College of Alameda President's Report – March 24, 2026

Transgender Day of Visibility

Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an important opportunity to celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals while also raising awareness of the barriers they continue to face. It is both a moment of recognition and a call to action, affirming the right of all people to live authentically, safely, and with dignity.

At College of Alameda, our commitment to inclusion is not symbolic; it is intentional and embedded in how we serve our students and community. We strive to cultivate a campus environment where transgender students feel seen, respected, and supported through equitable policies, inclusive practices, and access to resources that foster belonging and success.

Guided by our values, we recognize that visibility must be paired with action. CoA remains dedicated to advancing equity, affirming identity, and ensuring that every student, regardless of gender identity or expression, has the opportunity to believe, achieve, and succeed.

Building Community, Celebrating People: FLEX 2026 Highlights

Our FLEX Day on Wednesday, March 11, truly embodied Professional Learning and Collaboration in action. From leadership updates on our evolving dean structure and institutional timeline, to the Transformation Plan discussions and Student-Centered Funding Formula insights, the day grounded us in both purpose and direction. The professional development sessions, ranging from faculty evaluations and OER/ZTC pathways to curriculum transitions, financial literacy, and campus safety, demonstrated our collective commitment to continuous improvement and student success.

Equally important were the moments of celebration and recognition that reminded us of the heart of our work - our people.

We were honored to celebrate our tenured faculty in a special local recognition, presenting plaques and flowers to acknowledge their dedication, scholarship, and unwavering commitment to our students. This milestone reflects years of perseverance and excellence, and we are proud to celebrate this achievement as a college community.

We also launched our Flowers of Appreciation project, where college leaders were recognized and presented with flowers in acknowledgment of their leadership and service. This effort continued into the following week, as flowers were distributed across campus to faculty, classified professionals, and managers, an intentional gesture to honor the collective contributions that make College of Alameda such a special place.

These moments of gratitude and recognition are not small; they are essential. They reflect our values of care, community, and appreciation, and reinforce the culture we are building together.

Thank you again to the FLEX Committee and to every member of our campus community who participated, presented, and contributed to making this experience impactful.

Sustaining Momentum: Enrollment Stability, Transfer Excellence, and Opportunity for Growth

College of Alameda continues to demonstrate steady progress in enrollment and student success outcomes, reflecting the collective efforts of our campus community to support access, persistence, and completion.

** Target does not include Positive Attendance Courses or Courses that are not scheduled

**Data does not include students who got degrees

Current data indicate encouraging momentum in student persistence, with CoA contributing to a districtwide spring persistence rate of approximately 71%, reflecting an increase from prior benchmarks near 69%. This upward trend signals that our investments in student support infrastructure, including Guided Pathways, learning communities, and basic needs services, are positively impacting students’ ability to remain engaged and continue their academic journeys.

While this progress is promising, it also highlights opportunities for continued growth. CoA will build on this momentum by:

• Strengthening onboarding and enrollment pathways
• Expanding targeted outreach to disproportionately impacted student populations
• Enhancing course scheduling alignment with student demand
• Continuing to integrate academic and student services to support retention

Point of Pride

CoA is especially proud to report strong outcomes in UC transfer achievement, which remains a hallmark of our commitment to academic excellence and student success.

These results are a direct reflection of the dedication, expertise, and collaboration of our instructional and counseling faculty, who work tirelessly to guide students through rigorous academic pathways and transfer preparation.

Their work ensures that CoA students are not only transfer-ready but highly competitive, reinforcing the college’s role as a critical pipeline to the University of California system and other four-year institutions.

Looking to the next academic year, the College will remain focused on scaling what works:

• Deepening faculty–counselor collaboration to support completion pathways
• Leveraging data to drive targeted enrollment strategies
• Aligning program development with workforce and transfer demand
• Continuing to center equity in all enrollment and retention efforts

Together, these strategies will allow us to sustain growth, close equity gaps, and further position the College of Alameda as a leader in student success within the Peralta Community College District.

This article is an excerpt from the President’s Report, written by Melanie Dixon, College of Alameda President, that was presented to the PCCD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. To view it as a PDF, click here.