President's Office
Message from the Interim President
Dear Students –
On behalf of our faculty, staff and administrators, I am proud to welcome you to College of the Canyons and affirm our shared commitment to your success.
This academic year marks our college’s 55th anniversary of service to the Santa Clarita Valley. Since we opened our doors in 1969, we have created innovative programs and services that have enabled approximately 300,000 students to achieve their goals, and we look forward to helping you do the same.
Whether you’re here with plans to transfer to a four-year university, or to learn the skills needed to begin your career, we’re here to support you every step of the way. That begins with ensuring that higher education remains affordable and accessible to all. Our Canyons Promise program provides free tuition and other incentives for first-time students who enroll full-time. Classes accompanied by the ZTC (Zero Textbook Cost) designation in our schedule mean you will not be required to purchase expensive textbooks. Approximately 25 percent of our classes utilize these no-cost learning resources.
Learning is more dynamic than ever, and we are proud to be on the cutting edge of instruction by offering multiple formats that fit your lifestyle. With campuses in Valencia and Canyon Country that offer a full range of subjects and class times, attending in person has never been more convenient. Online options abound, along with multiple short-term classes, giving you the flexibility to learn while maintaining your work and family responsibilities.
We offer a wide range of other support services that help you remain focused on your classes and position you for success. Our Basic Needs Center, or BaNC, provides free food and essentials, as well as assistance with housing, so you can remain focused on your classes. The Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC) offers free tutoring in dozens of subjects, from English to math and science, to foreign languages. Students also benefit from the specialized services offered by the Academic Accommodation Center, EOPS/CalWORKs, Math Engineering Science Achievement, Inspire Scholars, the Undocumented Resource Center, and the Veterans Resource Center.
Outside the classroom, you will find numerous opportunities to engage and connect with professors and fellow students. Whether it’s our 17 intercollegiate athletic teams, Associated Student Government, Intercultural Center, dozens of student clubs, the Volunteer Center, International Services and Programs, or Employment Center, you can find a place to grow personally, build self-confidence, and develop leadership skills that will equip you for success in college and beyond.
As you navigate your way through classes, extracurricular activities, and campus life, remember that you are not alone. Our dedicated faculty members are passionate about teaching and learning, while our classified staff and administrators go the extra mile to help you feel supported and connected. All of us are here for you and invested in your success.
I encourage you to explore all that College of the Canyons has to offer. Your time here will move quickly, and you’ll soon find yourself holding a diploma at Commencement. Make the most of your time spent at College of the Canyons and invest in relationships with faculty, staff and students that will last a lifetime.
Once again, welcome to College of the Canyons. We look forward to seeing you succeed and joining our proud history of achievement that is 55 years strong and counting.
Sincerely,
David C. Andrus, J.D.
David C. Andrus, J.D., was named College of the Canyons interim superintendent/president of the Santa Clarita Community College District and College of the Canyons on August 14, 2024.
Prior to his appointment, David served as president of the COC Academic Senate from 2020 to 2024. As Academic Senate President, he developed and worked on a multitude of initiatives within the Senate’s organizational structure, as well its efforts through collegial consultation. He led those efforts initially through the Covid-19 pandemic that required drastic changes to the college’s instructional delivery. David also worked toward personal and campus-wide understandings of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility (DEIA) and anti-racism efforts, policy revisions, as well as educational facilities planning on campus.
David – who first came to COC in 2002 when he was hired as an adjunct political science instructor – enjoys working collaboratively on matters of campus governance, especially to use policy, law, and language to solve problems. He became a tenured political science professor in 2007 and served as department chair from 2008 to 2024. He has funded a COC political science student scholarship through the COC Foundation for over a decade.
In addition to his academic work, David has a background in political organizing and served as a field director for U.S. congressional campaigns. He has also worked internationally as an election observer and poll center manager for the U.S. State Department, representing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Belarus and Kosovo. David has also served as president of a public labor association.
He also led a political and educational delegation to Colombia on behalf of an international NGO in collaboration with his late father, Dr. David J. Andrus who served as a professor at the USC School of International Relations. David credits his affinity for intellectual discourse, politics, law, philosophy, and foreign policy to conversations with his late father, who was director of the Peace and Conflict Studies program at USC.
A product of the California Community College System, David attended Pasadena City College, and then earned his bachelor of arts in political science with an emphasis in world affairs from California State University, Los Angeles. He holds a juris doctorate from Southwestern University School of Law.
In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, guitar, photography, and wine tasting.
David is a former member of the United States Army and Southern California native.
He and his wife, Georgianna, reside in the Pasadena area.