Join Us For An ICT-DM Update
AI has become ubiquitous in all we do, with inescapable impact in our lives and work. Not isolated to the ICT/DM sector, community college career education programs across most disciplines are feeling it with an array of reactions and responses. The BACCC has taken the lead in assessing the needs and opportunities to develop executable strategies to prepare our students for the continuum of skills required to pursue careers that apply or develop AI technology.
This begins with preparing faculty, which will be the theme of the BayICT Partnership meeting on May 8th @4pm. While our college faculty and administrators will take away much to act upon from the meeting, we think our industry/employer, workforce development, and community-based partners will gain insight on trends and identify potential opportunities to participate. We hope to see you on the 8th.
Navigating AI Together: The BACCC Sponsors an AI Unconference
First of all, what is an “unconference”?
An unconference is organized around attendees’ interests and expertise. It uses a structured process in which participants begin by identifying topics of common interest and then organize the day around those topics. This meeting format has proven powerful in facilitating the exchange of ideas and exploring the potential for collaboration at times of significant change and disruption.
In response to last year’s last spring’s Community College AI Survey, the event was organized by Jeff D’Andria Peninsula Subregional Director, Sara Goldware East Bay Subregional Director,and Rock Pfotenhauer, BACCC Co-chair, the March 7th event took place at Foothill College.
The AI Unconference began with attendees creating the agenda by putting a session in an agenda slot on whatever topic they’d like to discuss. Four rounds of 5 breakouts were facilitated by attendees on a continuum of AI subjects ranging from Student Access to Tools to What Does Programming Mean Now.
Six key themes emerged across all sessions:
- AI Access and Equity Significant concerns about the “digital divide” widening with AI adoption
- Faculty Preparation and Resistance
- Evolving Pedagogical Approaches
- Academic Integrity and Policies
- AI’s Impact on Workplace Preparation
- Student Services Enhancement
The following were the frequently cited next steps. They reflect a community grappling with rapid technological change while trying to maintain educational quality, ensure equity, and prepare students for an AI-integrated workplace.
- Develop Educational Alliances and Collaborations
- Redesign Curriculum and Assessment
- Faculty Training and Support
- Establish Clear AI Policies
- Focus on Equity and Access
- Adopt “Spot AI” and Experimental Approaches
- Bridge Education-Industry Gap
Plans to address the first 3 objectives are already underway as part of the AI Professional Development Initiative.. See the next section below.
AI Professional Development Initiative
The Bay Area Artificial Intelligence (BAAI) Center of Excellence is launching a dynamic new professional development initiative to empower California Community College faculty with the tools, confidence, and connections needed to teach and integrate AI into their curricula. This forward-looking strategy supports a regional push to boost AI literacy and align teaching with evolving workforce demands.
Strategic Vision:
At the heart of the plan is a commitment to transforming faculty into AI educators and ambassadors. Through hands-on training, industry collaboration, and a supportive community of practice, the initiative will foster innovation and inclusive AI instruction across disciplines.
Core Program Highlights Include:
- AI Training Workshops: Monthly sessions on topics like generative AI, ethics, and machine learning, with stackable certifications and ready-to-use teaching materials.
- Industry Engagement: Talks from startup founders and AI professionals provide real-world context and classroom-ready insights.
- Educator Hackathons: Collaborative events where faculty build AI-powered teaching tools and explore equity-driven applications.
- Career-Connected Panels: Quarterly discussions with industry leaders to help faculty guide students toward AI careers.
- Community Building: A BAAI Faculty Fellows program, an online peer community, and an annual summit ensure sustained collaboration and innovation.
RVPA UPDATES
The Regional Virtual Production Academy, our 5-college collaborative, began its Creative Technology Internship program early last year and it’s now having a profound impact on student experience and industry/employer partnerships.
Led by Kevin Leeper, the RVPA Technology Specialist, the Internship program is providing participating students with opportunities to prepare them for careers in Virtual Production and related Creative Technology. The program takes a project-based approach, which reflects industry practices. Teams work together on studio and industry partner projects. Each team is comprised from the following pool of RVPA students:
Sasank Seelam (BCC)
Yunha Kim (BCC)
Dorothy Abuan (BCC)
Beth Nu (Ohlone)
Adam Gomez (Ohlone)
Christopher Stamp (DVC)
Azimuth Wright (DVC)
River Orellana (DVC)
Justin Mead (DVC)
Chantel Gee (DVC)
Sasank Seelam (BCC)
Beth Nu (Ohlone)
RVPA Partnership Spotlight: Goal Line Studios
RVPA interns are making a real impact at Goal Line Studios, supporting everything from lens calibration and LED wall setup to on-set production roles. Their cross-trained skills in green screen, motion capture, and virtual production have made them valuable contributors across the board.
This partnership reflects RVPA’s unique internship model—preparing students for the full ecosystem of roles required in modern virtual production. At Goal LIne, the intent learned and applied Disguise, a powerful engine that drives the LED wall. Two RVPA interns, Azimuth Wright and Justin Mead, earned their Disguise Operator Certification—a major milestone in their training as virtual production professionals.
RVPA Studio Spotlight: Ohlone College
This partnership reflects RVPA’s unique internship model—preparing students for the full ecosystem of roles required in modern virtual production. At Goal LIne, the intent learned and applied Disguise, a powerful engine that drives the LED wall. Two RVPA interns, Azimuth Wright and Justin Mead, earned their Disguise Operator Certification—a major milestone in their training as virtual production professionals. For more examples of the partnership and studio projects making the RVPA internship program a success, see the 2025 Q2 Newsletter.
RVPA at OneGoal’s Student Summit & Opportunity Fair at CSU East Bay
On Friday, April 18, 2025, the Regional Virtual Production Academy (RVPA) participated in the OneGoal Student Summit and Opportunity Fair at California State University, East Bay. This dynamic event brought together high school juniors exploring college and career pathways, with a special interest in multimedia arts.
RVPA was honored to host a workshop and connect with students during the Opportunity Fair, sharing insights into our hands-on programs in virtual production, UI/UX design, immersive media, and other emerging fields in creative technology.
Special thanks to Gail, our Student Success Specialist, for capturing and sharing photos from the day!
BayICT Tech Talks
Dr. Nasreen Rahim shared how AI is reshaping education and careers—shifting job roles, not eliminating them. She highlighted tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, encouraged building AI literacy, and urged students to pair tech skills with critical thinking. Catch the full talk and explore how to use AI as a learning ally.
👉 Watch the full Tech Talk here: AI Tech Talk with Dr. Nasreen Rahim: April 2025
The Regional Virtual Production Academy (RVPA) Tech Talk highlighted how five Bay Area colleges collaborate to offer hands-on virtual production training. Students gain real-world experience through internships in game design and motion capture. The session covered industry demand for skills in 3D modeling and animation, RVPA’s certification programs, and guidance on enrollment via the California Virtual Campus.
Upcoming Events
| May 6th, 2-2:45pm | RVPA Information Session |
| May 8th, 4-5pm | BayICT Spring Partnership Meeting |
June 2-6th (Week 1) June 9-13th (Week 2) | 2025 WASTC vFDW |
| June 7-8th | Laney College “AI Futures” Hackathon |
