Students return to school as Diablo Valley College marks milestone anniversary
PLEASANT HILL, CA (August 16, 2024) — Summer is coming to a close and August is when our students start heading back to school. With this thought in mind, I want to take some time to highlight and celebrate a significant milestone anniversary for one of our institutions of higher learning. Diablo Valley College, which with one of its campuses right here in Pleasant Hill, has been a staple of Contra Costa County since 1949, and is celebrating 75 years of service.
According to the book “Diablo Valley College: the first 40 years,” the creation of Diablo Valley College (DVC) very closely relates to the creation of the Contra Costa County Community College District.
In the early 1900s, high schools were allowed to provide “secondary education” classes, and colleges were largely run by religious institutions or state governments. In 1939, Contra Costa County began looking into the creation of a community college district, an effort that took nearly 10 years to accomplish.
This led, in 1949, to the creation of the forerunner to DVC, called the East Contra Costa Junior College. In those early days, they held classes at the American Legion Hall, Martinez City Hall, in a bank, a church and an old army base, Camp Stoneman.
Growing and adapting with the times
The college moved to its current site in 1952, with the first permanent building constructed in 1953, and adopting the name Diablo Valley College.
Since that time, DVC has continued to grow and adapt with the times. During the Korean War, the student newspaper provided specific information regarding the draft and the Selective Service Act.
A decade later, students would organize to protest the Vietnam War. They held demonstrations on campus and even lead a march opposing the war from the campus to Pleasant Hill Park on the Oct.15, 1969, Day of Protest. DVC became one of the only campuses in California to have organized an event that day.
This evolution continued through the late 60s and 70s with the introduction of Women’s Studies and greater enrollment by female students.
DVC grew with the San Ramon Valley, to the point that a second campus in San Ramon was opened in 2006. Today, roughly 25,000 students attend classes per semester within the nearly 747,000 square feet of classrooms and learning facilities. DVC has one of the highest transfer rates to four-year institutions in California and was 67% higher than the national average.
We are fortunate to have DVC here in Pleasant Hill, and the classes and services it provides to our community and our neighboring cities. It has left a lasting mark on many.
Some well-known students have walked the halls of DVC. This include actress Katharine Ross, St. Louis Cardinals All-Star outfielder (and current assistant coach) Willie McGee, U.S. Representative George Miller and Olympic Wrestling Gold Medal winner, Amit Elor.
I am very excited to wish our Diablo Valley College a very happy 75th anniversary.
Contact Matt Rinn at Mrinn@plesanthillca.org.