Mission Statement
"The West Valley-Mission Community College District unites our colleges in a shared vision of educational excellence where students representing diverse experiences and identities feel connected and supported in pursuit of their goals and aspirations."
Our Guiding Framework
The guiding framework of the West Valley-Mission Community College District includes our values and vision as well as our mission.
Our Values
We value the following core principles and qualities as the foundations for our work and our vision for the future.
- Student Success - In all our activities, we are committed to facilitating the success of students.
- Excellence - We continually strive to meet the highest standards in our educational programs and services and in our internal processes.
- Diversity and Inclusion -The District provides a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds, groups and perspectives.
- Service - We strive to make positive contributions in the lives of our students, our colleagues, and our communities.
- Engaged Learning - We create collaborative, hands-on learning experiences that are relevant to our students’ lives and goals.
- Effective Communication - We exchange ideas through open and inclusive channels and in a spirit of mutual respect and civility.
- Exploration and Creativity - Our educational programs and organizational culture encourage innovation and creativity.
- Stewardship and Accountability - We manage resources effectively.
- Partnerships - We build mutually beneficial relationships internally within the District organization and externally with partners in our service area and beyond.
Our vision of success is to continually strive to be:
- Student Centered…
- Linked to our Partners and Communities
A Clear Focus on the Future
- Serve Expanding and Diverse Student Populations - The Colleges’ reputation as quality institutions of higher education continue to attract large numbers of students from diverse backgrounds with a variety of academic goals, including transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
- Provide Relevant and Responsive Educational Programs - We must continually refine and adapt our offerings and teaching methods to respond to the diverse needs of our students and communities we serve.
- Upgrade Facilities - Today’s learning environment demands flexible use in order to accommodate multimedia instruction, group projects, distance learning, and team teaching as well as lecture and discussion formats.
Strategies for the future
At both Colleges, diverse departments and programs have developed a common set of priorities for serving the community now and in the future. This strategic framework will guide our responses to the key challenges facing the Colleges and the community.
- People - We will make our students and employees the foundation for our success.
- Environment - We will create systems to support high levels of achievement.
- Community - We will maintain strong relationships and partnerships.
- Organization - We will create a culture of service.
West Valley-Mission Community College District Board of Trustees
- Anne Kepner - President
- Robert Owens - Vice President
- Adrienne Grey - Trustee
- Mary-Lynne Bernald - Trustee
- Susan Fish - Trustee
- Karl Watanabe - Trustee
- Randi Kinman - Trustee
Student Trustee
Melanie Ho
Chancellor West Valley-Mission Community College District
Bradley Davis
History of the District
The first public meeting convened to address the formation of the West Valley Joint Community College District was held in July 1962. In October 1962, the California State Board of Education approved the District’s formation, and in January 1963, the voters residing within the Campbell, Los Gatos-Saratoga, and Santa Clara High School Districts established the District.
The District’s first college, West Valley Junior College, became operational in September 1964, at the 12 1/2-acre remodeled Campbell Grammar School in Campbell. The 1964-65 academic year began with an enrollment of 3,203 students and a staff of 10 administrators and 53 instructors. One hundred courses were offered that first year. The following year the name was changed to West Valley College.
In 1964, the 143-acre Fruitvale-Allendale site in Saratoga was purchased. Funding from the State Junior College Construction Act was obtained, and between 1964 and 1974 the campus was developed. The first building was completed in 1968, and the first classes began in fall of that year.
In 1966-67, 12 acres of land were purchased in Santa Clara north of the Bayshore Freeway between Lawrence Expressway and Coffin Road for the construction of Mission College. The total 164-acre parcel was acquired in 1970, the first phase of construction at the Santa Clara site was completed in 1979, and the College began its 1979-80 academic year with 3,500 students, 8 administrators, and 73 instructors.
In September 1985, the name of the district was changed to West Valley-Mission Community College District to reflect the status of Mission College.
Office of College Advancement / WVMCCD Foundation
The West Valley-Mission Community College District Office of Advancement builds relationships and fosters community support to advance the mission and strategic vision of both West Valley and Mission Colleges. Our advancement team works with donors and external partners to secure charitable contributions in support of district and college funding priorities. All charitable contributions are received by the West Valley-Mission Community College Foundation, which provides support ranging from program supplies to internships to scholarships.
The West Valley-Mission Community College District Foundation makes a critical difference in the academic lives of thousands of students every year – and enables both West Valley and Mission College to deliver on their core value of open access to everyone.
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors and managed by the WVMCCD Office of Advancement.
Melissa Johns, Executive Director, Advancement
Nicole Aguinaldo, Program Director, Office of Advancement
Joanne Cao, Financial Analyst, Office of Advancement
Office: (408) 741–2164
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://wvm.edu/services/wvmfoundation/Pages/default.aspx
Sexual Harassment and Sex Discrimination Policy
Members of an academic community -- students, faculty, and staff -- must be able to work in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. Students, teachers, and staff must feel personally secure in order for education to take place. As a place of work and study, West Valley-Mission Community College District should be free of sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and all forms of sexual intimidation and exploitation. Any violation of trust, any form of intimidation or exploitation, regardless of gender, damages the institution’s educational process by undermining the essential freedoms of inquiry and expression. All students, staff, and faculty must be assured that the District will take action to prevent misconduct. Anyone who engages in sexual harassment and/or sex discrimination shall be subject to sanctions.
In accordance with approved District policy and Procedure, the following individual is designated as the Responsible Officer for grievances, complaints and questions.
For complaints of sexual harassment or discrimination, see:
- Associate Vice-Chancellor of Human Resources
- Personnel Office
If you are a student seeking a reasonable accommodation under Section 504 or the ADA Act, see:
- Coordinator
- Disability and Educational Support Program (DESP)
- Or Vice President of Student Services
Discrimination and Sexual Harrassment Vocational Education Non-Discriminatory Policy
Vocational Education Programs are offered at West Valley College without regard to race, color, national origin, sex or disability. Admission to the College is open to high school graduates and to persons 18 years of age and older who show evidence that they can profit from instruction, including those who have passed the High School Proficiency Exam or the test of General Educational Development (GED). Verification of eligibility must be included with the application.
While the lack of college-level English skills may not be a barrier to admission and participation in the college’s vocational education programs, it is recommended that students take assessment and see a counselor for adequate class selection.
In accordance with approved District Policy and Procedure, the following individuals are designated as the Responsible Officer for grievanc-es, complaints and questions.
For sexual harassment or discrimination
The Associate Vice Chancellor
West Valley College, Personnel Office
14000 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070-9698
(408) 741-2060
If you are a student seeking an accommodation under Section 504 or the ADA, see:
Disability and Educational Support Program
West Valley College
14000 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070-9698
Director: Amy Delevett
(408) 741-2010
Póliza Que Prohíbe Discriminación
La admisión al Colegio está abierta para los graduados de la escuela de secundaria y para las personas mayores de 18 años de edad o los que muestran evidencia que ellos pueden beneficiarse de la educación que reciban, incluyendo aquellos que han pasado el Examen de Habilidad en la Secundaria o el Examen de Desarrollo Educacional General (GED). La prueba de elegibilidad debe ser incluida con la aplicación.
La falta de conocimiento del lenguaje Inglés no es un obstáculo para la admisión y participación en los Programas de Educación Vocacional del Colegio. Según la Póliza y Procedimientos aprobados por el Distrito los siguientes individuos han sido nombrados como los Representantes Respon-sables de quejas, agravios y preguntas a cerca de:
Acoso sexual, Título IX, e Igualdad de los sexos.
The Associate Vice Chancellor
West Valley College, Personnel Office
14000 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070-9698
(408) 741-2060
Si usted es estudiante buscando acomodación bajo Sección 504 de la Ley para Americanos Incapacitados (ADA) diríjase a:
Disability and Educational Support Program
West Valley College
14000 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070-9698
Director: Amy Delevett
(408) 741-2010
West Valley College Non-Discrimination Statement – English
The District, and each individual who represents the District, shall provide access to its services, classes, and programs without regard to national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expres-sion, sex, race or ethnicity, color, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, or military and veteran status, or because he/she is per-ceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
West Valley College Non-Discrimination Statement – Spanish
El Distrito, y cada individuo que lo representa, proveerá acceso a sus servicios, clases, y programas sin tener en cuenta la nacionalidad de origen, religión, edad, género, identidad de género, expresión de género, sexo, raza o etnia, color, condición médica, información genética, ascendencia, orientación sexual, estado matrimonial, minusvalía física mental, embarazo, estado militar incluyendo tanto aquellos en servicio como a los veteranos, o porque a él/ella se le perciban una o más de las mencionadas características, o por asociación con una persona o grupo con una o más de estas características ya sean reales o percibidas.
West Valley College Non-Discrimination Statement – Vietnamese
Đại Học Cộng Đồng Mission và West Valley và mỗi cá nhân sẽ cung cấp quyền truy cập vào các dịch vụ lớp học và chương trình mà không cần phân biệt về nguồn gốc quốc gia, tôn giáo, giới tính, tuổi tác, chủng tộc, hoặc dân tộc, màu da, tình trạng sức khỏe,thông tin di truyền, tổ tiên, khuynh hướng giới tính, tình trạng hôn nhân, khuyết tật về thể chất hoặc tinh thần, đang trong thời kỳ thai nghén, hoặc tình trạng trong quân đội và cựu chiến binh, hoặc nếu người đó có cảm nhận về một hoặc nhiều đặc điểm nói trên, hoặc người đó có liên hệ với một người khác, hoặc nhóm khác có một hoặc nhiều đặc điểm thực tế hoặc nhận thức này.
Drug Free Environment and Smoking Policy
It is the policy of the West Valley-Mission Community College District to maintain a campus free of the possession, manufacture, use, or distribution of controlled substances as listed in the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA). It is the policy of the West Valley-Mission Community College District to promote a safe and healthy campus environment by reducing the health risks associated with smoking. To meet this obligation, smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco and the use of e-cigarette devices are prohibited in all areas of the Mission and West Valley campuses except in parking lot areas that are at least twenty-five (25) feet away from buildings and pathways. Additional information can be found in the District’s Administrative Procedures 3550 and 3570.
Drug Free Environment and Drug Prevention Program
The District shall be free from all drugs and shall prohibit the unlawful use, possession, sale, or distribution of alcohol, narcotics, dangerous or illegal drugs, or other controlled substances, as defined in California statutes, on District property or at any function sponsored by the District or Colleges.
Any student or employee who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action (consistent with local, state, or federal law), which may include referral to an appropriate rehabilitation program, suspension, demotion, expulsion, or dismissal.
The Chancellor shall assure that the District distributes annually to each student and employee the information required by the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 and complies with other requirements of the Act.
The Colleges will provide information pertaining to the health risks and effects associated with alcohol and narcotics or other dangerous or illegal drugs. Students may be referred to various on campus programs or outside agencies for support, information, and/or enrollment in a drug recovery program.
Illegal Distribution of Copyrighted Materials
West Valley College students are prohibited from using the West Valley-Mission Community College District (WVMCCD) information network to illegally download or share music, video and all other copyrighted intellectual property. West Valley College supports the Higher Education Opportunity Act and Digital
Millennium Copyright Act, including efforts to eliminate the illegal distribution of copyrighted material. Under the law, college administrators may be obligated to provide copyright holders with information about users of the WVMCCD information network who have violated the law.
Be aware that illegal forms of downloading and file sharing as well as the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials are violations of the law and
may subject you to academic sanctions from the college through the college’s student conduct and discipline policies (as published in the College Catalog) as well as criminal and civil penalties, including a lawsuit against you by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Learn more at campusdownloading.com
In addition to being illegal, file sharing drains the WVMCCD network’s bandwidth, which slows computer connections for students and employees who are using the network for legitimate academic purposes and ultimately costs the college money. There are plenty of easy, affordable ways to get music online legally.
To protect their intellectual property, companies have licensed hundreds of digital partners that offer a range of legal downloading options, including download and subscription services, legitimate peer-to-peer services, video-on-demand, podcasts and CD kiosks. For a list of sources that offer legal downloading sites, access riaa.com