Being at the top of a list for an achievement is always a wonderful feeling. Whether it be for a project you’ve been working on, something you created or something you are just a part of. There always is a certain thrill of being at the top.
Adam McCann, the financial writer for personal finance website The WallerHub, released the “2020’s Best & Worst Community Colleges” on Aug. 17. This list ranked Las Positas Community College as 14th in the nation.
In McCann’s report, WalletHub selected a sample of 698 schools from the list of member institutions in the American Association of Community Colleges and evaluated them using three key factors: cost and financing, education outcomes and career outcomes.
Many believe ending in the top 20 is a huge accomplishment for Las Positas and all the faculty and students involved.
Ecstatic upon receiving the news, Foster said, “I was thrilled! Completely excited and proud of our college, of our district, of our students and of our community. This recognition is validating and a result of a collective effort and hard work of everyone at LPC long before I arrived, so I was particularly happy for our faculty, classified professionals and administrators because they deserve the recognition and the honor of this impressive ranking.”
Foster emphasized that the ranking was a huge accomplishment and part of all the hard work that has been put in by not just current faculty and staff but previous as well.
“LPC is a great educational value in the Tri-Valley. We have high transfer rates to UCs, CSUs and other four-year colleges, and our students, upon completion, are finding livable wage jobs in their fields of study. Las Positas College is successful because we have amazing students and because of our commitment to academic excellence and to providing an inclusive, student-centered, equity-focused campus environment. We provide excellent academic support, student services and outstanding educational programs and opportunities to support students in achieving their educational goals. Most importantly, we have the most dedicated, committed, passionate and professional faculty, classified professionals and administrators who care about our students and their success,” said Foster.
He emphasized that the key to a successful school is making sure both the professors and students care about student outcomes. The professors ensure that the students receive and are aware of the help that can be provided to them and know the resources that are available. The students there care to give their time at LPC the best and leave on the strongest level they can and take what they learned here and apply it to their future.
Foster said, “We don’t have plans to get a higher rank next year. However, we do have significant plans to enhance the college experience for our students and to continue to strive to meet their educational and career needs by providing excellent instruction and support services, particularly in this COVID environment. We are constantly seeking ways to improve and to be a better college for our students, and by focusing on meeting the needs of our students, if our ranking happens to improve next year, I’ll be fine with that.”
As classes and the semester roll on in the midst of a pandemic, accommodating to online learning is a task for everyone, but LPC takes it upon themselves to provide the best quality education, according to Foster.
Ana Delgadillo is a staff writer for The Express. Follow her at @aaanakd.
