Here with all the 19 yr olds!
Diablo Valley College, or DVC as it is known, is one of the 120 Community Colleges set-up in the state of California. It enrolls over 7,000 people at any given time, so it is larger than a lot of universities across the country. It is about 60 years old, built mid last century.
The campus is good sized, and it has its own pond full of ducks. There a host of different buildings, so you know this isn't HIgh School, although some people attending still act like it. But most students realize that now that HS is over, this place is optional and you have to pay for it, so you better get serious and come here to learn and make something of yourself.
Because of the Campus' age, they are doing redevelopment , and recently constructed a new Student center building and administrative offices, where you get tested, enrolled and pay.
For community colleges, there are only 2 criteria to enroll: you have to be 18 or have a High School diploma (or if currently in HS, get a form signed by your school). Because the State is so short of funds every year, it has affected the JC system, like all education, Classes have been trimmed back, and it isn't easy getting into the ones that you want or need, especially the more popular or required courses to move on to the State College or University system. This is sad, because the California Higher education model was the envy of the world when DVC was first built. Community colleges were inexpensive and a great stepping stone into CSU and UC systems, or provided great vocational training for the trades.
Now, with the annual budget crisis and cuts, tuition is getting higher across the board and services are being cut. Here the cost is $45 per Unit. Still cheap, if you get your classes. Fortunately, they are offered night and day to accomodate the many working individuals who attend or have families.
There is a large foreign student element here, mostly from Asia, and mostly Chinese, Korean and Japanese, where getting into Universities is fierce. A lot of Asian parents with money send their kids here because it is cheap (compared to CSU or UC) and also less demanding to enroll. So they see this as a gateway for their sons and daughters to get a US education, learn the language and culture, and hopefully get into the University system in California, which you need to maintain a C average and take the right courses to transfer. Getting into Berkeley or UCLA will still require excellent grades, and those that are accepted are almost always students with A average GPAs.
DVC and the State loves Foreign students, because the fees per student are much higher, just like at the CSU and UC systems for foreign students. So higher revenue per student to combat the constant budget cuts from politicians to pay for Prison guard pensions. And there are several very large apartment complexes right across the street that act like dorms for these foreign students, and a brand new Safeway a block down the road, and Asian businesses nearby.
For students with Disabilities, the DSS department assists there placement, and DSS students get first priority to classes. All students are required to test for English and Math, to see what levels they are at. For instance, there are at least 3 levels of English courses offered, with course numbers like 96/98 for remedial, 116/118 for high school level, and 122 for College level Freshman English. There are many ESL classes, too. For courses like 116 or 122, there are dozens of sessions offered, since they are the key to most students required study. There are a lot of disabled students that come here, and consequently the DSS staff is accommodating and can give good guidance, and appropriate accommodations, for physical, visual, or learning disabilities.
DVC's school mascot is the Vikings, and the colors are purple and yellow. Their are large parking lots, but you need a permit, and peak times can be a traffic jam for ingress and egress. There is of course a library, cafeteria, and student union. And there are clubs and associations to join, and some sports. There is also a Theater and Theater arts.
DVC has several Vocational program tracks. It has a Culinary program, and even a restaurant for testing and learning. IT also has a Dental Assistant program, and many others. Most JCs have these type of programs, but each campus may specialize in different curriculum. There are also a myriad of Certificate and Education programs, like Digital Arts and others.
DVC and JCs in general are an excellent stepping stone into the CSU and UC systems, as the cost is comparatively low, the location is usually local, most classroom credits transfer easily if you take the recommended courses, and the admissions are much less restrictive. read more