Bakersfield College announced at a campus event Monday morning that it has been recognized as a California designated Black-serving institution, a development that BC officials said represents an important milestone highlighting the college’s commitment to advancing equity, access and success for Black students.
“Today marks a significant and historic moment for BC, as we officially recognize our recent state designation as a Black-serving institution,” said Stacy Pfluger, interim president of Bakersfield College.
“This designation is important,” she said, “because it affirms that Bakersfield College is a place where Black and African American students are not only enrolling, but they’re continuing, finding support and moving forward with purpose. It tells us that year after year, Black and African American students continue to choose Bakersfield College as their college.”
According to data from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Data Mart, 10 years ago in 2015-16, BC enrolled 1,229 students who identified as Black or African American — about 4.3% of the total headcount of 28,848 students.
Ten years later, enrollment at BC had grown tremendously. In 2025-26, the college enrolled 1,926 students who identified as Black or African American, equaling 4.4% of the total headcount of 43,885 students.
Based on recent U.S. Census Bureau data and estimates, Black or African Americans make up about 6% of the population in metro Bakersfield.
African American students locally still have room to grow their enrollment, supporters say, but BC’s open admissions make higher education possible for students from all backgrounds and walks of life, Pfluger told the gathering.
“We recognize many of our students are the first in their families to attend college,” she said. “Many are balancing financial and personal responsibilities while juggling study time and class expectations.
“We strive to meet students where they are every day and help them get the support they need to achieve their goals. The BSI designation is not about a single program or a single moment in time,” she said. “It reflects sustained effort, intentional support and clear pathways that help students stay and succeed.”
Bakersfield College is one of about two dozen of California’s 116 community colleges to receive the designation — but “it’s more than just a title, it is a commitment,” said Tommy Tunson, professor of criminal justice at Bakersfield College.
One sign that BC still has a long way to go, Tunson said, is the fact that Black students often tell him he is the only Black instructor they have seen in their classrooms at BC. Still, he sees Monday’s news as a clear sign that BC is continuing to move in the right direction.
Jessica Grimes, executive director of the California Employment Training Panel, seemed to agree.
“On this auspicious occasion,” Grimes told the gathering, “it is amazing on the second day of Black History Month to be able to celebrate BC’s designation as a Black-serving institution.
“Today, I represent the California Employment Training Panel, where we see firsthand the effects of how workforce development and training is really changing people’s lives,” she said. “And we love to partner with a host of different agencies and institutions like community colleges — so we, too, are very excited to see how this designation is going to change the trajectory of a lot of students. And California in general.”
For more information about Bakersfield College and its Black-serving institution designation, visit bakersfieldcollege.edu/BSI.