The proposed merger of Laney College and Merritt College into Oakland City College has sparked widespread concern.  The Board of Trustees is already voting on this on Tuesday June 9th. (See update below.)

The current merger proposal is fiscally unsound, and will result in a funding  loss of $3 million to $12 million every year.   Moreover, the decision to merge these historic colleges was made without adequately considering the voices and needs of those it impacts most—the students, faculty, and staff.  

Laney College and Merritt College  have long served as vital educational and cultural resources.    A more thorough,  inclusive decision making  and planning process is crucial in ensuring that any changes align with the best interests of the community we serve, and avoid the pitfalls of decreased enrollment,  reduced morale, and a decline in the quality of education.  

We cannot let this happen to our beloved Laney and Merritt Colleges.

Join us in supporting Laney College and Merritt College.  We are asking for another year of decision making and planning before finalizing the merger, with increased involvement from students, faculty and staff. 

Your voice matters!  Please sign this petition today.

Feel free to leave comments, too!

For more info:  https://sites.google.com/view/merrittlaneymerger?usp=sharing

August 2026 update: your signatures are having an impact, please continue to share this petition.  The Board voted in June, 6-2 to proceed with the merger, but acknowledged that the process is unknown.  We can still stop or slow the merger.  

Here is a short explanation of the biggest concerns we still have:    https://youtu.be/Sym0hIf5rwc