2020 News Releases
Archived news releases from the Public Information Office
JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
December
Board Holds Organizational Meeting
December 22, 2020 – The Board of Trustees received recognitions for service, swore in recently elected board members, named new officers, and set its 2021 meeting schedule.
Edison Awards Fire Tech Scholarships
December 16, 2020 – Ten College of the Canyons fire technology students have received
$1,000 scholarships from Edison International to cover tuition, books and school-related
fees.
MLT Class Passes Certification Exam
December 9, 2020 – While it’s not the first time an entire College of the Canyons Medical Laboratory Technician cohort has passed the American Society for Clinical Pathologists National Board Exam on the first try, the Class of 2020 will go down in history nevertheless.
Athletics Will Not Compete in Upcoming Season
December 3, 2020 – Citing COVID-19 related health and safety concerns posed to student-athletes, coaches and support staff, College of the Canyons teams will not participate in the upcoming California Community College Athletic Association spring 2021 season.
Pandemic-Themed Production 'Virtuality' Goes Live
December 1, 2020 – Bringing to life the national conversation of the trials and tribulations of 2020, the College of the Canyons Theatre Department will present its devised production “Virtuality: the 2020 Tournaments,” Dec. 4 and 5.
Registration Under Way for Winter Session
December 1, 2020 – Registration is underway for the College of the Canyons winter session, which boasts more than 300 class sections.
November
College to Open Multicultural Center
November 25, 2020 – On Monday, Nov. 30, College of the Canyons will host a virtual soft opening of its Multicultural Center, which will provide safe and brave spaces for historically minoritized and marginalized groups to increased diversity, equity and inclusion.
'Woyzeck' Now Streaming
November 20, 2020 – The College of the Canyons Theatre Department’s recorded production of “Woyzeck” will be available to stream online for free from Friday, Nov. 20 to Saturday, Dec. 12.
College Named Bellwether Finalist
November 12, 2020 – College of the Canyons is one of 30 community colleges selected by the Bellwether College Consortium as a finalist for a 2021 Bellwether Award, widely regarded as one of the nation’s most competitive and prestigious recognitions for community colleges.
ECE Closed Due to COVID-19 Case
November 9, 2020 – College of the Canyons closed its Early Childhood Education Center for three weeks effective Monday, Nov. 9 after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
Assisting Student Veterans
November 9, 2020 – Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center continues to meet the needs of student veterans.
Thanksgiving Food Drive for Students
November 6, 2020 – The College of the Canyons Basic Needs Center (BaNC) and Rotary Club of the Santa Clarita Valley have partnered to host a Thanksgiving holiday food drive for students.
October
College Hosts International Youth Forum
October 30, 2020 – For the second year in a row, College of the Canyons will host an International Forum on Youth from Nov. 16 to 19 that will highlight the challenges faced by today’s young people through lectures, scholarly presentations and other virtual events.
Public Artist Talk for 'Out in the Blue'
October 29, 2020 – The College of the Canyons Art Gallery will present a public artist talk with Brooke Sauer to accompany her solo virtual exhibition “Out in the Blue” at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9.
College Ranked by 'Hispanic Outlook'
October 27, 2020 – College of the Canyons has been ranked nationally No. 22 and 26 in The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine for enrolling the largest number of Hispanic students and granting the most degrees, respectively.
Students Chosen for Design Exhibit
October 26, 2020 – Three College of the Canyons architecture and interior design students have been selected to participate in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Los Angeles 2x8 Student Competition, Exhibition and Scholarship program.
Virtual Artist Talk with Eric Whitacre
October 23, 2020 – College of the Canyons proudly welcomes Eric Whitacre as the first featured guest in the School of Visual & Performing Arts Industry Insight Series on Monday, Oct. 26.
University Center Offers Open House
October 22, 2020 – The Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center will host a virtual open house event on Friday, Oct. 30 for prospective students interested in earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree through the center’s partner institutions.
Star Party Scheduled for October 23
October 14, 2020 – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the College of the Canyons Canyon Country Campus will host its fall 2020 star party virtually from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.
College to Host Green STEM Summit
October 12, 2020 – College of the Canyons and the Santa Clarita Environmental Education Consortium (SCEEC) will virtually host the 2020 Green STEM Summit on Saturday, Oct. 24 with the purpose of introducing students to green careers.
Cultural Festival Goes Virtual
October 9, 2020 – Since pandemic restrictions prohibit in-person gatherings, a number of College of the Canyons departments collaborated to organize and host the virtual 2020 Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Cultural Festival to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Virtual Job Fair Begins October 27
October 8, 2020 – The College of the Canyons Career Center has reformatted its annual fall Job Fair to an online three-day event to connect qualified candidates with companies looking to expand their workforce.
Foundation Executive Director Appointed
October 7, 2020 – The Santa Clarita Community College District and the College of the Canyons Foundation have announced the appointment of Michelle Rey to the post of Executive Director.
MakerSpace Donates Face Shields to UCLA Health
October 6, 2020 – The MakerSpace at College of the Canyons donated 100 face shields to UCLA Health Santa Clarita on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
September
College Recognized for Student Voting
September 16, 2020 – College of the Canyons was one of two California community colleges recognized as one of "America’s Best Colleges for Student Voting" by Washington Monthly magazine for its commitment to inspiring students to vote and actively participate in community decisions.
Spring 2021 Remote Instruction
September 14, 2020 – College of the Canyons will continue with distance education through the end of the Spring 2021 semester, Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook announced in a message to the campus community.
Donation to Fund Auto Technology
September 11, 2020 – College of the Canyons has received a $20,000 donation from the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealer Association (GLANCDA) in support of the college’s automotive technology program.
August
Remote Services to Support Students
August 25, 2020 – With campuses largely closed to students and the public for the
fall 2020 semester, a wide range of student services are available remotely to support
learning.
Free Classes Offered this Fall
August 21, 2020 – The School of Personal and Professional Learning will offer a tuition-free personal trainer certificate program and new math support classes this fall.
Online Training for Hart District
August 14, 2020 – The college provided a three-hour training session for 45 William S. Hart Union High School District instructional coaches and administrators to help them transition to online learning.
Chief Instructional Officer Named
August 10, 2020 – Dr. Omar Torres has been named chief instructional officer at College of the Canyons.
July
CARES Act Grants Still Available
July 30, 2020 – Emergency grants through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic
Security (CARES) Act are still available for College of the Canyons students.
Remembering Baseball Coach Gillespie
July 30, 2020 – Legendary baseball coach Mike Gillespie, who led the baseball program at College of the Canyons to three state titles before winning an NCAA National Championship with USC and later reestablishing the baseball program at UC Irvine, died July 29. He was 80.
Chancellor Named to 'Valley 200' List
July 28, 2020 – College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook has been
named to the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s “Valley 200” list.
Theatre Department Goes Virtual
July 21, 2020 – As the coronavirus pandemic has shuttered playhouses and theaters across the country, the College of the Canyons Theatre Department has found a way for the show to go on.
Registration Under Way for Fall Semester
July 20, 2020 – College of the Canyons has moved most of its courses to online and distance learning for the fall 2020 semester, ensuring students can access the classes they need.
June
Proposed State Budget to Protect Funding
June 24, 2020 – Governor Newsom and state legislative leaders reached an agreement
on an amended state budget that prevents specific cuts to California community colleges.
Chancellor Joins Education Sector Work Team
June 9, 2020 – Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook has been appointed to L.A. County's Education Sector Work Team, which create a framework for reopening of colleges and universities.
Physics Student Finds Path at College
June 3, 2020 – If Leonardo Martinez were to trace his journey from graduating from
Saugus High School to his College of the Canyons graduation on June 5, the line would
be anything but linear.
Nursing Student Overcomes Setbacks
June 3, 2020 – Lianne McMahon will be become the first person in her family to graduate college when she receives her associate degree in nursing on June 3.
Honoring the Class of 2020
June 1, 2020 – The College of the Canyons Class of 2020 is truly unlike any other in the college’s 50-year history.
May
From Graduation to the Frontline
May 29, 2020 – For the 60 graduates of the College of the Canyons Registered Nurse Class of 2020, entry into the world of nursing will be baptism by fire.
Fall Semester to Be Delivered Remotely
May 20, 2020 – To provide as little of a disruption as possible for students faculty and staff, College of the Canyons has announced that the fall 2020 semester will be primarily remote and online.
Virtual Graduation Announced
May 14, 2020 – In light of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, College of the Canyons will be holding a virtual commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 on Friday, June 5.
Summer Registration Under Way
May 12, 2020 – College of the Canyons will offer a robust schedule of four summer sessions to help students reach their goals during this unprecedented time. Classes start June 8.
District Communications Recognized
May 8, 2020 – The College of the Canyons District Communications Office has won three
Paragon Awards from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations.
College Receives Arts Integration Grant
May 8, 2020 – College of the Canyons has received a $4,750 grant from the California Arts Council to fund an arts integration program.
CARES Act Emergency Grants Available
May 7, 2020 – College of the Canyons has been allocated approximately $3.1 million in CARES Act Emergency Grants for students with needs related to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
April
MakerSpace Creates 3D Face Shields
April 28, 2020 – As the coronavirus pandemic escalated and personal protective equipment
remained scarce, MakerSpace turned on its lights and fired up its 3-D printing machines.
College Adjusts to Remote Learning
April 27, 2020 – When COC made the decision to transition most of its in-person courses to remote delivery, recreating an online classroom environment proved no easy feat.
Easter Meal for First Responders
April 13, 2020 – On Sunday, April 12, College of the Canyons classified staff members provided 70 Easter lunches for first responders at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and the L.A. County Fire Department COVID-19 testing site in Santa Clarita.
Laptop Lending Program Launched
April 8, 2020 – To assist students during the transition to remote instruction, College of the Canyons launched a laptop lending program that has supplied 200 laptops to students.
Additional COVID-19 Cases Reported
April 6, 2020 – Two more members of the College of the Canyons community have been diagnosed with coronavirus. These are the second and third cases connected to the college.
Registration Under Way for Free Classes
April 6, 2020 – Registration is under way for more than 40 free classes offered through the School of Personal and Professional Learning at College of the Canyons.
Short-Term Classes Still Available
April 3, 2020 – More than 100 short-term classes are still open to students looking to enroll in the College of the Canyons spring 2020 semester.
College Reports First COVID-19 Case
April 3, 2020 – A member of the College of the Canyons community has tested positive for coronavirus. This is the first confirmed case with a connection to the college.
New Fuel Cell System Up and Running
April 2, 2020 – The college moved one step closer to energy independence when its Bloom Energy Corp. fuel cell system went online for the first time.
March
Nursing Program Donates Supplies to Hospital
March 31, 2020 –The nursing program has donated essential equipment to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in light of the global shortage of personal protective equipment for health care professionals.
Instruction and Services Resume Remotely
March 23, 2020 – After a weeklong pause for most classes and services, College of
the Canyons resumed instruction and the delivery of student services in remote formats.
Chancellor Granted Emergency Authority
March 19, 2020 – The College of the Canyons Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Thursday, March 18 to discuss the rapid developments in the college’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Student Services Transition to Remote Delivery
March 18, 2020 – To protect the health and safety of its campus community, College
of the Canyons is converting in-person college services to remote delivery, a process
expected to be completed by March 20.
In-Person Instruction Suspended Effective March 16
March 13, 2020 – In an effort to reduce exposure to coronavirus, College of the Canyons will suspend in-person instruction effective Monday, March 16.
Events Canceled During March and April
March 13, 2020 – In compliance with the state’s ban on large gatherings to curb the spread of coronavirus, College of the Canyons has canceled events that were scheduled during the months of March and April.
Classes Canceled March 18 and 19
March 12, 2020 – Classes will not be held on Wednesday and Thursday, March 18 and 19 as College of the Canyons prepares for the transitioning of in-person spring semester classes to remote learning formats. The move was made in light of concerns about the potential spread of coronavirus.
Promise Information Sessions Scheduled for March
Note: Event canceled/postponed in light of concerns about the potential spread of coronavirus.
March 6, 2020 – College of the Canyons will offer five information sessions to students, parents and community members interested in learning more about the Canyons Promise program on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
College Among Top 25 for Hispanics
March 4, 2020 – College of the Canyons has been ranked nationally No. 22 and 25 in The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine for enrolling the largest number of Hispanic students and granting the most degrees, respectively.
February
College Designated as Official L.A. County Vote Center
February 20, 2020 – For 11 straight days, College of the Canyons will operate an official Los Angeles County Vote Center for the upcoming Presidential Primary.
Free Financial Aid Workshops Scheduled
February 20, 2020 – The College of the Canyons Financial Aid Office has scheduled free financial aid application workshops throughout the Spring 2020 semester for students at the Valencia and Canyon Country campuses.
College Receives $400,000 Mental Health Grant
February 19, 2020 – The Santa Clarita Community College District has received a $400,000 grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office to expand and enhance mental health services and awareness to students and the campus community.
Audit Confirms Bond Measures' Compliance
February 10, 2020 – The Bond Oversight Committee has accepted the results of an audit confirming that, for the 12th year in a row, the college has properly accounted for all bond expenditures.
Women's Conference Slated for March 21
Note: Event canceled/postponed in light of concerns about the potential spread of coronavirus.
February 6, 2020 – The annual College of the Canyons Women’s Conference returns Saturday, March 21 with an exciting lineup of presenters and breakout sessions.
Board of Trustees Names Officers for 2020
February 3, 2020 – The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees has named its officers and confirmed its 2020 meeting schedule.
January
Art Gallery Features Jessica Wimbley Exhibit
January 30, 2020 – The Art Gallery will feature the mixed media work of artist Jessica Wimbley in her solo exhibition “Belle Jet and Cabinet Cards.”
Registration Under Way for Spring Semester
January 29, 2020 – Registration for the spring semester is in full swing, with more than 1,800 class sections offered in a variety of formats.
Students Provide Free Tax Preparation Services
January 22, 2020 – You may qualify to have your income tax returns filed for free by College of the Canyons business accounting students who are certified with the Internal Revenue Service.
Canyons Promise Accepting Sign-ups
January 21, 2020 – The Canyons Promise program is now accepting sign-ups for the 2020-21 year.
Free Human Trafficking Prevention Courses
January 16, 2020 – In observance of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, College of the Canyons will be offering two free courses in human trafficking prevention.
Football Players Earn All-American Honors
January 9, 2020 – Two College of the Canyons football players have been named to the 2019 California Community College Football Coaches Association All-America Team.