In this newsletter we generally feature one scholarship recipient and the scholarship underwriter. However, this quarter we are recognizing fifteen extraordinarily generous individuals and organizations that have invested in Las Positas College students through a special and unique vehicle: A $1,000 per year perpetual scholarship that will impact hundred - and, over time, thousands - of students.

This scholarship opportunity was made possible in conjunction with the Bernard Osher Foundation. The Osher Initiative - which began in June 2008 and ended in June 2011 - allowed each of the participating California Community Colleges to fund-raise and receive matching funds from Osher. The Las Positas College Foundation raised nearly $300,000. The 112 California Community Colleges together raised enough money to establish a $62 million scholarship endowment after a 50 cents on the dollar match from Osher.

The perpetual scholarship underwriters made a one-time investment of $13,500 in each of twenty scholarships at Las Positas College. Osher in turn matched those investments with $6,750 for a total of just over $20,000. The Osher Foundation further guaranteed a 5 percent return on each scholarship's $20,000 regardless of market rates. That return became the basis of the twenty $1,000 per year perpetual scholarships. The first of these scholarships will be awarded during the Spring 2012 semester.

The LPC Foundation and the Las Positas College campus community - including most importantly, the students - are honored and humbled by the generosity of the members in our regional community. There are no other words to express our gratitude except for a simple, yet profound, thank you to the Perpetual Scholarship underwriters:

• Lori Souza and Bryan Balazs
• Sharon and Bruce Gach
• Valerie and Tony Hund
• Darcie and David Kent
• Mayor Janet Lockhart
• LPC Foundation Board of Directors
• Claudia Pendo McCormick
• Barbara and David Mertes
• The Rheinheimer Family
• The Rotary Club of Pleasanton North
• The Rotarian Foundation of Livermore
• Joan and Lynn Seppala
• Kimberly Tomlinson and family
• Christine Wente and Roland von Metzsch
• Wells Fargo Bank

There is no question that California is facing a budget crisis. When the dire budget situation trickles down to the state-funded community colleges, all of the campus communities suffer its consequences. Students are especially affected.

At Las Positas College, 100 sections - nearly 20 percent of all classes - had to be eliminated for the Fall 2011 semester. This has made it much more difficult for students to get into the classes they require to graduate or to transfer. In turn, what is supposed to be an experience that spans two years can easily turn into three years or more. And this expansion is not because of work or family obligations; it is simply because the necessary classes are not available.

The California state budget - that was adopted on June 30 - closed a nearly $27 billion gap with, among other measures, assumptions about increased state revenues. It now appears unlikely that the full increase in revenues will be achieved. Assuming that this is true, it will trigger additional cuts in community college funding.

In a recent news conference, Jack Scott - Chancellor of the California Community College system - noted that up to 670,000 students might have to be turned away from the state's 112 community colleges because of the deep cuts in state funding. Several factors contribute to this situation.

One of the factors is that community college enrollments are counter-cyclical to the economy. When the economy is challenged - as it is now - the demand for seats in community colleges increases. Simply put, current demand is up while per student funding is down.

Another factor impacting the California Community College students is fees. Traditionally, California Community Colleges were well funded by the state. As long as that was the case, fees could be kept low which promoted access by even the most economically-challenged students. This is no longer the case. In the Fall 2011 semester, California Community College student fees increased from $26 to $36 per unit.

Las Positas College and its sister, Chabot College, comprise the Chabot Las Positas Community College District. If revenue projections made in June are not sufficiently achieved, the district could be facing a funding reduction of more than $6 million. Such a loss could trigger another fee increase - perhaps up to $46 per unit - along with other means of accommodating the reduction in state support. These further cuts, tragically, will further impact students and the other members of the campus community.

The monetary challenges at Las Positas College are being addressed aggressively. The LPC Foundation is working diligently to increase investments in campus community. The College is also looking for new sources of revenue such as renting its facilities to outside groups during non-instructional hours. In addition, many faculty members are allowing extra students in their already fully-filled classes to help alleviate the impact of reduced sections.

The critical nature of the monetary challenges at Las Positas College cannot be overstated, but it is heartening to know that the campus community is expending every effort to live up to the institution's motto: Students First.