Markel said of his brother Martel, “If he got an A+, and I got an A-, I would be mad for hours.”
It’s just how they were wired.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Screen-Shot-2016-02-12-at-11.01.01-AM.png” credit=”Photo courtesy of LBCC” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”LBCC President and Superintendent Eloy Ortiz Oakley delivers a speech on the school’s current status and future during the State of the College address on Friday, Feb. 5 at the college’s gym.” captionposition=”right”] Oakley praised recent student achievements and accolades, along with collegiate plans in regard to bond measures, projects and statistics, during the 2016 LBCC State of the College address on Friday, Feb. 5 in the school’s gymnasium.
The address included speeches from LBCC District Trustee Douglas Otto and Academic Senate President Karen Kane. Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell, Long Beach Councilmembers Al Austin and Rex Richardson and board member of LBUSD Felton Williams were among those present at the event.
In the presence of Oakley and 450 inside a packed gymnasium of elected officials and community members, the twins were being spotlighted. The Coopers are now on track to transfer this spring with AA degrees in kinesiology. Oakley called them unique, but in that same regard, he also respectfully labeled them the typical embodiment of the LBCC Viking spirit.
It was an afternoon of student recognition. Appropriately, it was a student who inaugurated the start of the college address by flaring her trumpet to the tune of the National Anthem.
Otto made some remarks about enrollment at the address. He said the state budget cuts since the 2008 recession presented challenges for LBCC, as it was forced to make tough decisions about its identity and students.
“Those challenges remain today,” Otto continued. He said state funding has still not returned from its peak in 2008. Across the state, Otto claimed community-college enrollment has decreased, down from 2.78 million to 2.1 million. He said there is room in the college for more students, but there is a lack of support from the state.
But what LBCC does have is the Viking spirit, Otto affirmed.
Coming out of the recession has brought forth a renewed sense of focus at LBCC, said the trustee. New initiatives and renovations are bringing an air of excitement to the college that will help students in their collegiate experience, which Otto said can be a struggle, like “navigating through a dark river at night.”
Oakley provided the specifics. The superintendent said that new learning models have been implemented in order to help students in the classroom. Tutoring networks have been established and are called “achievement coaches.” It’s intended to provide more focus to students who need the assistance. Online counseling is available, as well.
Funding has also come by way of support programs, such as modernization projects and the Long Beach City College Foundation.
The modernization project has allocated its $616-million budget to creating new buildings and departments at LBCC’s Liberal Arts campus and creating a new culinary arts facility. The foundation project has raised $50 million since 1978 to provide scholarships, grants and upgrades.
Oakley gave a by-the-numbers presentation during his speech that highlighted some LBCC statistics for the 2015 calendar year. According to the numbers presented, LBCC awarded $1.5 million in scholarships to students— touted as the most of any single year in college history— and also served 33,566 students, of which roughly 2,000 received either an associates degree, degrees for transfer or certificates of achievement.
Oakley called 2015 a great year filled with plenty of affordability. But he insists that a holistic effort from the community is what it will take for LBCC to continue making successful strides.
“Let’s continue to transform Long Beach City College,” Oakley said. “We are a model for the nation, not just at this college, but throughout our community. All of our education partners— we are them, they are us. We will continue to focus on the need of a student’s life— Markel and Martel— and the other students we highlighted. This is your community college. We need you to help us continue the work that we do.”
Oakley also briefly touched on the Long Beach College Promise, a program that has public schools, community colleges and universities working together to help students earn degrees. A partnership with the Long Beach community allows it to provide a free academic year at LBCC, guaranteed admission to CSULB and intensive support. Oakley said the program has expanded its outreach. Visit longbeachcollegepromise.org for more information.
The 2016 State of the College address can be viewed in its entirety at LBCC’s website at lbcc.edu .
