OAKLAND, Calif., April 18, 2023 – Course registration fees are being waived for the Fall 2023 semester at all four of the colleges within the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) for a second year. Available to all California residents regardless of documented status, the fee waiver has no minimum course requirement.
To qualify, residents need only complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the California Dream Act application for undocumented students. Students need not actually qualify for financial aid in order to take advantage of the program at any of the four PCCD colleges in the East Bay: Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College.
“Peralta is all about removing roadblocks to education for students in our community so they can go to college and secure their future,” said Dr. Jannett N. Jackson, Interim Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District. “We’re pleased that we’re once again able to eliminate course fees for the fall semester and open the educational door to even more people.”
The second “Fall is Free” program follows a similar fee elimination for the Spring semester at PCCD. “Spring is Free” 2023 resulted in a nearly 11% increase in students across the four Peralta Colleges, which included nearly a 20% increase in African Americans, over a 15% increase in Latinx students, and a nearly 9% increase in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Student Narmandakh Suurinburneebaatar, reflecting on the past two semesters of fee waivers, commented, “I think this is very helpful to all students. If the school wasn't free, I might not be here today.” 44% of the Peralta Colleges’ students take classes at two or more of the college campuses; applying to one PCCD college allows a student to take classes from any of the four colleges.
“This is a great opportunity for students to pursue career education, vocational training, and certification programs,” said Laney College President Dr. Rudy Besikof. “What’s more, each college is continuing to address the fact that the cost of college goes beyond tuition by covering expenses that keep students enrolled. At Laney, we especially appreciate that partners in the community have allowed us to provide lunches to students, something we will continue to do.”
With PCCD serving a large and economically diverse community, being able to waive fees should help encourage first-generation students and those from low-income households to pursue a college education and build on the existing skills said Dr. Diana Bajrami, President of the College of Alameda. “Removing the fees really means providing equal opportunity for all of our students to develop valuable skills and knowledge that will allow them to attain fulfilling lives and successful careers.”
Dr. David M. Johnson, President of Merritt College noted that greater enrollment through the “Fall is Free” program will benefit not only new students but also existing students by bringing new energy and ideas to campus classrooms and in-person communities. “The more students we have physically on the campuses, the more people that can take advantage of our host of student success communities, ranging from career exploration to achievement for Latinx and African American students,” Johnson said. “That face-to-face interaction is one more way that we’re helping our students reach their goals.”
The “Fall is Free” program is only for the upcoming Fall semester and doesn’t apply to summer courses, which carry the usual fees. It also is limited to California residents, not out-of-state or international students. But for the thousands of Alameda County residents who have been eager to enroll but for whom cost has been an issue, the “Fall is Free” program is their opportunity to start on a path to an eventual four-year degree.
“We’re so excited to be able to do this again this fall because it’s such a terrific opportunity for students to earn credits they need to transfer to a four-year school,” said Dr. Angélica Garcia, President of Berkeley City College. “Best of all, they will be learning from teachers who really love to teach, which will help set our students up for success wherever they transfer.”
Funding for “Fall is Free” will be sourced from the state via the California Community College COVID-19 Recovery Block Grant. Previously, “Spring is Free” funding came from the United States Department of Education via the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Both the federal government and the state are providing funds to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
More information on “Fall is Free at the Peralta Colleges” is available on the district website at www.peralta.edu where students can begin the application process or enroll.