A spirit of pride and collaboration filled the air on January 28th as Laney College hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the stunning Tiny House crafted by its talented Carpentry students. Under the expansive Construction Canopy, students, faculty, and community members gathered to witness the culmination of months of dedication and hard work.

We at the Peralta Colleges care about your success as a student. You are invited to participate in a survey to help us better understand the challenges students face while attending college and to learn more about how students overcome these challenges. Starting March 3, 2025, the 2025 Real College Student Basic Needs Survey is open to all California Community College students, including here at Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College. Your participation is your chance to directly influence the support you receive and make a real difference in your college experience.

The Peralta Community College District is buzzing with excitement as both the Laney College women's basketball team and the College of Alameda men's basketball team showcased their talent in the 3C2A California Community Colleges Athletics Association playoffs!

On February 21, 2025, the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center in partnership with the Peralta Community College District hosted a forum dedicated to civic engagement, bringing together community leaders, elected officials, and citizens to discuss the vital importance of defending democratic principles in today's challenging political climate.

Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson is featured in a two-part episode of the EDUCATE. ELEVATE. podcast, exploring California’s new Black-Serving Institution (BSI) designation. This significant legislation, Senate Bill 1348, allows community colleges with a substantial Black student population (10% or 1,500 students) to seek BSI status.  Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College are included among the California Community Colleges that meet the eligibility criteria to apply for the designation.  

Congratulations to Dr. Denise Richardson, President of Berkeley City College, and her co-author, Dr. Alfred McQuarters, President of Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, for the publication of their article in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, a national magazine with over 35,000 readers.

Many thanks to everyone who attended the Budget Town Hall meeting on Friday, January 31, 2025, hosted by Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District, and Greg Nelson, Deputy Chancellor and COO. The Zoom meeting was well attended with 300 participants on the call.

The Peralta Community College District Marketing team was thrilled to participate in Welcome Week activities, visiting Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College to hand out free college-branded hoodies and t-shirts to students who then modeled them. We had an outstanding turnout, including many returning students from last semester's event. Thank you so much to the 200+ students who modeled for us!

Sadly, our community recently lost three amazing women associated with the Peralta Community College District, including student Ginger Coplan, former counselor and dean Susan Cota, and longtime counselor Alze Mae Roberts.

During her Flex Day address on January 16, 2025, Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson emphasized the importance of shared governance and community engagement as the Peralta Community College District navigates a challenging period in higher education.  Her speech is posted on YouTube.