In 1963, Las Positas College started as an extension center of Chabot College. It initially offered 24 classes to its 810 students at Livermore High School and two other sites. In 1965, a site was purchased for developing a comprehensive community college in Livermore. Called Valley Campus, the Livermore Education Center of Chabot College opened in 1975. Thirteen years later, the Board of Governors of the Community College System granted Valley Campus independent status and it was renamed Las Positas College (LPC).

A draft master plan for the new college was released in July 1989. “In the year 2005, a freshman at Las Positas College will find the bucolic 147-acre community college campus finally completed,” Benny Evangelista wrote in the July 21, 1989 issue of the Oakland Tribune. “The student can choose classes from a variety of subjects, including music, business, computers, humanities, science and journalism. The student can study by one of the little ponds and streams at the campus as a reminder of what it means. And on the weekend the student can watch a show in the community performing arts center.”

The reporter noted that “those visions are only dreams” but were part of a draft master plan that the college district would use to expand what was then a 5,000-student satellite college. “Further down the line,” he noted, the college would boast “buildings housing a language and communication complex, a student services complex, a fine arts and music complex and a business, computer information, and consumer service complex.” One District Trustee predicted that Las Positas College would be able to “catch up on the computer revolution and include more science programs.”

An Educational Gem

Most of the dreams described by Evangelista came true. Since its creation, the 147-acre college has only grown in significance and has become a key Tri-Valley institution. Despite the challenges of the pandemic years, President Dr. Dyrell Foster has overseen important developments and new educational relationships that have expanded the value of LPC as a resource for both students, the larger community, and Tri-Valley businesses.

Dr. Foster notes that LPC is close to home, affordable, and has “outstanding guaranteed transfer programs” with California public colleges and universities, as well as a number of in-state and out-of-state private colleges and universities. Third parties regularly acknowledge the college's excellence. California has 116 community colleges. In 2023, LPC was ranked the number one community college in the state. Niche.com currently ranks LPC as the fourth-best community college in the United States. Moreover, LPC is an appealing place to study. “The success that the college is experiencing is important because our accomplishments are centered on student access, educational equity, student retention, and, ultimately, student success,” says Dr. Foster. “The dedicated and committed faculty, classified professionals, and administrators at Las Positas College embrace our collective responsibility to assist and support our students in achieving their educational goals.”

An estimated 8,500 day and evening students take advantage of the college’s curriculum, which includes courses of study for 24 Occupational Associate Degrees, 17 Transfer Associate Degrees, and 44 Certificate Programs. LPC also offers community education courses geared toward personal development and cultural enrichment. Adults who want to learn a new language, for example, will find a host of offerings at LPC.

According to LPC’s Educational Master Plan for 2021 to 2026, the college “has become a majority minority institution with an increasingly diverse student population within the last 10 years.” A significant portion of the student body is drawn from low-income households. Moreover, “54% of students are first-generation college students, with Latinx students having one of the highest first-generation college rates at 76%.”

Many first-time students may find attending college daunting, but LPC has created a system to make the process easier. “We have invested a tremendous amount of time and energy into developing a Guided Pathways model that provides all students with a set of clear course-taking patterns that promotes better enrollment decisions and prepares students for future success,” says Dr. Foster, who has led LPC since 2019. “These efforts also integrate student support services in ways that make it easier for students to get the support they need during every step of their experience at Las Positas College. These efforts will further support student success in helping students transfer and obtain degrees in a timely manner.”

LPC has developed and maintained a variety of partnerships during the past couple of years with local unified school districts and university partners. Officials say LPC “excels in helping students transfer to the University of California system, the California State University system, and other four-year institutions.” These educational partnerships help students achieve their educational goals and pursue career pathways. The college’s collaboration with local business, industry leaders, and community-based organizations have also been important for LPC students as “they provide opportunities for paid internships, work-based learning, and obtaining technical skills, all of which prepare students for their careers,'' Dr. Foster. “These strong partnerships with our community not only enhance student learning, they are also essential in helping our talented students enter the workforce to support our regional economy.”

A Source of Pride

Thanks to the Measure A Bond program approved by voters in 2016, the college opened a new horticulture facility in 2022 and an Academic Support Office Building earlier this year. This new instructional hub includes faculty offices, classrooms, labs, and more. Last month, LPC opened a new Public Safety Complex and Advanced Manufacturing and Transportation (AMT) building. The 2,400-square-foot Public Safety Complex features a three-story fire training tower, emergency medical service simulation lab and situation rooms, and fire training apparatus. The adjoining AMT building includes an automotive technology facility, welding lab, classrooms, lab spaces, and more.

Funds from Measure A are also allowing LPC to design a future Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Complex to provide new state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities for faculty and students. During the next year, the college plans to continue to grow enrollment, strengthen processes to support students’ experiences inside and outside of the classroom, and increase transfer and degree-completion rates, Dr. Foster says. The LPC will also implement new technology and software platforms “that will allow us to be even more efficient and effective in utilizing data to make timely and informed decisions to support student access, retention, and overall student success.”

Through its Career Center, LPC hosts job and internship fairs throughout the year and employers are able to post opportunities on its jobs and internships board. College officials are eager to expand LPC’s partnerships with employers to further develop a talent pipeline into various industries and careers, according to Dr. Foster. “We continue to explore pathways to build skills-based and career-focused programs that are short-term, flexible, and prepare our talented students to meet the workforce needs in our Tri-Valley region.”

Attending Las Positas College has much to recommend it, according to Dr. Foster. Benefits include a beautiful, growing campus that feels like a four-year university. It also boasts state-of-the-art facilities, a great campus culture, and committed faculty and staff dedicated to serving LPC students and the larger community.

“During the past two years, since moving through the Covid-19 pandemic, I am most excited about the collective efforts from our employees and students to build and maintain an active, thriving campus community,” says Dr. Foster. “Our college is full of life. There are engaging events, activities, and programs on campus for our students and the local community. We’ve also been intentional about creating and maintaining a campus culture that is welcoming, inclusive, caring, and supportive. I’m proud that we’ve been able to create such a great teaching and learning environment that allows our students to thrive.” For more information about Las Positas College, please visit https://www.laspositascollege.edu/index.php.

For information about the employer services offered by the Las Positas College Career Center, please visit www.laspositascollege.edu/careercenter/employer-services.php.