OAKLAND, Calif., March 25, 2015 – The Board of Trustees of the Peralta Community College District voted unanimously last night to accept a grant of $933,000 to Laney College from the State Chancellor’s Office as part of the Proposition 39 Clean Energy Workforce Program Grant. Laney is one of four colleges that make up the Peralta Community College District that includes Berkeley City College, College of Alameda and Merritt College in Oakland.
Laney College has been designated by the Bay Area Community College Consortium to lead the Bay Area regional collaborative for the Proposition 39 Clean Energy Workforce Program Grant. This $933,000 grant is for the period from April 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, and will be used to hire a director and to collect data for Laney and participating colleges in the region on completion of degrees, certificates and certifications, provide professional development for faculty throughout the region, and provide formula-driven program improvement funds through sub-awards to partner community colleges.
The Proposition 39 Clean Energy Workforce Program grant will be used to build and sustain a regional network of colleges to prepare the workforce for the energy sector, to elevate the quality of instruction at colleges that have investments in education, provide training in energy efficiency and renewable energy and build career pathways for students seeking employment in this growing area.
Laney College will work collaboratively in a Bay Region network of colleges conducting workforce development and program improvement in the commercial energy efficiency sector and related construction trades. Consortium colleges include Cabrillo College, City College of San Francisco, College of Marin, College of San Mateo, Diablo Valley College, Foothill College, Gavilan College, Las Positas College, Ohlone College, San Jose City College, Santa Rosa Junior College and Skyline College.
Led by a director, Laney will support colleges in the region to track and document completers of certificates, degrees and industry recognized credentials, improve tracking systems, improve connections with employers, align curriculum with industry needs and align curriculum across the region.
The project will also support completion of recognized apprenticeship programs in the building trades that receive college certificates. The project will also support the efforts of the Energy Efficiency and Utilities Sector Navigator and Deputy Navigator for the California Community Colleges to improve energy efficiency in the built environment and work to meet State of California AB 32 carbon reduction goals.
For 50 years, the Peralta Community College District has served the cities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland and Piedmont by providing 30,000 students each semester with a range of educational programs and life-long learning opportunities. To learn more, visit www.peralta.edu.