Students planning to transfer to any one of the 23 California State Universities should be aware that due to the State budget crisis, campuses are tightening their belts and have announced that both freshman and transfer admission will be scaled back, admitting fewer students than seen in years past.
The following changes will be impacting transfer students who applied to a CSU campus as early as Fall 2004. Please see a counselor for questions about these changes and also to develop an education plan to ensure that admission, GE and major requirements are completed in a timely manner.
Beginning with the 2004-2005 admission cycle, CSU announced that it will NOT admit the following students:
Lower division transfer applicants: Lower-division transfers are defined as students who have earned fewer than 56 transferable units at the time of admission to a CSU campus. Campuses with exceptions to this policy include the California Maritime Academy.
Upper-division transfer applicants who are not fully eligible: These students may have earned the needed units for admission, but did not complete the four basic General Education courses also required for admission. These courses include: Oral Communication, English Composition, Critical Thinking, and Mathematics. Note that certain majors (e.g. Engineering) may have authorized exceptions for GE classes (critical thinking, for example). Please see a counselor for additional information about these exceptions.
Change in number of units for upper-Division transfer admission: Effective Fall 2005, upper-division transfer students applying to CSU must complete a minimum of 60 transferable units for admission consideration. Campuses with exceptions to this policy include the California Maritime Academy.
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The basic ground rules that govern transfer are changing more rapidly now than ever before. Potential transfer students need to be proactive in their transfer preparation. Transfer requirements for all the segments of higher education (UC, CSU and private/independent) are becoming more and more complicated and specialized. Accurate planning and preparation with the help of a counselor is a must during these tumultuous times.
Despite all of the changes that have happened and those that are proposed, the Transfer Center continues to offer services that help transfer students to make sound choices and to plan a smooth transition between institutions.
In 2002-2003, WVC transferred over 800 students to all segments of higher education in the state of California. This school year 2003-2004, we have seen a significant increase in the number of transfers, especially in the number of students initiating Transfer Agreements. Last year, the Transfer Center processed 92 TAA's; this year, approximately 180 have been processed. Nearly a 100% increase!
In an effort to meet the growing demands of the Transfer Student, the Transfer Center offers the following services:
Fall Transfer Day and Spring Evening Transfer Fair (Tuesday, 4/13/04)

• Individual advising with representatives from 4-year colleges and universities
• Guaranteed Transfer Admission Agreements
• CSU & UC Application & Personal Statement Workshops
• Transfer/Articulation Web Resources
• General Education and major transfer requirements
• Individual appointments with WVC counselors

We are here to serve you. Come by anytime the Counseling Center is open and talk to Patty Yukawa, Transfer Center Director, or Jeanne Giles, Transfer Center Advisor, or any member of the WVC Counseling Faculty.
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Even though grade point average and leadership skills are important when applying for a scholarship, in competitive cases, letters of recommendation can greatly supplement any application.
Following these guidelines can optimize any student's chance of obtaining a great letter as well as easing the burden on the writer:

1. Choose a writer who knows you very well, so s/he can give specific examples of your qualifications.
2. Provide a brief description of the scholarship, honor, or any other necessary information.
3. Write a brief description about yourself, your background, your experiences and your current life situation.
4. Remind the writer of specific details you want emphasized in the letter.
5. Include your contact information in case the writer needs more information.
6. Provide the writer with current transcripts and any other documents.

And most importantly, give the writer plenty of time, 2 to 3 weeks is customary, so she/he doesn't feel rushed. This also allows you to check back a few days before the deadline. Good Luck!
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Congratulations to Sarka Vogel for winning the Pepsi Scholar Athlete Award from the California Commission on Athletics.
Nominated by Wanda Wong and Pauline Clark, Vogel was selected as one of the 16 outstanding scholar athletes in the state out of 25,000 student athletes in the CA community colleges. She was honored at the state convention of COA on April 1 in Burbank.
Vogel was an outstanding student and a successful volleyball player at WVC. An immigrant from the Czech Republic, she is now a business economics major at UC Berkeley.

Contact Pauline Clark (741-2411) or Wanda Wong (741-2528) if you have questions about Athletic Academic Advising and/or the Athletic Programs at WVC.
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The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (Students Utilizing Cross Cultural Educational Support and Services) Program is a thriving academic and service program at WVC meeting the needs of Black/African American students. Last Fall ('03) 17 of our students transferred to 4-year universities. Several have been in touch recently (Marissa Arterberry, Uhria Clark, Phillip Severe and Shria Watkins) and are doing well at their respective schools.
There are currently 30 students enrolled in the SUCCESS English 1A course taught by Paulette Boudreaux and 30 students are in Counseling 5 this Spring 2004. In celebration of Black History Month, film producer Salah Webb showcased two documentary films from his collection featuring The Black Panthers and Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed to the Counseling 5 class on February 27. We are also looking forward to Chancellor Stan Arterberry giving a mentor speech to our classes this month entitled "From the Cotton Fields to the Presidency."
Interested students who are not yet connected should contact me in the Counseling Center, Room 8. We are now in the process of assigning mentors to newly enrolled students. Faculty/staff members who are interested in giving support to students in the form of mentoring are encouraged to reach me at Carolyn_nash@westvalley.edu or 408/741-2608.
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Confused about what career direction you want to take? Tired of nagging parents and friends who keep asking you, "whatcha gonna do with your life?" Are you undecided about your major or wondering what universities offer your major? Would you like to know what people are REALLY doing in their current careers?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, we are happy to provide an answer: EUREKA! No, it's not a strange shout we just uttered. It's the name of a career counseling software program that has helped thousands of people conduct career exploration by the touch of your fingertips.
EUREKA has three main components to assist you in the career exploration and decision making process: Self Assessment, Career Exploration, and Education. Self Assessment assists you in taking a closer look at yourself. Career Exploration provides you with a wealth of career information and helps you determine career possibilities. Education helps you learn more about education and financial aid resources that may be appropriate for you!
Fortunately for you, the Career Center, located in the Counseling Center, has made this program accessible for all West Valley students. In addition, you may print out your career profiles and exploration results or anything else that you may need! Gain some direction and momentum in your life… make it a goal for yourself to begin your career search and let EUREKA help you along!
Come by the Career Center for many more resources to assist you in your Career Quest. Direct any questions to Maria Garcia-Scheper at 741-4036.
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Historically, the Educational Transition (ET)/Adult Re-entry Program has been providing counseling services and programs addressing the needs of very unique student populations. Re-entry students return to college after an extended break in their education. They are often individuals that are reinventing themselves and in need of learning skills to prepare for the job market. In ET, adults find support, guidance and resources for their academic, career and personal needs.
Currently, ET Counselors Freba Cognetta and Helen Khalouyan, and Susan Horton, the ET Coordinator have been working with the ESL program to encourage immigrant and refugee students to take advantage of the academic and career counseling services provided in ET. Adult immigrants, especially those with limited English proficiency and poverty backgrounds face many personal and external obstacles inhibiting them from seeking counseling and/or locating needed services. ET counselors have reached out to this population to provide support for access, retention and success.
In February, Freba and Susan will be presenters at the Joint Special Population Advisory Committee Conference (JSPAC) to describe a grant project entitled "Supporting Adult Immigrants." The presentation is scheduled as "Best Practices for Serving Special Populations." JSPAC is especially interested in ET's support services for a growing population of Middle Eastern adults.
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At WVC, students have opportunities to discuss their needs and situations with counselors with varied areas of expertise. Michael Byers, in the Career Programs Center - AAS 35, primarily meets with students interested in completing degree and certificate programs to enter the workforce or using that as a jumping off point for transferring.
The collaboration with counseling and the career programs faculty connects students to valuable career, program, and support information to help them reach their goals. Being co-located with Work Experience and Job Placement offers students a more 'one-stop' approach for meeting occupational needs.
Information Sessions, open to the public, are offered 2-3 times/year for various career programs. Collaborating with EOP&S, ET, Outreach, and the Admissions Office has made these sessions very popular with our prospective students.
Special orientation workshops coordinated with ET help career programs' students learn the basics about being successful or more informed learners. The workshops are listed in each semester's Schedule of Classes.
CalWorks at WVC is a long-standing partnership between the college and Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services. Students must be receiving public assistance to qualify; in fact, most of the students on CalWorks are single parents. CalWorks is a very legislated and regulated program - in addition to a two-year educational limit, students must meet other structured requirements to receive the support services of child care and books.
It is always a tribute to the perseverance and motivation of the students, given what they juggle and manage, how well they do to create better lives for themselves and their families.
At this point, WVC also receives additional funds from the state of California and Santa Clara County to cover some of the over and above services for these students as well as direct services such as child care and textbooks.
CalWorks contact: Marta Mora-Evans 741-4007, Michael Byers 741-2196.
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With representation from 31 countries, the International Student Program has served over 80 students so far this year. In addition to our fulltime students, we have had 8 students participate in Optional Practical Training. The average GPA for our International Students is 3.25. In December, 8 students transferred to other colleges and universities: Santa Clara University (2), Golden Gate University, San Francisco State University, Bethany Bible College, Canadian University, Japanese Fashion Institute, and University of San Francisco.
In August 2003, we went LIVE with the Department of Homeland Security's SEVIS Federal Reporting System for foreign students. We currently report who is registered full time within a 30 day window of school starting. We are also working with IS and our Mission College colleagues to implement the Datatel/SEVIS automatic reporting component. Our staff will also be attending the NAFSA Conference in March for International Student Educators.

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There is no other way to put it - we are out of funds! Our State FSS Grant ran out in June, and we have not been able to secure public or private funds to support program activities this year for our underrepresented students. However, we continue to serve our 253 (175 continuing/83 new) matriculated students here at West Valley through general counseling services, and EOPS and DEPS for qualified students (15% of our population).
Outreach to high school Seniors in 7 local high schools who began the program last year have been cut. No Student Mentors will be provided and no career exploration or educational preparation activities will be provided. Students will be invited to participate in the Early Admission Program as an alternative. No activities will be provided for the program Juniors this year.
We are currently looking for funding sources so that we may resume services to our underrepresented/at-risk students. Our goal has always been to provide information, opportunities, choices and support to an often overlooked, neglected student population.
Important Websites:

• www.assist.org (Course Transfer Info)
• www.csumentor.edu (Info about CSU's)
• www.ucop.edu/pathways (Info about UC's)
• www.aiccu.edu (Info about private colleges)

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