Posts Filed under Board of Trustees

Chancellor’s Announcement: Alameda Rescinds Shelter in Place Order

18 June 2021

Dear Peralta Community,

Alameda County has released Health Officer Order Number 21-01a which took effect at 12:01 am on Tuesday June 15, 2021. This new order rescinds the Alameda County shelter in place order that has been in effect (in some form) since March 2020. After nearly 15 months, the shelter in place order implemented to help keep the community safe from the spread of COVID-19 has been lifted. That is good news for sure.

But what does that mean for us here in the Peralta Community College District?

From now through the end of our summer semester in July, we will continue with what we have been doing to prevent the spread of COVID:

Campuses will remain officially closed with some exceptions for in-person classes, athletics, and individuals performing tasks deemed to be essential for the organization.

As we have said throughout the pandemic, the health and safety of students and employees is our top priority. And that remains the case. While the number of COVID-19 infections in Alameda County have dropped, they have not disappeared. We need to remain vigilant: get vaccinated, wash your hands frequently, and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. If you are sick, stay home and rest. PCCD employees must continue to follow Cal/OSHA guidelines.

Each of the colleges are working along with the district on our “Return to Campus” plans. These plans in turn are discussed during a weekly district Emergency Operations Center meeting that includes executive leadership, subject matter experts from Risk Management and Health Services, and leaders from each of the collective bargaining units so all employees are represented appropriately. We are planning for a gradual and safe return to campus, and to date have not set a specific timeline for a full re-opening of in-person instruction and on-campus work. As plans are solidified, they will be negotiated with each of the collective bargaining units and then communicated out to the community.

In the meantime, thank you all for the amazing work you do to help our students succeed.

Visit https://safe.peralta.edu/ for the latest information about the COVID-19 pandemic and Peralta Community College District.

Thank you, and stay well,

Dr. Jannett N. Jackson

Interim Chancellor

Peralta Community College District

www.peralta.edu

Filed under: Board of Trustees

Peralta CCD Appoints Dr. Carla Walter as Interim Chancellor

3 October 2020

Oakland, CA — On Tuesday, September 29, 2020, at their regular governance meeting, the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Carla Stalling Walter to serve as the District’s Interim Chancellor effective October 1, 2020 and continuing through February 2021 or until a permanent chancellor is hired. The Board approved the contract including an annualized salary of $314,943. Interim Chancellor Walter previously served as the District’s Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration and started serving as Acting Chancellor for the District this past July. She brings more than 20 years of successful experience in financial administration and in higher education, including leadership posts at Chabot-Las Positas Community College District and State Center Community College District.

“We are impressed by the calm professionalism Dr. Walter brings to her work,” said Board of Trustees President Julina Bonilla. “She also brings a fresh perspective to our District with over 20 years’ experience in higher education and municipal finance leadership. She has served in diverse roles—as professor, director, dean, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and chief executive officer—and in diverse organizations–in community colleges, public and private universities, and municipal finance. In addition, Dr. Walter is an accomplished author, speaker, and advocate for the role of the arts in community and personal improvement.”

The District has made substantial progress in addressing concerns about high risk of insolvency raised June 2019 by the Fiscal Crisis Management & Assistance Team (FCMAT). At a California Community Colleges Board of Governors meeting in May 2020, the state–assigned fiscal monitor confirmed that PCCD is now well within a low risk rating on the FCMAT assessment. In addition to improving its FCMAT score, the District recently refinanced an ambitious bond program to save taxpayers nearly five million dollars, earned a higher credit rating from Moody’s, and secured millions in grant funding to provide services for students.

“I’m very honored to serve the Peralta Colleges and the District,” said Dr. Carla Walter. “I’m thrilled to continue working with the Board and the community to maintain the best possible educational opportunities and support services for students. I want to thank all Peralta employees for their hard work this year. Thanks to the efforts of truly dedicated faculty, professional staff and administrators, we’ve made tremendous progress in addressing and resolving concerns raised about our finances while also moving our classes online to keep students and employees as safe as possible during the pandemic.”

“Dr. Carla Walter’s background in both education and finance is critical to the District’s path forward in improving our fiscal health,” said Board of Trustees President Julina Bonilla. “Serving as Acting Chancellor, the appointment of Dr. Walter as Interim Chancellor allows the District to maintain a seamless transition in CEO leadership as the Board initiates the permanent Chancellor search.”

Dr. Jennifer Shanoski, President of the Peralta Federation of Teachers, said, “I’m really excited that the Board chose to select a Chancellor who has expertise in finance which we all know needs attention and support, and who has shown us a great ability to work together to try to solve problems collaboratively and collectively, and to do so in a really calm helpful manner. I think we all need a little more calmness in our days so I’m grateful for that. Congratulations!”

The Board will continue its search for a permanent Chancellor and looks forward to working with the entire District community to select the best candidates for the role.

More About Dr. Walter

Dr. Walter also served as a tenured associate professor in business at Missouri Southern State University, coming to the field after being Chief Operating Officer in the public finance industry. As a leader in public finance, she partnered with public agency executives in California to issue and administer over $30 billion in bonds. Both her BA in economics and her PhD in Dance History and Theory were earned from the University of California, Riverside.  She earned her MBA from the California State University, San Bernardino. Dr. Walter is proud to be a graduate from Riverside Community College, where she earned an Associate in Science. Dr. Walter is a native of Los Angeles, now living in Hayward.

Filed under: Announcements, Board of Trustees, Peralta News. Tagged: Board of Trustees, Carla Walter, chancellor, Julina Bonilla

Peralta Board Begins Contract Negotiations with Dr. Carla Walter to Become Interim Chancellor

24 September 2020

Oakland, CA — The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, and today is announcing their decision to begin contract negotiations with Dr. Carla Walter to become Interim Chancellor. The goal will be to place the contract for public review and approval at their regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, 2020.

The announcement was made following an expedited search process that began in July 2020 and included input from students, faculty, classified professional staff, administrators, and community members. Dr. Carla Walter was previously the Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration at the District and has been serving as Acting Chancellor since July 18, 2020.

Filed under: Announcements, Board of Trustees, Peralta News. Tagged: Carla Walter, chancellor, Julina Bonilla

Statement by the President of the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees

21 June 2020

As President of the Peralta Board of Trustees, I want to acknowledge that the Peralta Community College Board of Trustees is aware of the allegation of racist remarks by an instructor to a student at Laney College regarding the pronunciation of the student’s name. Consistent with his rights to due process, the instructor has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into this matter.

The Board does not take these allegations lightly. We understand the need to challenge and eliminate racism and white supremacy in all of its insidious forms, including the suppression of native cultures and languages and its demands that people of color conform to norms of “whiteness.” We remain steadfast in our commitment to stand against any and all racist and xenophobic acts as they are antithetical to our principles as individuals, our professional duty as Trustees, and closely held values to honor and support all students in the Peralta Colleges in their quest to better their lives and their communities through higher education.

We remain committed to upholding the mission and values of the Peralta Community College District: we recognize and celebrate the strengths of the diverse students, communities, and colleagues we serve; and we provide the diverse students and communities with equitable access to the educational resources, experiences, and life-long opportunities to meet and exceed their goals.

In Service,

Julina Bonilla

Peralta Board of Trustees, Board President

Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud

Chancellor – Board Secretary

Filed under: Board of Trustees, Laney College, Peralta News. Tagged: racism, xenophobia

COVID-19 Update: Spring Break Moved to March 16-21, 2020

11 March 2020

At an Emergency Meeting on March 11, 2020, the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees voted to approve the following changes to the academic calendar:

Spring Break (originally scheduled as the week of April 13-18) has been moved to the week of March 16-21, 2020.
Flex Day (a faculty training day originally scheduled March 19, 2020) will now be held on Monday, March 30, 2020.

These changes, made with appreciated support of the Peralta Federation of Teachers (PFT), are a response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) intended to increase social distancing and better protect our community.

Yesterday, on March 10, 2020, Chancellor Regina Stanback Stroud announced that face-to-Face classes at Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College and Merritt College are cancelled on Wednesday, March 11, Thursday, March 12, Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, 2020.

Cancelling classes March 11-14 allows instructional faculty to attend trainings offered at their respective college and evaluate optional resources for potentially transitioning their classes to remote forms of instruction as needed. College administration will communicate times and locations for trainings.

The health and safety of members of the Peralta Community remains our top priority. PCCD will continue to follow the guidelines and best practices for institutions of higher education as recommended by the Alameda County Public Health Department, the California Department of Public Health, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Faculty opting to use remote forms of instruction will begin doing so following Spring Break on Monday, March 23, 2020, and continue through Saturday, April 4, 2020 (faculty may continue to teach face-to-face, however, we strongly encourage faculty who can opt to use remote forms of instruction to do so).

Resources for faculty regarding remote methods of instruction are available at:

Emergency Remote Teaching Resources
Academic Continuity and Academic Preparedness (see left panel) https://web.peralta.edu/academicaffairs/

Resources for students regarding preparation for online and hybrid classes are available at https://peralta.instructure.com/courses/442.

Please note: The Colleges and District Offices will remain open. Administration and staff are expected to report to work unless they are ill. The aim of this approach is to maintain academic continuity and proactively take steps to protect the community by reducing the number of people gathered in public spaces.

The latest updates from Peralta regarding COVID-19 are always available at https://web.peralta.edu/health-services/coronavirus/. Peralta serves a diverse community of learners and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment of belonging. Please treat each other with respect and kindness in these challenging times. You are all important members of our community.

Filed under: Announcements, Berkeley City College, Board of Trustees, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, Peralta News, Press Release. Tagged: coronavirus, COVID-19, spring break

Peralta Colleges Continue Unwavering Support for Undocumented Students

14 October 2019

Back in December 2016, out of deep concern that the newly elected president of the United States would soon remove the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections for undocumented residents granted by President Obama via Executive Order in 2012, the Peralta Community College District in Oakland, CA became one of the first community college districts in the country to state its support for DACA with Resolution No. 16/17-24 in Support of Undocumented & Concerned Students.

Three years later, the Peralta Colleges remain committed to our undocumented brothers and sisters, parents and children, students and community. On October 8, 2019, the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees affirmed and adopted Resolution No. 19/20-11, which continues the unwavering support that the Peralta District and Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College have for our undocumented students and their families in our community. The resolution declares October 14-18, 2019 as Undocumented Student Action Week with a range of activities intended to raise awareness and continue support for our undocumented constituents.

Here is the full text of Resolution No. 19/20-11:

WHEREAS, the California Community Colleges comprise the nation’s largest postsecondary education system in the country with 115 colleges and 2.1 million students, and is committed to providing an open and welcoming environment for all students; and

WHEREAS, the Trump Administration’s decision on September 5, 2017, to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, placed the safety, security, and educational future of thousands of undocumented students in doubt; and

WHEREAS, California Community Colleges have advocated to Congress and the Administration to preserve DACA and respect the contributions of undocumented immigrants, and on January 26, 2017, the Board of Governors passed a resolution expressing its support for DACA and firm commitment to serving all students who can benefit from a postsecondary education; and

WHEREAS, California Community Colleges stand united as a system where all students can learn, grow, feel supported and safe; and

WHEREAS, on September 18, 2017, the California Community Colleges Chancellor issued a Statement of Values and Commitment to Undocumented Students confirming that the Chancellor’s Office will not release any personally identifiable student information without a judicial warrant, including data related to immigration status, will not cooperate with any federal effort to create a registry of individuals based on protected characteristics such as religion, race, immigration status, or sexual orientation, and will urge local governing bodies to do the same; and

WHEREAS, the Peralta Colleges and numerous community colleges reflecting the diversity of California have adopted policies and procedures consistent with protecting immigrant students, and created partnerships with community organizations to help our undocumented students access legal assistance and other services in local communities; and

WHEREAS, the Chancellor’s Office, in partnership with the Community College League of California, Faculty Association of California Community Colleges, Student Senate of California Community Colleges, and other organizations, supported DACA Advocacy Week, on October 16-20, 2017, and provided tools such as Congressional contact lists, sample talking points, resolutions, and communications to mobilize the system in support of DACA,

WHEREAS, the 2017 DACA Advocacy Week efforts resulted in local meetings with Congressional leaders, more than 700 letters and postcards sent from students to members of Congress, and a number of colleges conducted week-long activities to raise awareness of campus-based support for undocumented students; and

WHEREAS, in 2018 the Chancellor’s Office expanded the existing partnership to include, Immigrants Rising and other organizations, and sponsored Undocumented Student Week of Action, October 15–19, to inform undocumented students about all available services on campus and in local communities and empower them to access those services, and support students and allies in advocating to Congress to act quickly and establish a permanent solution for undocumented young people; and

WHEREAS, the Peralta Colleges participated in the 2018 Undocumented Student Week of Action by engaging in a week-long program of activities in support of undocumented students, and the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees passed numerous resolutions reaffirming its commitment to support all students throughout our district, including undocumented students, which was part of the week-long program of activities and information disseminated systemwide; and

WHEREAS, despite advocacy efforts by the California Community Colleges and many other individuals and organizations in California and across the nation, the preservation of DACA and the adoption of an effective solution for undocumented students remains elusive, which places continued economic and emotional weight on students, their families, communities, and the state; therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Peralta Community College District declares October 14-18, 2019 and every third week of October thereafter, as “Undocumented Student Action Week” to work in partnership with other organizations and encourage the California Community Colleges to engage in activities supporting undocumented students; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Peralta Community College District supports efforts by our Colleges to identify and share best practices for assisting undocumented students, disseminate information to the students about how to access funding for immigration defense proceedings and referral to legal service providers, and reinforce state policies that protect student rights and privacy; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Peralta Community College District urges Congressional members to uphold California values and create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented students, which will permit them to complete their education goals and achieve their highest potential.

Our college campuses have activities associated with Undocumented Student Action Week, which is also endorsed by the Community College League of California and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Check out the activities at Berkeley City College from the Undocumented Community Resource Center (UCRC), College of Alameda, and Laney College.

Daily online webinars for Faculty and Students are also available here.

Filed under: Announcements, Berkeley City College, Board of Trustees, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, Press Release. Tagged: DACA, Undocumented

Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud To Start October 21 as Peralta Chancellor

9 October 2019

Stanback Stroud confirmed as chief executive of the Peralta Community College District

OAKLAND, Calif. (October 9, 2019) – On October 8, 2019, the Board of Trustees of the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) unanimously voted to confirm the appointment of Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud as Chancellor of the district. Dr. Stanback Stroud, who most recently served as President of Skyline Community College in San Bruno, will start on October 21, 2019. She was first announced as the future Chancellor at a Board of Trustees meeting on September 24, 2019.

Julina Bonilla, Board of Trustees President, said, “Regina is stepping into a challenging situation as the Peralta district responds to the financial concerns outlined in the FCMAT report. The good news is that Dr. Stanback Stroud comes to Peralta with a breadth of executive administration experience and she is ready to get to work. We’re absolutely thrilled and honored Dr. Stanback Stroud has chosen to serve Peralta. We believe our faculty, staff, administration, and particularly our students will be well served by her thoughtful leadership.”

“I’m excited to be home” said Stanback Stroud, a long-time resident of Oakland, where the Peralta district headquarters and two of the four colleges are located.

Stanback Stroud was selected following a nation-wide search led by Dr. Brice Harris, former California Community Colleges Chancellor. After receiving word that the Trustees had selected her to be the next chancellor, Stanback Stoud noted, “We have been celebrating here at my home because we love and are committed to Peralta. I will do my very best to serve my community through PCCD. I could not be more honored.”

During the Board of Trustees meeting, Stanback Stroud took a “point of personal privilege” and introduced her wife, Linda Collins, saying “My family is your family now.” The Trustees, administration and community attending in turn enthusiastically welcomed Stanback Stroud and Collins as Peralta Family.

Stanback Stroud starts on October 21, taking over from Acting Chancellor Frances (Fran) White who has led Peralta on an interim basis since March, while the search for a permanent chancellor was ongoing. White, recognized for her service to the Peralta Community by Trustees during the October 8^th Board meeting, is stepping down on October 20th. Dr. White and Dr. Stanback Stroud are the first women to serve as chief executives, respectively as Acting Chancellor and Chancellor, in the 55 years that Peralta has been a community college district.

Filed under: Board of Trustees, Press Release. Tagged: chancellor

Peralta Urges U.S. Senate Approval of the FUTURE Act

2 October 2019

On September 24, 2019, the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees affirmed and adopted Resolution No. 19/20-09, which urges U.S. Senate approval of the FUTURE Act, strongly supporting the uninterrupted continuation of federal funding to minority-serving institutions and urging members of the United States Senate to take speedy action to pass H.R. 2486 (the FUTURE Act) prior to September 30, 2019.

The resolution states that the Peralta Community College District (consisting of Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, and Laney and Merritt Colleges in Oakland) embraces the diversity of all the students attending the four colleges. District enrollment data shows that 89% of the students enrolled at Laney College, 83% of the student enrolled at Merritt College, 87% of the students enrolled at College of Alameda, and 74% of the students enrolled at Berkeley City College are minority community members.

Furthermore, Merritt College is designated a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), while Laney College, Merritt College, College of Alameda, and Berkeley City College have been designated as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) and, as such, have been the recipients of federal funding. Research has confirmed the positive impact that federal funding of minority serving institutions has had on low-income Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander, Hispanic-American, and African-American students, especially those who are the first in their families to attend college.

On September 17, 2019 the United States House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 2486, the FUTURE Act, which will continue federal funding for minority-serving institutions leaving implementation of said FUTURE Act up to the United States Senate. With the current federal funding for minority-serving institutions scheduled to end on September 30, 2019, unless the United States Senate votes to pass the FUTURE Act, the elimination of federal funding for minority-serving institutions will have an adverse impact upon the services Peralta Community College District has provided to students of color, low-income, first-generation, and limited-English proficient students.

The Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees strongly supports the uninterrupted continuation of federal funding to minority-serving institutions and through it‘s Resolution No. 19/20-09, and urges members of the United States Senate to take speedy action to pass H.R. 2486, the FUTURE Act prior to September 30, 2019.

To underscore the importance of FUTURE Act funding for the Peralta District, a delegation from Laney College visited the San Francisco offices of our California senators to make our case to our elected officials. The delegation including Laney College AANAPISI Director Dr. David Lee, Laney College Dean Dr. Mildred Lewis, and Laney College students Huizhen Su and Jun Xian visited the offices of both California Senators, Diane Feinstein and Kamala Harris, on Thursday September 26th.

The Laney College delegation visits the office of Senator Diane Feinstein on September 26, 2019. Those pictured include Laney College AANAPISI Director Dr. David Lee, Mission College AANAPISI Director Brian Goo, U. S. Senator Dianne Feinstein District Director Jim Lazarus, Laney College Dean Dr. Mildred Lewis, and Laney College students Huizhen Su and Jun Xian

Laney College delegates visit the office of Senator Kamala Harris on September 26, 2019. Photo includes Laney College AANAPISI Director Dr. David Lee, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris District Director Adam Mehis, Laney College Dean Dr. Mildred Lewis, and Laney College students Huizhen Su and Jun Xian.

Filed under: Announcements, Berkeley City College, Board of Trustees, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, Peralta News, Press Release. Tagged: AANAPISI, FUTURE Act, Resolution

Regina Stanback Stroud Announced as Choice for Peralta District Chancellor

30 September 2019

On September 24, 2019 the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees announced Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, former president of Skyline College, as their choice to be the next district Chancellor.

Dr. Stanback Stroud has more than 35 years of experience as an educator and leader. She served most recently as President of Skyline College in San Bruno CA from 2010 to 2019. Upon her retirement in July 2019 she was named President Emerita by the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) Board of Trustees. She is highly regarded for her expertise on student equity and diversity; education/industry collaboratives; economic empowerment and anti-poverty strategies; community workforce and economic development; and regional and state educational policy. As a faculty leader, Dr. Stanback Stroud served as the President of the State Academic Senate for California Community Colleges and served on the Academic Senate Executive Committee for five years.

Julina Bonilla, Board of Trustees President, said, “Dr. Stanback Stroud’s reputation as an innovative force for student equity and diversity precedes her. Early in the search process when we talked about the type of Chancellor we wanted, we said we needed a strong administrator like Dr. Stanback Stroud. We’re absolutely thrilled she is willing to continue her career here at Peralta. We believe our faculty, staff, administration, and particularly our students will be well served by her thoughtful leadership.”

Stanback Stroud said “As an Oakland resident, I am home. This is my community.” She continued, “Peralta is a phenomenal district and there’s so much that is done well here. But it is no secret that there are some real challenges. I’ve read the FCMAT. We are coming to grips with some very real issues and we know what needs to be done. I am confident that with leadership, commitment, and political will we can steer the district to financial stability while we continue to provide affordable educational opportunities and a vibrant culture for the communities we serve.”

The selection is subject to contract agreement, background check, and formal appointment by the Trustees. You can read more about Dr. Stanback Stroud’s illustrious career here.

Filed under: Announcements, Board of Trustees, Press Release. Tagged: chancellor, Chancellor Search, Julina Bonilla, Regina Stanback Stroud

Chancellor Finalists Announced for Peralta Community College District

12 September 2019

The Board of Trustees of the Peralta Community College District today announced two finalists for the position of Chancellor of the District: Dr. Bryan Reece, formerly President of Norco College and Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, formerly president of Skyline College. Both will participate in public forums at all four of the Peralta colleges and the District office next week, as well as be interviewed by the full Board of Trustees the week following these forums.

“We’re pleased our national search has brought us these two eminently qualified leaders as the finalists for our next Chancellor. We’re grateful to our Selection Committee for narrowing the pool of applicants to these two impressive executives – one of whom will take the helm at this critical moment for our District and help us usher in a new era of greater stability and public accountability,” stated Board President Julina Bonilla.

Expanding beyond its standard chancellor search process that includes only one public form, the Board has instead decided to conduct five forums for each candidate as means to ensure community input. One forum will be held at each college and one at the District Office, all on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

“The Board has an obligation to all of our district stakeholders – our students, faculty, community partners and the general public – to ensure they have an opportunity to meet these finalists and hear their philosophies on how they plan to lead. We conducted similar open meetings during the development of the job description for the position and now we want to give our greater Peralta community the same opportunity to hear for themselves what each candidate has to offer,” said Board President Bonilla.

The forum schedule is available here. A brief bio for Dr. Reece is available here and a brief bio for Dr. Stanback Stroud is available here. The Peralta District forums taking place on Wednesday morning September 18^thfrom 8:30am to 11am will be broadcast live via Peralta’s YouTube channel, Peralta radio station KGPC 96.9 FM, and on Peralta TV (Comcast channel 27 in Alameda and Berkley, Comcast channel 28 in Oakland, Emeryville and Piedmont, and AT&T channel 99).

The Board plans to interview the finalists during the following week and hopes to make a decision soon thereafter.

Chancellor Search Timeline

Filed under: Announcements, Board of Trustees, Press Release. Tagged: Chancellor Search

Peralta Colleges

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