opening
September 13, 2007
Even though the College of the Canyons Canyon Country Campus has already been holding classes for a number of weeks, college officials are inviting the community to an Opening Celebration to tour and visit the new $51.6 million facility. Set to include food, live entertainment, living history exhibits and child activities and a variety of campus giveaways and raffle prizes, the Canyon Country Campus (CCC) will also provide an opportunity for community members to meet college faculty, administrators, and staff members -- including counselors -- who will be on hand throughout the day to share specific program and department information and help enroll interested students in late-start classes.
The College of the Canyons CCC Opening Celebration will take place Saturday October 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 17200 Sierra Highway in Canyon Country. "This new Canyon Country Campus is a place where student dreams, community vision and the college's commitment have joined to create a very special place for student learning and community development," said Dena Maloney, founding dean of the CCC. "The same dedicated and talented faculty and staff who've made College of the Canyons the number one transfer college in Los Angeles County, and who've created the statewide model for economic and workforce development, are working together with you, our community, to define the types of unique programs that will allow this campus to fulfill its mission, meet our student's needs and create that special place." Helping to make at least one lucky student's dreams come true will be the event's top raffle-prize-package of one free year of college -- including a scholarship from the College of the Canyons Foundation, a parking permit donated by the college's student services office, textbook gift certificates from Barnes and Noble and school supplies from Staples. Other prizes being raffled throughout the day include a laptop computer donated by CBC Cleaning and Restoration, a GPS navigation device from NE Systems Inc., Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center tickets and a variety of gift cards donated by local businesses.
Located on Sierra Highway, less than two miles north of Soledad Canyon Road, the CCC is terraced into the rolling hills of the 70-acre site, which provides a sweeping view of the surrounding terrain. Opening with 24,000 square feet of instructional space - which includes two science labs, two computer labs, a library, a book store, a PE building, an Early Childhood Education facility and 23 classrooms complete with wireless Internet connectivity - the CCC serves more than 3,000 students and is offering more than 300 courses in the inaugural semester alone. In addition to the high number of transferable, basic skills and vocational education courses and associate's degree and certificate programs being offered at the CCC, students will also have access to a number of non-credit and community extension courses. Also included on the CCC will be the William S. Hart Union High School District's Early College High School - in which students take both high school and college level classes, with a goal to graduate with both a high school diploma and associate's degree. The ECHS opened with 85 students in its freshman class, and will add a new class each year.
At build-out, currently scheduled for 2015, the CCC will serve nearly 10,000 students and contain seven permanent multi-story buildings, the first of which is scheduled to begin construction during the 2008-09 academic year. "This campus represents many things. For our students it represents opportunity, access, an open door and a future," COC Superintendent-President Dr. Dianne Van Hook said. "But for me it represents what can be done when you look where you want to go long-term versus just where you're going with your next step. It represents the power of belief, and it is a visible representation of the spirit and context with which College of the Canyons operates."