Dear Peralta Community,
We want to share an important update regarding a cybersecurity incident involving Instructure, the company that provides our Canvas learning management system. This incident has affected all 116 California Community Colleges (as well as other colleges and universities), and while the situation is being managed at the state level, we want to ensure students and employees here in the Peralta Community College District have the facts.
During the April 14 Board of Trustees meeting, Davina Malbrough, current President of the Associated Students of Merritt College (ASMC), announced that she has been elected to serve as the next president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC). Congratulations Davina!
On April 22, Adult Education project manager Nik Howell and faculty member Marla Leech led a group of Laney College students on an inspiring behind-the-scenes tour of the KQED headquarters in San Francisco. The visit was more than just a tour; it was an exciting opportunity to see the "Peralta-to-professional" pipeline in action.
At the April 14, 2026, meeting of the Board of Trustees, Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson celebrated the third cohort of the "Flying Pig Awards." The awards, established in 2024, honor those within the Peralta community who go above and beyond to serve students and the District in ways that often seem improbable.
Written by (Anonymous), an International Student Parent & Spring 2026 Basic Needs Center Intern
Have you ever walked through the Berkeley City College (BCC) campus on a Thursday afternoon and wondered why tables are lined with fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, milk, beans, and more?
You've probably heard of ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages but are you familiar with VESL? That stands for Vocational English as a Second Language. This term refers to English language programs that specifically integrate job skills and workplace competencies to improve the employability of students. Our colleague Jamille Teer (District Service Center Department of General Services and 4CS Board Member) recently attended a Laney VESL graduation ceremony and found it to be a moving experience.
Meet Anne Gormley, College of Alameda EOPS student, and future Doctor of Occupational Therapy! Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) is a state-funded program designed to provide support services to low-income and academically-disadvantaged students to become successful in college.
The first ever Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit 5K Run & Walk, a fundraiser benefiting the Peralta Colleges Foundation, was held on October 18, 2025, a crisp sunny Saturday morning at Merritt College in the Oakland Hills. It might have been the first, but it won't be the last as too much fun was had by all who participated!
It has been a heavy season — in our region, in our nation, and in higher education itself. The deployment of federal agents to Coast Guard Island, the threats to undocumented and mixed-status families, and the dismantling of Federal programs like HSI, AANAPISI, and TRIO funding hit close to home. They are more than policy decisions; they are an assault on the very idea of education as liberation — as a pathway to belonging, dignity, and opportunity.
The Peralta Community College District Children's Centers (located at Laney College & Merritt College) are currently recruiting and enrolling new families with children ages 2-5 years. The centers provide free/low-fee, high-quality childcare. Visit our website at https://www.peralta.edu/admissions/student-resources/child-care or scan the QR code in the flyer below to apply.
