I find this quote particularly relevant this month as I update you on a variety of initiatives we are undertaking. We are not waiting for the right moment to act, we are acting and making the right moment come to us, our colleges, and our students. We’re doing this through equity, grant seeking, and attending to the needs of our colleges and communities.
Equity Initiative
As we all wrestle with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, the inequities of the economic recession are apparent to all. Many people’s jobs have disappeared because of the pandemic and these jobs won’t be coming back soon.
Our California Community Colleges (CCC) system is vitally important to California’s recovery from the impacts of COVID-19—and our state’s future. The 116 community colleges are at the forefront of education, job training, retraining, and providing new opportunities to diverse Californians who are bettering themselves and their communities.
That’s why our District is working with other CCC districts around the state to advocate for a robust budget to support our educational efforts for students and the communities we serve.
We are supporting the Board of Governor’s Budget and Legislative Request for 2021-22 by seeking budget adjustments and policy changes that help support our students, faculty, and staff, and that are vital to support the State’s future.
We are advocating with the Board of Governors for programs that:
Protect 2.1 million students from budget cuts
Invest in the diversification of facility and staff
Advocating for budget equity and recovery isn’t our only move to act affirmatively for our future. We are upping our grant seeking, and to that end, PCCD has applied for two important grants.
The Boss Steps program grant, if received at Merritt College, will strengthen the IT/IS Project Management, IT/IS and Help Desk Technician, Cybersecurity, and Software Development pathway programs in Merritt College’s Computer Information Systems Department. Unemployed and underemployed participants will enroll in one or more of these pathways, in which they can earn Certificates of Achievement, qualify for exams for various industry-recognized occupational certifications, and A.S. degrees. The time span for these range from one semester to two years, depending on the pathway.
We are also seeking a grant for the Middle College High School (MCHS) Programs. This year will mark 28 years since the CCC Chancellor’s Office began funding MCHS. The 2020-2021 California State Budget Act included $1.8 million of ongoing funds for MCHS Programs. The colleges selected to participate in the 2020-2021 MCHS Program will receive an estimated award of $100,000 annually over a three-year period.
Congratulations are in Order!
Join me please in congratulating Dr. Rudy Besikof President of Laney College and welcome Dr. Nathaniel Jones III as President of the College of Alameda.
As you know, Dr. Besikof served as Interim President at Laney. Dr. Jones is new to our district and served as Vice President at Moreno Valley College in Riverside County prior to his selection as president.
I believe these are two exceptional leaders who will make great, positive impacts at our colleges. With Dr. Besikof and Dr. Jones we have selected administrators who are dedicated educators that will continue to build on the progress we are making for students, faculty, staff, and our communities. You can read more about these leaders at Peralta Gems.
Accreditation Update
I am pleased to report each of the District’s four colleges submitted Special Reports on November 1st, to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) to justify removal of probationary status. I believe the documents, evidence, and progress are convincing.
The college presidents and I just received email from Dr. Stephanie Droker, ACCJC President, informing us that a virtual site visit is being scheduled. She asked that we "hold" December 16-17, 2020, open on our calendars. We now await the final schedule information.
I look forward to these virtual site visits. Each college has excellent programs and services that benefit students and our community and provide an outstanding, affordable education to the northern Alameda county community. We will keep you posted as we learn more. In the meantime, you can read more about these Special Reports on Peralta Gems.
Happy Thanksgiving:
We are living in unprecedented times, during which your health and the health of your family, friends, and community all depend on our collective actions. Health experts have warned us to not have family over this Thanksgiving and during the December holiday season. I know not being able to be with one’s family, to hang with friends, to unburden oneself in the company of others, can make this season feel unusually difficult.
I strongly encourage you to follow the health officials’ advice. I hope you can find solace and joy by visiting over the phone or online. Or, even the very, very old-fashioned method of yester years: Write a thoughtful letter to those you know and love. I am sure they will treasure getting an old-fashioned piece of snail mail from someone they love. Most important is to remember gratitude.
Personally, I plan to stay at my home this Thanksgiving. I am going to try my hand at making some new dishes, —along with my world-famous sweet potato pie!
I hope you try some new dishes, new treats, learn something new, and read new things during this cocooning time. I know this is not going to be normal Thanksgiving season, but we have much to be grateful for. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with you: the amazing faculty, classified professionals, and administrators who have dedicated our lives in the service of students at the Peralta colleges.
In the meantime, we keep on making it happen at at the Peralta Colleges, pressing forward, realizing our dreams.
