Over 100 Participants Attend CoA’s First In-Person Flex Day Since 2020

Over 100 College faculty, staff, and administrators attended CoA’s Fall Flex Day on August 19, 2022. This was the first in-person Flex Day event since January 2020 and the first to be held in HyFlex (Hybrid- Flexible) format. While many individuals chose to attend in person at the new Liberal Arts Building H, some attended by Zoom. Presentations were organized by the CoA Professional Development Committee and the Office of Instruction.

Exciting Summer for BCC CIRM Interns in the Biotechnology Program

In 2021, CIRM (California Institute of Regenerative Medicine) awarded Berkeley City College a $2.8 million 5-year grant. This award offers students a 10-month full-time paid internship in local academic and industry laboratories. Along with specialized training, students gain invaluable networking opportunities. 

In an April issue of Gems, it was announced that the Peralta Colleges Foundation in partnership with The PepsiCo Foundation launched the Uplift Scholarship program to support our most underserved students of The Peralta Colleges, who are pursuing two-year degrees and professional certificate programs.  In addition, to financial assistance, the program provides students with dedicated success coaches, access to emergency grants, and financial literacy courses.  The PepsiCo Foundation’s Uplift Scholarship is currently offered at 20 community colleges across the country with the goal of providing 4,000 scholarships over five years. What’s more, the PepsiCo Foundation's Community College Program is a cornerstone effort of PepsiCo's more than $570 million Racial Equality Journey, a comprehensive initiative to support marginalized and historically underserved communities, people, and businesses.

Students and faculty in China

In honor of Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, the Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month Planning Committee, COA Ethnic Studies, and the Office of the President would like to encourage everyone to participate in all activities and celebration of the culture, achievements, traditions, contributions, and struggles of Latinx/Hispanic people in the U.S. and beyond.

For the second time in less than three months, we have lost a beloved member of our Merritt Family. Jim Gordon, our Principal Library Technician, passed away on Tuesday, September 6. He succumbed to injuries sustained after being hit by a cyclist while walking near his home in Sausalito. As his family shared, “we can only make sense of this tragedy knowing that the organs and tissues he donated are helping to save the lives of others.” Jim came to Merritt College several years ago, and immediately became a beloved figure on campus. Jim was funny, caring, and extremely intelligent. The Merritt community saw his patience and selflessness first-hand, as he would stop to help students who were wandering the campus, and we take comfort in being able to remember him so fondly as such a dignified and kind man.

The Berkeley Public Schools Fund awarded a LEADING for Equity Grant of $25,00 for “Grow our Own: Berkeley Teacher of Color Preparation Pipeline.” The project was designed and will be jointly led by a partnership between the Berkeley Unified School District, Berkeley City College, and the City of Berkeley. Education program coordinator Dr. Joya Chavarin is a chief collaborator on this project to develop a framework for adapting and extending the reach of BCC’s Teacher Preparation Program to BUSD students and classified staff.

Berkeley City College students Starlissah Stewart and Tyler Bennett were recently awarded the first round of the Alameda County Behavioral Health Career Pipeline Scholarship and Mentorship Program. The award, which could reach $10,000, will support their tuition at their transfer universities.

Merritt College Free4Fall

Having passed the Census Date and completed the first few weeks of the Fall 2022 semester, Merritt is pleased to report that Free 4 Fall Campaign is having a positive effect on enrollment and morale. Given the number of late-start and dual enrollment sections that Merritt has in the schedule and are yet to be counted, the college expects to surpass our FTES total from Fall 2021.