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.
Laney College served as a Bronze-level sponsor of the Oakland Chinatown 34th Lunar New Year Bazaar, celebrating the Year of the Horse on January 31–February 1, 2026. The two-day community festival featured lion dances, live entertainment, food, art, and family-friendly activities in Oakland’s Chinatown.
College of Alameda is observing Black History Month with a series of thoughtfully designed events that center on education, culture, reflection, and community connection. A highlight of the month was The Rich Blend: Black Excellence, Freshly Brewed, held on February 3, 2026, which was well attended by students, faculty, staff, and members of the broader community.
The Berkeley City College Humanities Program is partnering with The New Parkway Theater to present 100 Years of Movies with Berkeley City College, showcasing classic films every Monday night through the month of February.
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.
Laney College hosted a Fall 2025 art exhibition featuring students from Oakland Unified School District’s Young Adult Program (YAP), transforming the Tower Lobby into a vibrant gallery space through December 12. The exhibition showcased work from Frederico Alvarado’s Fundamentals of Painting course and highlighted the creativity, growth, and expressive voices of participating students.
CoA prepares to gather as faculty, classified professionals, and administrators to engage in meaningful professional development on Friday, January 16, 2026, in Building H.
On Thursday, January 8, Berkeley City College welcomed 14 new apprentices to its Community Health Worker Apprentice Workshop. This orientation marked the launch of their program’s third cohort and provided apprentices with opportunities to connect with their peers, instructors, counselors, and college support staff.
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.
Laney College will host Light the Path, Light the Field on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, a luminaria walk and tribute honoring the life and legacy of Coach John Beam. The event begins at 4:00 p.m. at the Laney Bistro and concludes at Eagles Stadium, symbolically retracing the path Coach Beam walked with generations of students—from mentorship and learning to teamwork and community building.
