Foothill-De Anza Community College District: A Hub of Education and Innovation in Silicon Valley
The Foothill-De Anza Community College District, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, stands as a testament to accessible, quality education. From its humble beginnings in a former elementary school to its current status as one of the largest community college districts in the nation, FHDA has consistently evolved to meet the diverse needs of its students and the surrounding community.
Historical Overview
The Foothill-De Anza Community College District was founded January 15, 1957, following several months of study by citizen groups and the California Department of Education. In 1957, the Foothill-De Anza Community College District was established. Foothill opened first with 1,414 students in 1958. Calvin C. Flint was the district's first President. The temporary first campus was a former elementary school in Mountain View California.
In 1962, voters approved funding to build another campus in Cupertino, and De Anza College opened in 1967 with about 3,000 students. The new campus was built on a former vineyard and estate. The first President of the De Anza Campus was A. Robert DeHart.
Mission and Values
The mission of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District is student success and educational excellence. The district and its colleges provide access to affordable, quality educational programs and services that develop a broadly educated and socially responsible community that supports an equitable and just future for California and the global community. Every member of our district contributes to a dynamic instructional and learning environment that fosters student engagement, equal opportunity, and innovation in meeting the various educational and career goals of our diverse students.
Academic Programs and Transfer Opportunities
Founded with the hallmark of educational opportunity for all, Foothill College is internationally recognized as one of the nation's most outstanding community colleges. Students of all ages enroll at Foothill College for a single class, one or two-year certificate and degree programs, to complete one of two bachelor's degrees, or to complete general education requirements for transfer to four-year universities. Our academic programs lead to a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene or respiratory care, associate in arts, associate in science, associate in arts-transfer and associate in science-transfer degrees. They also meet the freshman and sophomore requirements of University of California, California State University and private education systems.
Read also: Affording Foothill College
FHDA provides an excellent pathway to top Bachelor's degrees at half the cost thanks to 16 guaranteed transfer admission agreements to UC Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Arizona State, Cornell University Environmental Engineering and more; course articulation with 100 universities and a stellar transfer reputation: #1 for transfer to University of California, including 119 international students accepted to UC Berkeley and 167 to UCLA for Fall 2011, 67 to USC and 344 to UC Davis for Fall 2012.
Sunnyvale Center
To further meet the educational needs of Silicon Valley residents and businesses, Foothill College operates a state-of-the-art 46,883-square-foot campus in Sunnyvale. Conveniently located within the Moffett Business Park, the Sunnyvale Center is easily accessible via freeways 101 and 237 and near a VTA light rail stop. Students may choose from a wide variety of academic programs that focus on emerging and in-demand fields, including child development, emergency medical services, ESL (English as a second language), apprenticeships, and, starting in 2026, radiologic technology and respiratory therapy. The center houses a full complement of services, including admissions, counseling and a bookstore.
Commitment to the Community
We are committed to community education. We value the diversity of students on our campus and continually work to meet the needs of all students. The Foothill College campus is located on 122 acres in the rolling foothills of Los Altos Hills.
Measure G
Measure G is a general obligation bond measure approved by voters on March 3, 2020. It is intended to fund a variety of projects across the college, including classroom and technology upgrades, new facilities for STEM disciplines, ADA upgrades to existing buildings, energy efficiency, and HVAC upgrades. The funds can only be used for the facilities projects listed on the bond proposal. Robert C.
Public Events and Rentals
Foothill College presents a variety of public events throughout the year. These events include plays and musicals, athletic events, plant sales, gallery exhibits, cultural activities and science lectures. Foothill College parking lots, classrooms, conference rooms, physical education facilities, theaters, dining room and Physical Sciences & Engineering Center (PSEC) facilities are available for rent to the public when they are not being used for campus activities. Rental fees include space rental only.
Read also: Foothill College Requirements
Student Diversity and Support
Located midway between San Jose and San Francisco, FHDA is one of the largest community college districts in the nation, providing credit classes to approximately 64,000 students per year. The student body is not only large but also diverse. Over a third of students are the first generation in their family to attend any college, and about two-thirds of students have parents with less than a Bachelor’s Degree. A majority of students are racial/ethnic minorities, about one-in-three students has an annual family income below $25K, and over half of students have annual family incomes below $50K.
Recognition and Achievements
Department of Commerce, California Professor of the Year, “the most beautiful community college” and former Chancellor Kanter appointment as the Undersecretary of the Department of Education, we are famous for outstanding academics and successful transfer to world-class universities. Foothill recently established an Entrepreneur Center and Business Plan Competition judged by Silicon Valley business leaders from Google, Wells Fargo, and venture capital firms.
Location and Lifestyle
San Francisco and Silicon Valley Location: Foothill and De Anza are located in the dynamic San Francisco Bay Area right in the heart of Silicon Valley, the world capital of computer technology. We are 30 minutes south of San Francisco International Airport. Live and study in one of the most exciting and beautiful parts of the world! With 300 sunny days and average temperature of 21◦C, the area offers a truly Californian lifestyle. A short drive brings students to Pacific Coast beaches which offer some of the best surfing, golfing, and sightseeing in the country. Located within a 3-5 hour drive are Napa Valley, hiking and skiing at Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, warm beaches of Southern California and Los Angeles. The metropolitan city of San Francisco features unparalleled sports teams, art and museum venues, fine restaurants and exciting nightlife. Our campus was honored as “the most beautiful college ever built” by the American Institute of Architects.
Campus Life and Facilities
Foothill and De Anza Colleges inspire students to enjoy campus life and facilities, to become leaders, to get engaged in more than 60 clubs and to participate in our elected student government which manages a half-million dollar budget. Activities include varsity athletics, intramural sports, newspaper, radio station, cultural heritage months, and special events for international students, such as orientation, coffee hours, free Celebrity Forum tickets, International Night, international graduation and transfer reception.
Outstanding campus facilities include leading edge computer and multimedia Labs, Broadcast Media Center, dental clinic, soccer and football stadiums, golf and tennis complex, Olympic-size swimming pools, art museum, Planetarium, bamboo garden, fantastic fitness facilities including dance and yoga studio, gym, indoor cycling, basketball and softball; and many award-winning buildings, such as Performing Arts Center and IDEA center, a dedicated music recording/digital video/interactive design lab. Like most community colleges, we do not have a dormitory on campus and do not directly arrange housing for students.
Read also: Campus Guide
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