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    Academic Senate

    Welcome to the Merritt College Academic Senate

    The Merritt College Academic Senate is a legislatively-mandated body that brings the voice of the faculty to college policy and practices.  Senators are elected by the faculty in yearly elections and work as a body to address faculty concerns. The Senate has a formal constitution with bylaws. The Senate’s voice depends on faculty involvement. We encourage and welcome the faculty to contact the Senate with any ideas, feedback, and suggestions to improve the college and create a greater connection with the faculty and the campus. The Peralta Colleges also have a District Academic Senate made up of Senate representatives from all four PCCD colleges. Finally, there is a statewide academic senate (ASCCC) that addresses faculty concerns at the state level.

     

    The Role of the Academic Senate, provided by state law, is to make recommendations to the Board of Trustees in the following areas. The Board is to “rely primarily” on the recommendations of the college Senates in developing policies and procedures in these areas.

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    Academic and Professional matters mean the following policy development:

    1. Curriculum, including establishing prerequisites.
    2. Degree and certificate requirements.
    3. Grading policies.
    4. Educational program development.
    5. Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success.
    6. College governance structures, as related to faculty roles.
    7. Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes.
    8. Policies for faculty professional development activities.
    9. Processes for program review.
    10. Processes for institutional planning and budget development.
    11. Other academic and professional matters

    President
    Dr. Monica Ambalal - President

    Vice President
    Dr. Thomas Renbarger

    Recording Secretary
    Adoria R. Williams

    Treasurer
    Greg Vose

     

    Senators

    Nghiem Thai

    Lesley Scurry

    Dan Lawson

    The Merritt Academic Senate meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 12:30 – 2 p.m. in L-137

    .   

    The District Academic Senate meets on the 1st. and 3rd. Tuesday of each month from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the District office.

    The Academic Senate is subject to the Brown Act.

    Documents

    Templates

    What is the Academic Senate?

    The Academic Senate is an organization whose primary function is to make recommendations with respect to academic and professional matters.

    Academic and professional matters “10+1”

    1. Curriculum, including establishing prerequisites.
    2. Degree and certificate requirements.
    3. Grading policies.
    4. Educational program development.
    5. Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success.
    6. College governance structures, as related to faculty roles.
    7. Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes.
    8. Policies for faculty professional development activities.
    9. Processes for program review.
    10. Processes for institutional planning and budget development.
    11. Other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon.

    (From Title 5 Section 53200)

    Section V: The Academic Institution: The Faculty

    “Agencies for faculty participation in the government of the college or university should be established at each level where faculty responsibility is present. An agency should exist for the presentation of the views of the whole faculty. The structure and procedures for faculty participation should be designed, approved, and established by joint action of the components of the institution. Faculty representatives should be selected by the faculty according to procedures determined by the faculty.”

    From “Empowering Local Senates: Roles and Responsibilities of and Strategies for an Effective Senate”

    Senate Student Scholarships

    Faculty Senate Scholarship 2026

    Dear Colleagues,

    It’s student scholarship season once again, and the Academic Senate is sponsoring ten scholarships. The full scholarship information packet (including the application, recommendation, and personal statement forms) is available online on the Merritt College and Merritt College Academic Senate websites and via the following links:

    All scholarship applications and accompanying documents are due by email to Greg Vose (gvose@peralta.edu) by Monday, April 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM

    We ask that you share this information far and wide with any students who may be interested or may qualify, particularly in the Welcome Center, Counseling Department, Financial Aid Office, Learning Center, and Library.

    Thank you for your support!

    Sincerely on behalf of the Academic Senate,
    Greg Vose, Merritt Academic Senate Treasurer

    Classified Senate