Umoja Program

Umoja, meaning unity in Kiswahili, is a supportive community of educators and learners who are dedicated to the academic success and personal growth of African American and other students.

What is Umoja?

Umoja, meaning unity in Kiswahili, is a supportive community of educators and learners who are dedicated to the academic success and personal growth of African American and other students. Since 2013, we've been part of a statewide Umoja community.

Our mission is to nurture the whole student—mind, body, and spirit—through love and active participation in knowledge-building. We celebrate African and African American culture, fostering pride and understanding of these rich traditions.

Within our community, every student is encouraged to contribute their unique voice and story. As a DVC student in the Umoja Community, you will study with instructors trained in and committed to Umoja principles. Our courses, taught by instructors who uphold Umoja principles, focus on counseling, Black identity, and community-linked options in a variety of areas.

Strong bonds with mentors, counselors, instructors, and fellow students are an integral part of the Umoja experience. Come join us.

Umoja is open to all students. 

Eligibility Requirements

Umoja is open to all students committed to its mission. Umoja core classes are in-person and have required in-person field trips and on-campus activities. Dates and times will be announced in advance.

Other Umojafied courses will be offered in-person, online, and in hybrid formats.

Required Classes for Spring 2026

The two classes below are required for students who wish to be in the Umoja Learning Community cohort. Both classes are held on the Pleasant Hill campus.

PSYCH 122: Psychology of Modern Life 

• In-Person
• Section 6444
• 3 units
• Mon & Wed, 11:10 a.m. - 12:35 p.m.
• Students must also enroll in COMM C1000-xxxx, as well as participate in other on-campus program activities

COMM C1000:  Introduction to Public Speaking

• In-Person
• Section 1640
• 3 units
• Mon & Wed, 12:45-2:10
• Students must also enroll in COUNS 120-xxxx, as well as participate in other on-campus program activities.

Optional Classes for Spring 2026

The classes below are open to current or former Umoja students and Friends of Umoja. (A Friend of Umoja is someone who wishes to be connected to Umoja but isn’t able to take the two mandatory classes above.) All face-to-face and hybrid classes are held on the Pleasant Hill campus.

ENGL C1000E: Academic Reading and Writing (with Support)

• Hybrid
• Section 6011
• 5 units
• Tuesday, 9:35 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.
• Open to all current and former Umoja students and also Friends of Umoja (FOUs)

ENGL C1000: Academic Reading and Writing

• Hybrid
• Section 6010
• 3 units
• Tuesday, 9:35 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.
• Open to all current and former Umoja students and also Friends of Umoja (FOUs)

ENGL 123: Critical Thinking: Writing About Literature

• Hybrid
• Section 6013
• 3 units
• Tuesday, 11:10 a.m. - 12:35 p.m.
• Open to all current and former Umoja students and also Friends of Umoja (FOUs)

POLSC 123: Black Politics and American Government

• Hybrid
• Section 6403
• 3 units
• Thursday, 11:10 a.m. - 12:35 p.m.
• Open to all current and former Umoja students and also Friends of Umoja (FOUs)

HUMAN 115: Humanities: Multicultural American Experience (ONLINE)

• Online/Asynchronous
• Section 6976
• 3 units
• Open to all current and former Umoja students and also Friends of Umoja (FOUs)

ECON 221: Principles of Microeconomics

• Online/Asynchronous
• Section 6359
• 3 units
• Open to all current and former Umoja students and also Friends of Umoja (FOUs)

HIST 128: History of the US: African American Perspectives, After 1865

• Online/Asynchronous
• Section 6026
• 3 units
• Open to all current and former Umoja students and also Friends of Umoja (FOUs)

Interested in joining the cohort or becoming a Friend of Umoja?