2004 District Office Press Releases Archive

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District Press Releases - 2004

10/27/04

Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Trustee Isobel Dvorsky Garners National Award

(Pleasanton, CA) - Chabot-Las Positas College District is pleased to announce that Board trustee, Mrs. Isobel Dvorsky, is the 2004 recipient of the M. Dale Ensign Trustee Leadership Award as designated by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).
Dvorsky received the award earlier this month at the ACCT 2004 Leadership Congress in New Orleans, Louisiana. The award is bestowed annually, to one trustee who has provided leadership by helping to solve challenges to two-year post-secondary education institutions. "It is overwhelming, to be recognized by my peers because I can think of at least 100 other trustees who deserve this award," said Dvorsky. "I am so pleased for the district. Without the colleges and the district, this couldn't have happened."
Dvorsky has served as Chair of ACCT as well as Chair of the California Community College League which represents all trustees in California and has contributed to a wide spectrum of community college and local organizations. "I take great pleasure and honor in being associated with Isobel, a wonderful and dedicated person who has given so much to others, especially our fabulous community college students. I know I speak for our board in thanking her for her service," said Donald "Dobie" Gelles, President of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Board of Trustees.
Susan Cota, Chancellor of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, echoed Gelles sentiments. "We are extremely proud of Isobel's achievements and recognition by this national forum of her peers. She is an outstanding role model and an innovative problem solver, and we are fortunate to have her on our board of trustees."
More than 2,000 community college trustees, CEO's and higher education public policy and corporate leaders attended the ACCT conference. Keynote speakers at the four-day event included former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Susan Au Allen, president and CEO of the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, award-winning author Max Allan Collins and entrepreneur Deborah Rosado Shaw.

8/26/04

District Hires Bond Project Management Firm

(Pleasanton, CA) – The Board of Trustees of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District has hired DMJM Management to manage the District's Measure B Facilities Bond Program.
Passed by district voters in March, the $498 million bond will fund repairs, renovations and new construction at Chabot College in Hayward and Las Positas College in Livermore. DMJM Management will supervise all phases of the building process.
“We are pleased with the qualifications of DMJM Management. They are currently managing the Los Angeles Community College District's $2.2 billion dollar bond program. They bring to our program a vast amount of experience in architecture, engineering and construction, along with a unique understanding of community colleges and higher education in general,” said Dr. Susan Cota, district chancellor.
In addition to the Los Angeles Community College District, DMJM Management is managing college and K-12 building programs across the country. They bring world-class experience from successful programs such as the Pentagon Renovation Program and are currently managing major education facilities program in Washington, DC; Detroit; Chicago; Houston and Dallas, to name a few.
Given an ambitious 90-day schedule to develop the procedures that will be used to successfully implement the Measure B Program, DMJM Management representatives have begun work with both the Colleges and district staff. “ The opportunity to participate in such a major building program is, for many college faculty and staff, a once-in-a-career opportunity. It is exciting to see the zest with which both Chabot and Las Positas Colleges have approached their respective programs. They have a real sense that they are shaping their campuses for generations of students, faculty and staff," said Mike Robinson, DMJM program director.
"Chabot and Las Positas Colleges provide unique educational programs and services to the East Bay Area and Tri-Valley communities and Measure B will greatly enhance and expand those services in the years to come. The benefits to both the students of the District and to our communities will be far reaching. As a long-time resident of Pleasanton I am particularly pleased to be able to personally contribute to the success of our Colleges and the Measure B Program,” said Jim Daniel, Pleasanton resident and DMJM contracts manager.
“DMJM will be working closely with the District staff in managing the program,” said Vice Chancellor Roy Stuzman. According to Stutzman, who has responsibility for the Measure B Program, DMJM is also supporting the Colleges in updating their facility master plans. “While several smaller projects have been started, design of the major projects will await the completion of the master plan updates. We expect to advertise for design services for major projects as early as January 2005,” said Stutzman.

8/25/04

Unique Tri-Valley Partnership Addresses Nursing Shortage as Students Go Back to School

Pleasanton, CA - The nationwide and California nursing shortage is threatening health care. In California hospitals, on average 20% of nursing positions are vacant. According to the Board of Registered Nursing, the number of nurses moving into California in the past three years has nearly equaled the number moving out, an average of 28,800. California is ranked 49th in the nation for the number of nurses per captia (only Nevada has fewer nurses). This problem will only get worse as the baby boomers continue to age.
The number of nurses graduating from California colleges has not kept pace with the state's population growth. However, on a local level, the number of Tri-Valley students wanting to become nurses continues to grow. Last year approximately 200 students applied to the Chabot College Nursing Program in Hayward, with only 42 openings available. This year the number has more that doubled to 438.
A major factor in the nursing shortage is that college nursing programs are already at capacity, unable to take on additional students. However, thanks to a partnership forged last year between ValleyCare Health System of Livermore/Pleasanton, Chabot College in Hayward and Las Positas College in Livermore, the capability to admit more students to the program has increased to 54. Plans are to continue expanding the program and increase the number of students each year beginning in fall 2005.
"To my knowledge, this is a unique partnership. No other hospital in California, and possibly the U.S. has partnered with their community colleges to address the nursing shortage at a local level," said Marcy Feit, CEO of ValleyCare Health System. "With many hospitals hiring nurses from other countries, innovative partnerships of this nature enable students to stay local, and our goal is to hire them to work at ValleyCare after graduation."
Thanks to generous donations by the Graham Nissen family of Livermore, the Tri-Valley Community Fund and the Y&H Soda Foundation, scholarships are available to qualifying students. Last year, $10,500 was granted (through the ValleyCare Foundation), to students participating in the ValleyCare/Chabot/Las Positas nursing program. Scholarships will be available to students participating in the program this year.
"This project is an example of how business, education and the community can work together to not only help students reach their goals, but to address the critical nursing shortage facing our community and state," said Dr. Susan Cota, chancellor of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District. "In addition, programs like this enhance the economic development of our community by keeping resources and dollars local."
"It is a natural fit," said Feit. "Chabot College's accredited nursing program and qualified faculty, along with pre-requisite classes offered by Las Positas College, set the stage for this partnership." ValleyCare remodeled space on its Livermore campus to include a classroom, a skills lab with teleconferencing capabilities and a reference library. ValleyCare is also partially funding additional pre-requisite science courses at Las Positas College including the microbiology lab equipment and instructor fees.
For those interested in touring the new facility at ValleyCare, please call (925)373-8076 or for information about the nursing program in general, please call (510)723-6871.

7/20/04

Board Appoints Measure B Citizens' Oversight Committee

(Pleasanton, CA) - At its meeting last night the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Board of Trustees confirmed the appointment of several community members to the District's Measure B Citizens' Oversight Committee.
Passed by voters in March, Measure B will provide $498 million for construction, repairs and renovations at Chabot College in Hayward and Las Positas College in Livermore.
Measure B was conducted under Proposition 39 in which the state Education Code requires the district to establish the committee in order to satisfy the accountability requirements of Proposition 39.
The Committee is charged with reviewing expenditure reports to ensure that bond proceeds are used only for the purposes set forth in Measure B, and that no bond proceeds are used for any teacher or administrative salaries or other operating expenses.

Committee members appointed to the Citizens' Oversight Committee are:

Kevin Baker, San Leandro
Suzanne Barba, Castro Valley
Gordon Galvan, San Leandro
Brian Foster, Castro Valley
Bob Tucknott, San Leandro
Tonika Jones, Hayward
Charles Simonian, San Leandro
Dave Bouchard, Pleasanton
Byron Kamp, Pleasanton
Jason Teramoto, Pleasanton
Linda Lucas, Pleasanton
John Sailors, Livermore

For additional information about the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District's Measure B Citizens' Oversight Committee, please contact Jennifer Aries at (925) 485-5215.

6/7/04

Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Hosts Manufacturers Roundtable on Thursday, June 24

(Pleasanton, CA) - Training and Development Solutions (TDS), the contract services division of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District (CLPCCD) is hosting a Manufacturers Roundtable on Thursday, June 24 that will focus on areas of employee development such as: English as a Second Language (ESL), Maintenance Mechanic Apprenticeship, and ISO 9000 Certification.
Panelists for the roundtable discussion are from four East Bay companies and will discuss how training in these areas have shown positive results within their respective businesses. The forum will include representatives from Quaker Oats, a unit of PepsiCo beverages and foods which manufactures Gatorade; Kobe Precision, a supplier of substrates for disk drive manufacturers, and provider of wafer reclamation services for the semiconductor industry; Cholestech a manufacturer of cholesterol checking devices; and Curtis PMC which researches and develops speed controllers for electric vehicles.
"TDS offers a wide variety of employee development services including ESL, maintenance mechanic for production equipment, and ISO 9000 certification," according to Dr. Paul Hermis with the CLPCCD economic development department. "These are three critical areas for California manufacturers who need to communicate well with their employees, be able to provide routine maintenance to production equipment, and earn ISO 9000 registration to compete in the global market," he adds.
TDS has more than a decade of experience in delivering cost-effective solutions to organizations in a wide range of industries. Through customized business solutions and comprehensive course selections, TDS can assist to strengthen organizational efficiency, competitiveness, and profitability. The program's flexible approach and proven track record enhances the productivity of human resources and training departments, creates comprehensive training programs ranging from basic skills to specific job-related expertise, and maximizes learning through instructors with real-world experience, delivering training on-site, and at the business' convenience. For more information about the upcoming manufacturers roundtable, please contact TDS at TDSinfo@clpccd.org or (925) 485-5239.
The Chabot-Las Positas Community College District was founded in 1961 and serves southern Alameda County, through its two colleges: Chabot College in Hayward and Las Positas College in Livermore. The colleges specialize in university transfer, technical training, continuing education, workforce development, contract education with local businesses and cultural enrichment. The district serves nearly 22,000 students and employs more than 1,200 administrators, faculty and classified staff. Members of a seven-member Board of Trustees set policy for the district. They are elected from trustee areas by the registered voters of nine communities: Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton, Sunol, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, San Leandro, Hayward and Union City.

1/23/04

What's Ahead For California's Community Colleges?
Upcoming Event Features Chancellor of Statewide Community College System and Other Experts to Address Current Budget Crisis

(Hayward, CA) - The Chancellor of the California Community College System, Dr. Mark Drummond, will be a featured speaker at a reception hosted by 3D/I on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at the Chabot College Performing Arts Center in Hayward. The keynote speaker of the event will be Dr. John Roueche, a professor and director of the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Roueche is the author of 34 books and more than 150 articles and chapters focused on leadership, teaching and learning in American colleges and universities.
The event will bring together the Bay Area business community with administrators and faculty from higher education to assess and discuss the challenges facing California's community college system in the near future.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed that thousands of University of California and California State University-eligible freshmen students are instead redirected to a community college next fall, in an effort to save the state money.
Some of the possible pitfalls and advantages of such a plan will be discussed at the event, which will also be attended by members of the business community, faculty and administration of Chabot and Las Positas Colleges. Chancellor Drummond, who served as a member of the Chabot faculty early in his career and other speakers will also be available for media interviews.

Who: Dr. Mark Drummond, Chancellor, California Community College system, Dr. John Roueche, Keynote Speaker on, "What's Ahead for California's Community Colleges?" and Dr. Susan Cota, Chancellor, Chabot-Las Positas Community College District
What: Reception and presentations on the future of California's community colleges.
Refreshments will be served.
When: Tuesday, January 27, 2004, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
(Interviews with Dr. Drummond, Dr. Roueche and Dr. Cota can be scheduled earlier in the day to meet press deadlines. Please contact Jennifer Aries at the number listed above to make arrangements for an interview.)
Where: Chabot College Performing Arts Center, 25555 Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward

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