Merritt College Employees and Students Attend Conferences

Two weeks ago, two different groups from Merritt had the opportunity to attend the conferences that empowered and inspired them. On Wednesday, November 3, five employees attended the first California Community Colleges Organization de Latinx Empowerment, Guidance, and Advocacy for Success (COLEGAS) Annual Conference in Long Beach.

Merritt College Hosts Transfer Day

On Wednesday, October 12, Merritt College held a Transfer Day event, and from the feedback received it was an absolute success! There were 113 students attending the event (both virtually and in person), and 40 different colleges were represented. Merritt College thanks all of the counselors who helped to make this day so amazing, as well as the instructors who brought their classes to the event.

At the end of September, Merritt College had the honor of hosting the Native American Health Center’s Golden Anniversary Powwow. Founded in San Francisco’s Mission District in 1972, and now located in East Oakland, NAHC’s mission is to “provide comprehensive services to improve the health and wellbeing of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and residents of the surrounding communities with respect to cultural and linguistic differences.”

Leesa Hogan, a Merritt College graduate and continuing student who serves as a Student Trustee on the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees as well as President of the Associated Students of Merritt College was recently chosen to be a part of the Advisory Committee on Educational Services for the Community College League of California (CCLC). Student Trustee Hogan sat with Mark Johnson, Executive Director of Marketing, Communication, and Public Relations on September 16, 2022 to talk about this prestigious appointment and her experiences as a student leader at Merritt College and the Peralta Community College District.

OAKLAND, Calif., October 11, 2022 – Merritt College is pleased to announce a new partnership to advance our renowned cannabis education programming. Ms. Tanya Scott will take on an advisory role with the College, working closely with the faculty to expand the cannabis program’s curriculum in three distinct areas. The overarching goal is to support students in their preparation for high-demandcareers in this rapidly expanding industry.

Merritt College Hosts Native American Health Center’s Golden Anniversary Powwow

At the end of September, Merritt College had the honor of hosting the Native American Health Center’s Golden Anniversary Powwow. Founded in San Francisco’s Mission District in 1972, and now located in East Oakland, NAHC’s mission is to “provide comprehensive services to improve the health and wellbeing of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and residents of the surrounding communities with respect to cultural and linguistic differences.”

Merritt is proud to recognize the success of one of its Alums: Ms. Brandi Howard. Last week, Ms. Howard was selected as the new President and CEO of the East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF).

Merritt College Hosts Financial Literacy Workshop for Students

Merritt recognizes that many students are going through difficult financial times, so the college is working to support them in effectively managing and maximizing their resources. The Merritt community believes that it is our responsibility to put students first, not only by providing quality education but also by creating experiences for our students to develop and prosper in every aspect of their lives. To the end, on Tuesday, September 22, Merritt hosted its first Financial Literacy Workshop (offered in partnership with the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development.

For the second time in less than three months, we have lost a beloved member of our Merritt Family. Jim Gordon, our Principal Library Technician, passed away on Tuesday, September 6. He succumbed to injuries sustained after being hit by a cyclist while walking near his home in Sausalito. As his family shared, “we can only make sense of this tragedy knowing that the organs and tissues he donated are helping to save the lives of others.” Jim came to Merritt College several years ago, and immediately became a beloved figure on campus. Jim was funny, caring, and extremely intelligent. The Merritt community saw his patience and selflessness first-hand, as he would stop to help students who were wandering the campus, and we take comfort in being able to remember him so fondly as such a dignified and kind man.

Merritt College Free4Fall

Having passed the Census Date and completed the first few weeks of the Fall 2022 semester, Merritt is pleased to report that Free 4 Fall Campaign is having a positive effect on enrollment and morale. Given the number of late-start and dual enrollment sections that Merritt has in the schedule and are yet to be counted, the college expects to surpass our FTES total from Fall 2021.