Resolution of the Merritt College Academic Senate Opposing the Proposed Merger of Merritt College and Laney College Absent Demonstrated Fiscal Justification
WHEREAS, the Peralta Community College District has proposed the unification of Laney College and Merritt College into a single institution, to be named Oakland Community College; and
WHEREAS, faculty across the district, including at Merritt College, have repeatedly requested detailed budgetary data supporting the proposed merger, and such data have not been provided by district leadership; and
WHEREAS, publicly presented district materials have contained inconsistent or incomplete financial assumptions, including the claim that the newly unified college would qualify as a medium-sized college for apportionment purposes; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chancellor Nelson has clarified at a recent Merritt College Academic Senate meeting that the newly formed Oakland Community College would, in fact, remain classified as a small college for purposes of state apportionment; and
WHEREAS, calculations conducted by Peralta faculty using available state apportionment data indicate that the merger would reduce total apportionment revenue relative to the current structure of two separate small colleges, even before accounting for the non-zero administrative costs of operating a state-approved center; and
WHEREAS, any proposal to merge accredited colleges must demonstrate clear fiscal, academic, and operational benefits and must be guided by transparent, evidence-based planning and broad participatory governance input;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Merritt College Academic Senate formally opposes the proposed merger of Merritt College and Laney College until and unless district leadership provides a comprehensive, independently verifiable fiscal analysis demonstrating that the merger offers a clear financial benefit to the Peralta Community College District as a whole; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Merritt College Academic Senate directs the Senate President to share this resolution with the District Academic Senate, the Laney College Academic Senate, the Peralta Board of Trustees, and the Chancellor’s Office.
Passed on Dec. 4th, 2025