President’s Message: Berkeley City College Por Vida

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.  

Your work bears out in the data – this academic year we:

• Grew in enrollment, retention, persistence, and transfer rates, supported by the “Fall is Free Spring to Success” efforts.
• Secured the future of Berkeley City College by reaffirming our ACCJC accreditation.
• Set the framework for the next five years by completing Berkeley City College’s Educational Master Plan and a unified vision to achieve “equitable student outcomes.”
• Received one of two Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) Title III Part A Cooperative grants in the country, which is focused on mental health and language acquisition experiences for AAPI students.
• Increased Latinx student enrollment and success, launching our first Puente cohort.
• Accelerated our Dual Enrollment pathways work through a grant from the College Futures Foundation and the Gates Foundation by focusing on “Dual Enrollment for Equity,” which led to significant increases in first-generation and historically minoritized students enrolling in college courses and securing their progress towards a college certificate/degree.
• Expanded Career & Technical Education programs in ways that serve our local community, such as through the Community Health Worker Program and Multimedia Arts students contributing to the health education of the impact sugary drinks have on the community.
• Received recognition as a 2023 Champion for Excelling in Equitable Course Placement in Campuswide English Enrollment, Latinx & Black English Enrollment, and Black Math Success (BCC was the ONLY CCC to receive this distinction).
• Continued to support BCC graduates to transfer at high rates to the UC and CSU campuses, with a significant number transferring this year to the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.
• Celebrated graduates in person at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, conferring nearly 1,000 certificates and degrees.

There are even more accolades and honors to recognize, and I am so proud of what we have accomplished together and know that BCC is well on its way to building an inclusive community that is committed to equitable student outcomes. My years at BCC have left an imprint in my soul and identity as an educator. There are many individuals to thank, and I will be sure to send you a personal note. As a collective thank you, I want each of you at BCC and throughout the Peralta Colleges and District Office to know that I deeply respect the work and love that you bring to students and one another every day.

As I close my final communication to the Berkeley City College community, I want to center community and the power of family (blood and chosen). Whether you come from a large family, a single-parent family, a multi-generational family, a foster family, or a chosen family of people who care about you, being part of the BCC family is an incredibly unique and loving experience.

My youngest daughter was 4 years old when I began my role and will turn 8 years old later this summer. My oldest daughter became a teenager and has worn BCC gear to middle school promoting Dual Enrollment, Puente, UCRC, Umoja, and the most recent BCC Staff hoodie. BCC is now part of their DNA, as we have talked about my days, students, and the people I work with over family dinners, trips home from swim practice, and every time a BCC ad has popped up on a billboard or digital ad. They know what a board meeting is and that students get to be trustees to be the voice of students; although, they do wonder if the meetings need to go quite so late. I have shared stories with them about BCC and shared stories with you about them. I believe that, as educators, we need to humanize ourselves so that we may be our authentic selves and hopefully live less fragmented lives. My wife and I spent many late nights working at our dining table after the kids had gone to bed (for the third time). She worked on building and expanding her private practice, while I reviewed draft after draft of accreditation reports and grant proposals, and tried valiantly to respond to emails before the end of each week. Serving my first presidency at BCC was a family affair, parte de mi vida, and a role no other college will ever have.

I did not have the privilege of meeting each of you in person, but please know that I care deeply for who you are and the work you do for the sake of students. During opening day in the fall of 2020, I shared with you how my mama reminded me that because I was the president, I needed to remember that the work happens because we all believe in our mission. BCC’s mission to “Transform Lives” is alive and thriving because of each and every one of you, dear colegas. Thank you for welcoming me, my family, and for giving me the space to bring my full self to serve as your president.

In Community,

Dr. Angélica Garcia (she| her| ella) President, Berkeley City College

This article is taken from the President’s Report, written by Dr. Angélica Garcia, Berkeley City College President, that was presented to the PCCD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. To view the report as a pdf, click here.