting our academic programs and support services available to our students.

This year, we welcomed roughly 80 attendees who learned specifically about our amazing Career Education Programs and array of learning communities, such as EOPS, CalWORKs, Next Up, Care, Rising Scholars, Undocumented Community Resource Center, Student Accessibility Services, College 2 Career, and Veterans 2 Resource Center. In addition, attendees had a chance to sign up for mobile COA where high school students can receive on-site application support and financial aid and counseling assistance.

It was a successful event! The highlight was the student panel, where attendees were inspired by the panelists' stories and how CoA supported their academic success. We're looking forward to strengthening our partnership with AUSD to create more opportunities for Alameda students to join CoA.

Below are other enrollment activities supporting awareness, outreach, and enrollment:

• Mobile CoA is a two-part process where the outreach team goes to high schools to help students apply to the college through CCCApply. The first portion of the process is where our outreach specialist works with student employees and the Enrollment Services Coordinator to help students during this process. We monitor the progress of a student's application in partnership with Admissions & Records to mitigate any delays. The second portion of the process is where counselors go out to the high schools to help students build their academic plan and student employees assist with registration for their summer and/or fall classes.
• The Community Outreach department participates in several events in the community, and over 2024-25, we’ve participated in over 15 tabling events! These have been college fairs during students' lunch, during the regular class time, city or county-wide college nights, and even a virtual college fair. At these events, we bring Career Education materials, financial aid flyers, dual enrollment informational sheets, and other useful resources. Many are interested in our transfer and CE programs as well as the opportunity to learn about financial aid opportunities.

Celebrating Accomplishments and Successes

We take immense pride in illuminating the unwavering efforts of our faculty, classified professionals, and students. As with every spring semester, we take the opportunity to extend gratitude, note accomplishments, and participate in monumental milestones. On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, we gathered at the District Service Center to applaud our faculty who achieved the distinct honor of Tenure. The CoA community came out in numbers to share our excitement with Dr. Didem Ekici and Joshua Rose for navigating the process and receiving the support of their colleagues. Later in the evening, we got a chance to witness Drew Burgess receive a Flying Pig Award! His nominator appropriately shared, “Your leadership extends beyond the classroom—chairing departments, serving on academic senates, and volunteering tirelessly. With grace, patience, and a passion for equity and social justice, you embody the collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence.” We applaud our faculty for their achievements. On Friday, May 2, 2025, CoA will celebrate years of service for all employees, knowing that your commitment to the college is why our students Believe, Achieve, and Succeed.

Commencement is a huge milestone for students, and on Friday, May 23, 2025, we get to cheer as the Class of 2025 completes their journey at CoA. Graduation serves as a reminder for faculty, classified professionals, and administrators of how important our work is and the impact we have on this wonderous world. I look forward to gathering with the CoA community to make this a memorable day for all.