As Black History Month draws to a close, the Peralta Community College District family is mourning the loss of a foundational figure in our history, the Reverend Dr. Robert McKnight, who passed away on February 7, 2026. A dedicated educator, Black history curriculum innovator, pastor, and community leader, Dr. McKnight’s influence spanned four decades across all four Peralta campuses.
Merritt College Sees Increase in Enrollment
Enrollment at Merritt College is on the rise! Compared to this time last year, we have 239 more students taking our courses (our headcount has reached 7,317). Our resident FTES figures are also up by three percent from Spring 2025 to Spring 2026.
Hello Merritt and Peralta Community!
It’s that time again. Merritt College Track and Field opens the season at home this Friday with field events beginning at 10am and running events getting underway at noon with the 4x100m relay.
Merritt College Expands Early Childhood Education Access with New Spanish-Language Pilot Program
We are excited to share that Merritt College’s Child Development Department is implementing the Child Development ECE Spanish Pilot Program to improve educational access, retention, and completion for Spanish-speaking and bilingual students.
Honoring Margaret Dixon: Champion for Women in Law Enforcement
Iwant to begin by expressing my appreciation for the career and ongoing efforts of Ms. Margaret Dixon, who was recently featured in a KQED story on the challenges that women face in pursuing careers in law enforcement.
The Black Men’s Brain Health (BMBH) Initiative will host its 5th Annual Conference during Super Bowl Week, February 3-4, 2026, at Merritt College. This year’s gathering will explore the theme “The Power of Community Engagement: Transforming Black Men’s Participation in Brain Health and AD/ADRD Research.”
The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) proudly announces that all four of its colleges – Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College – have been designated as Black-Serving Institutions (BSI), a state recognition for colleges and universities that demonstrate excellence in supporting Black and African American students.
On November 6-8, 2025, Peralta sent
10 + 1 (!) representatives (10 from each of the four college faculty senates and one from the District Academic Senate) to the
Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) 2025 Fall Plenary Session in La Jolla.
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.
Laney College and Merritt College campuses were both filled with smiles, laughter, andharmless Halloween mischiefas children from the Childcare Centers participated in Halloween festivities. Dressed in adorable costumes - from superheroes and princesses to tiny pumpkins and firefighters - the children brightened everyone’s day as they made their rounds collecting candy and snacks.
