Dear Prospective and Continuing Students, and Community Members:
Welcome to the College of Alameda (CoA)! CoA is a local comprehensive community college with outstanding academic and student support programs. The campus community is a welcoming and inclusive environment for future and current students of all ages and backgrounds. I am truly honored and excited to be College of Alameda’s new president and I’m looking forward to learning from and listening to the campus and community members in the coming months, so that I better understand what is important to you, what works well here, and what you think could be enhanced. I celebrate with you the good work that has been done and lives that have been positively impacted over the past 50 years and look forward to building on this solid foundation, a vision for the future of College of Alameda that is bold, courageous, and reflective of our community and our values — academic excellence, commitment to diversity and equity, strong fiscal stewardship, and robust community engagement.
This year has challenged all of us in unprecedented ways. Community college students around the state and in our own back yard, especially those who are most vulnerable, are facing tremendous difficulties due to the ongoing pandemic. I applaud the efforts of all our CoA faculty, staff and administrators, who have worked hard to ensure that our students continue to have opportunities to learn and make it from one day to the next. I thank you for your compassion and dedication to our College and the community we serve.
We proudly reaffirm our commitment to racial and social justice, equitable service to our diverse student body, and to making this campus a warm and empowering place for all to learn, grow, and achieve success on their pathway to careers, future education, and other life aspirations. Our students come from near and far, from the City of Alameda to nearby Oakland, to the greater San Francisco Bay Area and over 50 countries worldwide.
Since opening our doors in 1970, College of Alameda’s exceptional faculty and staff have challenged and equipped students to believe in themselves and reach their highest potential. Our goal is to provide students with a world-class education so that they can achieve their dreams. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our physical campus remains closed, however, we are offering online and hybrid classes as well as our full-range of online student support services.
If you hope to earn a baccalaureate or higher degree, College of Alameda is an excellent first step on that pathway. Our Transfer Center provides a variety of services and workshops for students interested in transferring to four-year colleges or universities after completing associate degrees and transferable courses at CoA. College of Alameda is also an excellent option if you are interested in gaining employment in Apparel Design and Merchandising, Business/Accounting/ Office Administration, Computer Information Systems, Dental Assisting, or Transportation Technology.
At just $46 per unit for California residents, attending College of Alameda is a wise and cost-effective investment in your future. Financial aid is available to those students who are eligible. Please visit the I Can Afford College website for more details. For information on how to enroll, please visit our New Students: Steps for Student Success webpage, or call our Welcome Center at (510) 748-2184.
Thank you for visiting our website. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors! I am confident that, together, we will persevere and come through these challenging times stronger and more united, both as a college and as a community. Stay safe!
Warmest regards,
Nathaniel Jones III, Ph.D., MBA
College President