Las Positas College’s Veterans First Initiative has been designed to ease the transition of servicemen and women from military life into college and to assist them with educational, financial and other forms of support needed to improve their chances of success at college.

The staff of Las Positas College has moved aggressively to advance the vision of a full service veterans program from a dream to reality.  With seed funding from the Las Positas College Foundation, it has devoted a tremendous amount of work and the numerous resources necessary to prepare Las Positas to become the college of choice for the many veterans returning from the military and those who may be seeking new opportunities.

The Veterans First Initiative has developed an aggressive approach to addressing the need for a) Increased awareness about the opportunities for veterans at Las Positas College and b) a robust program that addresses and meets the unique needs of this very special group of students.

The basic cost of a California community college education is a remarkable bargain for students wishing to prepare for transfer to a four-year institution or for those who want career technical instruction.  Class fees for residents are just $26 per credit.  In actuality, however, the true actual and emotional costs of higher education must also include child care, transportation, and lost work & family time.  Far and away the most easily quantified additional costs are for supplies – principally textbooks.  A single text often costs in excess of $100 and can exceed $400.  Sadly, these “extra” costs can force some students to attempt to take classes without a textbook or, worse, drop out of college.

The Las Positas College Foundation Textbook Challenge in a vehicle to fund a Book “Loaner” program.  Managed by the Associated Students of Las Positas College, the program started in the Fall Semester 2009 as a daily check-out service of the College Library.  In time, as funds allow, it will evolve into a semester-long loan program

The College Bound Scholars program is for at-risk middle school students who will participate in an experience designed to enhance their success in secondary school and advance to higher education.  Components of the program are financial assistance, mentoring from college faculty and staff and activities over the years to support families and students as they progress toward college.

The 6th grade to college program was implemented in April 2007 with its first thirty person cohort from the three K-12 Districts in the Las Positas College service area.  In 2009 the program began serving its second cohort.  Teams from each district, in collaboration with the College staff, selected ten students each based on three primary criteria

• First generation in family to attend college
• Socioeconomic need
• Potential to succeed academically in college