As of February 19, parking permits are required to park on all campus parking areas. If you don't have a parking permit, you can purchase it through the LACCD SIS Portal and pick it up at the Business Office, or buy daily parking permits at parking pay stations on campus. The Business Office's extended hours end on February 22.

Do you have the GradGuru and LACCD Mobile apps? Stay on track by keeping connected with Valley College with the GradGuru App, and have the student information system at your fingertips with the myCollege.laccd.edu Mobile App. Download both apps for free on the Google Play Store or iTunes Store today!

LAVC is offering classes with "zero textbook cost" or "low textbook cost" for students! Zero Textbook Cost classes uses free, online course materials, and Low Textbook Cost classes have textbooks that are $50 or less. To find these classes, search the online Schedule of Classes by "Class search type" and select "zero cost textbook classes (OER)" or "low cost textbook classes".

Be extraordinary by making a life-saving donation of blood! All students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to LAVC's American Red Cross Blood Drives on February 11, March 11, April 8 and May 13. You can donate blood if you are at least 17 years old, are 110 pounds or more, and are in generally good health. Make your life-saving blood donation appointment online today; walk-ins are also welcomed.

The LAVC Foundation is now accepting online applications for its 2019 scholarships from qualified LAVC students. This is the first year that the Foundation scholarship application is offered fully online! Check the LAVC Foundation web site for a list of scholarships and to apply. The deadline for most Foundation scholarships is March 22, 2019.

LACCD held a public forum on the LAVC presidential search with Chancellor Rodriguez on February 8. Monarch Hall was filled with more than 75 students, faculty, staff and the public who came to hear about the search process for a permanent LAVC president, and participated in a discussion on the desirable qualities and characteristics for our new permanent leader. The District is putting together a search and interview committee, which will finalize the job posting and screen the candidates. The committee's finalists will be forwarded to the Chancellor, who will then forward a smaller group of final candidates to the LACCD Board of Trustees. The District hopes to select a new LAVC president on or about July 1, 2019.

Did you know that there is an LAVC Historical Museum on campus? Established in 1975, it houses an amazing collection of treasures from San Fernando Valley's 100-year history including historical photos, artifacts, oral history recordings and more! This Spring, the LAVC Historical Museum is offering open houses every fourth Thursday of the month from 1-2 p.m. in LARC 204 that are free for students, faculty, staff, and the general public.

In honor of Black History Month, we are highlighting the efforts of our LAVC Black Scholars program to help increase the academic success of African-American students at Valley College. The Black Scholars program, under the leadership of Dean Llanet Martin and program coordinator Dr. Elliott Coney, supports LAVC students of color by providing a mentorship-based learning community on campus. Black Scholars is also coordinating this month's "Black Heritage Week" activities, including a The Hate You Give screening and panel discussion, keynote address by Nate Howard of Movement BE, BBQ fundraiser, comedy show, cultural celebration, and more. Coming up, the program will have a soft opening for its brand new dedicated space in CC102 later this month, and will welcome its first cohort of the Umoja Program this Fall.

The campus community is invited to the first B.U.I.L.D. Series lecture on Choice Architecture by LAVC Professor Tyler Prante on February 14.  Professional Development will also soon begin implementing the objectives of our Our Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI) plan. To recap last month, Professional Development kicked off the new year with two Strengths Finders Inventory Trainings (one with the college leadership team and the other with classified staff) as well as held a successful Winter Tech Fest featuring presentations on a range of topics including Photoshop, Outlook, Canvas, Podcasting and more. Stay tuned for more activities this Spring!

The Anthony & Jeanne Pritkzer Foster Youth Initiative has recently awarded the LAVC NextUp/Guardian Scholars program with a $25,000 grant. In addition, the Pritkzer Initiative's Foster Care Counts has awarded a $5,000 grant plus an additional $1,000 for student scholarships through the LAVC Foundation. The funds will be used to help support current and former foster youth at Los Angeles Valley College. Congratulations!