Saratoga, Calif. — July 8, 2026 — West Valley College is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of only six community colleges nationwide to participate in the Accelerator for Community Colleges in the Innovation Economy Work-Based Learning (WBL) Capacity-Building Cohort, a national initiative led by New America's Future of Work & Innovation Economy initiative and the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Center for Policy & Practice.
Through the program, West Valley College will receive technical assistance, strategic planning support, and funding to expand and strengthen work-based learning opportunities that prepare students for high-demand careers in today's rapidly evolving economy.
"Being selected as one of only six community colleges nationwide is an extraordinary honor for West Valley College," said Dr. Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, President of West Valley College. "It reflects our unwavering commitment to preparing students for meaningful, high-demand careers through innovative work-based learning and strong partnerships with employers and our community. Experiential learning is one of the most powerful ways to transform students' futures, and this opportunity will allow us to strengthen that work while learning alongside outstanding institutions from across the nation. We are proud to represent our students, our region, and the California Community Colleges system as we continue expanding pathways to economic mobility and student success."
The cohort will guide participating colleges through a comprehensive institutional self-study, strategic planning process, and implementation phase designed to assess and expand the quality, availability, and scale of work-based learning opportunities. Participating institutions will use a specialized toolkit developed by New America and ACCT to evaluate current practices and develop long-term strategies for increasing student access to internships, apprenticeships, clinical experiences, and other work-based learning opportunities.
West Valley College was selected for its demonstrated commitment to collaborating with campus and community partners to identify and address barriers to expanding high-quality work-based learning. The college has established strong partnerships with employers and regional industry leaders and has demonstrated the organizational capacity to implement meaningful institutional improvements.
"At West Valley College, we believe access to meaningful work-based learning experiences should not be a privilege, but an intentional part of every student's educational journey," said Andrea Vizenor, Vice President of Strategy and Equity at West Valley College. "We are honored to partner with New America and ACCT as we continue building innovative systems that expand opportunity, strengthen employer partnerships, and prepare students not only for employment, but for long-term economic vitality and success in the rapidly evolving innovation economy."
The six colleges selected are:
- City Colleges of Chicago (Illinois)
- East Central College (Missouri)
- Forsyth Technical Community College (North Carolina)
- Santa Fe College (Florida)
- SUNY Broome Community College (New York)
- West Valley College (California)
The initiative has also earned support from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
"Community colleges play a critical role in expanding workforce pathways for America’s talent to prepare for skilled and trade jobs, including supporting the growth of critical and emerging technology areas such as artificial intelligence, microelectronics, biotech, quantum, and beyond," said Erwin Gianchandani, assistant director for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships at the U.S. National Science Foundation. "We are delighted to see New America and ACCT launch the Accelerator for Community Colleges in the Innovation Economy Work-based Learning Cohort to build capacity of the sector for apprenticeships, internships, and work-based learning needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow, and congratulate the participating institutions on their selection."
As part of the initiative, each participating college will complete a comprehensive assessment of its work-based learning ecosystem and develop a strategic action plan to expand opportunities that connect students with employers and prepare them for careers in the innovation economy.
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About West Valley College
West Valley College is part of the West Valley-Mission Community College District. Designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution, West Valley College enrolls approximately 15,000 students annually and is in the heart of the Silicon Valley in a beautiful park-like setting on 143 wooded acres. The student population represents diverse communities serving the cities of Saratoga, Campbell, and Los Gatos. WVC is ranked number one in transfer in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area and number three in California out of 116 community colleges. The college is known for high quality academic programs and faculty, dedicated classified professionals, and an equity-minded approach to student success. For more information, visit westvalley.edu.