59th Commencement Ceremony Program

The Commencement Ceremony at West Valley College continues the centuries-old tradition of wearing distinctive academic dress. This custom dates back to the Middle Ages when people dressed in accordance with their rank in society and their professions. Since the clergy was the literate class at the time, today’s academic costume, which is used both in American and European colleges and universities, derives from theses early clerical robes.

The Cap and Gown

Associate and bachelor degree holders wear plain black gowns and black mortarboards. The bachelor’s gown is always black and worn closed; the master’s gown is also black and may be worn open or closed. Associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s gowns have long pointed sleeves. The doctor’s gown has round open sleeves and is trimmed with velvet panels down the front and three velvet bars on each sleeve; it is normally black and may be worn open or closed. The mortarboard’s tassel indicates the wearer’s academic degree.

The Hood

The bachelor’s hood is three feet long; the master’s, three and one-half, and the doctor’s, four, with wide panels on either side. The bachelor’s hood is rarely worn. The inside of the hood, or lining, is of silk and depicts the colors of the institution granting the degree. Master’s and doctor’s hoods are trimmed with velvet panels of varying widths. The color of the panel indicates the field in which the degree was received. Some of the most common colors are as follows: white, arts and letters; drab, business and commerce; copper, economics; light blue, education, education; brown, fine arts; marron, home economics; crimson, journalism; pink, music; dark blue, philosophy; sage green, physical education; golden yellow, science; purple, law; lemon, library science; peacock blue, public administration; and scarlet, theology.

Academic Regalia

West Valley College is made up of schools and colleges. Our graduates are proudly wearing colored cords that represent the discipline from which they are receiving their degrees.

West Valley College is a public California Community College in Saratoga, California. Located along the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, students can expand their minds, hang out with friends, and contemplate a world of ideas all while utilizing acres of breathtaking outdoor classroom space in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Established in 1963, West Valley College first offered classes in the fall of 1964 at Campbell Grammar School, now the Campbell Community Center. That same year, the College acquired the 143-acre property on the corner of Fruitvale and Allendale in Saratoga and began construction of a permanent campus at this site. Classes began at this locale in 1968.

The College provides students with a personalized and transformative academic experience in a dynamic, inclusive, learning environment with associate degrees for transfer opportunities, a variety of other degrees, certificates, and noncredit courses.

West Valley College is a Top Transfer Institution

Always in the top one or two in all of Silicon Valley, #4 out of all 28 Bay Area Community Colleges, and #8 in the State.

CSU acceptance rate: 89%
UC acceptance rate: 80%
Faculty ratio: 21:1

In addition to exceptional preparation for transfer to four-year colleges and universities, the college offers dynamic career programs for today’s job market, AA/AS degree programs, and professional certificates. Today, West Valley College serves the educational needs of over 10,000 students each year.