West Valley College
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Type | Public community college |
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Established | 1963 |
Parent institution | West Valley-Mission Community College District |
Chancellor | Bradley Davis |
President | Stephanie Kashima |
Academic staff | 198 full-time and 270 associate |
Students | 8,056 [1] |
Location | , , United States |
Campus | 143 acres (58 ha) |
Colors | White, Navy Blue, Orange |
Mascot | Viking |
Website | www |
West Valley College is a public community college in Saratoga, California. It is part of the California Community College system.
History[]
The college was founded as West Valley Junior College in 1963.[2][3] It was to serve the footprint of the Campbell Union High School District, the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, and the Santa Clara Unified School District. The district was formed by voter approval in January 1963.[2] The first classes began September 14, 1964.[4] The first campus took over the space of the defunct Campbell Union Grammar School, at 1 East Campbell Avenue near Winchester Boulevard in Campbell across the street from Campbell High School.[5] The grammar school itself was closed because its WPA era buildings were deemed unsafe in the event of an earthquake. While some of the existing buildings used, most of the classrooms were portable, parked on the former playgrounds.[6]
The land for the new campus, where the school is located now was purchased in 1966. Groundbreaking for the new construction was June 15, 1967.[2][7] Starting in 1968 the first new building was occupied and a few classes transitioned to the new campus, many in temporary classrooms while further permanent structures were built. The transition was completed in 1975.[8]
Campus[]
The campus occupies 143 acres (58 ha) in the city of Saratoga. One of the distinguishing features of the school's location is that it is off the West Valley Freeway.
Organization and administration[]
West Valley College is part of Silicon Valley's West Valley–Mission Community College District, which also administers Mission College in nearby Santa Clara, in turn part of the California Community Colleges System. The district serves the cities of Saratoga, Campbell, Los Gatos,Monte Sereno Santa Clara, and San Jose. The district headquarters is on the West Valley College campus.
Academics[]
As of 2005, West Valley College offered 61 associate degree programs and 94 certificate programs. As of 2017, the school had a total enrollment of 9,463 students and its faculty had 404 full-time and 168 associate members. From those 9,463 students, 5,721 are returning students from the semester before.
Student demographics[]
Student percentages are: Hispanic 29%, White 38%, Asian 17%, African-American 4%, Filipino 5%, other 7% [9]
Athletics[]
West Valley offers a plethora of men and women sporting activities including: baseball, men's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's water polo, softball, women's volleyball, women's tennis and beach volleyball. West Valley Athletics is known as the West Valley Vikings, with the mascot being a Viking. Team colors are navy blue, orange and white.
Men's soccer[]
Winning Percentage of (.715) over the last 10 seasons only losing 48 games while winning 151. 12 Coast Conference Championships since 1998, last being in 2015 where they Four-Peated as champions from 2012-2015.[10] Nationally ranked 8 seasons since 1998. last being in 2015. [10]
Men's baseball[]
One of six teams to have won more than 130 games in a span of four seasons.[11] 7 Conference Championships, last being in 2009.[11] Nine Super Regionals, last being in 2008.[11] Reached the Final Four in 2008 and was ranked #7 in the nation that same season.[11]
Men's water polo[]
West Valley's community college program and in all of California with a multitude of trophies including: Six State Championships,[12] Twenty Northern California Championships,[12] and Twenty-Eight Conference Championships.[12]
Women's softball[]
Since 2010, the West Valley softball team has reached the playoffs four times and won two Conference Championships, the last in 2015. The Vikings were CCCAA State Champions in 1990 and 2002.[13] The team received a top eight selection in 2013.[13]
Notable people[]
- Mark Bingham and Nicole C. Miller, passengers on the United 93 flight during the September 11, 2001 attacks
- Stan Bunger, news anchor on KCBS
- Doug Capilla, Major League Baseball player
- Vicky Galindo, Olympic Silver Medalist and former National Pro Fastpitch second and third baseman for the Chicago Bandits
- Kit Lathrop, former NFL defensive end/defensive tackle
- Cung Le, former International Kickboxing Federation Light Heavyweight World Champion; professional mixed martial artist, former Strikeforce middleweight champion, competed in the UFC's Middleweight Division[14]
- H. Paul Shuch, SETI scientist
- Jason Tarver, NFL assistant linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers
- John Hendy, former NFL cornerback San Diego Chargers First Team All Rookie 1985, 2 year starter at Long Beach State 49ers football 1984 College Football All-America Team defensive back.
References[]
- ^ cite web|url=http://westvalley.edu/about/facts.html
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Finding aid for the West Valley College Study of Enrollment, Weekly Student Contact Hours, Average Daily Attendance". Oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ Winter, Carl G. (December 21, 1964). "History of the Junior College Movement in California". Bureau of Junior College Education. p. 35.
- ^ "Image / Temporary location sign for West Valley Junior College at Campbell Grammar School". Calisphere.org. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ^ "Raising temporary location sign for West Valley Junior College at Campbell Grammar School location, 1964". Oac.cdlib.org. 19 December 1964. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ "Moving relocatable building unit through archway at Campbell site". Oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ "Saratoga campus groundbreaking". Oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ "West Valley College's First Home". Campbell.patch.com. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ "California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office". Datamart.cccco.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Men's Soccer". Westvalley.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Baseball | West Valley College". Westvalley.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Men's Water Polo | West Valley College". Westvalley.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Softball | West Valley College". Westvalley.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ^ "Cung Le UFC Bio". Ufc.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
External links[]
Coordinates: 37°15′48″N 122°00′36″W / 37.263429°N 122.010000°W
- West Valley College
- California Community Colleges
- Educational institutions established in 1963
- Saratoga, California
- Schools accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- Universities and colleges in Santa Clara County, California
- 1963 establishments in California
- Two-year colleges in the United States