Thank you for requesting information from PCC for inclusion in the "State of Black Pasadena" issue of Pasadena Journal. The college is pleased to provide the following data points:
For context, it is impossible to overstate the disruption the COVID-19 pandemic has created for our students since 2019. Big-picture challenges to family, work, health, housing, and society in general have naturally caused many in our community to reconsider their relationship to higher education. This disruption has been particularly strong among our current and prospective Black student populations. * Like enrollment across the community college system, Black enrollment has declined at PCC. - In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 1,623 Black students enrolled at the college. In 2022, the total is 1,110. Declines are evident among both residents and nonresidents of Pasadena. * Retention has declined similarly to enrollment. - In 2019, 31.1% of Black students enrolled in the subsequent fall. In 2021, 27.3% of Black students came back for Fall 2022. * Graduation presents a similar picture. - In 2019, 206 Black students completed their studies at PCC. In 2021, the figure is 75. To address these challenges in enrollment and retention – and to help build an atmosphere where Black students find community and empowerment – the college has taken the following steps: * Created the Black Student Success Center, providing a physical space for Black-centric empowerment programs to thrive. * Hired a Black Student Success Counselor and a Black outreach/recruitment specialist * Hired a Black Associate Vice President/Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, who has since established the Division of Institutional Equity, Diversity, and Justice - This new division is the center of equity and diversity work for the institution in both the instructional and noninstructional spheres. * Conversely, the Dual Enrollment program at John Muir is growing substantially. - The downward trend is reversed among high schoolers enrolled in dual enrollment programs at John Muir. In fact, dual enrollment at JMHS has gone up by more than 50% in this time period. In 2019, 49 high school students were enrolled in dual enrollment. In 2022, the figure is 76. * On the employment front: Since January 2019, PCC has hired 35 Black employees in a wide range of instructional and noninstructional areas. Two Vice Presidents (out of five) are Black. - PCC's employee base includes a greater proportion of Black individuals than the surrounding area. The Pasadena Area Community College District is 7 percent Black, whereas 9 percent of PCC's workforce identifies as Black. Please be in touch if I can provide any further information. Thanks. |
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