As of January 13, 2021, Berkeley City College is at 75.51% of the Resident FTES target. With multiple Express Registration sessions managed by Student Services as well as communications going out to students, the enrollment number is going up on a daily basis.

CoA Music Professor, Department Co-Chair, and President of Academic Senate Foundation for California Community Colleges Silvester Carl Henderson was featured this month in Intelligent HQ’s Higher ED Thought Leadership Series.This thoughtful interview covered the breadth of Professor Henderson's career in higher education, including his numerous professional accomplishments and awards.

Part of the Peralta Colleges' commitment to the full breath of it's community is efforts at the college and district level to provide targeted services for groups typically underserved by higher education.

Merritt College's Next UP program works to provide a smooth transition to college for current and former foster youth students, with the goal of creating an engaging, inclusive, and equitable community in which current and former foster youth can attain their educational, career, and personal goals. The program provides a “One-Stop-Shop” that offers personalized assistance with educational goals by offering holistic services such as academic counseling, personal support, book grants, transportation, tutoring, food, emergency housing, and referrals to community resources like transportation; tutoring; food; and emergency housing. 

To strengthen Laney College’s relationships with local Asian & Pacific Islander business and community-based organizations, Dr. Rudy Besikof hosted two virtual meet and greet sessions on January 13 and 14. Special thanks to community leaders Tomoko Ha (TKO Consulting) and Jessica Li (Justice and Logic LLC), who gave their time as well as their incredible talent and wisdom toward hosting these two virtual receptions introduce Dr. Besikof to the community and discuss not only needs but ways to come together and collaborate.

The Peralta District and Merritt College welcome Henry Mai as the new Merritt College Web Content Developer. We look forward to his work to modernize Merritt's web presence to better serve our community. A little introduction from Henry:

Five BCC students received the Artists Resisting Sugar city-wide art contest sponsored by the City of Berkeley and the BCC Public Health Club. Their art will be on display in Berkeley at Lifelong. In December the winning students were awarded prize money. The City of Berkeley has commended the art as outstanding pieces.

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to cause challenges to our medical system's capacity, qualified nurses are in high demand. 

NBC Bay Area news channel recently featured interviews about the College’s new Certified Nursing Assistant Program (CAN) with Dean of Career and Workforce Education, Customized Training and Community Education Eva Denise Jennings and Director of the CNA Program Genevieve Dace.

In addition, several publications also featured news about the new CNA Program, including Caring Magazine and the Alameda Patch.

The UMOJA Community at CoA is growing and evolving. This semester CoA UMOJA is offering three courses taught by three amazing professors, Dr. Khalilah Beal-Uribe (MATH 13), Stefanie Ulrey (ENGL 1A), and Jody Campbell (AFRAM 30).

The Laney College Art Department is presenting its first online virtual exhibition, End of Semester Student Showcase. The students enrolled in Laney Art Classes – Drawing and Composition and 2D Visual Design – have worked to develop skills in design, drawing and compositional foundations during the Fall Semester.

The Laney Art Department is impressed by the resilience of its students, and the creative expression they have shown despite such unprecedented circumstances. Projects throughout the semester have allowed the students to explore the role art can play in their lives and how art practice can support, enhance, and create a place of expression and joy.  

View the virtual exhibit online at the June Steingart Art Gallery Website: https://laney.edu/art/june-steingart-art-gallery/

The June Steingart Gallery at Laney College provides an accessible and professionally managed art gallery, reflecting the rich cultural diversity that exists on the Laney campus and the surrounding Bay Area community. When we are not sheltering in place, contemporary art exhibitions in various media are shown in the physical space ofthe gallery.

The End of Semester Student Showcase exhibition shows the perseverance, creativity and thoughtfulness of Laney’s Art students.  Faculty and students have had to adjust to an online studio structure, and we are very pleased to present the amazing work that has come from dedication to the artistic practice.  We hope you enjoy!