Celebrating Black History: COA Kicks Off a Month of Festivities

College of Alameda launched its Black History Month (BHM) festivities on Thursday, February 1, 2024. Professor Jody Campbell, chair of the Ethnic Studies department, served as the master of ceremonies. The event began with a customary tribute to ancestors through libations, led by Professor Campbell, followed by a blessing delivered by Classified Senate Secretary Shawn Foster. Vice President of Instruction Maurice Jones welcomed attendees with an opening address. The celebration featured live music by the renowned Black Excellence Band, a fixture at CoA's Black History Month events. Participants were treated to a complimentary lunch at the F Building Pit, courtesy of a partnership between the college and the Outreach and Retention Office.

BHM festivities continued on Thursday, February 15, 2024, when students gathered for the Expressions of Black Art Event, led by local artist Alana Landrum. The event provided a creative platform for students to express themselves through drawing, painting, and writing on canvas. Snacks and water were available in the H Building Lobby for participants. The event was sponsored in collaboration with Mental Health funds and the Outreach & Retention Office.

Spring 2024 ESOL Student Orientation Attracts a Full House

College of Alameda, in collaboration with the EOPS/CARE/CalWORKs/NextUp, Salaam Program, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), held an especially well-attended Spring 2024 ESOL Student Orientation on February 1, 2024. The event provided ESOL students with an excellent opportunity to kickstart the semester and connect with faculty and peers. Students had the chance to familiarize themselves with ESOL program offerings and meet their peers. The event was organized by Faculty Co-Chairs Dr. Didem Ekici and Christa Ferrero, and Project Manager for EOPS/CARE/CalWORKs/Next Up, Salaam Louie Martirez.

COA’s Launches its Rising Scholars Initiative for Student Success

College of Alameda's Rising Scholars initiative kicked off with its first meeting in early February, bringing together college members and various community partners to launch a program aimed at supporting student academic success. The meeting began with introductions and a presentation outlining the goals and objectives of the Rising Scholars program. Participants discussed the specific needs and challenges faced by students, along with strategies for providing comprehensive support services. Community partners shared their resources and expertise, highlighting opportunities for collaboration. Overall, the meeting set a positive tone for the initiative, fostering enthusiasm and commitment among all stakeholders to work together in empowering students and fostering their success. The focus of the Rising Scholars program is to provide an inter-generational holistic service delivery model for Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 18-25, Juvenile Justice youth, and their families through access to education, certification attainment, and free career services.

Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative Training Will Be Held at COA

College of Alameda is set to host a two-day training session on the Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative (CCURI). The focus of this training will be on equipping faculty with the knowledge and tools necessary to integrate student-led research Course-Based Research Experience (CURE) into their coursework and departments.

Led by James Hewlett, Director of CCURI, the workshop will provide faculty with insights into best practices and real-world case studies from community colleges, demonstrating effective methods of incorporating research experiences into regular courses. Participants will work collaboratively in teams to develop tailored long-term strategies and implementation plans.

The training will introduce faculty to the CURE approach, which emphasizes student-led research on real-world problems. This methodology has been shown to significantly enhance students' overall learning experience.

Funding for this workshop is provided through the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) division at College of Alameda, in collaboration with MESA Connect and faculty from California State University East Bay (CSUEB). The initiative is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Acting President Bajrami Launches Open Office Hours

COA Acting President Dr. Diana Bajrami launched her in-person open office hour series on Thursday, February 11.

The open office hour sessions will be held on the fourth Thursday of the month through May 2024, from noon to 1 p.m., in Room A-149.

College of Alameda students, faculty, and staff are invited to discuss college-related issues, ideas, and topics. No appointments or RSVPs are necessary. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guided Pathways Team Discusses Ways to Increase Student Success

COA held its first Guided Pathways meeting of the spring semester on February 20 to discuss retention strategies and ways to increase student success. The Guided Pathways framework creates a highly structured approach to student success that provides all students with a set of clear course-taking patterns that promotes better enrollment decisions and prepares students for future success. The Guided Pathways framework also integrates support services in ways that make it easier for students to get the help they need during every step of their community college experience.