Laney Shares Free College Success Stories with Partners at Oakland Rotary

One of the chief collaborative partners of Laney College have been members of Oakland Rotary #3, who come to campus and support students in a number of ways, especially with members giving their time to help with food distribution efforts. Additionally, at events such as One Stop Saturday and last Spring’s Employee Appreciation event, Rotarian John Claussen and others have brought a corn dog machine to campus to serve students, showing a true connection between the campus and those in the community who are working to address food and other insecurities among students.

Fall/Spring is Free at Laney College: More Students Enrolled, Stayed through the Semester, and Re-enrolled in 2022-2023!

Laney College experienced a strong enrollment rebound in 2022-2023, during the Fall is Free and Spring is Free semesters. Fall to spring student persistence numbers -or continuation into the next semester- during these two terms was higher than it was during COVID and is heading back toward pre-COVID averages. In real numbers, 901 more students persisted from term to term in the “Free” year than in the year before, an increase of nearly 1%.

Laney Eagle’s Nest and Food Distribution – Fall 2023

As part of Laney’s continuing efforts to meet Student Basic Needs, the College has established a hub providing access to resources designed to keep them enrolled and successful in their academic pursuits. Named the Laney College Eagles Nest, this unique on-campus center fosters a culture of holistic well-being by helping to eliminate life barriers, such as food, housing, and economic injustice, that may jeopardize students’ academic and personal success.

Summer 2023 Enrollment

Summer 2023 is in full swing at Laney. The college is currently teaching 126 sections of classes, with a total of 3,041 students in them. This is an 8% growth over the number of students who took summer classes last year. Classes are being taught in all academic divisions, from African American Studies through Wood Tech. Particularly exciting are the career education courses that are being taught as part of the CE Summer Institute.

Laney Student Honored with 2023 National Academy of Arts & Sciences Award

Laney College student Susan Bradley became the first student to ever be honored with the 2023 Governors Service Medallion Award by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). NATAS also serves as the organization that provides the Emmy Awards. Susan earned this honor thanks to her continual contribution as a photographer for NATAS, but only after three years of service.

RAÍCES Latinx Graduation @ Laney College

Professor Mark Rauzon’s Summer Work in the Arctic

Professor Mark Rauzon will be the seabird observer on a research expedition to the Bering Sea and beyond on a Canadian Ice Breaker. Leaving Victoria BC on July 5th, Prof. Rauzon will be collecting seabird distribution data when the ship is underway and when the ship is on station.

Laney College Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Increasing Number

As Laney College closes 2022-23, it does so providing nearly double the disability accommodations that it did five years ago. In the last 4 years, Student Accessibility Services (SAS) has met more student needs by doubling its staff, creating outreach with external groups, creating certificates for students with disabilities, and opening a Test Proctoring room. The work has been a team effort from the Assistive Technology Specialist to the Test Proctor, the Staff Assistant, and counselors under the leadership of faculty coordinator, Dr. Nathan Failing, Dean Diane Chang, and Vice President Marlon Hall.

Laney College: Reaching Out Across the Bay

In 2023, Laney continues to act on the realization that it needs to go out into the community so that the community will attend Laney. Over the past few months, Dr. Lawrence Vanhook has taken on a community outreach role that has had the College present in various parts of Oakland, while the efforts of countless others have Laney telling its story and promoting opportunities that come with a college education in new places.

Laney College Awarded $1.4 million MESA Program Grant

Laney is honored to be selected to offer a Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program. With the funds received from the state totaling more than a million dollars, we will be able to provide tutoring and counseling services to many students in underrepresented communities, as well as others in these fields. Students will receive a strong foundation on which to build successful futures. We are proud to launch this initiative, which will be a collaboration with Merritt College under the terms of the grant. Special thanks to Dean of Math & Sciences Angel Fuentes Figueroa for his leadership in the successful application!