Oakland, June 29, 2023
Dear Peralta Community,
Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that the admissions systems used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill illegally violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, effectively overturning Affirmative Action programs. This is an unfortunate decision.
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.
Berkeley City College Participatory Governance Retreat Summer 2023
On Tuesday, May 30, Berkeley City College hosted its summer Participatory Governance Retreat. The purpose of the retreat was to convene members from governing bodies and committees across the college and begin exploring and synthesizing ideas for the college’s Strategic Master Plan based on the shared vision road map published in the 2023 – 2028 Educational Master Plan.
Berkeley City College Class of 2023 Commencement Celebrates Graduates and Hope
Berkeley City College’s commencement ceremony honored the class of 2023 at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall on Wednesday, May 24. It was the first in-person commencement ceremony since 2019. This year, Berkeley City College conferred 962 degrees and certificates to 551 graduates. Of those graduates, 130 were on-hand to walk the stage and receive their diplomas from Berkeley City College President Angélica Garcia in front of over 1,000 family members and friends in the audience.
With a triumphant return to fully in-person celebrations, Berkeley City College celebrated its graduating class on May 24, 2023. The commencement ceremony was held at Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley and included speeches from BCC President Dr. Angelica Garcia, Board of Trustees member Dyana Delfín Polk, and Valedictorian Parneet Virk.
Berkeley City College graduate and Umoja Leader Eneni Frank was this year’s BCC recipient of the Peralta Association of African American Affairs Scholarship. Frank, who will be transferring to UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, was awarded $750 along with 4 other PCCD scholars at the PAAAA Scholarship Award Ceremony on Thursday, May 4 at the Peralta Community College District Atrium.
OAKLAND, Calif., May 24, 2023 – Last night, the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Dr. Denise Richardson to serve as Interim President of Berkeley City College effective July 1, 2023, and extending to June 30, 2024, or until a permanent president is hired. Dr. Richardson is currently 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.
The Peralta Association of African American Affairs (PAAAA) hosted a lovely event in honor of seven outstanding students on May 4th, 2023, at the Peralta Community College District headquarters in Oakland. Dr. Lawrence VanHook (PAAAA President) led attendees through the program that included Libations by Dr. Marlon Hall (Laney College Vice President of Student Services) and a thrilling performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Laney College student Alison Fletcher.
