The Peralta Community College District may soon see major changes as Chancellor Tameil Gilkerson announced plans to recommend merging Laney College and Merritt College into a single institution, reviving the name Oakland City College. The proposal will go before the Board of Trustees for approval in the coming months.
Budget Challenges Drive Recommendation
For years, the Peralta Community College district, which also includes Berkeley City College and College of Alameda, has struggled with financial shortfalls. Chancellor Gilkison’s recommendation is intended to address ongoing budget concerns by consolidating resources and streamlining operations across the two Oakland campuses.
“Admittedly, it wasn’t a huge surprise,” said Desmond Meagley, a Laney student and editor-in-chief of The Citizen, the district’s student-run newspaper. “There’s been an ongoing budget crisis at Peralta.”
Meagley has attended classes across the district for about a decade and believes the merger could help stabilize programs that have seen significant cuts. “I believe the plan, the intention is to create a larger college out of two smaller colleges that will hopefully help our district get more funding because we’ve had a lot of cuts across various departments, to a lot of programs, to a lot of personnel, and that’s had a big impact on the students,” he said.
During a recent professional development day, Gilkerson also assured faculty and students that there would be no additional budget cuts for the next two years, a commitment many hope will restore confidence and provide breathing room for academic programs.
Peralta Community College Mixed Student Reactions
The Peralta Community College announcement has generated cautious optimism among students. Some see the merger as a way to strengthen the district, while others remain uncertain about what the change will mean in practice.
“I think time will tell,” said Laney student Ivan Saravia, who is beginning his fifth semester this fall. “You can’t really see too far in the future.” Saravia, who plans to transfer to a four-year university in the spring, expects to graduate before the merger takes full effect but said the district has played a meaningful role in his education. “I’ve developed a very deep passion for everything that goes on in this district, and writing for the publication as well. I’ll be a little bit sad.”
Despite concerns, Gilkerson has emphasized that neither Laney nor Merritt would close. Instead, they would operate as campuses under the single name of Oakland City College, similar to their structure before 1964, when the schools split into separate entities.
Looking Ahead to a New Identity
If approved, the merger would mark a significant milestone for Peralta Community College four-college system. Supporters hope it will relieve financial strain, preserve academic offerings, and refocus attention on student experiences.
Meagley expressed optimism about the symbolic side of the transition as well. “If the merger is approved, I hope it will positively influence both staff and students so that instead of focusing on the budget, they can focus on fun things like what the new mascot will be,” he said.
As students speculate about potential mascots, Meagley suggested the night heron, Oakland’s official bird. “Oakland’s bird would be a lovely mascot,” he said. “It’s such a quirky, interesting little guy.”
The Peralta Board of Trustees is expected to review the merger proposal later this year. If approved, Laney and Merritt would formally reunite as Oakland City College, ushering in a new chapter for higher education in the East Bay.