The Citizen

Investigation: A look at the for-profit Chinese business that sold Peralta classes overseas

American Straight A Academy advertised an asynchronous online pathway to California university admissions

Lylah Schmedel-Permanna, Managing Editor • October 30, 2024

A private company sold access to California public education for an undisclosed price.

Investigation: Over half of PCCD conflict of interest disclosures nowhere to be found

Lack of state-mandated forms 'raises some ethical questions about transparency,' expert says

Li Khan, Editor in Chief • September 17, 2024

We asked PCCD for five years of conflict of interest disclosures, but only got half. Here's why an ethics expert is concerned.

The Citizen Investigates: International Travel

PCCD spends $87k on overseas trips yet F-1 student population declines

Lylah Schmedel-Permanna, Managing Editor • July 25, 2024

Peralta has yet to establish a process to evaluate the costs and benefits of funding international travel. We combed through travel receipts, international student data, and district policy to find out.

Sunshine Week 2024: Spotlighting public records

A multi-year investigation into public records related to campus security, public funds, and more

Li Khan, Editor in Chief • March 17, 2024

As the news cycle churns on and current events beg for our attention, some public records that we obtain inevitably end up collecting dust in the corner. In honor of Sunshine Week, we’ve decided to dust off some of those records, and shed light on public information.

Narcan at California colleges: Are students getting overdose medication?

Li Khan, via CalMatters • March 8, 2024

A California required campus health centers at public colleges and universities to arm students with free Narcan, but not all have followed suit.

Laney’s Tower of Terror

Tower elevators offline after alleged malfunctions with passengers inside

Leo Premnath-Ray, Investigations Reporter • December 28, 2023

Three separate reports were made to The Citizen in November about a Laney Tower elevator malfunctioning with passengers inside. The college announced Dec. 4 that the Tower elevators would "remain offline until further notice."

How $11.2 million in state funding led to a $6.2 million deficit for PCCD

A semester-long push and pull regarding cost-of-living raises culminated in budget cuts to address a $6.2 million deficit.

Sam O'Neil and Li Khan • December 24, 2023

Faculty at the Peralta Community College District wanted to see the $11.2 million state Cost of Living Adjustment funds used towards employee cost-of-living raises, but district officials determined that granting cost-of-living raises of any amount would still require substantial cuts elsewhere in the budget.

The Citizen Investigates: Outside Speaker Fees

Payments range from $150 to $60,000 in the absence of a district-wide policy

David Rowe and Pamela Rudd • June 22, 2023

Over the past three years, the four colleges of the Peralta Community College District have invited a number of outside speakers to conduct workshops for students, faculty, and staff without formal district-wide policies set in place to determine how much they should be paid. Records obtained by The Citizen show that fees paid to these speakers range widely, from as little as $150 to as much as $60,000.

CA bill would alter Brown Act requirements for elected student representatives at California Community Colleges

Lylah Schmedel-Permanna, Staff Writer • May 1, 2023

A controversial bill recently passed through the California State Assembly Higher Education Committee that could change Brown Act teleconferencing requirements for student body organizations at community colleges. The bill will be heard next by the Assembly Local Government Committee on May 3.

Deep Dives