Dear West Valley Community,
I hope you had a restorative summer and are returning with the same energy and excitement I feel as we begin the Fall 2025 semester. Each new academic year is an opportunity to reaffirm our purpose, reimagine possibilities, and continue the incredible work of transforming lives through education.
This year, our guiding beacon will be Commitment 14: Creating Win-for-All Solutions—the idea that true progress happens when outcomes are not just a win for me, but also a win for others, a win for the organization, and ultimately, a win for our whole community.
Imagine if every meeting, every policy, and every conversation on campus started with the question: “How can this be a win for all?” This mindset challenges us to move beyond the trap of win-lose thinking. After all, competition without collaboration is a race to the bottom. By choosing win-for-all solutions, we not only strengthen our community but also model for our students what it means to lead with empathy, vision, and integrity.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller
We recognize that real-world tensions exist both on and beyond the campus environment—students navigating complex policies, faculty and staff operating within institutional systems, and families balancing multifaceted responsibilities. Yet, when approached collectively, these challenges can be reframed as opportunities to cultivate solutions that generate shared benefits.
Our college has a proud history of rising to meet the needs of our students and our region. As a Hispanic Serving Institution enrolling more than 15,000 students annually, we proudly serve learners of all ages, languages, backgrounds, and abilities. We are deeply committed to breaking down barriers that stand in the way of student success. And the results speak for themselves: West Valley was recently recognized as a leader in the South Bay for economic returns, ranked #11 in the state out of 237 colleges. Our graduates typically recoup their educational costs within just six months—proof of the real-world value of a West Valley education.
As we begin this new year together, I am inspired by your dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment to our students. With your partnership, I am confident we will continue to elevate West Valley College, creating even more opportunities for our students and our community.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela
All College Day Agenda
In community,
Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, Ph.D.