Greetings! Welcome to Math, Science, Engineering and Public Safety at Las Positas College!
Dr.
Neal Ely
Dean, Academic Services
Phone: (925) 424-1182
Fax: (925) 456-0673
E-mail: nely@laspositascollege.edu
My name is Dr. Neal Ely, and I am the Dean of this academic division,
where we offer some of the top programs anywhere in the areas of Mathematics,
Science, Engineering, Horticulture,
Public Sector programs (Administration
of Justice, Fire Science Technology,
and Emergency Medical Technician),
Design Technology, and our
newest program, Viticulture and Winery Technology
(VWT). We offer an array of programs leading to certificates,
two-year degrees, or transfer to four-year universities, as well as
programs that provide professional development or meet general education
requirements.
The new Viticulture and Winery Technology Program
is designed to prepare students for careers in the wine industry,
and students may enter the program at the level most suited to their
needs. The Program will provide students with the knowledge and skills
in either of two tracks, Viticulture (grape growing) or Enology (wine
making). Please visit the Program's Web site
for more information.
Our Mathematics
Department, besides offering the usual complete range of mathematics
classes, has been pioneering in using instructional software such
as Maple, Excel, and MATLAB to provide the best possible preparation
for our transfer students. We have also instituted the use of additional
lab hours, computer labs and an Open
Math Lab to benefit all of our students at all levels. We have
a rigorous program, and I am confident that there is none better in
the area and none more committed to student success.
Our Science program is centered in our recently opened Science and
Technology Center and offers programs in Biology,
Chemistry,
Geology, Geography,
and Physics
and Astronomy.
Las Positas College has one of the highest transfer rates of any community
college in the state, and no where is that more evident than in our
science programs. We have found that our students transferring as
science majors to four-year universities are often better prepared
than those students at those four-year schools who began there as
freshmen. Similarly, students transferring in non-science programs
or those working towards their Associate Degree can choose from a
wide variety of interesting and challenging classes to meet their
science requirements.
Over the past several years, our Engineering
Transfer Program has become one of the most dynamic programs at the
College. Our engineering students transfer to schools such as UC
Davis, Cal Poly,
Cal State Hayward,
UC Berkeley,
San Jose State, and the University
of the Pacific, among others. We have special agreements with
Cal State Hayward in Industrial Engineering, and with UC Davis in
Optical Science and Engineering. The exciting program in Optical
Science and Engineering is one of only four such programs at the
undergraduate level in the country.
As noted above, the Division is home to our Public Sector programs,
and includes our partnership with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department
for their Sheriff's Academy.
We also offer a degree and transfer program in Administration
of Justice, degree and certificate programs in Fire
Sevice Technology, as well as our program leading to an EMT-1
certification.
The Division also offers vocational programs such as the VWT
Program mentioned above, Horticulture,
and in Laser Technology,
the latter done in conjunction with our partners at Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory, which creates unique opportunities
for our students.
I am very proud of our award-winning faculty and staff, our programs,
and our facilities, which compare favorably with the best four-year
schools (as well as other community colleges) anywhere in the state.
I was recently told by an adjunct faculty member that our Biology
laboratory was actually better equipped than the one she used to teach
undergraduate biology in at UC Berkeley! Please explore the Division's
Web site and the links to our programs to find out more information
and don't hesitate to contact me, my staff, or our faculty if you
have any questions about how we can help you achieve your educational
goals. I wish you success in your educational endeavors.
