Dear Berkeley City College Colleagues -
I'm proud to share that The Campaign for College Opportunity announced Berkeley City College is a 2023 Champion of Higher Education and an Equity Champion for Black students, gaining recognition for its work in equitably awarding Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT) in the 2021-22 academic year. This is the sixth year Berkeley City College has been recognized as a Champion of Higher Education by the Campaign for College Opportunity for our work awarding ADTs.
Advocacy and Awareness at Undocumented Student Action Week
Berkeley City College celebrated the 7th annual Undocumented Student Action Week with a series of events organized by BCC’s Undocumented Community Resource Center in collaboration with community partners at E14 Gallery, Immigrant Legal Defense, and Freight & Salvage. The events were designed to promote awareness and solidarity with undocumented students and the broader community.
As you have likely heard and seen on the news, the conflict in the Middle East has led to horrific acts of violence and violations of human rights. We are shocked by and condemn the acts of violence occurring in the region.
OAKLAND, Calif., October 10, 2023 – During the regular Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees meeting this evening, Dr. Ronald McKinley, Interim Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Employee Relations for the district, announced the appointment of Dr. Denise Richardson to serve as the permanent President of Berkeley City College (BCC). She has been working as Interim President at BCC since July 1, 2023. Previously, Dr. Richardson was the Vice President of Instruction at Merritt College, a role she began in March 2020. She has been an employee of the district for over 20 years, starting as a faculty member at Laney College in 2001.
Berkeley City College Awarded Second Hispanic Serving Institution Grant
We are excited to announce that Berkeley City College has been awarded a Title V Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) grant from the Department of Education to continue advancing the educational attainment of Latino students and low-income students. Building on the work of Conocimiento Los Caminos -BCC’s original five-year Title V Developing HSI grant awarded in 2020- the Adelante Project will increase the number of students earning certificates and attaining postsecondary degrees.
Presidential Finalists Meet with BCC Community at Public Forum
Berkeley City College and the Peralta Community College District hosted a Public Forum for three finalists selected to serve as the next President of Berkeley City College. The three finalists for consideration are Dr. Denise Richardson, Dr. John al-Amin, and Dr. Rafe Trickey, Jr.
Welcome Week Opens BCC’s Fall 2023 Semester
Berkeley City College kicked off the first week of the Fall Semester with Welcome Week activities to help students feel at home. Activities included free coffee and pastries on Monday, a very popular Boba Tuesday, a campus resource fair where students met with a host of student services and pizza on Wednesday, and a Latinx Bienvenida event with music and burritos on Thursday organized by Conocimiento Los Caminos HSI grant and the Undocumented Community Resource Center.
Fall is Free in 2023 and the semester kicked off on August 21, 2023. Welcome Week at the Peralta Colleges marks the beginning of a fresh adventure for both new and returning students. Each College was bustling with events tailored to welcome incoming students into our tight-knit community. From Ice Cream Socials at Merritt to Pancakes with the President at COA, and from the Campus Resource Fair at BCC to a Block Party at Laney, it is safe to say that Welcome Week was a great success!
BCC NOVA Scholars Summer Program Gallery Walk
On July 13th, 2023, the NOVA & RISE team hosted a Gallery Walk in celebration of scholars in our fourth cohort of NOVA, which stands for Networking, Opportunities, Vision, & Action. NOVA is a dual enrollment pathway program, co-taught by Skyler Barton and Dri Regalado, designed to support Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) rising 9th graders with their transition into high school.
