News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NR-05-19-26-BSBP
May 19, 2026

College Celebrates First BSBP Graduating Class

Launching California’s first Bachelor of Science in Building Performance program at College of the Canyons in January 2025 felt both exciting and uncertain, said Jason Oliver, chair of the college’s architecture and interior design department.

“It felt like we were building a plane and trying to fly it at the same time,” said Oliver.

Now, the program’s inaugural 11-student cohort is preparing to cross the commencement stage Friday, June 5, marking its first graduating class.

The 11 students — Kathlynn Allen, Kenya Arellano, Nico Dela Fuente, Anthony Diaz, Junior Diaz, Marvin Giron, Hector Juarez, Desirae Peterson, Ashlee Rosas, Sabrina Sosa Ramos, and Melanie Zaldana — completed the 120-unit program, which offers an affordable, hands-on pathway towards becoming a licensed architect, in addition to careers focused on energy efficiency, sustainable building strategies and performance-driven design.

Oliver said creating a bachelor’s degree program at a community college is ultimately about removing barriers while expanding access to opportunity, affordability and inclusive education.

“The long-term impact on the lives of these students and their families, with the enhanced career potential they have now gained by earning a bachelor's degree, is quite outstanding,” added Oliver. “We are so proud of each and every program graduate for their perseverance and hard work.”

Using advanced analytical tools—including Building Energy Modeling (BEM) and Building Information Modeling (BIM)—students learned to simulate real-world building environments, evaluate architectural performance and contribute to sustainable certification processes. They also gained hands-on experience through project-based learning internships.

Rosas, who commuted to COC from Rosamond, chose to enroll in the program because of its emphasis on technical skills and because of its affordability.

“This program involves a lot of real-life problems that would happen within a job,” said Rosas. “I have already experienced some situations in which I had to apply the skills that I learned from this program in actual work.”

Being part of a small cohort also had its benefits, added Rosas.

“I had more engagement with my professors and my peers,” she said. “I had multiple jobs throughout my time at COC, so it was very flexible to be able to attend class while keeping up with my work.” After earning an associates degree at COC, Allen chose to stay and apply to the BSBP program instead of going to a four-year university.

“I saw this opportunity that seemed too good to be true considering the price and the quality of education that I was being told this program would have,” said Allen. Allen says she is very happy with her decision to earn her bachelor’s degree at COC. “I have found lifelong friendships and had more one-on-one time with my teachers compared to a four-year university,” said Allen. “I also got to learn more practical and technical skills that most other schools do not teach their students.”

The program’s curriculum had a significant impact on Allen, particularly a studio project that required designing a commercial building aligned with the LEED v5 building rating system and aiming for Gold certification. The project also required students to complete Title 24 energy simulations using IES VE software.

After reviewing the LEED v5 reference guide to incorporate sustainability credit requirements into her design, Allen simultaneously ran energy simulations to ensure the project met both Title 24 energy code requirements and net-zero energy standards.

The experience inspired her to pursue additional professional credentials, including LEED Green Associate accreditation and OSHA 30 certifications.

“This project impacted my learning by showing me the different tools, strategies and knowledge it takes to design a project, which has inspired and helped motivate me to continue learning,” said Allen. “It has inspired me to study for the LEED AP for the BD+C accreditation and the O+M accreditation.”

Oliver said each BSBP student possesses an undeniable clarity and confidence regarding their pathway into the profession of architecture.

“Some will immediately begin studying for the state architectural license exams, others will begin working for architectural firms in Southern California, and several will continue with their studies at graduate level Master of Architecture programs,” said Oliver. “Each graduate clearly understands how their ability to think critically has prepared them for an exciting and rewarding career, with a confidence for solving building problems in a world where AI is being leveraged as a super-tool.”