Merritt College

Merritt College is a public community college located in Oakland, California, and is part of the Peralta Community College District. The college is named after Dr. Samuel Merritt, a physician and University of California, Berkeley regent. Merritt College has a strong focus on STEM fields, including biology, chemistry, and physics, and is also known for its programs in nursing and health sciences at Kaiser Permanente and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. The college has partnerships with University of California, Berkeley, California State University, East Bay, and Stanford University to provide students with transfer opportunities and access to resources such as the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.

● History

Merritt College was established in 1954 as a junior college and has since grown to become one of the largest community colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area. The college has a rich history of social justice and civil rights activism, with many notable figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Angela Davis visiting the campus. Merritt College has also been involved in various community outreach programs, including partnerships with the Oakland Unified School District, the City of Oakland, and the Alameda County Health Department. The college has received funding from organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the Gates Foundation to support its programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and healthcare.

● Campus

The Merritt College campus is located in the Hills District of Oakland, California, and features a mix of modern and historic buildings, including the Merritt College Library and the Student Union Building. The campus is situated near the Redwood Regional Park and offers stunning views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Merritt College is also close to other educational institutions, such as Laney College, Berkeley City College, and the University of California, San Francisco, and is accessible by public transportation, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system and the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit).

● Academics

Merritt College offers a wide range of academic programs, including associate's degrees and certificate programs in fields such as business administration, computer science, and environmental science. The college is also home to the Merritt College Nursing Program, which is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and has partnerships with Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health. Merritt College has articulation agreements with University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and San Jose State University, allowing students to transfer seamlessly to these institutions and pursue bachelor's degrees in fields such as engineering, computer science, and biology.

● Student Life

Merritt College has a diverse student body, with students from a variety of backgrounds and ages. The college offers a range of student services, including counseling, tutoring, and financial aid, as well as a variety of student clubs and organizations, such as the Merritt College Student Senate and the Black Student Union. Students can also participate in athletics programs, including basketball, soccer, and volleyball, and compete in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) and the Bay Valley Conference. Merritt College has a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental justice, with initiatives such as the Merritt College Sustainability Committee and partnerships with organizations such as the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy.

● Notable Alumni

Merritt College has a number of notable alumni, including Ron Dellums, the former Mayor of Oakland and U.S. Representative; Barbara Lee, the U.S. Representative for California's 13th congressional district; and Danny Glover, the actor and activist. Other notable alumni include Tom Ammiano, the former California State Assemblyman; Sandré Swanson, the former California State Assemblyman; and Keith Carson, the Alameda County Supervisor. Merritt College alumni have gone on to attend institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley, and have pursued careers in fields such as law, medicine, and politics, including working for organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).