Fresno City College (FCC) will host a formal celebration and briefing on Tuesday, April 21, at 1:00 p.m. in the Old Administration Building (OAB), Room 114, to recognize its official designation as a Black Serving Institution (BSI).
This milestone event marks a pivotal shift in the college’s approach to student success, moving beyond traditional support models toward a deeply integrated institutional framework. During the celebration, leadership will present the BSI 5-Year Plan, a roadmap designed to eliminate equity gaps and ensure that Black and African American students are strategically supported at every stage of their academic journey.
“This designation is more than a title; it is a commitment to shared governance and institutional alignment,” said Denise Whisenhunt, FCC President. “By integrating the BSI framework with Vision 2030, the 2025-2028 Strategic Equity Plan (SEP), and Guided Pathways, we are ensuring that student success is a collective responsibility, not a siloed initiative,” she added.
The BSI 5-Year Plan is structured around three core pillars:
Start Strong (Access & Early Momentum): Focused on increasing Black student enrollment, improving S1 to S2 completion rates, and expanding culturally responsive onboarding and FAFSA support.
Stay Strong (Belonging & Persistence): Aims to build affirming campus environments through faculty and curriculum alignment, with a goal of increasing fall-to-fall persistence by 10%.
Finish Strong (Completion & Careers): Prioritizes reducing excess units, increasing transfer rates to CSUs, UCs, and HBCUs, and strengthening pathways to high-wage CTE employment.
Event Details:
What: Black Serving Institution (BSI) Designation Celebration
When: Tuesday, April 21 | 1:00 p.m.
Where: Fresno City College, Old Administration Building, Room 114
Parking: Available in Lot K behind the Old Administration Building off of Maroa and Weldon Avenues
About Fresno City College:
Fresno City College, California’s first community college, is a comprehensive learning institution that provides innovative instructional programs and support services to a diverse community of learners.
State Center Community College District
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