West Valley College to Partner with Black Honors College in Sacramento

Students at West Valley College in Saratoga will soon be able to transfer to the nation’s first Black Honors College, thanks to a new partnership with Sacramento State University, where the program is housed. “As West Valley’s first Black president, I am committed to providing this opportunity to highly motivated students,” said Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza.

Students at West Valley College in Saratoga will soon be able to transfer to the nation’s first Black Honors College, thanks to a new partnership with Sacramento State University, where the program is housed.

West Valley students with a grade point average of at least 3.8 who have demonstrated a commitment to learning about Black history and culture can apply to transfer to Sacramento State and enroll in the Black Honors College, beginning as early as next spring. The program is open to all qualified students, regardless of race.

The Black Honors College offers specialized courses, research opportunities, scholarships and more for students interested in “black history, life, culture and contributions,” according to Sacramento State. The first group of students to enroll in the program begins this fall.

Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, president of West Valley College, said the partnership came about after Sacramento State President Luke Wood put out a call to community colleges.

“As the first Black president of West Valley, I am committed to providing this opportunity to highly motivated students,” Taylor-Mendoza said in a press release. “Partnering with Sacramento State’s Black Honors College gives students a place to further develop their passion to grow as courageous leaders, paving the way for the next class of transfers.”

Enrollment reports for the 2022-23 school year show that 210 students (about 2%) at West Valley schools are Black/African American.

Taylor-Mendoza said students and faculty are excited about the opportunity and that she met a current Saratoga High School student who expressed interest in the program. “They’re already high achievers, they’re planning on going here, and so they were definitely interested in potentially going,” she added.

West Valley is one of 25 community colleges, including Mission College in Santa Clara, that partner with Black Honors College.

“We are creating an institute within the institute that is specifically designed to meet the academic, co-curricular and psychological needs of Black students,” Wood said in a press release.