Merritt College Home of the Black Panthers
This October marks the fifty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, and as Merritt College played a significant role in the Party’s historical origins, we proudly took part in the celebrations to commemorate the occasion. On Friday, October 15, 2021, students, staff, and community members revisited last year’s conversation about the legacy of the Party.
On Wednesday, September 29, Merritt College had the privilege of hosting a critical discussion on the topic, “What does the fight for LGBTQ+ rights have to do with Racial Justice?”
The conversation was led by Ms. Ronit Matabuena-Lev, who is a health educator, the founder of Bird and Bee Education (an organization dedicated to empowering young people to practice self-care for their physical, emotional, social, and sexual well-being), and a former classroom teacher.
Merritt College Planning Summit 2021
On Friday, September 17, Merritt held its annual Fall Planning Summit. Faculty, staff and administrators came together to engage in dialogue regarding the Educational Master Plan and the Accreditation Follow-Up Report. Planning Summit participants had critical conversations around what it means to “put students first,” and how to move beyond platitudes so that we can get to the work of meaningful equity-building.
Merritt College, which was a leader in moving away from assessment tests that wrongly placed students of color in remedial classes, and Barstow College, which has enhanced its student success rates through numerous support services, are the winners of the 2021 John W. Rice Equity and Student Success awards.
Merritt College Latest Update
Much has happened at Merritt College in the several weeks that have passed since the last President’s Report. Among other things, Merritt initiated the process of bringing students, classified professional staff members, faculty, and administrators back to campus safely. Merritt worked with our sister colleges and with the Chancellor’s Office to make great progress on the college’s ACCJC Follow-Up Report and the Teach Out Plan. And Merritt continues to support students and the institution in the face of the pandemic by utilizing HEERF funding to address pressing needs.
Merritt College: Guided Pathways
Given its efficacy as a nationally recognized, evidence-based student success strategy, Merritt College adopted Guided Pathways as an integral component of attaining the college’s institutional mission. One of the signature goals of Guided Pathways is to provide students with clear guidelines and touch points for entering college, navigating program/degree requirements, and connecting majors with tangible career pathways.
The Peralta Community College District Children's Centers (located at Laney College & Merritt College) are currently recruiting and enrolling new families with children ages 3 to 5 years. The centers provide free, low-cost, and full-fee childcare. Visit our website at https://web.peralta.edu/childcare/ to apply.
