Laney College and Merritt College could soon merge and become Oakland City College, coming soon after the district’s growing budget worries. Peralta Community College District Chancellor Tameil Gilkerson told the district’s Board of Trustees she plans to merge the two Oakland campuses, bringing them together again after decades as separate colleges.
The planned merger aims to tackle the district’s ongoing financial strains. PCCD includes Laney and Merritt, plus colleges in Berkeley and Alameda. By creating one larger, unified college, district leaders believe they can bolster the district’s budget and deliver improved services, programs, and support to both students and staff.
### Students React to the Proposed Merger
Most students were not caught off guard when the merger plan rolled out. Desmond Meagley, an editor-in-chief with the student paper _The Citizen_ who has been at PCCD for a good while, figured an announcement like this was coming. “The budget pressure has been around for years,” he said. “The plan now seems to be folding two colleges into one bigger college so the district can attract more funding. Cuts have already hit programs, departments, and personnel hard, and that always circles back to us students.”
Meagley also believes the new structure could create a more stable environment. “The announcement included a promise that cuts will not hit for the next two years,” he said. “That alone will change the day-to-day experience for students.”
Ivan Saravia, who will start his fifth semester at Laney College next week, was in the room when Chancellor Gilkerson shared the news. Saravia is still sorting out what the merger means for classmates and instructors. “Right now, it’s a waiting game,” he said. “We’ll just have to see how the details play out.”
“You can’t really see too far in the future.”
What the Merger Would Mean
Chancellor Gilkerson says both campuses will stay open after the merger. Instead, they will run as one school, the same way they did before 1964, when Merritt College split from Laney. The consolidation aims to save money, broaden program choices, and strengthen student services throughout both sites.
The merger still needs the Board of Trustees to sign off, so it could be months before the changes are in place. If trustees approve, students like Saravia could miss the switch, since he plans to transfer to a four-year school after the spring semester. “I’ve grown very attached to everything that happens in this district, and to the publication,” he said. “I’ll be a little bit sad.”
Financial and Academic Implications
Budget cuts have hit the district hard over the last few years, slicing into programs, support services, and staffing. District leaders believe that by pooling resources and trimming the overlap in operations, the merger can help heal the damage and create a steadier financial future.
Meagley pointed out that a well-planned merger can lift money worries off students and staff alike, letting them put energy into campus life instead. “Instead of fretting over the budget, they can have fun figuring out what the new mascot will be,” he explained. He even floated the idea of the night heron—the city’s official bird—as the new mascot. “It’s a quirky little fellow, and he’s impossible not to cheer for,” he added with a grin.
### Looking Ahead
The planned Oakland City College merger marks a landmark moment for the Peralta Community College District. By bringing together Laney and Merritt, district leaders aim to offer stronger classes, better support services, and a revived, shared sense of community.
Although the merger now sits in the recommendation stage, it has already jump-started discussions among students, faculty, and alumni about what higher education can become in Oakland. If the plan goes through, it may inspire other community colleges in California and beyond that are grappling with budget cuts and slipping enrollment.
For the moment, everyone—from students to faculty to administrators—awaits the Board of Trustees’ vote. The hope is that joining forces will make both colleges more resilient and give Oakland students richer educational journeys for many years to come.
