Laney College President’s Report – May 10, 2023

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. 

SAS Numbers:

Formerly known as DSPS, the SAS office provides accommodations to students with verifiable disabilities that affect their learning. Through these critical accommodations, students gain access to academic curriculum, assistive technology, alternate media, and test proctoring. Also, after the initial intake process, they work with a SAS counseling specialist to figure out the best accommodations. SAS works closely with faculty and staff to find those in need and support them as soon as possible, and Laney College thanks the wonderful SAS team: Nathan Failing, Irina Rivkin, Jack Smith, Jessica Owyoung, Sidney Wong, Jim Gioia, Alex Cervantes, Alexandra Cipher, Kim Cael, and Chelsey Young.

Laney Welcomes Nearly 500 to Career Technical Education Open House

On April 29th, Laney College hosted its Annual Career and Technical Education (CTE) Open House, with a total of roughly 500 potential students, parents, trustees, civic leaders, and community partners visiting campus. In addition, 14 industry and community partners, including labor unions, tabled to demonstrate the pathway of how our certificates and degrees lead to fulfilling careers. With about 100 Laney College employees supporting the event, students were able to register on the spot with 122 new students enrolling for 236 Fall seats, as well as 151 for Summer.

Laney expresses its deepest gratitude to those who have contributed to the success of this event. Along with the core planning team of Fang Huang, Raya Zion, Kim Gonzalez, and Dean Ally Tomas, who spent several months bringing the event to successful completion, CTE faculty and staff contributed from Biomanufacturing, Business, Carpentry, Commercial Music, Computer Information Systems, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Electrical & Electronics, Engineering, Environmental Control Technology, Graphic Arts, Journalism, Legal & Community Interpreting, Machine Technology, Media Communications, Photography, Welding Technology, and Wood Technology. There were also colleagues from all over the college to put on workshops and provide onsite Student Services support. In total over 100 colleagues planned and gave their Saturday to support students and the community.

“Carnival Style” Laney Employee Appreciation Day Honors Colleagues’ Achievement, Years of Service

April 28, 2023, marked the second year in a row that the Laney campus gathered in person for Employee Appreciation Day. The event was set against the backdrop of a barbecue and carnival theme – including a cotton candy machine. A lot of work went into the games, drawings, and other events, and Laney was privileged to congratulate employees with Years of Service milestones and formal retiree recognition. Those nominated by colleagues who earned Laney’s We Rise Outstanding Employee Awards were honored as well.

Events like this do not happen without great planning as well as time put in for setup, cleanup, and, well, just plain running things. The College would like to thank and recognize the following colleagues, who put in not only a lot of hard work but also personal attention to make the event special:

Laney Eagle's Nest visits UC Berkeley’s Basic Needs Center

On April 19, Laney Basic Needs Coordinator Katrina Santos and Director of Student Activities and Campus Life Atiya Rashada had the opportunity to attend a meeting and tour at the UCB basic needs center. The visit was planned to collaborate with UCB and share best practices toward Laney’s vision of taking a holistic approach to serving needy students. The team has also had the opportunity to meet other basic needs coordinators from the College of Alameda, Berkeley City College, Merritt College, and Ohlone College, resulting in an East Bay regional Basic Needs consortium of sorts.

Laney College Kicks Off Mentorship Program

The beginning of May saw Laney launch its own Employee Mentorship Program. Eleven pairs of mentors and mentees will begin the project within a kick-off session, where Acting Vice President of Student Services Dr. Marlon Hall will discuss leadership and opportunities for growth from a mentor/mentee relationship. 7 faculty, 4 classified professionals, and 8 administrators will be participating.

The program is the product of institution-wide discussion over the past 2-3 years, and the College thanks members of the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Committee for designing the program and incorporating it as part of the new SEM Plan for the college.

This article is taken from the President’s Report, written by Dr. Rudy Besikof, Laney College President, that was presented to the PCCD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. To view it as a pdf, click here.