6 minute read
Chancellor’s Message
from 2022-23 Catalog
by COCPIO
CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE
– Anonymous
Dear Students,
There is no better time than right now to chart your path toward your dreams. It is now that you will make the choices that shape your future. It is now that you will challenge and strengthen yourself, develop and enhance your skills, and set the stage for future growth and success in your chosen career. The road ahead may not yet seem clear, and there may be some obstacles, but it is a road worth taking. If your path leads to college, you have many options to choose from. College is a place where you can earn a degree, obtain a certificate, or take the few classes needed to achieve your goals. Now more than ever, College of the Canyons is ready to help you reach your potential. It is what makes College of the Canyons stand out from the rest! Since we first opened our doors more than 50 years ago, College of the Canyons has become widely recognized for innovative programs, for really “seeing and listening” to our students, for putting their needs first, and for being intentional in our creation of a welcoming, open, and diverse environment that fosters access, engagement, and success. The opportunities we create to energize students exceed those found elsewhere because we are committed to helping you thrive. It is a com mitment that we take seriously, as it represents our mission to deliver accessible, holistic education for all of our students.
More Options to Succeed
At College of the Canyons you can choose from 96 associate degree programs in everything from Animation to Welding, as well as 152 programs that lead to workforce training certificates. We offer 31 asso ciate degrees for transfer, also known as ADTs, which help you transi tion seamlessly to a California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) campus. For three years, College of the Canyons was named a “Champion of Higher Education” for significantly increasing the number of students earning Associate Degrees for Transfer. Most recently, we were named a “2022 Champion for Excelling in Equitable Course Placement in Campus-wide English Enrollment” by The Cam paign for College Opportunity for successfully supporting 100 percent of our students, Latinx students, and Black students to enroll directly into transfer-level English coursework. Preparing people for careers, especially in times of economic and social change, is more important than ever. More than 92 percent of our nursing graduates pass the licensing exam the first time they take it, a pass rate that surpasses the national average. While we are known for training nurses, firefighters, law enforcement officers, welders, land surveyors, automotive technicians and more, all of our career education programs can help you launch a rewarding career. Students who complete career education courses at College of the Canyons experience, on average, a 31 percent increase in median wages.
Keeping College Affordable
We recognize that attending college can be a challenge, especially when it comes to affordability. We’re committed to eliminating the cost barrier for as many students as possible. Our Canyons Promise program provides free tuition for first-time students who enroll fulltime. And, thanks to donors who give generously to the College of the Canyons Foundation, we awarded 319 scholarships totaling $280, 950 to our students in 2022. Textbooks represent a significant cost of education, so we are working to make them more affordable. When you register, look for classes la beled with “ZTC” in the course schedule. ZTC, which stands for Zero Textbook Cost, identifies courses that utilize no-cost learning resources in place of traditional textbooks. Approximately one-quarter of the classes we offer utilize ZTC materials, which save students $5 million in textbook costs each year. We recognize that some students struggle with food and housing insecurity, so we launched the Basic Needs Center (BaNC) to provide students with food and housing assistance, and to connect them with other services and resources so they can focus on their classes – and not worry about where they will sleep or find food.
Building for the Future
We look forward to welcoming students back to campus after more than two years of remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You will find ample, convenient parking, as well as noticeable changes to our facilities. We are moving forward with construction and renova tion projects to create modern, well-equipped learning spaces for our students. At the Canyon Country Campus, the Science Center is completed and open. The four-story, 55,000-square-foot facility features classrooms and labs for many in-demand science programs, including anatomy, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, and environmental science. Adjacent to the Science Center is the Student Services/Learn ing Resource Center, which is nearing completion. A mirror image of the Science Center, it will provide a central location for tutoring and library services, along with meeting and classroom spaces. At the Valencia Campus, we are continuing to upgrade facilities that date to the early days of the college. -
We Want You Here
We serve 32,000 individual students each year at College of the Canyons. Their reasons for choosing COC are as varied as their back grounds, experiences, and interests. We recognize that no two students are alike, and we seek to inspire each one to reach their individual potential. And indeed, they have. The Class of 2022 was among our largest graduating classes ever, with more than 2,400 students earning degrees. We look forward to welcoming you to College of the Canyons and helping you achieve your goals! Outside of class, you’ll find opportunities to engage and connect with your professors and fellow students. Whether it’s participating in one or more of the dozens of student clubs we have available, serving in Student Government, competing on one of our 17 inter-collegiate athletic teams, or finding a job on campus, your experience here will be rich and rewarding. We are a community of learners, doers, and leaders who represent a diverse spectrum of age, gender, and ethnicity, and who are committed to helping each other succeed. College of the Canyons is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institu tion, and is ranked by The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine for being among the top two-year colleges in the nation for Hispanic students. Thriving student alliance groups, including the Af rican American/Black Student Alliance, the Latinx Alliance, the Trans Alliance, the Gender Sexuality Alliance, the First-Gen Student Alli ance, the Autism Social Alliance, the Native American & Indigenous Alliance, and the Veteran Student Alliance, are led by faculty, staff and administrators committed to helping students connect with mentors, counselors, financial aid advisors and other resource specialists, and cre ating opportunities to discuss issues in safe and brave spaces. At College of the Canyons you’ll also find the help and encouragement you need to succeed. Counselors can chart your path to achieving your goals, while offices dedicated to veterans, international students, and those with disabilities, plus a tutoring center, career office, and health center, provide you with the support and confidence needed to stay on track. We are here to keep you motivated! And, as a prequel to attend ing COC, we offer you these effective tips to stay the course: • Be ready to come out of your comfort zone; • Accept mistakes; • Grasp the present by living it fully; • Never quit when you suffer setbacks; • Dare to DREAM BIG; • Finish what you started; and • Love what you do! So, what is it about College of the Canyons that draws so many students here? The same thing that will undoubtedly bring you here, too – knowing that this is where you belong.
Welcome to College of the Canyons. We’re glad you’re here.
Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook Chancellor
