Oakland, June 29, 2023
Dear Peralta Community,
Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that the admissions systems used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill illegally violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, effectively overturning Affirmative Action programs. This is an unfortunate decision.
Dear Berkeley City College Community-
I began my role as President at Berkeley City College right at the beginning of the pandemic when all of us were facing so much uncertainty about the state of the world and the impact on students. These past years have forever changed the future of community colleges and the role we play in the evolving landscape of higher education. It has been my greatest pleasure to work alongside you to make the necessary adjustments to our work amidst such adversity. From online instruction and services to the ways in which we have returned to serving students on campus, I have seen you rise to the occasion in service of students and one another.
Merritt College Participates in Peralta Summer Institute
As part of the Peralta Summer Institute, Merritt is offering four career pathways for high school students to explore:
Laney Student Honored with 2023 National Academy of Arts & Sciences Award
Laney College student Susan Bradley became the first student to ever be honored with the 2023 Governors Service Medallion Award by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). NATAS also serves as the organization that provides the Emmy Awards. Susan earned this honor thanks to her continual contribution as a photographer for NATAS, but only after three years of service.
Over 400 High School and Middle Students Visit CoA ACCESO Center
CoA’s ACCESO Center hosted over 450 students from eight Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) high schools and middle schools in the past academic year. Participating schools included: Castlemont High School (OUSD), Encinal Middle School (AUSD), Oakland International High School (OUSD), Life Academy High School (OUSD), Alameda Community Learning Center (AUSD), NEA Community Learning Center (AUSD), and The Unity Council of Oakland (OUSD).
Berkeley City College Participatory Governance Retreat Summer 2023
On Tuesday, May 30, Berkeley City College hosted its summer Participatory Governance Retreat. The purpose of the retreat was to convene members from governing bodies and committees across the college and begin exploring and synthesizing ideas for the college’s Strategic Master Plan based on the shared vision road map published in the 2023 – 2028 Educational Master Plan.
Merritt College Partners with Cultural Curators
Merritt College is partnering with two cultural curators to expand our reach into the community and attract students to our programs. The first collaboration is with Rod Campbell of Dope Only Marketing and will begin on July 1, 2023. This collaboration will enable us to recruit and retain a cohort of underserved, motivated high school students who are interested in beginning a Pre-Med/STEM pathway at the College.
