It has been a heavy season — in our region, in our nation, and in higher education itself. The deployment of federal agents to Coast Guard Island, the threats to undocumented and mixed-status families, and the dismantling of Federal programs like HSI, AANAPISI, and TRIO funding hit close to home. They are more than policy decisions; they are an assault on the very idea of education as liberation — as a pathway to belonging, dignity, and opportunity.

Editor's Update:  The article below was originally emailed to students and posted here on October 31st. As of November 7th, GOOD NEWS! CalFresh / SNAP / EBT benefits are becoming fully reinstated in California. You can read more about it from the California Governor's site here.

“Kudos to Ahyan Malik and Léo Migliaccio, who demonstrated their leadership by organizing a mixer for Associated Student Government leaders,” said Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District, during her Report to the Board on October 14th. The mixer took place at Merritt College on Monday, October 6th, and included nearly 30 student participants from Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College.

September District Service Center Roadshows

On September 10th and 11th, the District Service Center leadership joined me in visiting each of the colleges. It was a great experience engaging with colleagues about our strategic vision to create a unified, equity-centered district, streamlining programs, aligning resources, and forging clear, student-first pathways that remove barriers, accelerate success, and set a new standard for community college excellence.

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month at Berkeley City College

Latinx Heritage Month kicked off on September 15, and Berkeley City College is celebrating with a series of vibrant events highlighting Latinx culture, creativity, and community. Throughout September, students explored Latinx Book Displays at the Berkeley City College Library, featuring a diverse collection of works by Latinx authors.

Meet Sophia Parmigiani, former student trustee and current Berkeley City College student, following her dream with the help of EOPS! The Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) is a state-funded program designed to provide support services to low-income and academically disadvantaged students to become successful in college.

Here in the East Bay, we live in an earthquake zone, so it’s important that we all know what to do to keep as safe as possible during a quake.  The Great California Shakeout on October 16, 2025, at 10:16 am, is an opportunity to test our emergency preparedness in case of an earthquake.  On that day and time, the Peralta Community College District will test our emergency communication system, Rave, by sending you all a text and email message advising you of the Great Shakeout emergency earthquake test.

Allison Greene shares her heartwarming experience at the Berkeley City College (BCC) Library. She emphasizes that students can access a variety of resources beyond books, such as Chromebooks, headphones, calculators, and phone chargers. There is also a stationery area where students can use staplers, pencils, and hole punchers. In addition, free printing is available.

On September 8, 2025, the Peralta Colleges Foundation hosted the annual “Dr. William (Bill) Riley Swing for Student Success Golf Tournament” at the Sequoyah Country Club in the Oakland Hills. The golf tournament is the major annual fundraising event for the Foundation, which provides students at Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College with much-needed financial resources, including scholarships, grants, and mentoring.