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Author: tleonian

BCC Student Arts Guild “Metamorphosis” Art Exhibition

Posted on by tleonian

Berkeley City College’s student art exhibition showcases artwork made by Art and Art History students. For the second semester in a row, the student showcase was directed by the BCC Student Arts Guild, an all-student collective. They were instrumental in advertising the open-call, collecting and sorting the artwork, creating spreadsheets to keep things organized, printing labels, and hanging the artwork in a very thoughtful and professional manner. The Student Arts Guild is overseen by arts faculty Lisa Cralle and Jennie Braman. Students in a leadership capacity within the Arts Guild include: Jamie, Juno, Toni, Oberon, Alix, and Luca. This semester’s theme was “Metamorphisis” and opened on Thursday, May 2. The art will be displayed through the end of the semester. Thanks to ASBCC for reimbursing us for food and drinks for the reception. You can see more by following the Art Department’s Instagram @berkeleycitycollege_art

50th Anniversary Block Party & BCC West Groundbreaking Ceremony

Posted on by tleonian

On Tuesday, April 23, Berkeley City College honored its past with a beautiful, vibrant block party, complete with good food, dancing, and even horseback riding! Berkeley City College programs and resources were on full display as we tabled with intention, bringing greater awareness to the tremendous value that we offer our community. It was also a great opportunity for BCC to highlight its presence in the heart of Berkeley in a big way and to solidify our commitment to the City. We then looked to our future with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Berkeley City College West Campus scheduled to open in 2026. We look forward to expanding our presence in downtown Berkeley and continuing our legacy of providing low cost, high quality education to all who seek it. Big thanks to all of our partners who joined us: XL Construction, Ratcliff Architects, Kitchell Corporation, BuildPeralta, Berkeley Rotary Club, BART, Downtown Berkeley, Visit Berkeley, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, League of Women Voters, Berkeley Symphony, DJ Pulpo, and Tacos Sinaloa.

Berkeley City College Class of 2024 Celebrates Ambition at Commencement

Posted on by tleonian

On Wednesday, May 22, Berkeley City College celebrated the
Class of 2024 at its Commencement Ceremony at Zellerbach
Hall on UC Berkeley’s Campus. Berkeley City College conferred
1,109 awards including AA’s, AS’s, AD-T, and Certificates of
Achievement, Competency, Completion, and Proficiency to 612
graduates. Through hard work and great support from faculty,
classified professionals, and administration, BCC’s number of
graduates increased by 13% from the previous year with
544 graduates. The diversity of the Class of 2024 graduates
includes 30% Latinx, 20% White, 19% Asian, 19% Black/African
American, 9% Two or More, 3% Unknown, and .5% Pacific
Islander students.
“Berkeley City College’s 2024 Graduation was immensely
inspiring! To see so many of our graduates and their families
glowing with pride and joy was a heartwarming reminder
of how profoundly meaningful our work is,” said President
Richardson. “This year the theme our graduates chose was
ambition. I am so proud that our students have used their
ambition to advance themselves and our community as we
continue our pursuit of academic excellence and social justice.”
This year’s theme was AMBITION, selected by the ASBCC.
Thank you to all the speakers, especially Valedictorian Derek
Carver and Salutatorian Jennifer Fong, who offered inspiring
words of their journey through adversity and perseverance to
achieve their academic goals. This year’s President’s Medallion
and Chancellor’s Trophy Winner is Student Trustee Natasha
Masand, and the Inspiration Award winner was Oluwatunmise
Akanle. Big thanks to Berkeley City College’s Commencement
Committee, chaired by John Nguyen, and members Michael
Alvillar, Luis Chavez, Amy Lee, Gail Pendleton, Vanessa
Phillip, Thomas Rizza, Stacey Shears, Jasmine Sumandal,
and Susan Truong

BCC Commencement May 22nd, 2024

Posted on by tleonian

BCC commencement ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 at 11am. We are incredibly proud of your hard work and excited to celebrate this milestone with you, your friends, and family.

Here are the important details for your reference:

Date and Time: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 at 11am
Venue: Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley
Parking: Please see attached map for parking information. Please arrive as early as you can so you can find parking.
Dress Code: Please wear your regalia.
Note: The last day to order gowns will be April 26th, 2024. To avoid any delays in receiving your gowns, students should place their order on the Jostens website after selecting BCC as their school. You may pick them up at the BCC Bookstore. Click here is the link to order.

Reserve your graduation tickets for your guests here!

All graduates must arrive by 9:45am to sign in at the check-in desk and line up.

Additionally, here are some points to remember:

Zellerbach Auditorium doors will open for guests at 10:00am.
The academic processional will begin promptly at 10:45am.
If you have any questions or have ADA accommodation, please contact johnnguyen@peralta.edu

Other Graduations:
La RAICES Peralta Latinx Graduation
Lavender Graduation

New Berkeley City College Building Will Rise Downtown

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From recent Berkeleyside article, April 10, 2024:

Berkeley City College will break ground on a new building this month in the college’s first major expansion in 20 years that will double the footprint of the campus.

The new 60,000-square-foot, six-story building, which will be built downtown on Milvia Street near Center Street, will have 15 new classrooms, a library, a student wellness center, as well as staff and faculty offices.

Link to full Berkeleyside article

Welcoming President Dr. Denise Richardson

Posted on by tleonian

Please join us in welcoming President Dr. Denise Richardson, who will begin her role at Berkeley City College on July 1, 2023. Dr. Richardson is an experienced community college educator, dedicated to maximizing student success and institutional effectiveness in support of the diverse and extraordinary students of the Peralta Community College District. Dr. Richardson comes to Berkeley City College from Merritt College, where she has served as Vice President of Instruction since March 2020. In addition to working collaboratively with her administrative team to successfully navigate an ever-emerging educational climate, she has been a highly responsible steward of fiscal resources and a resolute advocate for Diversity, equity and inclusion.

As the College Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO), Dr. Richardson was integral to the development of Merritt’s 2020 Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER). Merritt’s ISER was distinguished by the fact that it received no recommendations from the ACCJC. Dr. Richardson also led the effort to secure the $500,000 Omnibus Appropriations grant for the College Cybersecurity Program in 2022. Dr. Richardson recognizes that classified professionals are the lifeblood of community college success, so she is particularly proud of the work that she has done with Merritt’s classified senate leadership to secure an IEPI grant that will support classified professional development opportunities and career advancement pathways over the next three years.

Dr. Richardson is the consummate example of Peralta growing its own, as she began her career at PCCD in January 2001 through participation in the Faculty Diversity Internship Program. In the fall of 2001, she began teaching political science part-time before being hired as a full-time political science professor at Laney College in the fall of 2004. Denise enthusiastically engaged her students in critical inquiry, with a focus on equity and empowerment. During her faculty career she held several key leadership positions, including Vice President and President of the Laney Faculty Senate. In recognition of her accomplishments and contributions, Denise received the Laney Faculty of the Year Award in 2012.

In August of 2013, Dr. Richardson began her administrative career as the Dean of Math and Sciences at Laney College, a position she held until March 2020. In addition to her role as dean, Denise was the Accreditation Liaison Officer for Laney College for two years, and successfully led the report-writing efforts for two follow-up reports and the 2018 Midterm Report.

Dr. Richardson earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Mills College in Oakland, CA, and wrote a narrative dissertation that examined success strategies of Black American males who completed STEM degree programs at California Bay Area community colleges. She also holds a M.A. Degree in Educational Leadership from

Mills, a M.A. Degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University, and B.A. and A.S. Degrees in Communication from Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL.

Dr. Richardson is committed to leading with integrity, and she considers it a profound privilege and honor to work in a profession that so closely aligns with her passion for equity and social justice.

Dr. Denise Richardson Selected to Serve as Next Berkeley City College President

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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.

Dr. Richardson follows Dr. Angélica Garcia, the previous Berkeley City College President, who stepped down at the end of June to become the President / Superintendent of Santa Rosa Junior College on July 1, 2023.

Dr. Richardson is an educational leader committed to respectful communication, facilitating equitable outcomes, and data-informed decision-making. She is a forward-thinking strategist focused on providing students with high-quality instruction, and faculty and classified professionals with current technology and relevant professional development. Following her tenure in the classroom, she has been an effective administrator with a ten-year record of demonstrating responsible budget management, supporting innovative curriculum and program development, and making hiring decisions that consider the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) goals of the college.

The appointment follows a national search that drew applicants from all over California and as far away as Florida. A screening committee made up of faculty, classified professionals, and administrators at BCC and across the district reviewed the applications, conducted the first round of interviews, and recommended three finalists with public community forums taking place at Berkeley City College on September 21st.

Dr. Jannett N. Jackson, Interim Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District was the hiring manager and noted, “Each of the finalists were excellent, experienced, and proven community college leaders; so, I want to thank the screening committee and the Human Resources department for their great work. Ultimately, Dr. Richardson is the best choice for Berkeley City College now, and into the future. She lives right here in Berkeley, and her unwavering support for this community and its students is evidenced by her over twenty years of employment within the Peralta district. It was difficult, but it was the right choice.”

“I’m so grateful to Chancellor Jackson and to the Board of Trustees for choosing me to continue to lead the incredible team of faculty, classified professionals, and administrators at Berkeley City College,” said Dr. Richardson. “We are already making great progress on my top three priorities, which are cultivating a collaborative campus community, closing the student achievement gap for Black and Brown students in alignment with BCC’s Educational Master Plan, and strengthening the identity of Berkeley City College as a hub for academic excellence and social justice.”

President Richardson continued, “There’s always more to do and I look forward to working with student leaders and employees alike to achieve our goals, like standardizing our tri-chair model of participatory governance, closing the Black and Brown student achievement gap 75% by 2025, and hosting a student speaker series on social justice issues. Berkeley City College is more than just the best school for students looking to transfer to UC Berkeley – we’ve got programs literally for everyone! From high school students looking for dual enrollment opportunities to earn college credit to life long learners looking for art programs. And it is not too late to take advantage of our Fall is Free fee waiver with Late Start classes beginning in October.”

Dr. Richardson’s contract for the presidency will be formally ratified by the Board of Trustees at their October 24, 2023, meeting.

About Berkeley City College
Berkeley City College’s mission is to promote student success, to provide our diverse community with educational opportunities, and to transform lives. Just two blocks from the University of California, Berkeley, the energetic campus of Berkeley City College stands on the cutting edge of community college education. University preparation and occupational training classes form the core of Berkeley City’s curriculum, which also features model programs in fields as diverse as American sign language, biotechnology, and multimedia. To learn more about Berkeley City College, visit www.berkeleycitycollege.edu

About Peralta Community College District
Founded in 1964, the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) is a collaborative community of colleges comprised of Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, and Laney and Merritt colleges in Oakland, Calif. The Peralta Colleges provide a dynamic multicultural learning environment offering accessible, high-quality educational programs and services, including two-year degrees, certificates, and university transfer programs, to more than 30,000 students. PCCD is home to award-winning Peralta TV (Comcast channel 27/28, AT&T channel 99) and public radio KGPC-LP 96.9 FM. To learn more about the Peralta Colleges, visit www.peralta.edu.

Berkeley City College President Finalist Forums on September 20, 2023

Posted on by tleonian

Three finalists have been selected as candidates to serve as President of Berkeley City College. The three finalists for consideration are Dr. Denise Richardson, Dr. John al-Amin, and Dr. Rafe Trickey, Jr.

Berkeley City College (BCC) will host a public forum for the candidates to engage with the community on Wednesday, September 20 from 11:00am to 2:00pm in the Auditorium, located in the basement level of the main campus at 2050 Center Street, Berkeley. Each candidate will have 50 minutes to engage with the community, including a presentation and question answer period. The forum will be moderated by Dr. Martin de Mucha Flores, Dean of Counseling and Student Equity at Berkeley City College.

The schedule is as follows:
Dr. Denise Richardson – 11:00am – 11:50am
Dr. Rafe Trickey, Jr. – 12:00pm – 12:50pm
Dr. John al-Amin – 1:00pm – 1:50pm

We will be hosting the Forums on Zoom for those who will not be able to attend in person.
The link for the forum is here: https://peralta-edu.zoom.us/s/89925139832
We will be taking questions and comments from the Zoom chat, and we encourage you to participate.

Dr. Rafe Trickey, Jr.
Dr. Rafe Edward Trickey, Jr. currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the North San Diego County Promise, a San Diego County-inclusive, collective-impact partnership that is united by a shared vision of all youth and adults reaching their fullest potential in college, career and life. He also is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Pacific Planning and Effectiveness Group, a success-supporting consulting practice. For over four decades, he has championed the maxim that when some among us are not succeeding, none of us is really succeeding. He has served as President of Comanche Nation College, a Tribal College in Oklahoma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sisseton Wahpeton College, a Tribal College in South Dakota, as Vice President of Student Services and as Vice President of Planning and Institutional Development at the College of the Marshall Islands, as Executive Director of Development and External Relations at Citrus College in California, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the California-wide CHP 11-99 Foundation, and he has held the elected office of City Treasurer in the City of Oceanside, California.

Dr. John al-Amin
Dr. John al-Amin has spent nearly three decades in higher education, gaining skills, knowledge, and experience within the community college, CSU, and University of California systems. He has served in various roles in institutional or district operations, covering instruction, student services, and administrative services. Whether as a program instructor, research fellow, student advisor, analyst, or administrator, his focus has always been on student success and achievement through the effective use of college and district resources. He currently serves as a Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at San Francisco City College, where he provides management and direction over district business and accounting operations, risk management, facilities construction and planning, buildings and grounds services, police and safety, and informational technology services.

Dr. Denise Richardson
Dr. Denise Richardson is an experienced educational leader committed to equitable student access and success. She has a proven record in data informed and collaborative decision making, as well as student centered budgetary practices. Dr. Richardson began her journey at Peralta Community College District as part-time faculty, teaching both at Laney College and College of Alameda before being hired as a full-time political science instructor at Laney College. For over two decades, with graduate degrees in political science and educational leadership, Dr. Richardson has successfully served in several leadership positions. These roles include the Academic Senate President at Laney College, District Education Committee Co-chair, Dean of Math and Sciences, Vice President of Instruction at Merritt College, and most recently, Interim President at Berkeley City College. With a firm belief in the power of community colleges, Dr. Richardson would be profoundly honored to continue to serve Berkeley City College and PCCD.

Berkeley City College Granted Four Awards for Equitable Course Placement by the Campaign for College Opportunity

Posted on by tleonian

Wednesday, April 26, 2023 – The Campaign for College Opportunity announced Berkeley
City College is a 2023 Champion for Excelling in Equitable Course Placement, receiving awards
for Campuswide English Enrollment, Latinx & Black English Enrollment and Black Math Success.

The awards recognize Berkeley City College has successfully supported 100% of students
to enroll directly into transfer-level English coursework, 100% of Latinx and 100% of Black
students to enroll directly into transfer-level English coursework. Of the 56 California
Community Colleges recognized, Berkeley City College is the only college recognized for
supporting at least 60% of Black students who enrolled in a transfer-level Math course to
successfully complete it within 1 year of their initial enrollment.

Additionally, BCC was able to support their Black students to succeed at rates equivalent
to or even exceeding those of the student body as a whole.

“Berkeley City College’s mission is to enable equitable student completion, providing
pathways for students to transfer to a four-year institution, gain skills in career education, and
earning college credit for dual enrolled high school students,” said Berkeley City College
President Angélica Garcia. “We are honored to be recognized by The Campaign for College
Opportunity. These awards are a testament to the equity work of our esteemed faculty,
classified professionals, and administrators who are dedicated to successful outcomes for all in
our community.”

Since the passage of AB 705 (Irwin) in 2017, the California Community Colleges has
drastically increased access to credit-bearing courses across all racial and ethnic groups,
doubling the number of students who complete transfer-level Math and English courses. Prior
to AB 705, the vast majority of incoming community college students were being placed into
remedial math and English courses that ultimately discouraged and derailed students on their
college journeys. Over a decade of research has shown that students’ likelihood of earning a
degree decreases when they start college in remedial courses.

“We applaud the record number of community colleges being recognized for their
achievement in supporting students to access and succeed in transfer-level coursework – many
of which are being recognized in several categories. These colleges are improving the college
experience of thousands of students across California,” said Michele Siqueiros, President of the
Campaign for College Opportunity. “We urge our state and college leaders to continue
removing barriers for students and further close racial/ethnic equity gaps for students by
ensuring strong equitable placement practices on their campus.”
Read the full list of rankings here.

White House Appoints Berkeley City College President Dr. Angélica Garcia to President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities

Posted on by tleonian

Friday, April 14, 2023 – The White House announced Berkeley City College President Dr. Angélica Garcia will be serving alongside educators, philanthropists, and nationally recognized artists, including Lady Gaga, George Clooney, and Kerry Washington, on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities (PCAH).

The PCAH was founded in 1982 by Executive Order to advise the President on cultural policy. In her role as a committee member, Dr. Garcia will contribute to advising the President and the heads of U.S. cultural agencies on policy, philanthropic and private sector engagement, and other efforts to enhance federal support for the arts, humanities, and museum and library services.

“I am deeply honored to be included among brilliant, global-minded, and champions of the arts, humanities, museums, and libraries,” said Dr. Garcia. “Community colleges across this country are anchors of democracy that often serve as the cultural centers of diverse communities, in many cases being the only spaces where the arts, humanities and libraries are accessible. I am humbled by this appointment and am eager to be both learner and teacher on the committee.”

About Dr. Garcia:
Dr. Angélica Garcia is an educational leader who is passionate about issues of access, equity, and student success in higher education. Garcia serves as the President of Berkeley City College, which is recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution, both proud symbols of being the community’s college. Unapologetically, she believes community colleges provide liberatory education experiences that disrupt the status quo, especially for historically minoritized communities. She is a Co-Founder and Board Member of COLEGAS, a statewide organization focused on advocacy and development of Latinx professionals in California Community Colleges, and has a proven record of equity-minded leadership. Garcia serves on the Puente Project Advisory Board, the national LGTBQ Leaders in Higher Education Board, and previously on the Board of Directors for Higher Education Resource Services.

Appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, she served as the Vice Chair for the StudentCentered Funding Formula Oversight Committee, charged with reviewing legislation, data, and its impact on the California Community Colleges. She has been a fellow with the Aspen Presidential Institute, the National Community College Hispanic Council, and the UC Davis Wheelhouse Institute, all of which are leadership programs focused on equitable student outcomes. Garcia is a proud second-generation Latina and first-generation college graduate, who earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at San Francisco State University, a Master’s in Social Work at San Diego State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal and Civic Studies at Saint Mary’s College of California.

Dr. Garcia has been appointed to be the Superintendent/President of Santa Rosa Junior College, effective July 1, 2023.

About Berkeley City College:
Berkeley City College is recognized for being among the colleges with the highest rates of completion and transfer to California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems. As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), our mission is to provide our diverse community with educational opportunities, promote student success, and to transform lives. Berkeley City College is a three-year recognized 2022 Equity Champion for Higher Education for closing equity gaps in Latinx and African American student transfers, and a five-year Champion of Higher Education for exemplary work in implementing and awarding Associated Degrees for Transfer by the Campaign for College Opportunity. Learn more at www.berkeleycitycollege.edu