Diablo Valley College

Diablo Valley College
Type Community College
Established 1949
Academic staff
 670
Students 22,000
Location Pleasant Hill, California, United States
37°58′17″N 122°4′12″W / 37.97139°N 122.07000°W / 37.97139; -122.07000Coordinates: 37°58′17″N 122°4′12″W / 37.97139°N 122.07000°W / 37.97139; -122.07000
Campus Suburban
Colors Green and White
Nickname Vikings
Website http://www.dvc.edu/

Diablo Valley College (DVC) is a two-year community college in Pleasant Hill in Contra Costa County, California, USA.

DVC is one of three publicly supported two-year community colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District (along with Contra Costa College and Los Medanos College), and was opened in 1949. Current enrollment is more than 22,000 students, and DVC has 300 full-time and 370 part-time instructors.

DVC has satellite centers in San Ramon and Walnut Creek and also offers classes in other facilities in Concord, Martinez, Danville and San Ramon.

Academics

DVC is a “feeder” college to the University of California, Berkeley; California State University, East Bay; and to St. Mary’s College. DVC ranks among the top five transfer colleges in California.[1] In 2004, the top four transfer destinations were California State University, East Bay (formerly CSU-Hayward), San Francisco State University, UC Berkeley and UC Davis.

DVC also offers a variety of occupational specialties, including hotel/restaurant management, culinary arts, dental technology and real estate. DVC has a very active speech and debating team.

Diablo Valley College is a popular choice for Asian international students to complete lower-division college requirements for frequently crowded California universities.

Sports

Several sports are offered at Diablo Valley College including: men's and women's basketball, cross country, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo. Other sports include: baseball, football, lacrosse, track and field (men) and soccer, softball, volleyball (women).

DVC has had famous athletes throughout its sports history, probably most recognized being Willie McGee, a former MLB National League MVP who played for the DVC baseball team in 1977.[2] Another notable baseball alumni is Doug Davis, who pitched in Major League Baseball from 1999-2011.

Demarshay Johnson, a former DVC basketball star who went on to play for the University of Nevada, was named CCCAA 1st team All-State after the 2004-05 season. That season he led the CCCAA in blocks, averaging 5.2 per game and was named Bay Valley Conference MVP.

The DVC Viking men's lacrosse program was the first junior college club in California, forming in 2008. In 2013 DVC were crowned champion of the California Junior College Lacrosse Association (CJCLA).[3]

History

From the College's Website:

The college officially began in 1949, in some of the most unlikely sites: high schools, banks, churches, even an old army camp. Called East Contra Costa Junior College, we moved to our present site in 1952, in ten steel buildings acquired from the government for $45 each. The cornerstone for the first permanent building was laid in 1953, and the name Diablo Valley College was adopted in 1958.

We've come a long way since those humble beginnings. Over one and a half million students have enrolled here since 1949! As we salute our heritage, we look forward to serving one of Northern California's most dynamic, education-minded areas for another 50 years.

For over 60 years, Diablo Valley College has provided quality education to the community it serves. A million students later, enrolling at DVC is one of the best ways you can ensure acceptance at a four-year college. DVC is not only recognized as one of California's best community colleges, but it also leads the state in transfer to four-year institutions.

Research figures recently released by UCLA's Center for the Study of Community Colleges show that DVC's transfer rate to four-year universities is 67 percent higher than the national average. Another report, released by the California Post-secondary Educational Commission, shows that DVC ranked number one in transfers in the state, ahead of all other California community colleges.

A brief history of our land shows us that this was originally home to the Costanoan Indians. In 1844, the Mexican government granted the land to William Welch, and it became part of his huge Rancho Las Juntas, which included northwestern Walnut Creek, all of Pleasant Hill, and the northeastern half of Martinez. After World War II the land was subdivided into housing tracts, and on October 5, 1950, the College Board of Trustees purchased the DVC site for $172,500. Construction began in September, 1951.

With over 22,000 students of all ages and a host of programs, you'll find a dynamic educational environment and a lively atmosphere at DVC. Our Pleasant Hill campus is located off of Interstate 680, and the campus is situated on one hundred acres of gently rolling hills in view of Mt. Diablo, a northern California landmark. The San Ramon Valley Center in Dougherty Valley opened its doors to students in November 2006.

Both of our handsomely landscaped locations are a short distance from San Francisco, creating the ideal settings for the premier transfer institution in California. We are the college of choice for many students from the private and public high schools in the nearby Martinez, Mt. Diablo, San Ramon, and Acalanes School Districts.

Grade-fixing scandal

In 2007, a six-year grade fixing scheme came to light with allegations that some of the alleged 84 students used sex or cash as payment to student employees in the admissions and records office in exchange for over 400 grade changes.[4] Many of these students have transferred to universities and in some cases may have already graduated. By November 2007, 49 students had been charged with misdemeanors or felonies over the incident, and at least one had accepted a no contest plea.[5] A spokesperson for the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges said that although the scandal was a negative factor it would be unlikely to lead to the school's loss of accreditation.[6]

College newspaper

The Inquirer, the college's student-run newspaper, is produced on campus by the Journalism 126 class. The paper has been produced with as many as 10 pages, but has been forced to print only four to six pages as funding has declined.[7]

The newspaper was forced to produce its paper off-site at the Contra Costa Times newsroom when a bomb-threat in 2006 closed the campus and access to the newsroom was restricted.[8]

The Inquirer won General Excellence awards from the Journalism Association of Community Colleges in 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The newspaper also won a Pacesetter award from JACC in 1999.

Sponsors

The student union at DVC is named for Margaret Lesher,[9] widow of Dean Lesher, founder of the Contra Costa Times and cofounder of the Margaret and Dean Lesher Foundation.[10]

Notable alumni

In addition to the athletes named above, notable alumni of Diablo Valley include:

References

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