2026 Archive

Archived news releases from the Public Information Office

Explore During Discover Day on April 24

April 13, 2026 – College of the Canyons will host its annual Discover Day on Friday, April 24, offering new and prospective students an opportunity to explore the college’s wide range of academic programs, student services, and campus life. The event is scheduled 3 to 6 p.m. at the Valencia campus, where representatives from academic departments and student services will be available to answer questions and provide information.

Santa Clarita Job Fair to be Held April 24

April 2, 2026 – College of the Canyons will host the Santa Clarita Job Fair on Friday, April 24, providing job seekers with employment opportunities in various industries and career fields. The fair is scheduled 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the West P.E. gymnasium at the Valencia campus. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature approximately 100 employers seeking to fill entry-, middle-, and upper-level positions.

Spring Star Party Set for April 24

April 1, 2026 – College of the Canyons will host its Spring 2026 Star Party on Friday, April 24, featuring a keynote presentation by Teresa Ciardi, a physical science and astronomy instructor. Ciardi will present “The Life of a Star: From Birth to End,” an engaging exploration of how stars form, evolve, and ultimately meet their end. “Some stars fade quietly, while others conclude their lives in dramatic explosions,” Ciardi said. “We’ll look at stars like our Sun, objects that never quite become stars, and massive stars that are 10 to 20 times larger than the Sun.”

Children's Play Day Slated April 18

March 31, 2026 – Early Childhood Education (ECE) will host its annual Children’s Play Day on Saturday, April 18, in celebration of the nationally recognized Week of the Young Child. The event brings the community together for a day of high-quality, developmentally engaging play experiences for children from infancy through school age. The event is scheduled 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Honor Grove at the College of the Canyons Valencia campus. Admission is free and open to the public.

College Highlighted in OER Book

March 27, 2026 – The impact of College of the Canyons on the expansion of Open Educational Resources (OER) is highlighted in a newly published book, “Sowing the Seeds of a Global Movement: Stories from California Trailblazers of Open Education.” Authored by Barbara Illowsky, the book offers a firsthand account of the movement’s growth.

Audit of Measure E Bond Spending Affirmed

March 18, 2026 – The Santa Clarita Community College District's Independent Citizens Bond Oversight Committee voted to accept the results of an independent audit confirming the district properly accounted for all bond expenditures in the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Professor Helps Bring 'Dinosaurs' to Life

March 12, 2026 – When Dr. Michael Habib isn’t teaching anatomy and physiology at College of the canyons, he is using his skills and expertise to help audiences around the world see dinosaurs in a new light. Most recently, he served as a scientific advisor on the Netflix miniseries “The Dinosaurs.”

Registration Open for Focused Classes

March 4, 2026 – Registration is open for more than 340 short-term focused classes available during the spring semester. With start dates scheduled through April, the classes are offered at the Valencia and Canyon Country campuses, as well as online. “Short-term classes, which are available in person and online, provide the flexibility students need to stay on track and continue making progress,” said Dr. David Vakil, interim assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction. 

College Named 'Bee Campus'

Feb. 18, 2026 – Something new is abuzz at College of the Canyons. The college has earned designation as a Bee Campus USA affiliate, becoming the only community college in Southern California to receive the distinction in recognition of its longstanding commitment to pollinator conservation, native habitat restoration, and biodiversity education. As a Bee Campus USA affiliate, the college will further its efforts to conserve native pollinators by providing healthy habitats rich in diverse native plants, protected nesting sites, and landscapes managed with minimal pesticides.

Free Tax Preparation Offered

Jan. 28, 2026 – College of the Canyons will offer free income tax preparation services through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for eligible individuals during the 2026 tax filing season. VITA provides no-cost tax preparation to individuals who earned less than $68,675 in 2025, as well as those with disabilities or limited English proficiency. The service will be available every Saturday from Feb. 7 through April 11.

College Receives Exemplary Program Award

Jan. 13, 2026 – The California Community Colleges Board of Governors honored the college's Rising Scholars Program with this year's Exemplary Program Award. Rising Scholars, developed to reduce systematic barriers to education and careers for justice-impacted individuals, provides short-term courses to incarcerated individuals that focus on vocational training, skills development, and reentry preparation. The program experienced an increase in enrollment that allowed hundreds of students to earn certificates to assist with court compliance and early release.

Focused Classes Available this Spring

Jan. 12, 2026 – Registration is now open for the spring semester, which begins Monday, Feb. 9. Students can choose from more than 1,690 class sections across a broad range of academic subjects and career education disciplines. Courses include those required for degree completion, transfer to four-year institutions, and fulfillment of prerequisite requirements. Classes will be offered in a variety of formats, including in-person, online, and hybrid options. Courses will be held at both the Valencia and Canyon Country campuses.

Board of Trustees Names Officers

Jan. 9, 2026 – The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees named new officers and confirmed its 2026 meeting schedule on Friday, Jan. 9. Sharlene Johnson was selected by fellow trustees to serve as board president for 2026. "I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members to continue protecting the best interests of COC students and the Santa Clarita Valley community," Johnson said. The board also appointed Fred Arnold to serve as vice president and Dr. Edel Alonso to serve as clerk.