Happy Holidays from President Richardson

As the Fall 2023 semester comes to a close, I wanted to celebrate our accomplishments and wish you a restful, joyful, and warm holiday break. The past year has been eventful at Berkeley City College and the Peralta Community College District. I wanted to share my appreciation for your unwavering service to students and each other as we look to build on our successes and tackle our challenges.

Fall 2023 was the strongest semester for enrollment since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, with BCC leading in meeting its goals for Full Time Enrolled Students and productivity among the four PCCD colleges. The collective work of BCC’s esteemed faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and student workers was crucial to achieving this goal. I admire all of your continued energy and contributions in outreach, retention, and service to students. Those qualities are reflected in the awards and recognitions BCC received over the year – being named an Equity Champion for the sixth year in a row by the Campaign for College Opportunity, being awarded our second HSI Title V grant “Adelante,” and becoming a CVC Teaching College with the most quality badged courses of any Peralta College, to name a few.

I’m looking forward to continuing to build on these accomplishments as we begin achieving the goals of Equitable Student Completion laid out in BCC’s 2023-2028 Educational Master Plan. I would like to recognize the work of the Strategic Plan Steering Committee as we draft actionable ways that Berkeley City College can close equity gaps, build strong community partnerships, and closely examine data to prepare for continued growth and changes in our environment. I’m also looking forward to celebrating the history of Berkeley City College as our 50th Anniversary is on the very near horizon. It was so wonderful kicking off the cheer at our Holiday Party last week. It was amazing to see you all show your spirit for BCC and each other.

With that, I would like to share my appreciation for the support and kindness you have shown me during my first 6 months at BCC. I am honored to work with you, to hear your stories of helping students and each other, and to see and feel the commitment to Berkeley City College’s diversity and excellence in transforming the lives of our students. I wish you all a holiday filled with happiness, warmth, and sparkling moments with loved ones and friends, and I look forward to being in community with you in the new year.

Warmly,

Denise Richardson, Ed.D.

President, Berkeley City College

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

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

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.

Welcoming President Dr. Denise Richardson

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.

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

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

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

BCC Lunar New Year Celebration

Lunar New Year Celebration ’23

Lunar New Year Celebration
Sponsored by Berkeley City College
AANAPISI Cooperative Grant

Vote on the Name of BCC’s New Building!

 

(Friday, November 4, 2022) Berkeley City College is preparing to expand its presence with a new campus extension in Downtown Berkeley. We are excited to begin this new phase for the future of Berkeley City College, and we need your help! Check out the survey below to give your thoughts on the name of the new building, as well as the look and feel of the signage outside the campus.   

We appreciate your support and feedback in shaping how we present Berkeley City College to the community! 

For more information on the project and past presentations, visit https://build.peralta.edu/berkeley-city-college. 

 

Berkeley City College Campus Extension Town Hall

(Friday, September 9, 2022) On Tuesday, August 30th, Berkeley City College held a town hall meeting updating the community about the progress of the 2118 Milvia Campus extension. The meeting was hosted by Vice President of Administrative Services Sean Brooks and construction consultants Excel Construction Services, Ratcliff Construction, and Kitchell Corporation. The presentation included a schedule of construction and completion, with a projected move-in date in late 2024. Construction consultants displayed exterior renderings and floor plans. They also opened the floor to questions and comments, allowing administrators, faculty, classified staff, and students in attendance to provide feedback on the building name, marquee colors, spaces for art and décor, and safety concerns.  

Target dates for demolition and construction remain in November/December of this year. Berkeley City College is excited by the speed at which this project has moved through the design phase and the transparency we’ve shown to the campus community and the city at large. We look forward to expanding our footprint in Berkeley and growing our operations to better suit the needs of the community we serve. 

View the slideshow presentation here.

For more information on the project and past presentations, visit https://build.peralta.edu/berkeley-city-college. 

Berkeley City College Late Start Classes

The following classes are still available to add!

 

Section ID SUBJECT DESCRIPTION INSTRUCTOR BEGIN
43800 MM/DI-550 Design
Studio Practice
ClarkeMiller,M 08-22
40500 CIS-83B Computer
Programming Capstone
Thananjeyan,P 08-22
42975 MM/DI-550 Design
Studio Practice
Silverberg,M 08-22
40532 CIS-42A SPREADSHEET
I
Djukich,V 08-22
40198 ART-46 2-D
VISUAL DESIGN
Kim,D 08-22
40426 MATH-13 INTRO
TO STATISTICS
McDougal,S 08-22
40388 MATH-213 Support
for Statistics
McDougal,S 08-22
40048 BUS-5 HUMAN
RELATIONS/BUS
Chowdhury,R 08-22
40381 MATH-16A CALCULUS-BUS/SOCSC Gopinath,L 08-22
40337 MM/VI-20LA Editing
I: Introduction to Vid
Simpson,R 08-22
40277 BUS-19 Business
Communications
Chowdhury,R 08-22
40413 MATH-3F DIFFERENTIAL
EQUATIONS
Rinker,M 08-22
40472 MM/DI-11 Publication
and Page Design
Kenney,P 08-22
40508 SOC-2 SOCIAL
PROBLEMS
Swiencicki,M 08-22
43516 BIOL-32 Scientific
Literature/Writing
Schmidt,D 08-22
43782 CIS-36B JAVA
PROG LANG II
Seidel,M 08-22
43802 MATH-3A Calculus
I
Powell,D 08-22
40391 PHYS-4C GEN
PHYSICS W/CALCULUS
Monsalve
Santa,F
08-22
40109 POSCI-3 INTERNATL
RELATIONS
Lee,C 08-22
40287 BUS-70 INTRO
TO MARKETING
DuBois,P 08-22
40318 POSCI-19 Introduction
to Global Studies
Lee,C 08-22
40022 ASL-51 ASL
II
Ikeda,I 08-22
43693 BUS-1A FINANCIAL
ACCOUNTING
Chung,L 08-22
40184 ECON-1 MACRO-ECONOMICS Gualco,D 08-22
40420 ENGL-47 CHILDREN’S
LIT
Koelle,K 08-22
40375 MATH-3B CALCULUS
II
Rinker,M 08-22
40482 MM/VI-9C Video
Production III: Directin
Newman,N 08-22
40320 SOC-5 MINORITY
GROUPS
Swiencicki,M 08-22
40411 BIOL-34L Genetics
Laboratory
Yeh,E 08-22
40362 ENGL-5 CRITICAL
THINKING
Ebron,G 08-22
40328 MATH-3C CALCULUS
III
Rinker,M 08-22
40335 MM/VI-24A SOUND
DESIGN I
Peterson,G 08-22
40243 MUSIC-10 MUSIC
APPRECIATION
Mobley,A 08-22
40213 PHIL-31A HUMAN
VALUES/ETHICS
Krupnick,A 08-22
43297 COMM-5 PERSUATION/CRIT
THNK
Johnson,K 08-22
44783 MUSIC-15A JAZZ/BLUES/POP
MUSIC
Mobley,A 08-22
         
45006 COUN-24 COLLEGE
SUCCESS
Truong,S 09-06
43235 LIS-513 Research
Skills III
Yap,J 09-06
43234 LIS-512 Research
Skills II
Yap,J 09-06
40297 MMART-168 Online
Games & Interactivity
Patel,H 09-06
40502 MM/MW-1A Introduction
to Web Design
Hoffman,J 09-06
40462 MMART-162 Contemporary
Scripting for Gam
Velazquez,L 09-06
43233 LIS-511 Research
Skills I
Yap,J 09-06
43694 SOC-13 SOC
OF THE FAMILY
Harris,B 09-07
40435 ENGL-208C WRITING
WORKSHOP
NguyenBilse,J 09-09
45088 MMART-167 Mobile
and Cross-Platform Web
Albinson,M 09-12
40416 MMART-167L Mobile
and Cross-Platform Web
Hoffman,J 09-12
45091 MMART-168 Online
Games & Interactivity
Albinson,M 09-12
44937 BIOL-50A Introductory
Biotech with Lab
Yeh,E 09-12
44987 MM/VI-9A Introduction
to Video
Hutcherson,B 09-12
40409 MMART-468 Occuc
Work Exper /Multimedia
Simpson,R 09-22
44908 BUS-24 COMPUTERIZED
ACCTG
Chung,L 10-10
45064 HUSV-510A Mental
Health Ambassador Train
Winterton,M 10-17
44768 SOC-1 INTRO
TO SOCIOLOGY
Swiencicki,M 10-17
40526 COMM-5 PERSUATION/CRIT
THNK
Shojaee,P 10-17
44785 MUSIC-15B JAZZ/BLUES/POP
MUSIC
Mobley,A 10-17
45039 POSCI-2 COMPARATIVE
GOVT
Lee,C 10-17
44767 SOC-2 SOCIAL
PROBLEMS
Swiencicki,M 10-17
44683 EDUC-98 Pedagogy
of Reading
Chavarin,J 10-17
44684 EDUC-99 Introduction
to Special Needs
Wahner
II,J
10-17
40534 CIS-42B SPREADSHEET
II
Djukich,V 10-17
44829 HUMAN-30B HUMAN
VALUES/AESTHETICS
Eret,D 10-17
43053 EDUC-510B Tutor
Training II
Lowood,J 10-21