During her Flex Day address on January 16, 2025, Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson emphasized the importance of shared governance and community engagement as the Peralta Community College District navigates a challenging period in higher education.  Her speech is posted on YouTube. 

Reflecting on her first year, she noted, "The journey for me is the accountability to growing, to showing up, to thinking through these pieces of…my own life and leadership and my relationship with all of you." Progress has been made, including a district-wide cleanup effort that removed "187 tons of stuff" and the development of a new shared governance handbook. Dr. Gilkerson stated, "I am so proud of the work that went into this," and highlighted its focus on "centering students through shared governance" and "transcending traditional governance models."

Dr. Gilkerson also addressed the broader context of declining high school graduation rates and enrollment trends across the nation and within California. She emphasized the need for innovative strategies to attract and retain students, particularly in the face of increasing competition and demographic shifts.

Key Points:

• Shared Governance: A new shared governance manual has been developed to foster a more inclusive and collaborative decision-making process.
• Enrollment Trends: Declining high school graduation rates and increased competition pose challenges to enrollment growth.
• Financial Sustainability: The district faces financial pressures due to declining enrollment and the end of "hold harmless" funding.
• Path Forward: The Chancellor emphasized the importance of innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to student success in navigating these challenges.

The Chancellor presented data showing a decline in enrollment across the district over the past 10 years, highlighting the financial implications of this trend. She stressed the importance of fiscal responsibility and the need to explore new avenues for revenue generation.

Despite these challenges, Dr. Gilkerson expressed optimism about the future of the Peralta Community College District. She emphasized the strength of the district's programs, particularly in career and technical education, and the commitment of faculty and staff to student success.

The Chancellor concluded her address with a call for continued collaboration and innovation, urging the Peralta community to "walk together" on the path toward a stronger and more vibrant future.

Links to recordings and slides from all the Spring 2025 Flex Day presentations - including the excellent Career Education panel - are posted in Google Docs here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rhu9lA3euTJyP2Nyl3xWTlQUheGO8FsnK8ThkVF1Y5Y/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0