Growing numbers of West Valley College students are petitioning for degrees and certificates each year thanks to proactive steps taken by our Enrollment Services team.
In a four-year period starting in fall 2021, West Valley College saw a 50 percent jump in petitions processed.
Factors contributing to petitions growth include technology upgrades, student messaging, and cross-campus collaboration, along with West Valley’s holistic commitment to removing barriers to higher education, explained Enrollment Services Dean Joe McDevitt.
“It has a lot to do with consistent marketing to remind students about petitioning to graduate and related deadlines,” said McDevitt, adding that collaboration between enrollment records and counseling has further driven the change.
The teams spend two full days meeting with students to clear up any issues and assist them in making relevant deadlines.
West Valley's increase in petitioners, he said, started trending up following the 2019-2020 implementation of a new software platform that automates tracking student progress toward degree completion. It also offers a “What If” tool that simulates how a student’s completed and in-progress coursework would apply toward alternative academic programs or different catalog years.
Last academic year, McDevitt's team processed 3,193 petitions, up from 2,116 for 2021-2022. West Valley is on track for greater growth in the current academic year: 3,246 petitions had been processed as of late April with a final tally expected following summer term.
“The key is we’re always working for the student in getting them the most degrees and certificates they’re eligible for to get them going forward into today’s fast-moving economic environment,” McDevitt said.