Community Treasure: West Valley College
Rotarians are so committed to our community that it becomes almost impossible to keep track of it all. To learn about one such treasure, we welcomed Lori Gaskin, president of the West Valley College, the closer campus of the West Valley Mission Community College District. Lori is also a member of the Saratoga Rotary Club.
Lori reviewed the three-tiers of higher education in California, the University of California’s 10 campuses, the 23 campuses in the California State University system, and the 112 Community Colleges across the state. The Mission for the Community Colleges is to provide transfer preparation, career and technical education, and foundation skills for students in California. 55% of CSU grads and 30% of UC grads began higher education in the Community College system.
West Valley College began instruction in 1964 at a location in Campbell. In June, WVC will be returning to Campbell with a satellite campus at the Campbell Community Center. The college also offers nearly 100 online courses.
Lori emphasized that the Community College enrolls the “Top 100%” of student, who include high schoolers graduating at the top of their class, the educationally disenfranchised, redirected applicants from UCs and CSUs, economically disadvantaged, single parents, returning veterans, students with no family support, and many with no English skills. WVC also runs a “Middle College” program for students who want to complete high school. The College bestows 800 degrees annually, and transfers 700 students each year to other colleges (the most transfer to UCLA).
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