West Valley College
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Type | Publiccommunity college |
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Established | 1963 |
Parent institution | West Valley-Mission Community College District |
Chancellor | Bradley Davis |
President | Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza |
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 Collegeis apubliccommunity collegeinSaratoga, California.It is part of theCalifornia Community Collegesystem.
History[edit]
The college was founded asWest Valley Junior Collegein 1963.[2][3]It was to serve the footprint of theCampbell Union High School District,theLos Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District,and theSanta 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 defunctCampbell Union Grammar School,at 1 East Campbell Avenue near Winchester Boulevard inCampbellacross the street fromCampbell High School.[5]The grammar school itself was closed because itsWPAera 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[edit]
The campus occupies 143 acres (58 ha) near theWest Valley FreewayinSaratoga.
Organization and administration[edit]
West Valley College is part of Silicon Valley's West Valley–Mission Community College District, which also administersMission Collegein nearbySanta Clara,in turn part of theCalifornia Community Colleges System.The district serves the cities ofSaratoga,Campbell,Los Gatos,Monte Sereno,Santa Clara,andSan Jose.The district headquarters is on the West Valley College campus.
Academics[edit]
As of 2005, West Valley College offered 61associate degreeprograms 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.
Athletics[edit]
The West Valley Vikings represent the school in sport and athletics. Team colors are navy blue, orange and white. Teams include 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.
Men's soccer[edit]
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 to 2015.[9] Nationally ranked 8 seasons since 1998. last being in 2015. [9]
Men's baseball[edit]
One of six teams to have won more than 130 games in a span of four seasons.[10] 7 Conference Championships, last being in 2009.[10] Nine Super Regionals, last being in 2008.[10] Reached the Final Four in 2008 and was ranked #7 in the nation that same season.[10]
Men's water polo[edit]
West Valley's community college program and in all of California with a multitude of trophies including: Six State Championships,[11] Twenty Northern California Championships,[11] and Twenty-Eight Conference Championships.[11]
Women's softball[edit]
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.[12]The team received a top eight selection in 2013.[12]
Notable people[edit]
- Mark Bingham,United Airlines Flight 93casualty
- Stan Bunger,news anchor
- Doug Capilla,baseball player
- Vicky Galindo,baseball player
- John Hendy,football player
- Kit Lathrop,football
- Cung Le,mixed martial artist
- Adam Peters,football scout and executive[13]
- H. Paul Shuch,SETIscientist
- Jason Tarver,football coach
References[edit]
- ^"Fast Facts".West Valley College.RetrievedSeptember 8,2021.
- ^abc"Finding aid for the West Valley College Study of Enrollment, Weekly Student Contact Hours, Average Daily Attendance".Oac.cdlib.org.Retrieved15 November2017.
- ^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.RetrievedMarch 14,2017.
- ^"Raising temporary location sign for West Valley Junior College at Campbell Grammar School location, 1964".Oac.cdlib.org.19 December 1964.Retrieved15 November2017.
- ^"Moving relocatable building unit through archway at Campbell site".Oac.cdlib.org.Retrieved15 November2017.
- ^"Saratoga campus groundbreaking".Oac.cdlib.org.Retrieved15 November2017.
- ^"West Valley College's First Home".Campbell.patch.19 March 2012.Retrieved15 November2017.
- ^ab"Men's Soccer".Westvalley.edu.Retrieved2018-02-22.
- ^abcd"Baseball | West Valley College".Westvalley.edu.Retrieved2018-02-22.
- ^abc"Men's Water Polo | West Valley College".Westvalley.edu.Retrieved2018-02-22.
- ^ab"Softball | West Valley College".Westvalley.edu.Retrieved2018-02-22.
- ^"Former Viking Adam Peters heads to Miami with 49ers for Super Bowl LIV".athletics.westvalley.edu.West Valley College.January 22, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 8,2024.
External links[edit]
- West Valley College
- California Community Colleges
- Universities and colleges 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