January 29, 2025
Dear West Valley Community,
I hope the spring semester is off to a great start. And you are finding the joy in the work of serving West Valley students.
As I mentioned at All College Day, in the coming year we will undoubtedly see potential changes which may lead to immediate feelings of uncertainty. These might also present opportunities for unity. I choose to remain optimistic, positive, and committed to advocating for the rights of our students. While members of the college community may hold differing political viewpoints and philosophies, we all share a common responsibility to respect each other’s humanity and basic rights. The college mission and values articulate our duty to exhibit inclusivity and justice, to ensure the rights of the most marginalized and vulnerable members of our campus community. We remain resolute as we embrace the beautiful and diverse cultures of this nation and our local community.
We are committed to the safety, security, and dignity of every member of our community regardless of immigration status, and we want to ensure that you have the information and resources needed to protect your rights and those of the students.
Through it all, let us remember and take pride in our student focus.
Please review Chancellor Bradley Davis’ email outlining current policy. I am highlighting key points:
What to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement is on campus:
- Any communication with Immigration and Customs Enforcement should go through the Chancellor’s Office, and if Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrives on campus, they should be referred to the Police Department (408-299-3233). No employee under any circumstances should share information about a student with anyone. All requests must go through the Office of the Chancellor.
- The District Chief of Police Chris Rolen (or the highest-ranking member on duty) will take the inquiring agent’s name, badge number, phone number, the name and phone number of the agent’s supervisor, and copies of warrants and/or subpoenas. This information will be shared with the Office of the Chancellor.
Know Your Rights Workshops & Support:
The college will be offering “Know Your Rights” workshops to empower our community and ensure that members of our community understand their legal rights. These workshops will be led by experts from SIREN and will be available both in person and online. Additionally, we will host "Empowering Viking Voices" events where we can come together to share our experiences and support each other.
Workshop Dates:
- February 18, 2025 (12:30-1:30 PM, Baltic Room & via Zoom)
- March 25, 2025 (11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Club Room & via Zoom)
- April 30, 2025 (1:00-2:00 PM, Baltic Room & via Zoom)
Empowering Viking Voices Dates:
- February 5, 2025 (1:00-2:00 PM, Kirkorian)
- March 19, 2025 (2:00-3:00 PM, Kirkorian)
- April 16, 2025 (11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Kirkorian)
For more details, please contact our Undocu Liaison, Samantha Hernandez, at samantha.hernandezFREEWEST_VALLEY or visit the Undocu Resource Office in Campus Center 305.
Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to social justice and the well-being of every member of our community. We will continue to monitor this situation and others as they develop. For example, just yesterday the Office of Management and Budget sent out a memo regarding a pause in federal funding for particular programs and projects impacted by new executive order. (Please note this memo did not implicate direct aid to students, grants or loans.)
The executive leadership team, with support of district leadership, are staying abreast of changes and developments as they emerge. We will provide timely updates to keep our campus community informed.
In solidarity,
Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, Ph.D.