Over the past 15 years he has served on the New York State commission on coastal issues and the state commission on shoreline erosion. Professor Larocca, KeySpan Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Long Island University since April 2000, teaches courses in the environment, coastal resource management, government and associated fiscal issues and public policy at the Southamptom College Campus of Long Island University. Larocca's seminar at C.W. Post is a part of the campus' Honors Program. The program attracts academically gifted students and provides them with an enriched program that encourages critical thinking and independent research. Faculty and advisors focus on each individual honors student as a distinct intellectual personality and the program includes both academic and social activities.
Honors classes are small and are run as discussion-style seminars.
They encourage writing and oral presentations and the students' education culminates in the presentation of an individual research thesis. Most graduates of the C.W. Post Honors Program go on to graduate school or to earn advanced professional degrees.