SUMMER SESSION ALERT: Open registration begins May 14. Classes start June 6, 11 and 18. Find your classes at www.canyons.edu.
SPRING 2012
MORE DEGREE CHOICES
REPORT TO COMMUNITY
University Center adds new programs.
PAGE 2
Measure M delivers results.
PAGE 8
C O L L E G E O F T H E C A N Y O N S / S A N TA C L A R I TA C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E D I S T R I C T
SOUVENIR PROGRAM INSIDE
Rock the Rhythm, Beat the
Odds – a world record-breaking drum circle event – is coming to Cougar Stadium on
Friday, May 18. Join 7,600
sixth- and seventh-graders
from across the Santa Clarita
Valley, as well as Mickey Hart
of The Grateful Dead, John
Densmore of The Doors, and
Remo Belli, founder of
REMO Inc., for this historic
event.
SERVING THE SANTA CL ARITA VALLE Y SINCE 1969
Summer Session Grows
A
• College Commits to Largest Number of Summer Classes in Four Years
s one of the few community
colleges in the region offering a summer session,
College of the Canyons has made
some scheduling and budgeting
decisions that will allow it to significantly increase the number of educational opportunities for students
this summer.
When summer session open
registration begins in May, students
will have approximately 480 highdemand “core” class sections from
which to choose, representing a
wide range of courses that students
need to graduate, transfer to fouryear schools or meet prerequisites.
The augmented 2012 summer
schedule marks a roughly 60 percent increase in classes from last
summer, and it’s the largest summer
session to be offered at College of
the Canyons since 2008.
“By making the decision to
increase our summer schedule, the
college will be able to provide
classroom seats for about 16,000
students,” said Joseph Gerda, assis-
tant superintendent/vice president
of instruction. “All summer courses
have also been selected based on
their high demand, which allows
students to register for the classes
they need to achieve their educational goals.”
College officials have funded
the enhanced summer session by
using money remaining from the
current fiscal year’s budget, as well
as funds earmarked for the upcoming 2012-13 budget.
See SUMMER on Page 7
H
Early Childhood Center Turns 30
aving served nearly 4,000 children and countless satisfied parents since first opening its doors
in 1982, this spring the College of the
Canyons Center for Early Childhood
Education (ECE) celebrated its 30th
anniversary by reflecting on its long
and storied history.
“As one of the Santa Clarita
Valley’s longest lasting educational
institutions, the college’s Center for
ECE has had a profound impact, not
just on the lives of children who attended the Center as preschoolers, but in the
way that Early Childhood Education
programs mentor staff for ECE programs throughout the community,”
Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook
said. “We look forward to building on
our three decades of leadership and
continuing to serve the community and
provide the best child care and training
opportunities available.”
Today, the college’s two ECE centers serve approximately 194 preschool
students on two campuses. When the
original center opened in 1982 the college’s ECE services were confined to a
morning preschool program that served
just 45 students and was housed in three
classrooms located in what is now the
main administration building at the
Valencia campus.
Then known as the Child
Development Center, the services provided quickly gained popularity with
local families and ECE college students
Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook (top, right)
addresses the crowd at the 30th anniversary
reunion of the Early Childhood Education
Center on April 28. A young visitor (right) helps
himself to a fruity sample, and (far right) Diane
Stewart, dean of early childhood education programs, poses with Dr. Van Hook at the event.
College a Favored
Filming Location
E
ven if you’ve never actually visited the College of the
Canyons Valencia campus, chances are you’ve probably
still seen it – on TV and the silver screen.
Averaging more than 70 filming days a year, the college’s
Valencia campus has become an extremely popular filming location within the film and television industry’s famed “30-mile
zone.”
Multiple film crews use the campus weekly to shoot a variety of TV shows, feature films and commercials that are broadcast to viewers across the nation and around the world.
Over the last several months, the college has served as the
scene of a Kansas City courtroom, CIA office, a Team USA
gymnastics training center, and even a Navy SEAL landing zone.
See FILMING on Page 2
See ANNIVERSARY on Page 7
College of the Canyons
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
Santa Clarita
CA
91355
Permit 56
ECRWSS
Postal Customer
2
CO L L E G E O F T H E C A N Y O N S B R E A K I N G N E W S • S P R I N G 2 0 1 2
C
College Named to Water Technology Consortium
ollege of the Canyons has been
named to a consortium of seven
California community colleges that
will work together to create and share new
water technology curriculum in order to
provide students across the state with better access to job training for careers in the
water and wastewater industries.
The partnership, headed by Cuyamaca
College, is the result of a roughly
$535,000 state grant from the California
Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office,
which will allow the consortium to immediately begin developing, and sharing, new
curriculum with other community colleges
looking to start or upgrade their water
technology programs.
As one of only a handful of community colleges in the state to offer a water
technology degree/certificate program,
COC joins College of the Redwoods,
Santa Rosa Junior College, Gavilan
College, Santiago Canyon College and
Taft College in the consortium.
According to the U.S. Department of
Labor, employment of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
is expected to grow by 12 percent between
the years 2010 and 2020, as the nation’s
growing population is expected to boost
demand for water and wastewater treatment services.
The construction of new water plants
to help meet this demand, coupled with the
amount of current operators quickly
approaching retirement age, is expected to
create a continuous need for quailed water
technicians to fill new positions.
“Water technology is one of those
potential career fields that people just
don’t think about,” said Regina Blasberg,
chair of the engineering technology
department. “But as baby boomers begin
to retire, many of the state’s water agencies are facing the potential loss of 20 to
60 percent of their current staff in the next
five to 10 years. So employment opportunities should remain high.”
For students and working industry professionals looking for a way to break into
the industry, the Water Systems
Technology (WST) program at College of
the Canyons is the perfect place to start.
Housed at the college’s Applied
Technology Education Center (ATEC)
located on the Canyon Country campus,
the program is designed to prepare students for careers in the fields of drinking
water treatment and distribution processes.
Students who complete the college’s
WST program are often employed as water
distribution operators, treatment plant
operators, service representatives, wastewater collection workers and/or wastewater treatment operators. Both types of
operators control equipment and processes
that remove or destroy harmful materials,
chemicals and microorganisms from the
water. Operators also control pumps,
valves and other equipment that moves
water and/or wastewater through the various treatment processes.
Another key component of the WST
program is to provide instruction for water
personnel interested in career advancement through continuing education and
certification renewal opportunities.
Coursework is also designed to prepare
students for various certification examinations given by the California Department
of Health Services in order to certify water
treatment and water distribution operators.
This summer, the college will offer the
three-unit course Water 041: Water
Distribution Operator II, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Monday and Wednesday, June 11 to Aug.
1, at the Canyon Country campus. The
course will present intermediate to
advanced principles of water distribution,
and is geared toward individuals looking
to prepare for California’s Grade III & IV
Water Distribution Operator’s Certificate
examination.
For more information, call Blasberg at
(661) 362-5096 or visit canyons.edu.
University Center
Adds Bachelor’s,
Master’s Programs
W
ith the recent arrival of five new degree programs
at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center,
there are now more ways than ever for residents to
earn their bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or professional
credentials – without leaving the Santa Clarita Valley.
The University Center currently hosts 38 programs
offered by partner universities: California State University
(CSU) Bakersfield, CSU Northridge, CSU Los Angeles,
University of La Verne, Brandman University (formerly
Chapman University) and National University.
Cited as the college’s solution to the lack of upper division, graduate school and continuing educations programs in
the Santa Clarita Valley, the University Center was created
with a goal to increase student access to advanced degrees
by forging partnerships with surrounding four-year colleges
and universities – which then make their academic programs
available to students through courses offered at College of
the Canyons.
Available at the University Center for the first time are:
• MS Criminal Justice (National University)
• Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate (National)
• BA Sports Psychology (National)
• MS School Psychology (University of La Verne)
• BS Engineering, emphasis Manufacturing (CSULA)
The National University master of criminal justice will
provide an overview of the required management and
administration skills needed to thrive in the fields of criminal justice administration, research and development.
The institution’s applied behavior analysis (ABA) certificate program will prepare students to apply various methods of behavior analysis to present data and information
related to the successful modification of patient behaviors.
The National University sports psychology program has
been designed for students preparing for careers in professional coaching, and includes in-depth focus on the application of psychological principles to the field of athletics.
“We feel that all of the new programs being introduced
by National University in 2012 will be of tremendous interest to local students,” said Cathy Ritz, interim director of the
University Center.
“The master of criminal justice program, in particular, is
ideal for students seeking high-level careers in law enforcement at either the local, state or federal level,” added Ritz,
“while the sports psychology program could have a wide
range of applications for students and community members
interested in coaching and/or working with athletes.”
New from University of La Verne is the school psychology master’s degree program, which offers training in the
principles of counseling and psychology.
Rounding out the list of new programs is the bachelor’s
degree in engineering with an emphasis in manufacturing
technology offered by CSULA.
For more information, visit cocuniversitycenter.com.
Breaking News is published by the College of the Canyons
Public Information Office to inform the community about programs, events, issues and accomplishments of the Santa Clarita
Valley’s community college. It is distributed to residences, P.O.
boxes and businesses in the 367-square-mile Santa Clarita
Community College District. Advertising is not accepted.
Mail: College of the Canyons
Public Information Office
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Email: [email protected]
A film crew shoots a scene outside the Student Center (above), while
actor Mark Harmon (right) signs an autograph for a fan during the
recent filming of “NCIS” on campus.
FILMING
FROM PAGE 1
In years past, campus locations have also depicted
FBI headquarters, a White House press room, corporate
office buildings, crime scenes, airport terminals, hotels,
college dormitories, and various high schools and college campuses located in different regions of the country.
In fact, it’s not uncommon for multiple productions
to be set up on campus on the same day, as was the case
this April when college officials had three productions
occupying different corners of the campus.
Featuring 154 acres, a wide range of buildings with
varying architecture, state-of-the-art athletic facilities
including Cougar Stadium, well-maintained grounds,
and an inviting location and climate, the Valencia campus provides an authentic cinematic backdrop for nearly
any type of scene.
With major television productions like “CSI,”
“Switched at Birth” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” frequently filming at the college, the presence of actors, directors
and cameramen roaming about has become routine for
staff and students alike.
In the process, the college has built a reputation
within studio circles as being an extremely filmingfriendly campus, making on-campus filming a major
part of the business at College of the Canyons.
“While we make a concerted effort to attract and
accommodate film and television productions to the
campus, we do not do so just because it’s fun for our students and staff to walk through a live set on their way to
class,” College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne
G. Van Hook said. “We do so because we value the economic benefits that filming brings to our campus and the
community.”
In 2011 alone, the City of Santa Clarita issued 359
film permits, which created 901 filming days at locations throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. Film crews
shooting at College of the Canyons accounted for roughly 8 percent of that total.
The location fees those productions pay are a helpful
source of revenue to the college, which helps to fund
campus operations and provide the community with the
very best in educational opportunities, workforce training and lifelong learning programs – especially in a time
when the state continues to hit community colleges with
deep budget cuts.
The film-friendly attitude of College of the Canyons,
the City of Santa Clarita and the various businesses,
organizations and community members that have
embraced the industry’s presence here, helped to generate an estimated economic impact of nearly $20 million
in 2012.
With visiting production crews routinely purchasing
food, gasoline, lumber, building materials and much
more while shooting in the Santa Clarita Valley, a wide
range of local businesses have been able to see their
sales increase, while the sales tax revenue generated
from such spending allows the city to provide programs
and services that benefit the entire community.
In addition, it’s estimated that of the roughly
140,000 well-paying jobs the Southern California film
industry supports, nearly 7,000 of those positions are
filled by local residents. By working to help attract film
productions to shoot in the Santa Clarita Valley, the college is supporting an industry that is essential to the economic vitality of the community.
To help accommodate the large number of production crews looking to film on campus, Robin Williams,
the college’s civic center director, and his staff are
always on hand to work with location managers to handle scheduling conflicts, solve parking issues, allow the
use of college utilities, and recommend other potential
shooting locations within the community.
It’s because of the college’s hands-on approach to
working with the film community that nearly 80 percent
of the productions that shoot at College of the Canyons
return as repeat customers.
“We send a lot of shows to College of the Canyons,
and every show we’ve ever sent there comes back. And
that’s because of Robin Williams and his staff,” said
Mike DeLorenzo, president of Santa Clarita Studios
“Everyone thanks me for sending them to COC.”
R O C K T H E R H Y T H M , B E AT T H E O D D S • M AY 1 8 , 2 0 1 2
n Friday May 18, Cougar Stadium and the College of the Canyons Valencia campus will
be the site of a world record-breaking drum circle event, the likes of which the Santa
Clarita Valley has never seen, as the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC)
K-12 Arts Education Outreach Program hosts the culminating event of its yearlong hybrid music education program — Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds.
Community members are invited to come be a part of history, as nearly
7,600 sixth- and seventh-graders from all five of the Santa Clarita Valley’s
school districts and nearly 4,000 local residents descend on Cougar Stadium in
one historic effort to break a world record.
With the participation of legendary musicians Mickey Hart (The Grateful
Dead), John Densmore (The Doors) and Remo Belli, founder of REMO Inc.,
this event has been designed to both entertain and raise awareness of the value
of arts education as a vital component in the development of ‘The Whole
Child.’
In addition, it’s hoped that this effort will cast a national spotlight on the
Santa Clarita Valley, celebrate the unique educational partnerships that have
allowed the PAC’s K-12 Arts Education Outreach Program to thrive and show what
can happen when a community comes together to make a difference in the lives of students.
What is Rock the Rhythm,
Beat the Odds?
R
ock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds
is being produced by the PAC K12 Arts Education Outreach
Program, with generous support from
Remo Inc. and several other local businesses, organizations, City of Santa Clarita and
community members.
From the event’s beginnings as a casual conversation with Rita Garasi, longtime
friend of the college and chair of the PAC
K-12 Arts Education Outreach advisory
committee, to an historic communitywide
event attended by residents of all ages,
Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds reflects
the evolution of Santa Clarita’s response to
a growing need for prioritizing arts education in its schools, and the critical importance of an entire community’s participa-
L
tion and conversation in that mission.
As part of the project, every sixth- and
seventh-grader in the Santa Clarita Valley
has received percussion-based music and
rhythm instruction, designed to maximize
each student’s creative expression, build
social and emotional skills and emphasize
the process of learning over performance.
Over the last year, preparation for the
May 18 program has included hands-on
music lessons, and even a surprise visit to a
local classroom by legendary rock ‘n’ roll
drummer Mickey Hart and Remo Belli,
founder of locally run REMO Inc., whose
company has provided instruments and
other forms of logistical support throughout the entire process.
PAC K-12 Arts Education
Outreach Program
Above: Students involved in a drumming lesson and a surprise visit
from legendary rock ‘n’ roll drummer Mickey Hart (left).
Students visit the College of the Canyons Art Gallery (below).
aunched in 2008, the PAC K-12 Arts Education Outreach Program continues
to provide incredible opportunities for the youth of the Santa Clarita Valley
through valuable partnerships with major arts organizations in California and
across the nation.
The program uses the college’s cultural and community resources to expose Santa
Clarita’s student population to top-tier, visual and performing arts standard-based arts
activities and integrated performing arts learning opportunities.
Through school assemblies, bus-in programs, classroom visits and family performances, students can enjoy performances that meet or exceed the state of California’s
Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) standards.
In addition, the Santa Clarita Valley K-12 Arts Education Consortium — a partnership that developed as a result of the Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education program
— launched its professional development program for K-12 educators in 2010.
Educators who participate in the program are provided tools and techniques to integrate
the arts into their classrooms, while addressing curriculum requirements and working to
develop concrete and measurable ways to enhance current levels of arts education.
The Outreach Program has at its core a collaborative approach, partnering with
teachers and administrators in school districts and community-based organizations
throughout the area to develop an enhanced arts education curriculum and a variety of
unique educational opportunities for all students.
The Benefits of Arts in Education
• Has a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child.
• Strengthens problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, adding to
overall academic achievement and school success.
• Teaches children life skills such as developing an informed perception,
articulating a vision, learning to solve problems and make decisions,
building self-confidence and self-discipline. According to the National
School Boards Association and Americans for the Arts, young people
who consistently participate in comprehensive, sequential and rigorous
arts programs are:
– Four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.
– Three times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools.
– Four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair.
– Three times more likely to win an award for school attendance.
– Four times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem.
O
riginally launched through the
organization UCLArts and
Healing, Beat the Odds is a
drum circle-based activity that seeks to
maximize creative expression while building social and emotional skills and emphasizing the process of learning over performance.
Beat the Odds integrates activities
from contemporary drum circles and group
counseling to teach skills in focusing and
listening, team building, positive risk taking, self-esteem, awareness of others, leadership, expressing feelings, managing
anger/stress, empathy and gratitude.
Developed with the combined expertise of a licensed clinical social worker, a
drum circle facilitator and a public health
educator, the Beat the Odds product is altogether clinically sound, rhythmically engaging and sustainable.
The program can be implemented one
classroom at a time, and is designed for
delivery by persons with no musical experience. Most importantly, Beat the Odds is
inclusive, culturally relevant and does not
bear the stigma of therapy.
UCLA researchers have shown that
Beat the Odds can significantly improve a
spectrum of behavior problems in children,
including inattention, withdrawn/depression, posttraumatic stress, anxiety, attention
deficit/hyperactivity, oppositional defiance,
and sluggish cognitive tempo.
About REMO, Inc.
COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS:
R O C K T H E R H Y T H M , B E AT T H E O D D S • M AY 1 8 , 2 0 1 2
A
Santa Clarita-based company,
REMO Inc., has been the
world’s drumhead specialist for
more than 50 years. The company’s wide
variety of drumheads fit every drumming
application and have been used by almost
every major drummer in the world.
Founder Remo Belli is a member of the
PAC K-12 Arts Education Advisory
Committee and is dedicated to promoting
the benefits of arts and music education
and music in local schools.
The REMO Recreational Music
Center in North Hollywood is dedicated to
providing an atmosphere where people
from all walks of life, of all ages, with or
without a musical background, can experience making music with others in a wel-
Is this really a going to be a
world record?
Yes, this is a genuine try for a world
record in the Guinness Book of World
Records, for Largest Drum Circle.” The
previous record of 9,000 was set in
China in 2007.
Am I going to be part of the
world record?
Yes. Everyone in attendance will be
counted for the formal World Record
entry and each person will be given a
free sound shape signifying his or her
participation.
How many people do you think
will be there that day?
In order to break the record, and set a
new one, we will need at least 10,100
participants and we anticipate having at
least that many, including our 7,200 kids.
Are any celebrities coming?
Yes, there will be celebrities and
government officials attending the event.
Mickey Hart, drummer for the Grateful
Dead, will be directing the event, and
John Densmore, drummer for The Doors
will be in attendance as well. We also
expect some surprise guest drummers.
coming, friendly, non-challenging environment — solely to experience the benefit and joys of making music.
Belli, along with Remo President
Brock Kaericher, and the entire Remo
staff have all been pivotal in helping to
bring the Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds
initiative to life.
In addition to playing a key role in
implementing the initial stage the hybrid
music education program that is at the
center of this event, the company has also
produced more than 11,000 commemorative sound shapes (hand-held percussive
instruments) that will be passed out at
Cougar Stadium on the day of the event
and used to break the current drum circle
record of 10,180.
Will food and drinks be
available for purchase?
Our concession stand will be open,
with a limited selection of snacks and
beverages.
Can I bring my own food or
drink into the stadium?
Yes, but please do not bring glass or
alcoholic beverages.
What organizations are
arranging this?
The event is being produced by the
College of the Canyons, its K-12 Arts
Education Outreach Program of the
Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center,
The City of Santa Clarita, UCLA Arts and
Healing, all five Santa Clarita Valley
school districts with the generous
sponsorship of REMO Inc.
A Gateway to Opportunity
F
or more than 40 years, College of the Canyons has served as a gateway to higher
education, professional training and by extension, opportunity for the Santa
Clarita Valley.
During that time a significant amount of change and progress have occurred throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, but it has been this community’s unwavering support of
the college that has continued to propel the institution forward.
Since its opening the college has cultivated an unequalled reputation for providing
access to higher education, unparalleled students services and a passionate pursuit of
excellence.
That commitment is a tradition reflected by the innovative, results orientated leadership
of College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne. G. Van Hook.
Respected by our colleagues, appreciated by our partners, supported by our students
and community members and energized and fueled by our dedicated faculty and staff,
College of the Canyons has created a foundation of excellence that will be further built
upon, as the institution continues to uphold the ideals of education while contributing
to the development of our vibrant, thriving community for generations to come.
If you’re planning on coming to the event:
What time does it start?
The gates to Cougar Stadium will
open to the public at 10am. There will
be entertainment/activities on the
field from 10-11:00am. The event
officially starts at 11:00am and the
actual record-breaking part of the
event begins at 11:30am.
Do I need to buy a ticket?
No. The Rock the Rhythm event is
free to the public, on a first-come
first-served event. However, reserved
seating can be arranged through
ticket purchase. Proceeds to benefit
the PAC K12 Arts Education
Outreach program.
www.canyons.edu/Offices/PIO/
CanyonsPAC/rrbo.html
Do you have a group sale
price?
Yes. If you are part of a group of
10 to 24 people, you can receive a
10% discount off the price for
reserved seating. Medium groups of
25 to 49 people can receive a 15%
discount. Large groups of 50 or more
people can receive a 20% discount. If
you have a group of 50+ please
contact the box office at
661-362-5304.
Where would I park?
Although we are specifically
reserving parking lots 7 and 8 for
public parking, areas near the
stadium will be impacted as the 7,200
students are bussed to the location.
Lots 4, 5 (limited) and 14 will be
available; please remember to
observe all college signs. No parking
in staff spaces or handicap access
spaces unless you have an
appropriate placard. You also might
consider parking at Westfield and
carpooling or taking advantage of
public transportation, which has
many routes to COC.
Where do I enter the
parking lot?
If you are parking in lots 7 and 8
(closest to the field) please use
the Stadium Way entrance off of
Valencia Blvd. Please pay careful
attention to those lots marked
for Staff.
Where do I enter
Cougar stadium?
The gate is located at the Northeast
corner of the campus, south of
Valencia Blvd. and west of Rockwell
Canyon.
www.canyons.edu/maps
4
R O C K T H E R H Y T H M , B E AT T H E O D D S • M AY 1 8 , 2 0 1 2
RO C K T H E R H Y T H M , B E AT T H E O D D S • M AY 1 8 , 2 0 1 2
A Huge Thanks to Everyone who came
together to make this event possible!
Remo Inc, • City of Santa Clarita
The Santa Clarita Community College District
PAC K12 Arts Education Outreach Program
The "Beat the Odds" Group
This wouldn't have happened without the assistance from these amazing school districts,
including their administrators, teachers, support staff, parents – and of course all the kids!
Castaic Union School District • Newhall School District
Saugus Union School District • Sulphur Springs School District
William S. Hart Union High School District
So many groups have stepped up to support and assist and we thank you all!
James Irvine Foundation • Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
Santa Clarita Studios • The Found Penny Foundation
William S. Hart District Department of Transportation
Andy Gump • Archie and Associates • Bobby Sherman Foundation • David Schutz • Goodman Audio
iPressroom • KHTS -1220 • LA County Supervisor Antonovich • Laureen Carter • MegaWorld Media
PAC K12 Arts Education Outreach Advisory Committee • PAC Usher Volunteers
The Remo Inc. Rock the Rhythm Facilitators • The Signal • SCVTV • Samba Da Mudança Samba School
Taiko Center of Los Angeles • Valencia Production Partners • William S. Hart District ROTC
Advantage • Arrowhead • California Pizza Kitchen • Chik-fil-A • Chili’s • Chronic Cantina • Coldstones • Costco
Douglas Furniture • Elephant Bar • Fast Signs • ISSI at COC • Lazy Dog • New Moon Restaurant • Pavilions • Pepsi
Ralphs • Salt Creek Grille • Sam’s Club • Sprouts • Starbucks • Tea Gardens • Trader Joes • Vons • Western Bagel • Wolf Creek
And a monster thanks to COC's dedicated employees
– both past and present! – who gave extra time and energy
to make this event such a success!
Check out our website at www.rocktherhythm.org for even MORE thank you's!
C O L L E G E O F TH E C A N Y O N S B R E A K I N G N E W S • S P R I N G 2 0 1 2
T
7
Canyon Country Campus Prepares for Fifth Anniversary
he Canyon Country campus is ramping up for a
busy summer session and fall semester, highlighted by a celebration to commemorate the five-year
anniversary of the campus.
In the early morning hours of Aug. 27, 2007, a sizeable group of College of the Canyons board members,
administrators, instructors and staff members gathered
outside a collection of newly installed modular buildings, strategically arranged on a 70-acre plot of land.
As the first students of the semester made their way
onto campus, the college team was there to greet them
and make sure they found their classrooms.
At that moment, COC officially became a college on
two campuses, but with one mission: to increase access
to education for students of all ages.
The year prior to its opening, longtime college
administrator Dena Maloney was named founding dean
of the yet-to-be-built Canyon Country campus and
tasked with helping the college transition to multi-campus status.
Since its opening five summers ago, the Canyon
Country campus has enjoyed continued growth and
development. Despite early projections that the campus
would attract 1,500 to 2,000 students its first semester,
more than 3,000 students were served in fall 2007
alone.
Those early numbers were only a preview of things
to come. During the 2010-11 academic year, the Canyon
Country campus served more than 10,000 students, with
68 percent of the college’s 2011 graduating class having
taken at least one class at the newest campus.
“I’m extremely pleased that the Canyon Country
campus has become part of the path students are taking
to achieve their goals and realize their dream,” said
Maloney, who was recently named superintendent-president of Taft College and the West Kern Community
College District after nearly 20 years of service at
College of the Canyons (see accompanying story).
Significant additions to the Canyon Country campus
during the last five years include the 2007 construction
of the Carl A. Rasmussen Amphitheater and the 2,150square-foot Canyon Country Center for Early
Childhood Education.
In August, the first permanent building – the eager-
ly anticipated Applied Technology Education Center
(ATEC) – opened. Designed to give students a new
selection of hands-on learning and training opportunities, its 10,000 square feet of workshop and laboratory
space allowed the college to immediately expand
Career Technical Education training.
The next major step will be construction of more
permanent buildings. To help guide the campus through
the next five years and beyond, college officials have
begun to implement a transition plan.
Ryan Theule, former assistant dean of student services at the campus, will fill the position of acting dean,
assuming many of Maloney’s duties. Denee
Pescarmona, interim dean of humanities, will assume
the role of acting associate dean, instruction programs.
And, Diane Fiero, assistant superintendent/vice president of human resources, will be on site to provide district-level coordination.
“The restructuring of the former assistant dean, student services position will allow for added support for
additional instructional programs that are both ongoing
and in the development phase for the Canyon Country
campus,” said College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr.
Dianne G. Van Hook. “I feel confident with this new
structure in place that the Canyon Country campus will
continue to grow and flourish with exceptional leadership at the helm.”
This fall, the Canyon Country campus will host a
communitywide celebration to commemorate its fiveyear anniversary. While event details are still being
coordinated, it is expected to include live music,
refreshments, campus tours, faculty and student demonstrations, and arts activities.
“Fueled by innovative facilities such as the Applied
Technology Education Center, active student life,
bustling classrooms and a beautiful natural setting, the
Canyon Country campus will continue to thrive,” said
Theule. “The celebration of the five-year anniversary of
the campus’ opening day will be a wonderful chance for
us to celebrate all that the college has accomplished,
along with the continued opportunities available for students to achieve their education goals.”
More information: canyoncountrycampus.com.
Maloney Departs to
Head Taft College
After nearly 20 years of
service at College of the
Canyons, including five years
spent as the Founding Dean
of the college’s Canyon
Country campus, Dr. Dena
Maloney has been named
Superintendent-President of
Taft College and the West
Kern Community College
District, effective May 1.
“I will never forget my
years at College of the
Canyons and would like to thank the
entire community for all the kindness and support
they’ve shown to COC and the Canyon Country campus throughout the years,” Maloney said. “I’ve had
the good fortune to work with a group of talented,
motivated, innovative and inspiring people during my
time here, and I’ll always treasure the memories of
this incredible community.”
Taft College is located in Taft, about 30 miles
southwest of Bakersfield. The college has an enrollment of around 9,000 students and offers more than
40 associate degrees and certificates.
“Dr. Maloney helped our college during a significant growth period and excelled in many roles,
including generating resources and partnerships to
support economic development, offering input for
instructional programs, engaging in community outreach, and overseeing the growth and development of
our Canyon Country campus,” Chancellor Dr. Dianne
G. Van Hook said. “She is someone who has contributed much to our district and even more to the
lives of the people with whom she has worked, supported, nurtured and cared for at COC.”
ANNIVERSARY
SILVER SPUR HONORS
FROM PAGE 1
Marian and Richard Sandnes were honored with the 2012 Silver Spur Community Service Award during a gala dinner at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Air Force One Pavilion in Simi Valley on March 3. “This is the most important recognition that we at College of the Canyons can afford to anyone, and given the
support that Richard and Marian have given to the college for so many years, it is only fitting that we honor and celebrate their contributions,” Chancellor Dr.
Dianne G. Van Hook said.
SUMMER
FROM PAGE 1
The college’s first five-week summer session runs June 4 to
July 6. A second eight-week session will run June 11 to Aug. 3,
and the final five-week session will run June 18 to July 27.
A summer session schedule of classes is now posted online at
www.canyons.edu. As in recent years, a printed schedule will not
be available.
Summer session registration for new students and high school
students (11th and 12th grades) begins May 10, with a final registration period scheduled to begin May 14.
Several community colleges in the region are either not offering summer sessions or offering only limited schedules, so classes at COC are expected to fill quickly.
With that in mind, students are encouraged not to wait until
the last minute to apply or register for summer classes. Below is
a list of registration tips for all students to consider:
• Make sure the Admissions and Records Office has your current e-mail address, telephone number and postal addresses so
that the college can provide you with up-to-date information
regarding your registration date and time.
• Know which classes you really want and sign up for them
during your registration period. Once you are registered for a
class, cancel only if you are absolutely sure of your decision.
• Check the online schedule of classes frequently for updated
class listings, updates and changes.
In addition, students should be reminded that beginning in
summer 2012, enrollment fees at all 112 California community
colleges have been raised to $46 per unit, as mandated by the state
of California.
For more information about the 2012 summer session, contact
the Admissions and Records Office at (661) 362-3280 or visit
canyons.edu.
alike. In 1985 the center became the first
community college lab school in the state
to be accredited by the National
Association for the Education of Young
Children (NAEYC) Academy of Early
Childhood Programs. It has maintained
accreditation status ever since.
In time, the center’s tremendous
growth necessitated the move to a larger,
more permanent location, which would
allow the college to expand its ECE services.
In 1993, with that goal in mind, a
group of children armed with undersized
shovels joined a collection of college
administrators at a dirt lot located on the
southwest corner of the Valencia campus
to officially break ground on the college’s
new Family Studies and Early Childhood
Education Center.
As one of several campus improvements implemented at College of the
Canyons after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the new Family Studies and ECE
Center officially moved into its current
location following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 22, 1995. The event featured an assortment of local dignitaries
and preschool children jointly cutting the
ribbon. It was held in conjunction with
that year’s community-wide “Day of the
Child” campus celebration.
In 2009, the ECE program underwent
another major expansion with the opening
of the Canyon Country Center for Early
Childhood Education, located on the
Canyon Country campus.
“The opening of our second ECE
Center on the Canyon Country campus
was a momentous step for our program,”
said Diane Stewart, dean of early childhood education programs. “The centers
remain an important resource for this community, and will provide countless opportunities for the families and students we
serve.
“Thanks to the dedication of our hardworking staff and the support of the college and our families, we’ve been able to
create an educational institution that will
endure in our valley for years to come,”
added Stewart. “We’re looking forward to
the next 30 years.”
For more information, call (661) 3623531 or visit canyons.edu/departments/cd.
8
CO L L E G E O F T H E C A N Y O N S B R E A K I N G N E W S • S P R I N G 2 0 1 2
REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY
Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center
Mentry Hall Expansion
Canyon Country Campus
College of the Canyons Institute for Culinary Education
Library Expansion
Applied Technology Education Center
Measure M Delivers on Promises
M
uch has changed at College of the
Canyons since voters approved
Measure M in 2006. The college
has experienced an unprecedented level of
progress that has been fed in large part by
the $160 million bond measure, the optimism of an historically supportive community, and the resolve of college leaders to
make good on the promises of Measure M.
The most visible changes are the creation of an entirely new campus in Canyon
Country and the opening of the Dr. Dianne
G. Van Hook University Center, which
occupies a prominent perch along
Interstate 5. But there have been other significant enhancements as well, such as the
Applied Technology Education Center at
the Canyon Country campus and the
expansion of both Mentry Hall and the
Library, the latter of which will open for
the fall semester. Measure M bond funds
will also play a key role in building a new
Student Services & Administration building and the College of the Canyons
Institute for Culinary Education.
Measure M has certainly provided the
funding to construct a wide assortment of
new facilities to accommodate an everincreasing number of new and innovative
educational and training programs. The
beneficiaries are those who come to
College of the Canyons for education,
training and inspiration now and in the
future.
The bond measure is a key component
driving the college’s progress, but a lesserknown factor also plays an important role.
The college has maximized every bondissued dollar by leveraging other
resources. Although its original value was
estimated at $160 million, in the end, the
value of Measure M will far exceed that
figure via interest and the refunding of
bond proceeds, not to mention the value of
matching construction funds from the
state.
“We have been extremely diligent
about utilizing and leveraging Measure M
bond funds to deliver the absolute maximum value possible for our community,”
Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook said.
“This is an investment whose value will
ultimately be measured in terms of how
we’ve been able to transform people’s
lives and careers for the better.”
Measure M has funded numerous projects, including:
Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center
Status: Completed 2009
District / Measure M: $7.3 million
State / Other: $32.5 million
Total Cost: $39.8 million
The Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center provides
110,000 square feet of instructional and support space
for numerous degree programs offered by partner universities such as Brandman University, California State
University Bakersfield, Cal State L.A., Cal State
Northridge, the University of La Verne and National
University. This expansive facility also houses the TEACH
program, the William S. Hart Union High School
District’s Academy of the Canyons, the City of Santa
Clarita’s WorkSource Center and a number of key college
departments. The center’s unique approach to providing
easy access to degree programs from multiple universities was lauded by U.S. Department of Education Under
Secretary Dr. Martha Kanter as a model of higher education access that should be emulated nationwide.
Canyon Country Campus
Status: Completed 2007 (First Phase)
District / Measure M: $32 million
State / Other: $26 million
Total Cost: $58 million
The 70-acre Canyon Country campus welcomed more
than 3,000 students when it opened in 2007, fulfilling
the community’s need for convenient access to college
programs in the eastern Santa Clarita Valley. The campus
has made a huge contribution toward meeting the
area’s educational and training demands. The campus
has benefited from a number of improvements, including the opening of the Carl A. Rasmussen Amphitheater,
a free-standing food concession and extensive landscaping improvements. The first permanent building
opened in 2011 (see below).
Applied Technology Education Center
Status: Completed 2011
District / Measure M: $7.1 million
State / Other: $0
Total Cost: $7.1 million
The 10,000-square-foot Applied Technology Education
Center, the first permanent building on the Canyon
Country campus, houses a variety of new educational
and training programs, including alternative energy
management, automotive technology, construction
management, building inspection, landscape management and water systems technology.
Mentry Hall Expansion
Status: Completed 2010
District / Measure M: $12.4 million
State / Other: $0
Total Cost: $12.4 million
The Mentry Hall expansion, a design-build project that
was completed in less than a year, added more than
32,000 square feet of instructional space, including two
computer labs, a large lecture room, 11 classrooms, a 2D drawing classroom, a life/drawing classroom, two
conference rooms and 12 offices. The expansion
increased the overall size of Mentry Hall to 76,339
square feet.
Library Expansion
Status: Opening Fall 2012
District / Measure M: $6.5 million
State / Other: $9.5 million
Total Cost: $16 million
The 51,000-square-foot expansion of the Library will
house a larger Learning Center lab, as well as an assortment of instructional labs, classrooms, offices and
enhanced library facilities to support student success. It
will be open for the fall semester.
College of the Canyons Institute
for Culinary Education
Status: Construction Drawings
District / Measure M: $2.8 million
State / Other: $3.9 million
Total Cost: $6.7 million
This 5,600-square-foot facility will be built just south of
Mentry Hall in an architectural style that underlines
both the simplicity of the reflective glass surfaces found
on nearby structures and underlines an elegant sophistication appropriate for a building that will serve both
educational and social functions. Individual elements
include a Show Kitchen, Savory Kitchen, Sweets Kitchen,
an area for Wine Studies, a Culinary Lab space and
instructor office spaces. The College of the Canyons
Foundation has mounted a capital campaign to raise
additional funds to build it.
Student Services & Administration Building
Status: Construction Drawings
District / Measure M: $10.1 million
State / Other: $7.1 million
Total Cost: $17.2 million
This two-story facility will replace the existing building,
which the campus has outgrown.
Canyon Country Campus Parking Lot 2
Status: Completed 2010
District / Measure M: $1 million
State / Other: $0
Total Cost: $1 million
Technology Infrastructure Upgrades
Status: Completed
District / Measure M: $1 million
State / Other: $0
Total Cost: $1 million
Other Measure M-funded improvements include secondary effects in Bonelli
Hall and Mentry Hall ($3.4 million), work
on the Facilities Master Plan ($253,000),
and various health and safety upgrades
($50,000).
The Measure M pipeline is filled with
myriad future projects, including several
permanent buildings at the Canyon
Country campus, upgrades at the Del Valle
firefighter training facility, replacement of
equipment, scheduled maintenance and
other secondary effects.
For up-to-date information about Measure M,
upcoming Citizens Oversight Committee meetings,
agendas and minutes, and other background material, visit canyons.edu/pio and click the “Measure M
Committee” button.