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.

Join the BCC Virtual Commencement Ceremony here:

Berkeley, CA (November 4, 2021) – Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority in efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education, announced today President Angélica Garcia has chosen to be part of Presidents for Latino Student Success (P4LSS) and the Excelencia in Action network. 

This important national network is comprised of college and university presidents and chancellors who commit to making their institutions learning environments where Latino students thrive and excel. The institutions in Excelencia’s network are transforming higher education. 

Of the thousands of colleges and universities across the country, the 135 leaders of the 170 institutions in the network enroll one in four of all Latino students in higher education. More importantly, these institutions account for one in three of all Latino graduates.  

Excelencia professionals, the Presidents for Latino Student Success, and their campus teams actively collaborate to put evidence-based practices and strategic analysis of student data to use supporting and advancing the talents, skills, and contributions of Latino students and the institutions.  

Sarita Brown, Co-founder and President of Excelencia, said, “Higher education leaders with skills and vision are fundamental to our country’s strong recovery. Those prepared to engage and intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all their students, will lead the way.”  

Excelencia is honored to work with the trendsetting presidents and chancellors who have accepted this challenge. The leaders in the network have made common cause with Excelencia to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. 

“I recognize the liberatory and transformational potential of higher education and am looking forward to working with Excelencia in Education and the P4LSS network to hone our ability to center on and serve our Latinx students.” 

“I am looking forward to building partnerships within the Presidents for Latino Student Success network to propel and accelerate Latinx student success and completion for the East Bay and Bay Area,” shared President Garcia. 

Through the network, President Garcia will collaborate with Excelencia to leverage collective expertise and resources, foster partnerships, and amplify current efforts at the national level. To learn more about Presidents for Latino Student Success network and the other institutional leaders across the country affiliated with Excelencia, visit : https://www.edexcelencia.org/leadership/presidents-latino-student-success 

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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 for the University of California, Berkeley, the energetic campus of the 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 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 Excelencia in Education 
Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education by promoting Latino student achievement, conducting analysis to inform educational policies, and advancing institutional practices while collaborating with those committed and ready to meet the mission. Launched in 2004 in the nation’s capital, Excelencia has established a network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. For more information, visit: https://www.edexcelencia.org/ 

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement – Addendum for Students
Statement of Policy:

“As a condition of, and, for permission to access all properties controlled by the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) all students must provide proof of “full” COVID-19 vaccination (as defined by the U.S. Center for Disease Control) or submit a request for exception on medical, disability, religious grounds, or a deferral based on pregnancy. In addition, all non-COVID-19 vaccinated students will be required to properly wear Face Masks that always cover mouths and noses while on PCCD controlled property and must be tested weekly for COVID-19.” For more information, please click here.

We will be holding a vaccination site on:
Date: August 19th, 24th, and 25th
Time: 12-6pm
Location: Berkeley City College – 2050 Center St. Berkeley, CA 94704

We do offer walk in; however, we encourage you to schedule your free COVID-19 vaccine!
Click here to schedule one!

You can also scan this QR code to schedule your free COVID-19 vaccine:

 

Graduation season is upon us and our very own Berkeley City College Commencement is happening on Friday, May 28th at 6pm. We cannot wait to see you all of our graduates “cross” our virtual stage as Berkeley City College graduates! 

 

Since we are able to have our commencement online this year, we have decided to add something special to make your graduation day a little more fun. We have our own Instagram and Facebook filter! Use the hashtag #BCCGrad2021 to appear on our social wall!

 

In order to access this unique filter, please follow the easy steps below: 

 

1. Click on the link below on your phone. This will only work if you do so on your phone! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fbcameraeffects/tryit/459352045148151/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ar/459352045148151/

 

2. You will be directed to the app and the filter should appear! Use the hashtag #BCCGrad2021

(please make sure you have the most updated version of the app in order for the filter to work!)

 

Here is our commencement program. Please double check to make sure that we have your name spelled correctly. We are using the same name that was on your graduation petition. If you see a spelling error, please contact johnnguyen@peralta.edu by May 18^th.

 

We look forward to seeing all of you on Friday, May 28^th at 6pm! Please be on the lookout for a link to the commencement ceremony on this page next week: https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/grad/

We are asking students to take the Community College Survey of Student Engagement to help administrators, faculty, and staff at Berkeley City College find the best ways to make classes, programs and services better.  Your responses will remain confidential. It will take approximately 15 minutes to complete the survey.  When you finish the survey, you will qualify for a gift card drawing.

The survey is now closed as of 6/7/2021.

For graduates of the Class of 2021…

On behalf of the Berkeley City College community, we’d like to invite you to the Class of 2021 virtual commencement ceremony. Celebrate your graduation with your classmates, family members, favorite professors, and members of our community. You should have received a link to fill out your information through text at the number we have on file.

If you did not receive a text or if you need to make changes, please use the following link here: https://flmsr.io/hSLlFJ2OSp0 
Please submit all your information by May 4th by 5pm.

The link to our commencement will be available on the week of May 24^h for you to share. Please check this page for the link during the week of May 24th: https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/grad/

Thank you and we look forward to celebrating your success at our virtual commencement at 6pm on Friday, May 28^th!

Need Legal help? Make an appointment:

Click here to schedule an appointment

This service is made available to Community College students to provide Legal Service help to Immigrant and Undocumented students. 

Immigration Services

Free immigration legal services are available to students, staff and faculty affiliated with the Community Colleges. Priority for services is given to undocumented students, staff and faculty. The immigration legal service providers offering services at the 65 campuses have developed scheduling, intake, and reporting processes that ensure student information remains confidential and protected. While all legal providers offer legal consultations and basic immigration benefit application assistance, some providers may offer additional services.

Basic immigration legal assistance includes:

• Legal Consultations to Screen for Immigration Relief
• Deferred Action fro Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Renewals
• Family-based petitions
• Naturalization/Citizenship applications

Education and Outreach activities (e.g. webinars) cover topics such as:

• Avoiding fraudulent legal services
• Know Your Rights Presentations (KYR)
• Family Preparedness/Childcare Safety Plans
• Public Charge information

Services not currently funded (referrals may be provided):

• Removal Defense
• Asylum Applications

Please refer to the website for a list of Immigration Legal Service Providers

 

 

It’s time to choose your next student government. You will have the opportunity to read about the candidates and proposition and decide who you think should represent you. The role of this organization is to empower the student voice on campus through active participation in shared governance meetings, increase club participation, and assist students in reaching their goals at Berkeley City College. Click here to vote!