June 7, 2004
INFORMATION: John McElwain or John Green, (661) 362-3494 or 3684
COC Vice President Accepts Top Post at West Valley College
 SANTA CLARITA College of the Canyons Executive Vice President Phil Hartley has accepted an offer to become president of West Valley College, a community college located in the Northern California city of Saratoga. Hartley will assume the position on Aug. 9.
Hartley said he credits the leadership and mentoring of College of the Canyons President Dianne G. Van Hook as a major factor in preparing him for his new responsibility.
“My position at College of the Canyons has been the best of my life,” he said. “College of the Canyons is one of the five top California community colleges due to the dynamic leadership of President Van Hook and an outstanding faculty, staff and administration.
“The college’s Board of Trustees and numerous community leaders also have a shared vision and commitment to creating an outstanding place to live and work,” he said. “They work together and support the college to make that happen.”
Hartley was named assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction and student services at College of the Canyons in 1998. He was tasked with overseeing all aspects of instructional programs and student services. Before arriving at COC, Hartley served as dean of instruction at Mendocino College from 1992 to 1998. He also was a professor, head of the Department of Psychology and a division chair at Chaffey College from 1973 to 1991.
West Valley College enrolls about 10,000 students per year and serves a major portion of Santa Clara County, California’s “Silicon Valley.” The college was founded in 1964 and has one of the highest transfer rates to four-year colleges in California.
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