Accreditation Information
Merritt College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Blvd., Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, 415.506.0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. This information can be found on the website at https://www.merritt.edu/accreditation/.
College Navigator
College Navigator is a free, online tool developed by the U.S. Department of Education, specifically its National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), to help students and their families explore and compare colleges and universities. Merritt College’s College Navigator page can be found here.
Constitution Day Information
In order to comply with the new federal regulation requiring the development of educational programming to celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th of each year, Associated Students of Merritt College hosts Annual Constitution Day activities.
Copyright Infringement
Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement. Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505. Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov.
Cost of Attendance
The cost of education is an estimated amount that a student will need to cover costs related to college attendance. Nine-month student budgets are constructed using surveyed costs of California students based on their living and enrollment status. To see the annual cost of attendance at Merritt College, click here and click "Annual Estimated Cost of Attendance at PCCD".
Description of Academic Programs
To learn more about Merritt College’s Areas of Study for Degrees & Certificates, view the Associate Degree and Certificate Programs section in our catalog of classes.
Establishing and Maintaining an Information Security Program
PCCD is bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), a federal law regarding the privacy of student records. An individual’s conduct, either on or off the job, may threaten the security and confidentiality of records. Security and confidentiality are matters of concern to all PCCD employees, including employees of the District and each of its campuses, and all other persons who have access to student, financial, and employee records. PCCD is committed to maintaining an information security program. More details can be found here.
Faculty
Information on the College’s faculty and instructional personnel is available through Merritt College’s directory and in the Division Deans' offices on the Fourth Floor.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) guarantees that the academic records for students over 18 years old or postsecondary students of any age cannot be discussed with anyone except the student or authorized College personnel.
PCCD only discloses personally identifiable information from an education record to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals. For more information about FERPA, click here.
Health and Safety Exemption
In some situations, school administrators may determine that it is necessary to disclose personally identifiable information (PII) from a student’s education records to appropriate parties in order to address a health or safety emergency. FERPA’s health or safety emergency provision permits such disclosures when the disclosure is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals. See 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a) (10) and 99.36. This exception to FERPA’s general consent requirement is limited to the period of the emergency and generally does not allow for a blanket release of PII from a student’s education records. Rather, these disclosures must be related to an actual, impending, or imminent emergency, such as a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, a campus shooting, or the outbreak of an epidemic disease.
Any student has the right to inspect and review his or her student records, within five days of making an official request. The student may challenge the accuracy of the record or the appropriateness of its retention. Records maintained under this statue include, but are not limited to information regarding college admission, registration, academic history, official transcripts from other schools and colleges, career, student benefits or services, extra-curricular activities, counseling and guidance, discipline or matters related to student conduct and any other information the college feels appropriate. All official transcripts from other schools and colleges become property of the College upon receipt, and photocopies are not released.
The Peralta Community College District FERPA Release form is available here.
Federal student FA penalties for drug law violations
As indicated in HEA Section 484(r), 34 CFR 668.40, a federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for Federal Student Aid funds. Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which a student was receiving Title IV aid—they do not count if the offense was not during such a period. Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record does not count, nor does one received when the student was a juvenile, unless the student was tried as an adult.
The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for FSA funds, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses.
- A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.
| POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS | SALE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS | |
| 1st Offense | 1 year from date of conviction | 2 years from date of conviction |
| 2nd Offense | 2 years from date of conviction | Indefinite period |
| 3+ Offenses | Indefinite period | Indefinite period |
If the student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period.
A student regains federal financial aid eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when the student successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program or, effective beginning with the 2010–2011 award year, passes two unannounced drug tests given by such a program. Further drug convictions will make the student ineligible again.
Students denied eligibility for an indefinite period can regain it after successfully completing rehabilitation program (as described below), passing two unannounced drug tests from such a program, or if a conviction is reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record so that fewer than two convictions for sale or three convictions for possession remain on the record. In such cases, the nature and dates of the remaining convictions will determine when the student regains eligibility. It is the student’s responsibility to certify to the school that the rehabilitation program was successfully completed.
Standards for a Qualified Drug Rehabilitation Program
A qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests and must satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
- Be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a federal, state, or local government program.
- Be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally or state-licensed insurance company.
- Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court.
- Be administered or recognized by a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor.
If you have any questions about the effect of a drug conviction on your Federal Student Aid or your eligibility, please call 1-800-4FEDAID.
Federal Students’ Right To Know Act
Student Right-To-Know (SRTK) refers to a federally mandated public disclosure of a college's Completion Rate and Transfer Rate. The intent of SRTK is to provide the consumer a statistic of comparable effectiveness that they can use in the determination of college choice. All colleges nationwide are effectively required to participate in the disclosure of rates by January 2000.
Merritt College’s SRTK data can be found here on the PCCD Institutional Research website (click on the top right corner to filter for Merritt College).
Immunization Requirements
As a condition of, and, for permission to access all properties controlled by the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) all students must provide proof of “full” COVID-19 vaccination (as defined by the U.S. Center for Disease Control) or submit a request for exception on medical, disability, religious grounds, or a deferral based on pregnancy.
Instructional Facilities and Labs
The college provides the instructional, laboratory, and physical plant facilities needed to support each of its academic programs. Contact the Chairperson for the department for specific information about the facilities and resources available to support the academic program. Departments can be found here.
Net Price Calculator
To help current and prospective students, families, and other consumers estimate the individual net price of an institution of higher education for a student. The calculator shall be developed in a manner that enables current and prospective students, families, and consumers to determine an estimate of a current or prospective student’s individual net price at a particular institution. To see more info, click here.
To access our net price calculator, click here.
Peralta Community College District Drug Abuse and Alcohol Prevention Program (DAAPP)
The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Regulations (Education Department General Administrative Regulations [EDGAR]) specifies that no institution of higher education shall be eligible to receive funds or any other form of financial assistance under any Federal program, including participation in any federally funded or guaranteed student loan program, unless the institution certifies to the Secretary that the institution has adopted and has implemented a program to prevent the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees. In response, the Peralta Community College District has adopted and implemented programs and policies to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees. Please click here for more information.
Programs and Services Available to Students with Disabilities
The Student Accessibility Services (SAS) department provides support services to students with disabilities in an effort to ensure equal opportunity and participation at the college. For more information about the facilities and services available to students with disabilities, visit the department’s website at Student Accessibility Services
Refund Policy, Requirements for Withdrawal and Return of Title IV Financial Aid
If you withdraw completely from classes during the tuition and fee refund period, and you received a California Colleges Promise Grant (CCPG) to waive your fees, you will not receive a refund on the fees waived by the CCPG. A student who receives financial aid and then completely withdraws from classes prior to completion of 60% of the semester will be assessed a percentage of unearned financial aid. You earn aid as you progress through the semester. For example, if you complete 30% of the semester, you earn 30% of your aid awarded for the term.
Students will be required to repay the institutional portion of assessed refunds; failure to repay will result in a hold on academic records and any future registration at Peralta. Any federal portion due will be referred to the U.S. Department of Education, and failure to make satisfactory repayment arrangements or failure to make any of these payments will make you ineligible to receive further aid at any college.
If a portion of aid received is from a Loan, the assessed repayment will be made according to the conditions indicated on the Loan Promissory Note. Any aid received under the Federal Work Study Program will not have to be repaid. If you completely withdraw after you have attended 60% of the semester, you will have earned all financial aid for that semester.
If you withdraw and have not received all earned financial aid, your home college will calculate a post-withdrawal refund that may be disbursed to you.
When a student is paid an initial Pell disbursement (usually 50% of the term award) and then drops enrollment to less than six units, the Pell grant will be recalculated to less-than-half-time status. The student will be required to repay the calculated balance to the Department of Education.
Assessed repayments will be refunded to the financial aid programs from which they were paid in the following order:
- Unsubsidized Direct Loan
- Subsidized Direct Loan
- Pell Grant
- Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
If you receive an overpayment of financial aid, even if it is a result of an institutional error, you will be required to repay the overpayment in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid.
College Information and Student Body Diversity
Gender, race, and other demographic data documents are published regularly by the PCCD department of Institutional Research. Additional information can be accessed at the Student Demographics Dashboard (click on 'Campus' to filter for Merritt).
Textbook Information
Students can access each semester’s book list via the campus Follett bookstore. Not all classes listed require texts.
Each semester’s booklist is posted at the same time the class schedule is made public. Book information is listed as it becomes known through the submission of book orders from faculty.
The book list is subject to substantial change prior to, and through the course of, a semester. A complete list of materials required for the course can is searchable here on the bookstore website. The Textbook Refund Policy is listed here.
Title IX Compliance
Merritt College Athletics assures that all student-athletes have a right to participate in an athletic program free of discrimination, including sexual harassment and retaliation. For more information about Title IX compliance, click here.
Transfer of Credit Policies and Articulation Agreement
If you have attended college(s) prior to attending your home college, whether or not financial aid was received at the other college, and you plan to use transfer credits toward a degree/ certificate from the Peralta Community College District, you must submit official transcripts to the Admissions and Records department for evaluation. For Financial Aid purposes, all recorded applicable degree/certificate transfer credits will be computed toward the Satisfactory Academic Progress maximum time frame of 90 units for a standard 2-year program. You must inform your home college if you attended another college during the same academic year (i.e., Fall 2014 or Spring 2015 and summer 2015). For assistance, schedule an appointment to meet with a Counselor. See Articulation for more information on transferring credit.
Voter Registration Information
Merritt College encourages eligible students to register to vote. Students may access the California Voter Registration website by going to the Campus Solutions portal and selecting “Register to Vote” in the Student Services area. The Office of Student Life also organizes voter registration events periodically.
Official Withdrawal Policy
Dropping or withdrawing from a course is not an automatic process. It is the student’s responsibility to drop the classes he/she is not attending. If the student does not drop a class, he/she will be charged and could receive an “F” grade that will appear on their permanent record. Students can drop classes online or at the Admissions and Records Office on campus. To learn more about withdrawal procedures, click here.
Withdrawal Date
See “Withdrawal Policy” above for an explanation of withdrawal procedures at Merritt College. The withdrawal date established by Merritt College is the date used by the Financial Aid Office to determine the point in time that the student is considered to have withdrawn, so the percentage of the payment period or period of enrollment completed by the student can be determined. The percentage of Title IV aid earned is equal to the percentage of the payment period or period of enrollment completed.
Standards of Student Conduct
Students are responsible for complying with all laws and college regulations and for maintaining appropriate course requirements as established by the instructors. To learn more about standards of student conduct, go to Administrative Procedure 5500, Student Standards of Conduct, Discipline Procedures, and Due Process.
Illegal Distribution of Copyrighted Materials
PCCD supports the Higher Education Opportunity Act and Digital Millennium Copyright Act, including efforts to eliminate the illegal distribution of copyrighted material. PCCD BP 3720 and AP 3720 provide guidelines to students, faculty, and staff to assist in compliance with federal copyright laws. BP and AP 3720 are posted on the District website.