Cerritos College is among California’s first Black-Serving Institutions (BSI), affirming the College’s leadership in advancing equity, access, and student success for Black students.
Cerritos College serves more than 3,000 Black students each year and makes sustained, intentional investments to remove barriers and expand opportunity. Equity-centered reforms, including the elimination of remedial coursework, expand access to transfer-level classes and have earned Cerritos College statewide recognition as a 2023 Equity Champion for equitable placement of Black students in English.
The new BSI designation is a statewide initiative that identifies colleges demonstrating measurable commitment and impact in advancing Black student achievement. In December, the BSI Governing Board approved just 31 campuses statewide, including 25 California Community Colleges, for the inaugural designation.
“This designation affirms what our students already know—that Cerritos College is a place where Black excellence is recognized, supported, and cultivated,” said Dr. Jose Fierro, president/superintendent of Cerritos College. “Equity is not an initiative here. It’s a responsibility. We are committed to building systems, programs, and communities that allow every student to earn more, faster.”
Programs such as the Umoja Success Program and the Black Excellence Collaborative offer culturally relevant curriculum, mentorship, and community-centered support that help Black students persist, complete their degrees, and transfer with confidence.
As one of the state’s first designated Black-Serving Institutions, Cerritos College is committed to measurable gains in retention, graduation, and transfer outcomes for Black students—reinforcing that equity at Cerritos College is grounded in data, accountability, and action.
