June 1, 2021
Dear College Community,
Aside from remembering our fallen heroes over the weekend, I hope you were all able to spend quality time with friends and family after a very successful virtual commencement last Friday. Congratulations again to the ’20 and ’21 graduates and thank you to the commencement committee!!
Today, June 1st marks the 100th year anniversary of the Wall Street Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This event wiped out one of the most economically and educated Black neighborhoods in the country by a white mob, with the help of local authorities. It is estimated that 75 to 300 people died, 800 were hospitalized and 6,000 Blacks were interned away at facilities and sworn to never speak of the event.
Today also marks the beginning of Pride Month in honor of the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 in New York City and a turning point for LGBTQ rights. Everyone should be free to love who they choose and to be who they want to be. Be on the lookout for the Pride Zoom backgrounds.
This month, in-person registration for non-credit and free classes continue at all of our centers. You have 18 on-site dates to choose from and in various languages, including Spanish, Cantonese and Mandarin. View all the available dates in June for each of the centers, which have been translated to Spanish and Cantonese. We are here to help our most vulnerable communities get started on their College journey!
I have great news to share with all of you. As of today, our Fall registration is up by 17%!! Over 30 updates have been made to our registration system. You can now find our ChatBot, seen as “Rocky the Ram,” on our main page to answer your most pressing questions. In addition, on the main page you will find easy buttons to enter as a “New” or “Returning Student.” If you need to contact someone by phone on registration matters, please do so at this number: 415-239-3858.
Finally, Trustees Chisti and Selby will be holding Community Open Forums starting today @ 5 pm on the subject of return to campus. I encourage each of you to attend. Simply click here to join!
Wishing each of you a great and productive week!
Yours sincerely,
Rajen Vurdien, Ph.D.
Interim Chancellor