I am happy to write letters of recommendation for those students who have worked hard and done well in my classes.  It is important that you follow certain guidelines so that I will have time to write a letter that will enhance your application.  All of the following should be provided to me in writing, hard copies greatly preferred.

1. Your full name, which class(es) you took, and when you took the class.  Also include the grade you earned, which I will verify with my records.
2. A draft of the personal statement you intend to turn in with your applications.  I am particularly interested in what led you to decide on your chosen field and any other relevant, personal information that may help me write a more personalized letter.  Include a contact phone number/e-mail in case I have questions.
3. Your options for getting the completed letter are to come pick it up from me during my office hours, pick it up before or after class, have me mail it to you, or mail it directly to the school.  You should provide all envelopes, addressed and stamped if appropriate.
4. Which degree you are seeking, and the name of the specific program at each school you are applying to.  If you request more than one letter, I may elect to write one general letter that would work for all the schools.
5. If there are forms for me to fill out in addition to a letter, provide those and make sure it is clear which schools they go with if you are applying to more than one.  Make sure you fill out the sections that you need to before you give these to me.  Forms will often ask for the following information, which you should write in yourself:

• print my name
• my title:  Biology instructor
• phone #:  (510)464-3402
• e-mail: lblackie@peralta.edu
• school/address:  Laney College, 900 Fallon St., Oakland CA 94607

6. The date you would like me to give the completed letters to you.  Make sure you are aware of the deadlines for all your schools and request letters soon enough to get your application sent for the earliest deadline.
7. You must allow a minimum of two weeks for me to write letters, counted from the time you give me all the appropriate materials.  If it is a particularly busy time for me, I may need more than two weeks.
8. Please feel free to nag as the deadline gets closer to make sure that I have completed your letters of recommendation.

Laney College Biology Collective Code of Conduct 

To strive for equity, our department runs by Consensus Structure with feedback from everyone. Click here for our BIOL consensus structure 10.2021

Community Agreements

• Make Space/Take Space
• Consider the impact of our actions/words
• Confidentiality (be clear if the conversation is confidential)
• Treat each other with respect (listen and respond with honor)
  • Respect the “talking piece” in meetings
• We will try to consider intent in the actions/words of others

To us, this means, the Laney Biology Collective is a supportive, safe, welcoming environment for all, regardless of basis of age, race, religion, color, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, military or veteran status, disability, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, and immigration status

• Please be kind and courteous to each other. No personal attacks; direct strong emotions at ideas, not individuals. There’s no need to be mean or rude.
• Debate is encouraged and part of how we develop. Be respectful, use healthy forms of discourse, and be open to new ideas. This is a science – we test, investigate and reassess
• Respect that people have differences of opinion and that every decision carries a trade-off and numerous costs. There are frequently multiple right answers.

Who should I talk to?

In most departments, you would go to a chair with forms to sign, course updating questions or concerns about a class. For us, we have area leads:

Some information that helped us with formulating our structure and continue to learn:

Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by adrienne maree brown

Do Better: Spiritual Activism for Fighting and Healing from White Supremacy by Rachel Ricketts

Feminist Accountability by Anne Russo

Readings for Diversity and Social Justice. Ed. by Adams, Blumenfeld, et al.

Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond

Decolonizing Methodology by Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith

The Deepest Well by Nadine Burke Harris, MD

White Fragility by Robin Diangelo

Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire

Overview of some of the works of bell hooks

We are also fans of April Thames, PhD who studies the physiological impact of racism and bias

Dimensionalizing Culture Hofstede Model in Context is a good resource that discusses collectivist versus individualist thinking

This essay addresses practices that perpetuate White Supremacy Culture and suggestions for antidotes!

Here is a great article we also reference on our homepage: Can Biology Class Reduce Racism?

From the SEAS research program Gyasi Alexander created and produced a podcast called Hidden Curriculum. Podcast written for first generation students, and other stakeholders seeking to understand and support them. Catch all six episodes at https://anchor.fm/hiddencurriculum.