About Us
Celebrating Over 30 Years of Black Scholar Excellence and Community
BCC Students on a trip to UCLA
BCC Students on a trip to CSU
Black Collegians Staff
JOIN OUR PROGRAM NOW!
The Black Collegians Program is accepting new students!
You may be eligible to join if you are:
- A new student coming directly from high school
- A returning student who previously attended another college
- A current Santa Monica College student with at least one semester remaining before
transferring or earning an Associate degree
ARE YOU A NEW BLACK STUDENT STARTING SMC IN FALL 2026? Join us for TRANSITIONS.
- The TRANSITIONS PROGRAM is our 2-day summer bridge program designed to connect you to each other as well as the staff of Black Collegians.
- When: August 13th from 9 am to 3 pm and August 14th from 9 am to 12 noon
- The program is FREE to you. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on August 13th and breakfast will be provided on August 14th.
- Contact us is you have questions at Black_Collegians@smc.edu
- More information and complete the application here: TRANSITIONS APPLICATION
Ready to Get Started?
To join the Black Collegians Program, students must:
- Attend a Black Collegians orientation (scroll down the page for the list of orientations or click on "Orientation" on the left hand side of the screen)
- Meet with a Black Collegians counselor to complete an intake appointment.
SMC Named a Black Serving Institution
Santa Monica College has been designated as a Black-Serving Institution.
This designation recognizes colleges that demonstrate leadership and a longstanding commitment to advancing Black student success, equity, and belonging in higher education.
The Black Collegians Program/Umoja Community is proud to be one of the primary reasons Santa Monica College earned this important designation.
Hours of Operation and Contact Information
Our office is open, and we look forward to seeing you! Summer 2026 hours are as follows:
Monday–Thursday: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Friday: Office closed; staff are available remotely by email.
Counseling appointments are available:
- In person
- Via Zoom
- By phone
Call 310-434-4232 or email Black_Collegians@smc.edu for assistance scheduling an appointment or getting your questions answered.
Students who are currently enrolled in the program may schedule their own counseling appointments through Corsair Connect.
About us!
The Black Collegians Program Umoja Community at Santa Monica College is designed for you.
We support students of African descent as they work toward:
- Transferring to a four-year university
- Earning an Associate degree
- Becoming academically competitive
- Developing personal, educational, and career goals
- Building confidence and a sense of belonging at SMC
Our counselors and program staff provide encouragement, guidance, advocacy, and individualized support throughout your educational journey.
Our work is not only about academics. We care about how you are doing personally, socially, and academically. We want every student to know and feel that they belong in our community.
The Black Collegians Program is a program within the statewide Umoja Community. As a recognized program within the Umoja Community, we abide by the mission and the educational philosophy of the Community and we share strategies and goals with other Umoja Community programs at the various California Community Colleges statewide.
What We Offer
Students in the Black Collegians Program may receive access to:
- Academic, career, and personal counseling
- Assistance developing an educational plan
- University transfer support
- Learning-community courses
- Academic tutoring
- Workshops and special events
- Leadership and networking opportunities
- Community-building activities
- Referrals to financial aid, basic-needs, mental-health, and campus resources
- A supportive community of students, faculty, staff, and counselors
Our Connection to the Umoja Community
The Black Collegians Program is a recognized program within the statewide Umoja Community.
As part of the Umoja Community, we follow its mission and educational philosophy while sharing strategies and goals with Umoja programs at California community colleges throughout the state.
Our Mission
Umoja is a Kiswahili word meaning unity.
Umoja is a community and critical resource dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational experiences of African American students and other students.
We believe that when students’ voices, cultures, experiences, and histories are deliberately and intentionally recognized, students are better able to develop confidence, self-efficacy, and a strong foundation for academic success.
Umoja promotes student achievement through curriculum, teaching practices, support services, and community-building experiences that are responsive to the legacy of the African and African American diasporas.
SMC HBCU Tour
Why Should You Join Us?
Because you will be loved and cared for! Our counselors and staff provide nurturing and up-to-date information to help you with preparing for transfer, getting your AA degree and/or certificate. Other points to note:
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On average, Black Collegians Umoja students have statistically higher GPAs than African American students who are not in the program.
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BC students persist to the next fall term at a higher rate than African American students who are not in the program.
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First-time freshman students and continuing students in the program successfully complete their enrolled courses at a higher rate than students who are not.
- We have an all-around family atmosphere. Participating in the program is like coming home to family.
How to Join Us
There are two steps to joining the program:
1. The first step is to attend an orientation. See below for the Summer/Fall 2026 orientation schedule
2. Meet with a Black Collegians Counselor for an interview and discuss your educational plans. We are looking for students who have at least two semesters left at SMC. If you are trying to join and this will be your last semester, you will be admitted on a case-by-case situation. To make an appointment with a BC Counselor, you will need to email us or call us to request an appointment.
This program is designed intentionally for students who identify as Black/African descent. The activities, rituals, programs that we offer are made expressly to celebrate Black culture. All students, regardless of race, are able to join the program.
Black Collegians Umoja Community Orientations for Summer/Fall 2026
Open enrollment for the Fall 2026 semester begins in June 2026 and will go through the September 2026. We will host program orientations via Zoom video conference and in person on main campus throughout the open enrollment period. See the schedule below. More orientations will be added, but it is to your advantage to attend orientations as early as possible.
Students interested in joining our program will need to attend one (1) orientation session to begin the program enrollment process. At the orientation, we will explain our program benefits, requirements, and next steps in completing the enrollment process.
Upon registering for a zoom orientation, you will receive a personal meeting link and password you will use to attend the scheduled orientation. For orientations meeting in person on campus, please show up to the location listed below (no need to RSVP).
Please arrive to the orientation on time. Orientations run about one hour in length.
If you have any questions about our program, please reach out to us via email at black_collegians@smc.edu. We are here to help you succeed here at SMC.
Summer/Fall 2026 Orientations (admission into the program will be for Fall 2026)*
*This schedule is subject to change
Our Program Requirements
All Black Collegians Program participants need to meet the following criteria each semester during the academic year:
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Meet with a Black Collegians Program counselor at least twice each semester.
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Attend a minimum of three program activities.
For more information visit: Requirements