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ECRWSSUpward Bound, a program designed to increase the numberof Golden Valley High School students who earn diplomasand continue their education at the college level, celebrated

its first year with an awards banquet on Friday, July 26 at TheLearning Center (TLC).

Sixty students, including three graduating seniors whoenrolled at the college this fall, were honored for their successfulcompletion of the recent six-week Summer Academy at the col-lege.

“It is amazing to see how much the program has grown sinceit started,” said Omar Torres, dean of mathematics, sciences andengineering at the college and the banquet’s keynote speaker. “I

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSARE ‘UPWARD BOUND’

Previewing the grandeur of the maincourse still being prepared, aground-breaking ceremony on Aug.

19 marked the official start of construc-tion of the College of the CanyonsInstitute for Culinary Education (iCuE).

Plans for the state-of-the-art culinaryfacility call for a roughly 12,200-square-foot building housing a variety ofkitchens, classrooms and laboratories. Itwill be located at the southeast corner ofthe Valencia campus, near Mentry Hall.

When completed, iCuE will provide

SEE UPWARD BOUND ON PAGE 2

SEE CLASSES ON PAGE 6

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

CULINARY ARTS CENTERON THE MENU FOR 2014

pLaN ahead fOreXpaNded WINter,sprINg sessIONs

STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING RISESPAGE 3

BREAKING

newsCOLLEGE OF THE CANYONS • MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE SINCE 1969FALL 2013

CHANCELLORMARKS 25YEARS OFVISIONARYLEADERSHIPPAGE 4

MEASURE M: REPORT TO THE COMMUNITYPAGE 7

With the fall 2013 semester in full swing at College of theCanyons, students and community members whohaven’t enrolled yet should be reminded that it’s never

too late to start your academic journey.Thanks in large part to funding

restored by Proposition 30, students atCollege of the Canyons will continue tohave access to more class sections andeducational opportunities than everduring the upcoming 2014 winter ses-sion and spring semester.

The winter session is expected toprovide about 300 class sections, more than twice the numberoffered last winter.

“There’s no shortage of classes at College of the Canyons,”college spokesman Eric Harnish said. “I encourage any studentinterested in attending to apply, register, and take advantage of the

Goodwill Mission

WINTER SESSION REGISTRATION BEGINS NOV. 12

INNOVATIVE PROGRAM COMPLETES FIRST YEAR

cOLLege Of the caNYONs studeNts reach Out tO heLp NeedY schOOLchILdreN IN NIcaragua – PAGE 3

cuLINarY arts facuLtY aNd staff partIcIpate IN the grOuNdBreakINg cereMONY ON aug. 19.artIst’s reNderINg Of NeW BuILdINg.SEE CULINARY ON PAGE 2

IMPORTANTNew students canreceive priority regis-tration in fall 2014.SEE PAGE 6

Breaking News is published by the College of the Canyons Public InformationOffice to inform the community about programs, events, issues and accomplish-ments of the Santa Clarita Valley’s community college. It is distributed to resi-dences, P.O. boxes and businesses in the 367-square-mile Santa ClaritaCommunity College District. Advertising is not accepted.

MAIL College of the Canyons Public Information Office26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

EMAIL pio@canyons.edu

have no doubt that these students will keep moving for-ward in order to achieve their goals.”

Students enrolled in the program’s Summer Academytook courses in algebra, biological sciences, trigonome-try, creative writing, Spanish and a counseling classknown as SWAG (Scholars With Academic Goals).

Every Friday, students took field trips to locationssuch as California State University, Northridge;University of California, Los Angeles; Los AngelesCounty Museum of Art; California Science Center andSix Flags Magic Mountain.

“Upward Bound has to be considered a tremendoussuccess considering it was our implementation year,”said Sal Frias, Golden Valley High School principal. “Wehad our challenging moments, but with dedicated COC

staff and GV support, we pulled through. Our studentswill truly benefit from this wonderful opportunity andthis program will continue to strengthen.”

A partnership between College of the Canyons andthe William S. Hart Union High School District, theUpward Bound program is the result of a five-year,roughly $1.25 million grant awarded by the U.S.Department of Education to help high school studentswho have the potential to excel academically, but needenrichment and encouragement to prepare for and suc-ceed in college.

Upward Bound provides students with weekly tutor-ing at Golden Valley High School and Saturday academyclasses at College of the Canyons in order to support thedevelopment of English and math skills.

“College of the Canyons continues to be fully invest-ed in our Upward Bound Program, and plans are underway to offer these successful Saturday Academy classesagain for the 2013-14 academic school year,” said Torres.

UPWARD BOUNDFROm PAGE 1

2 COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • FALL 2013

BREAKING

news

news briefsCOLLEGE PREPARES FOR ACCREDITATIONCollege of the Canyons has embarked on a multi-year self-study and application process to reaffirm its accreditation status. Accreditation isa voluntary process to assure the quality of education – and to makethose results known to the public. The Western Association of Schoolsand Colleges (WASC) is the corporate entity, consisting of three sepa-rately organized commissions within the western region, responsiblefor evaluating institutions of higher education. The commissionresponsible for community colleges is the Accrediting Commission forCommunity and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). The process includes anintensive institutional self-study and outside peer evaluation.“Accreditation is critically important to California community colleges,as only accredited schools qualify for federal financial aid for their stu-dents” said Dr. Jerry Buckley, assistant superintendent/vice presidentof instruction. “Without accreditation, the units our students earnwould not be transferable.” The college last had its accreditation reaf-firmed in 2009, with WASC conferring its highest status. At that time,the commission commended the college for its strong commitment tostudent success, collaborative governance, fostering of communitypartnerships and wide array of student support services.

COLLEGE NAMES NEW VP OF INSTRUCTIONLongtime community college administrator Dr. Jerry Buckley has accepted the position of assistant superintendent/vice president ofinstruction at College of the Canyons. Buckley provides administrativeoversight to all instructional services, inaddition to numerous partnership pro-grams. Other responsibilities includeoversight of program development andsupport, enrollment management, part-nership initiatives, accreditation, adminis-trative support for instructional divisiondeans and maintenance of the college’shigh academic standards. “We arepleased to welcome Dr. Buckley to theteam at College of the Canyons,”Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook said.“His enthusiasm, leadership, past experiences and focus on innovationwill enable us to enhance our already outstanding instructional pro-grams, responsiveness to our community, and yield exciting newopportunities for our students.” Dr. Buckley previously served as vicepresident of instruction and accreditation liaison officer for San DiegoMiramar College. Before that, he worked for the Grossmont-CuyamacaCommunity College District in San Diego for 21 years. He has an Ed.D.in educational leadership from San Diego State University, a master’sdegree in biology from California State University, Fullerton, and abachelor’s degree in biological sciences from USC.

VP OF PUBLIC INFORMATION ANNOUNCEDEric Harnish, a College of the Canyons administrator and longtime special assistant to the chancellor, has accepted the position of vicepresident of public information, advocacy and external relations atthe college. Harnish provides administra-tive leadership and oversight to thePublic Information Office, Switchboard,Reprographics and Graphic Designdepartments. His responsibilities includefurthering the college’s goals and objec-tives through the use of various forms ofstrategic communications, communityand media relations, legislative advocacy,public relations and marketing activities.“It gives me great pleasure to announceEric’s transition into this new leadershiprole at the college,” Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook said. “His abilityto represent the college at the local, state and national levels, whileserving as a liaison between the college and our many academic,business and community partners, will continue to have a positiveimpact at the college.” Harnish has bachelor’s degrees in print journal-ism and international relations from USC, as well as an MBA fromCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Chef David Binkle, adjunct instructor of culinary artsat College of the Canyons, is a man who wears manyhats. Aside from his teaching duties, Binkle is a tour-

ing speaker, director of food services forthe Los Angeles Unified School District(LAUSD) and member of the “Let’sMove!” campaign, an initiative to addresschildhood obesity led by First LadyMichelle Obama.

“I was very busy last year,” saidBinkle, who moved to L.A. in 2007 whenhired by LAUSD, whose $300 millionfood program provides 650,000 mealsdaily.

“We have been on a path for manyyears of trying to eliminate carnival foodfrom our schools,” he said. By carnivalfood, Binkle is referring to traditionalschool food staples such as pizza, chickennuggets, corn dogs and peanut butter andjelly sandwiches. LAUSD menus nowinclude more fresh foods and vegetables.

“L.A. is a big piece of the healthy tran-sition,” he said. “Our kids are eating edamame. No kid inIndiana is doing that. We are trying to lead the nation.”

Last year, the Obama administration approved newschool lunch nutrition guidelines to quell the rise of child-hood obesity. These changes, paired with the efforts of the“Let’s Move!” campaign, appear to be making a difference.

“The campaign is going really well,” said Binkle, whowent to the White House with a group of LAUSD studentsas part of the campaign. “It’s really making an impact.

Obesity levels are declining.” Binkle loves to teach because it

allows him to stay connected. “The mostimportant thing is to give back and passon knowledge. Cooking is such a histori-cal trade. I’m interested in passing it on tofuture generations. Teaching also allowsme to stay on top of trends and to stayfocused. I really enjoy teaching at COC.The college has been very dear to me.”

Cindy Schwanke, lead culinary artsfaculty member, said it’s an “absolutepleasure” to have David as part of theCOC Culinary Arts program. “Our stu-dents gain invaluable knowledge andexperience from him,” she said.

Binkle is especially excited about thestate-of-the-art College of the CanyonsInstitute for Culinary Education (iCuE), a12,000-square-foot building that will

become the program’s permanent home. “It really is a signof the times,” said Binkle.

“The college is really listening and watching the trends.The Santa Clarita Valley provides a great deal of restaurantindustry jobs. The connectivity of the program is reallyinspirational.”

a modern, efficient and affordableeducational center where all aspectsof culinary arts will be taught.

“The success of any recipe isdetermined by the availability andquality of the ingredients, the cre-ativity of the chefs, their courage totry new things and their knowledgethat the other chefs they work withas part of a team are there to helpmake a meal extraordinary,” saidCollege of the Canyons ChancellorDr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “Thisproject is no different. And now thatwe have the ingredients, and theright team in place, we can get cook-ing.”

The center will feature demon-stration, savory, sweets and banquetkitchens, as well as a chocolateroom, wine studies classroom, mul-tiple culinary labs, retail bake shopand a variety of instructor officespaces.

All of the kitchens, classroomsand labs have been designed to trainstudents for occupations in therestaurant and food service indus-tries – one of the nation’s largestsources of private-sector employ-ment.

It’s estimated that the SantaClarita Valley and greater LosAngeles area have more than 2,000restaurants of all types and sizes,which will need well-trained culi-nary arts professionals for genera-tions to come.

“That is particularly evident atCollege of the Canyons, where ourskilled culinary arts graduates havegone on to work in some of the mostprestigious kitchens in the L.A.area,” Dr. Van Hook said. “Theirsuccess, and the continued growthof this program, have inspired us tocreate a dedicated on-campus facili-ty in which we will train the nextgeneration of chefs and restaurantentrepreneurs.”

The facility will provide stu-dents with access to culinary train-

ing programs comparable to thoseprovided by private institutions, butat a considerably lower cost. Privateprograms can cost $50,000 or more,but training at College of theCanyons will typically range from$2,000 to $5,000.

Culinary arts students will beable to enroll in other “core” classesneeded to achieve certificates ordegrees, without the inconvenienceof traveling between campus and thecurrent off-campus training site inCastaic.

“Having an on-campus culinaryfacility will make a significant dif-ference in the lives of students whoare trying to manage their time

between the classroom and thekitchen and begin their careers,”said Cindy Schwanke, lead culinaryarts faculty member.

“The food service industry con-tinues to grow and employ millionsof people,” she said. “It’s exciting toknow that College of the Canyons isa part of that.”

The roughly $8 million culinaryarts facility is entirely district-fund-ed, paid for through a combinationof private donations and Measure Mbond funds that were remainingafter completion of the recentLibrary expansion. It’s expected tobe completed in the fall 2014 semes-ter.

CULINARYFROm PAGE 1

frOM the WhIte hOuse tO Icue

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COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • FALL 2013 3

The new Student Services & Administration Building is begin-ning to take shape on the Valencia campus. The collegereceived final state approval in April, allowing the project to

move forward. Crews worked throughout the blistering summer topour concrete foundations and footings and dig trenches for under-ground infrastructure. Crews began erecting the fabricated steelbeams that form the building’s main frame in August, moving at anamazingly quick pace.

“With the steel framing now finished, the project is currentlyscheduled for completion in late fall 2014, as was originallyplanned,” said Jim Schrage, vice president of facilities planning,operations and construction.

The building will accommodate an expanded Admissions &Records Office with computer labs and kiosks for student use,along with a “Welcome Center” to help new students and visitors.Plans also call for a new Financial Aid Office, an expanded switch-board and mailroom, Counseling Center, Transfer Center andCareer Center. The roughly $17.8 million project is being paid forwith a combination of Measure M general obligation bonds andmatching funds from the state.

studeNt servIcesBuILdINg rIses

the steeL fraMeWOrk Is cOMpLeted(aBOve) fOr the studeNt servIces &adMINIstratION BuILdINg (depIcted INartIst’s reNderINg, INset).

studeNts pItch IN fOr NIcaraguaThanks to the efforts of three College of the

Canyons student organizations, MiravalleSchool students in Granada, Nicaragua will no

longer have to drink water from a garden hose ormiss school entirely in search of water.

Five students traveled to Nicaragua in June aspart of an SCV International Program (SCVIP) dele-gation to complete a global collaboration project forneedy families near Granada.

The delegation included members of Alpha MuGamma, Associated Student Government (ASG)and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). They collected dona-tions to provide Miravalle students with school sup-plies and access to clean water.

“These COC students have made a global impactby giving these Miravalle students and their commu-nity access to clean water,” said Dr. Claudia Acosta,professor and liaison for international education.

Under the direction of biology professor Dr.

Miriam Golbert, PTK students raised money to pur-chase a water tank. They also paid for the building ofa school kitchen and installing a school gate.

“This trip emphasized to me that it’s not enoughto send people food or money,” COC student JesseWarme said. “You need to understand the culture andthe problems before you try to fix them.”

The group met with former Nicaraguan PresidentEnrique Bolaños for a private meeting at his home.

“The trip was amazing,” said Adriana Vargas,ASG cultural student involvement officer and one offour students who traveled on ASG scholarships.“Many community members thanked us, and at theend of our trip the kids gathered around us and gaveus a hug.”

SCVIP is a non-profit focused on promoting anddeveloping mutually beneficial strategic alliancesand international goodwill between the people ofSanta Clarita and people of international cities.

“Dr. Van Hook is, without a doubt, the most accomplished CEO in the California community collegesystem. Better yet, she’s our CEO. Her ability to forge relationships and partnerships has been

invaluable – and her leadership, imagination and perseverance have reaped incredible rewards forso many people, businesses and organizations in our community. She has inspired those around her

to learn more, to do more and, most importantly, to dream more.”MICHAEL BERGER

President, College of the Canyons Board of Trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Dianne’s anniversary pays tribute to the board’s action to hire her 25 years ago. We knew then thatshe had the ability, talent and vision to help College of the Canyons grow and thrive. How right we

were!”LINDA CUBBAGE

Former Member, College of the Canyons Board of Trustees

4 COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • FALL 2013

Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook arrived forher first day on the job on July 1,1988. Aside from herself, some col-

leagues and the board members who hiredher, no one could possibly have imaginedhow this new superintendent-president’spassion, energy and influence wouldreshape College of the Canyons.

The clues were certainly there, notablyan L.A. Times story whose headline pro-claimed: “‘Fireball’ to Take Helm ofCollege of the Canyons.” That headlinewould prove accurate, although the “fire-ball” moniker could easily and, perhapsmore accurately, be replaced by “mover,”“shaker” or “builder.” Certainly, she alsohas been a “motivator” and “developer” ofpeople, places, possibilities and potential.

When hired, the then-37-year-old deanof the Lake Tahoe Community CollegeDistrict was the youngest person ever toserve as a district-level community collegeCEO in California and, at the time, one ofonly five women of the 70 CEOs in thestate. She hit the ground running and hasnever looked back. Twenty-five yearslater, College of the Canyons resembles itsformer self in name only, having beentransformed into one of the leading, mostinnovative and widely respected commu-nity colleges in the nation.

Numbers help put such a radical trans-formation into context. The college’sbudget, for example, has grown fromapproximately $8 million in 1988 to near-ly $181 million today. Enrollment hasgrown from 4,000 to a high of 27,000 stu-dents. And physical space has quadrupled,climbing from just under 200,000 squarefeet to today’s 812,000 square feet acrosstwo campuses, with additional construc-tion this year that will boost square footageeven more.

While numbers can provide context,they can also obscure what this progressreally means, which is this: Dr. VanHook’s leadership has driven a quartercentury of cross-generational momentumat College of the Canyons. This commit-ment has provided all manner of cutting-edge educational and training opportuni-ties for all who have sought to better them-

selves. It has embraced innovation andexcellence in education. It has instilledhope, and turned dreamers into doers. Herefforts, passion and unrelenting resolvehave transformed not only the college, butthe lives and livelihoods of the hundreds ofthousands of people who have embarkedon an educational journey here.

One of the few people who had a sensefor what this “fireball” could do was

Michele Jenkins. A member of the Boardof Trustees today and in 1988, Jenkins wasthe board president who led the develop-ment of the CEO search. Having overseenthat process 25 years ago, she remembersvividly how one person stood out above allthe rest.

“At the time, I couldn’t help but smileto myself, thinking about how much of adifference she was going to make at thecollege because she’s just so dynamic,”Jenkins recalled. “Days later, after she hadbeen formally introduced, I asked one ofour instructors what he thought about ournew president, to which he replied,‘Administrators come and go, and it won’treally make a difference who the adminis-

trator is.’ I simply smiled again andthought to myself that he has no idea whatthis woman’s leadership will bring toCollege of the Canyons. Today, 25 yearslater, I’m still smiling.”

Indeed, that instructor’s observationwas based on the average four-year tenureof the previous College of the Canyonspresidents to that point, but he clearlymade an assumption that would provewildly inaccurate in very short order.When Dr. Van Hook arrived, she immedi-ately went to work developing the col-lege’s first educational and facilities mas-

ter plan. Five plans later, the college hasbeen radically transformed, the result of aseemingly non-stop series of constructionand improvement projects that continuesto this day.

Dr. Brice Harris, chancellor of theCalifornia community college system, saidDr. Van Hook’s focused, dedicated serviceto a single college district over the courseof 25 years has allowed College of theCanyons to thrive – and the Santa ClaritaValley to reap the rewards.

“Such longevity is a rarity and speaksto the skilled leadership she provides to thecollege community day in and day out,”Dr. Harris said. “This type of stability fos-ters institutional focus and commitment on

a remarkable scale.”College of the Canyons has been pro-

pelled forward by a unique combination ofcommunity support and daring leadership.Aided by the passage of two multimillion-dollar bond measures over the past dozenyears, Dr. Van Hook has presided over thehighest level of construction and prepara-tion for the future since the college openedin temporary quarters at Hart High Schoolin 1969. She has substantially transformedthe Valencia campus – and provided thevision to create an entirely new campus inCanyon Country – to keep up with com-munity demands, enhance access, andanticipate the educational needs of thefuture.

When Dr. Van Hook arrived in 1988,the college was housed in eight majorstructures. Today, more than a dozen addi-tional major facilities have been built orexpanded, including: the Dr. Dianne G.Van Hook University Center, the SantaClarita Performing Arts Center at Collegeof the Canyons, the Library and TLC (TheLearning Center), Mentry Hall, the FamilyStudies and Early Childhood EducationCenter, Aliso Lab and Aliso Hall, PicoCanyon Hall, Hasley Hall, the EastPhysical Education Building and tenniscourts, and, of course, the Canyon Countrycampus and its first permanent facility, theApplied Technology Education Center.Construction has begun on the College ofthe Canyons Institute for CulinaryEducation and the new Student Services &Administrative Building.

These wide-ranging facilities are muchmore than mere buildings. Each has beendesigned to serve a specific educationalpurpose and outfitted with the latest tech-nology. Most importantly, they allowlearning to happen. They enhance studentaccess and house an ever-growing assort-ment of cutting-edge educational andtraining programs that allow students togain the knowledge, skills and confidenceto succeed in the real world.

If one were to ask Dr. Van Hook toreveal her secret of success, she wouldmost likely repeat a familiar mantra thatshe has widely shared within the campuscommunity: “If you can imagine it, youcan achieve it. If you dream it, you can doit.” It’s a philosophy that has been taken to

25 YEARS OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIPCHANCELLOR DR. DIANNE G. VAN HOOK HONORED FORTRANSFORMING COLLEGE INTO LEADING INSTITUTION

“Dr. Van Hook’s leadership has created an environment of outstanding educational opportunitiesfor all of our students, which has directly enhanced the Santa Clarita Valley’s quality of life and eco-

nomic well-being.”DORIS MARIE ZIMMER

Chair, College of the Canyons Foundation Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Having watched Dianne for 25 years, I can honestly say I have never met anyone who comes closeto combining so many of her talents: extremely bright, hard working, growth mindset, caring,

thoughtful, generous and flexible.” JOSEPH GERDA

Faculty Member, College of the Canyons

the vaLeNcIa caMpus IN earLY 2013.dr. vaN hOOk IN 2013.

the caNYON cOuNtrY caMpus IN earLY 2013.

SEE 25 YEARS ON PAGE 6

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishments?

Becoming a college president by the time I was 37 was a major accomplish-ment. Being able to turn ideas about what a place like College of theCanyons could become into reality is another. Growing a small communitycollege into a suburban center of higher education that has earned theregard of the community has made me very proud. And being able to do sowith the help of a lot of committed, determined people working togetherhas made all of the difference. Being able to pass two bond measures in fiveyears with the help of our volunteers and (campaign chair) Rita Garasi hasenabled us to expand access – the greatest accomplishment of all!

As a child, can you remember what you wantedto be when you grew up?

In junior high, I wanted to be an architect. In thosedays, they wouldn’t let girls take drafting, automechanics, wood shop or advanced math. We couldtake art and music, cooking, sewing and typing. On theaptitude assessment tests I took in junior high, I alwaysranked high on spatial relations and mechanical rea-soning. I have always had the ability to design things inmy head, and I am grateful that in my position asChancellor, I have had the chance to build them.Whether it is buildings or programs or partnerships orpeople (professional development) or places, I’m in thebuilding business.

You played a big role in changing state fundingformulas that allowed College of the Canyons toflourish. How did you do it?

In 1988, the funding formula penalized fast-growing colleges like ours asthey didn’t account for the actual, real growth of our community. So I setabout on a two-fold mission: First, to get the Department of Finance tofund our real growth and change our enrollment projections, and, second,to secure adequate funding for colleges where there was a large demandfor access. I invited representatives from the Department of Finance to comedown here and go up with us in a Sheriff ’s Department helicopter so theycould see firsthand the growth and building we were talking about. Wewere flying over Saugus when the sheriff’s pilots got a call about a robberyin Canyon Country. The helicopters zoomed over to Canyon Country, spottedthe suspects and helped with their capture. When they were done with thatarrest, they wanted to resume the tour but, because we were flying incurves, everybody on board was sick. I managed to just chew a lot of gum!I turned to the finance representative who was with us and asked if weshould continue with the tour. She answered, “No. I’ve seen a lot and I thinkI want to go back.” And I replied, “Well, you haven’t seen the biggest partsof the growth in our area,” to which she responded: “It’s OK, I trust you. Ibelieve what you say. We’ll change your projections. Please don’t make usdo that ever again.” It was a very interesting day and a stellar moment!

We sent them our projected enrollment changes based on the number ofhouses to be built. Those projections are the reason we received so muchfunding And that’s why we got so much growth funding and it’s why wewere stepped up for eligibility for funding for future buildings. We started

on our first two big buildings, Mentry Hall and the Library, in 1994. And wehave just been on a fast clip ever since, because of that helicopter ride. Asanother positive part of that helicopter experience, as we were funded tobuild additional space, we were funded to expand access and serve morestudents and businesses.

Tell us about your early career. It’s clearyou wanted to be a college president.

I did. While I was teaching junior high school, Iwent back to get a master’s degree. At the same

time, I was teaching at night at Long Beach CityCollege and counseling at Cerritos College. Iapplied for and was able to secure a one-yearsabbatical leave replacement at Santa AnaCollege. I thought if I could get some full-time experience, I would be moremarketable. So I applied at Santa Ana College and got the job. I realizedthat I really liked working at the community college level as a counselor andinstructor and I set my sights on that career. However, I was a temporaryreplacement. I needed a strategy, so I went into the president’s office andsaid, “So this is the thing, Dr. Wenrick, I don’t want to return to junior highschool teaching. I like the pace of change at the college level. I need a littleassistance. How do you think I can get to stay here?” He told me I couldwrite some grants, which, if successful, meant that positions could beadded and I could stay. I had no idea what a grant was, but I was willing tolearn. I wrote about five grants and received three of them. So, ultimately itall worked out and I was able to stay at Santa Ana College.

So, you literally created that position for yourself. What did you donext?

In my second year at Santa Ana College, I enrolled in a doctoral program inEducational Leadership at the University of La Verne. In one of my courseson organizational development, my hypothesis was that we were providingstudent services only for traditional students and that was not meeting theneeds of the students who were there. Student services were available onlybetween the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.; we weren’t open at night or on

weekends. We weren’t supplying services sensitive to the needs of re-entryadults. And, frankly, our counselors did not represent the students we wereserving. So I developed a proposal to have a non-traditional counseling cen-ter called New Horizons, which would serve women on welfare trying toobtain skills to go to work, support women to move into “non-traditionalcareers,” provide support services to non-native English speakers and devel-

op programs for older adults. At the end ofthe term, I made my presentation to thepresident of Santa Ana College and imme-diately I left for a summer residency at LaVerne. To my surprise, he called two dayslater and said, “You know, Dianne, wewant to implement your proposal.” I hadstrategically written in a counselor posi-tion into each component; I wanted a full-time job because I was on soft fundingfrom a grant that was due to end the nextyear! So I assumed he wanted me to fillone of those positions. But he said, “No,you’re not going to be a counselor. You’regoing to run the program.” So I became thecoordinator of New Horizons, whichevolved into a model program that in 1984was deployed statewide.

You made a name for yourself inSanta Ana making it easier for busi-nesses to train their employees. Canyou explain?

I finished my doctoral program and alongthe way I became involved in an initiativewith Congressman Jerry Patterson; our

dean of vocational education, Dr. Kathy Lusk; and Dr. Bernie Luskin, whowas the chancellor down at Coast Community College District. We decidedthat we needed to do something differently to figure out how to matchcompanies that wanted to move into Orange County with the right collegefor the training they needed, so when they relocated from other areas orstates, they could have a turnkey operation and we could place our studentsin real jobs that had a future. That was a challenge in those days becausewe didn’t have “free flow,” so you had to go to the community college whereyou lived. The only way you could go anywhere else was if the major youwanted wasn’t available at your local college. We came up with a modeland interacted in the establishment of the Technology Exchange Center inGarden Grove. It served all four community college districts in OrangeCounty. All four of the community college districts agreed to let people andemployees of companies that wanted to locate in their areas go to the col-lege where their training needs could best be met. That was 1981, and itgot a lot of press in Southern California.

When did College of the Canyons first appear on your radar?

When this job (Superintendent-President of College of the Canyons) openedin 1983, there were several CEOs who nominated me because of my efforts

COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • FALL 2013 5

“I had the honor and pleasure to serve on the board for six years and witness firsthand the college’sprofound impact on people’s lives. College of the Canyons is intensely focused on student access,achievement and success. That focus comes straight from Dr. Van Hook, whose vision and passion

for educational excellence are boundless. The Santa Clarita Valley is truly fortunate to have had herat the college’s helm for the past 25 years.”

SCOTT WILKMember, State Assembly; Former Member, College of the Canyons Board of Trustees

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .“Dr. Van Hook has been a blessing not only for College of the Canyons, but for the entire Santa

Clarita Valley. Her thumbprint is on everything that is good about the valley – and we cannot thankher enough for all she has done.”

BOB KELLARMayor, City of Santa Clarita

“Her impact on the local business and educational communities cannot be measured by traditionalstandards, but rather by the across-the-board progress we have made through her efforts. Over theyears I have heard her say on many occasions, ‘If you can dream it, you can do it.’ The results of her

dreams are proof positive she is a get-it-done person.”DON FLEMING

President, Santa Clarita Valley Automobile Dealers Association; General Manager, Valencia Acura. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Dr. Van Hook’s dedication to students, faculty and staff has been nothing short of inspirational.She continues to elevate the college as a premier place of education. Her charisma, passion and

tireless work ethic are positively infectious.”JILL MELLADY

Immediate Past Chair, College of the Canyons Foundation Board of Directors

interviewONE-ON-ONE WITH DR. DIANNE G. VAN HOOK

a 1988 aerIaL vIeW Of the vaLeNcIa caMpus prOvIdes a cONtrastINg perspectIve Of Its grOWth Over the past 25 Years. dr. vaN hOOk IN 1988.

SEE INTERVIEW ON PAGE 6

6 COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • FALL 2013

in establishing the Technology Exchange Center. I applied to College ofthe Canyons for the President’s position and was invited for an interview.And despite the directions of the interviewer to not introduce myself andshake hands, I did so anyway. I went around and tried to memorize thenames of the people around the room. I knew I wouldn’t get forwarded(as a finalist) because I broke the rules!

It sounds like your strategy changed a bit. Can you elaborate?

I decided that I needed to apply for some other jobs, so I applied andbecame a finalist for positions as Dean of Student Services. At the sametime, I realized that if I really wanted to be a college president, I neededinstitutional experience. That was the path to the presidency in thosedays. About that time, the Dean of Instruction/Student Service (Dean ofthe College) opened up at Feather River College and I applied. I got toQuincy for the interview and thought, “What have I done?” When I wentto the interview the next day on the beautiful little campus, I caught myhigh heel on a railroad tie sidewalk that ran along the forest and trippedon the way to the interview. But I did my best and was honest in theinterview. I considered it was a little too rural. I was offered the job.After I turned it down three times because it was “very out there”, I finallydecided to take it. Two years later, the Vice President position opened atCollege of the Canyons and I applied. I was the No. 2 candidate.

You worked in Lake Tahoe for a while. How did that come about?

About the time I did not get the Vice President position at College of theCanyons, I was speaking at a conference in Lake Tahoe. My husband and Ialways thought it’d be fun to work in Lake Tahoe. So, when I drove by thetemporary campus of Lake Tahoe Community College, I picked up thepaperwork and applied. Two months later I was hired as Dean of the LakeTahoe Community College District. I started July 1, 1986. By now, I hadbecome very involved in the state, had a bunch of leadership roles and meta lot of people, including Linda Cubbage, who was a board member atCollege of the Canyons. When the Superintendent-President’s position atCollege of the Canyons opened again in 1988, I applied. It was the onlypresidency I had applied for. I wanted to work at College of the Canyons. Ittook me three times of applying to be hired here, but I knew it was a greatfit for me. When I saw the Valencia/Santa Clarita area, I thought, “There area lot of houses to be built here and a lot of businesses to be started. It’s notlandlocked like some colleges that have 25,000 students on 60-acre cam-puses.” I thought, “There’s a lot of potential here.” That’s why I kept trying.

So, you had your eye on College of the Canyons since 1983 andwere determined to come here.

Yes. I don’t give up. For me, coming to College of the Canyons was some-thing I wanted to do, and I was going to get there. I thought I wouldbecome a college president in a multi-college district by the time I was 40,and within another five or six years my goal was to be in charge of a dis-trict. I was a contender to become a district-level CEO directly and eliminatea large step. I was able to cut out 12 to 16 years of sitting in various jobs toget where I wanted to be – here at College of the Canyons! If one is a quicklearner, is flexible, and is willing to just do it (and if you don’t do it right thefirst time, don’t give up), you can get where you dream to be. Instead, Iwent from being a faculty member to a superintendent-president in fouryears. I cut out all kinds of time, which was good for me – because I amimpatient!

In a sense, you and College of the Canyons found each other.You’ve spent the bulk of your career here, and the college has beenunder your leadership for most of its existence. Looking back atthe last 25 years here, what are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of being able to really open the doors to access. When Icame here, we had about 4,800 students, and we’ve had as many as 26,000students in recent years. That is a significant change. That means that atany given time, one of every six adults in our community has a connectionto College of the Canyons. As a CEO of a California Community CollegeDistrict, you don’t get to expand access like that very often. Whether it wasgetting growth formulas changed so we can get more funding to educatemore people, obtaining the funding for developing new buildings so wecould create and add new programs, developing training partnerships withindustry, building the University Center, or creating Career TechnicalEducation and the Economic Development Division, we’ve touched people’slives, their companies, their relatives and their neighbors. We really have animpact on this community. Not every college can say that. Every communi-ty college certainly does a great job of providing people chances to get ajump-start on their college education, to pursue transfer education and toget trained to be able to make a meaningful living for themselves in somefields. But what I care about is that we don’t just stick to that traditionalmission. We were doing Economic Development before it was formallyadded to the mission of community colleges. We began doing contracttraining in 1989, and we started growing our Foundation when a lot of col-leges didn’t have foundations. We’ve been writing grants and developingpartnerships, and we haven’t stopped doing any of that during any of thefive economic downturns that I’ve lived through here at College of theCanyons. We have kept our doors open, and we have expanded our pro-grams. Now we have a campus in Canyon Country, where 2,400 of our stu-dents take classes exclusively and 3,000 take some of their course load.

When we get the state to pass a bond measure, we can leverage our localmoney and bring on another three buildings at the Canyon CountryCampus. It’s going to be huge for this community. Because of the amazingteam of people, College of the Canyons has earned the regard of this com-munity in ways that most colleges can only dream about. The team of peo-ple and what we have done is what I am most proud of.

What does the future hold for College of the Canyons?

Soon we’ll be done with the build-out of the Valencia campus in accordancewith the Educational & Facilities Master Plan that we started in 1989. Theexisting facilities – whether the original four or five buildings, or the subse-quent ones – will continually require upgrades to accommodate emergingprogress and technology, but the physical structures themselves will bedone. Our next frontier is Canyon Country. We’re already there, and we havethe money set aside for three permanent classroom buildings. The firstbuilding is the science classroom and laboratory building. The UniversityCenter and what we offer here will continue to expand. It’s becoming evenmore popular than it already is. We’ve had about 26,000 people take classesin the University Center, and we’re adding more programs so that peoplewith busy lives can be lifelong learners. People will always need to learnnew things all the time. We’re streamlining our process to transfer studentsto the Cal State University system. We’re expanding our role in workingwith business and industry to make a high-quality workforce. We’re goingto our high schools to help students jump-start their college careers. It’s allabout expanding access with the quality that College of the Canyons hasbeen known for. It’s about opportunity.

It’s about having the courage to imagine it, to dream it, to achieveit and to do it for the benefit of our community. It is a brightfuture indeed!

heart – and is at the core of most, if not all,college initiatives that bear her trademarkof excellence and innovation. It also drivesthe adventurous, entrepreneurial spiritbehind so many successful programs – anda track record that other colleges can onlydream about.

“People who believe in themselves andthe power of teamwork inspire vision,energy, commitment and courageous lead-ership at every level,” Dr. Van Hook said.“Those qualities propel College of theCanyons to new possibilities and excitingoutcomes. The result? Expansion ofinstructional programs, securing signifi-cant increases in funding, launching arobust building program, and increasingour full-time staff by more than 300 per-cent. These qualities have helped us devel-op partnerships and collaborative initia-tives, take calculated risks, be entrepre-neurial and, most importantly, believe thatwe could create our own future. And,together, we have done just that!”

The belief that everyone has the abilityto develop themselves to their fullest

potential is a key component of Dr. VanHook’s philosophy of personal empower-ment, but it actually goes further than that.She passionately believes and understandswell the value of inspirational mentors.She attributes much of her early drive toexcel to a college administrator whoinstilled in her the confidence that shecould become whatever she wanted to be.The positive influence on her self-confi-dence and ultimate development of herpotential was a turning point that openedher eyes to the possibilities, which is pre-cisely what she now does for others. Yearsof mentoring have given her the ability tosee in people what others do not yet see,inspiring and empowering them to aimhigh and achieve their highest potentials.

That philosophy has contributed to anenvironment where absolutely anything ispossible.

A strong believer in California’s com-munity college system, Dr. Van Hookbegan her higher education journey atLong Beach City College. From there, shewent to California State University, LongBeach, which, incidentally, honored herrecently as its 2013 Distinguished Alumnafor the College of Liberal Arts. She gradu-ated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology

in 1972. While attending classes, sheworked as a Head Start preschool teacher,and upon graduation became a junior highschool teacher. She later went on to earnboth her master’s degree and doctoratefrom the University of La Verne.

While working as a counselor at SantaAna College, she launched the highlyregarded New Horizons program, whichhelps re-entry students succeed in college.The program was ultimately implementedat 60 community colleges throughout thestate. From there she went to Feather RiverCollege to serve as dean of instruction/stu-dent service in 1984. Two years later shebecame dean of the Lake TahoeCommunity College District — her laststop before returning to SouthernCalifornia to take the top post at College ofthe Canyons.

A quarter century later, Dr. Van Hookis not only the longest-serving communitycollege CEO in the state, she is a widelyrespected visionary and leader – the go-toCEO of California’s community colleges.Named chancellor of the Santa ClaritaCommunity College District in 2008, sheis widely regarded as a strong, knowledge-able and consistent advocate for communi-ty colleges statewide and nationally. Her

experience, expertise and passion for high-er education have contributed to herreceiving every statewide recognition thatcan be bestowed on a California communi-ty college CEO.

A popular metaphor describes time as aflowing river whose current carries thosewho don’t resist it through happy, easydays – living, unquestioning, in themoment. That may be relevant for most,but not Dr. Van Hook. While no one cancontrol the current of time, some adventur-ous souls have the courage and ability tochange its course into magnificent territo-ry.

And so it has been for 25 years atCollege of the Canyons.

“At every stage, Dianne has been aleader in terms of innovation, alwaysthinking outside the box, and always withthe perseverance and ability to rally peoplearound an idea and see that idea expressedin reality,” said Dr. Jack Scott, immediatepast chancellor of California’s communitycollege system.

“She has left an indelible imprint uponall of California’s community colleges,”he added, “particularly on College of theCanyons and the entire Santa ClaritaValley.”

25 YEARSFROm PAGE 4

INTERVIEWFROm PAGE 5

wide variety of classes we’re offering.”The winter schedule of classes will con-

sist primarily of “core” general educationclasses that all students need to graduate,transfer to four-year schools or meet courseprerequisites associated with their immedi-ate educational plans.

At $46 per unit, the winter session is agreat value for California State University(CSU) and University of California (UC)students who need more units. Currentlyregistered College of the Canyons willreceive notification of specific registrationperiods in coming weeks.

CLASSESFROm PAGE 1IMPORTANT DATES

dr. dIaNNe vaN hOOk aNd her husBaNd rOger Were hONOred WIth the Leaders Of character aWard IN 2007. the hONOr WasBestOWed BY the WesterN LOs aNgeLes cOuNtY cOuNcIL Of the BOY scOuts Of aMerIca.

WINTER SESSIONJAN. 6 THROUGH FEB. 7, 2014

REGISTRATION BEGINS:NOV. 12, 2013

SPRING SEMESTERFEB. 10 THROUGH JUNE 5, 2014

REGISTRATION BEGINS:JAN. 6, 2014

prIOrItY regIstratION tO chaNge IN ’14New state regulations will give pri-

ority registration to first-time stu-dents for the fall 2014 semester,

provided that studentscomplete all steps of themandatory matriculationprocess by June 30, 2014.

Steps include com-pleting an application foradmission, submittingrequired transcripts, completing math andEnglish assessments, completing anonline orientation and attending a newstudent advisement session.

Online advisement will be availablebeginning April 1, 2014.

Details of these steps, as well as addi-tional information, areavailable by clicking the“New Students” button atwww.canyons.edu/admis-sions.

Students can beginthis process starting Jan. 1,

2014. Registration dates for the fall 2014semester will be assigned beginning July1, 2014 for those students who have com-pleted all of the required steps.

College of the Canyons has experienced an un-precedented level of progress fed in large part byMeasure M, the $160 million bond measure thatlocal voters approved in 2006. This success wouldnot have been possible without the optimism ofan historically supportive community and theresolve of college leaders to make good on thepromises of Measure M.

The most visible signs of progress can be foundfrom one side of the Santa Clarita Valley to theother. On the east, an entirely new college campushas been created in Canyon Country. On the west,the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center wasbuilt atop a prominent perch along Interstate 5.Other Measure M-funded projects include theApplied Technology Education Center, the firstpermanent facility to be built at the CanyonCountry campus, and the dramatic expansions ofboth Mentry Hall and the Library, the latter ofwhich provides an expansive, state-of-the-art hometo the heavily utilized TLC (The Learning Center).Two more major projects are under constructionnow: the College of the Canyons Institute forCulinary Education, which will provide a long-sought permanent home for the culinary arts pro-gram, and the Student Services & AdministrationBuilding. These last two buildings, expected toopen in late 2014, will complete the buildout of theValencia campus. Attention will then turn to theCanyon Country campus, where additional perma-nent buildings have been planned for construction.

Measure M has provided the funding to con-struct new facilities to accommodate an ever-increasing number of innovative educational andtraining programs. The beneficiaries are those whocome to College of the Canyons for education,training and inspiration now and in the future.

The bond measure is a key component drivingthe college’s recent progress, but a lesser-knownfactor has played an equally important role. Thecollege has maximized every bond-issued dollar byleveraging other resources. The original $160 mil-lion bond authorization’s actual value is now in theneighborhood of $232.8 million. The value hasincreased with the addition of more than $5.3 mil-lion in earned interest as of June 30, 2013, as wellas approximately $67.5 million in state matchingfunds. Moreover, the college has capitalized onmarket conditions by refunding bonds to reduce thenumber of years of taxpayer payments. All of thishas been accomplished through prudent fiscalmeasures undertaken by college leaders and thecareful oversight provided by the Measure MCitizens Oversight Committee. In the end, thevalue of Measure M will far exceed its original val-uation – and save taxpayers money in the process.

“College of the Canyons has been extremelydiligent about making good on the promises ofMeasure M – and exceeding them,” Chancellor Dr.Dianne G. Van Hook said. “The community hasentrusted us with building the best community col-lege ever imagined. We’re making that happen byleveraging Measure M bond funds to attain theabsolute maximum value possible.”

“We view this as an investment whose ultimatevalue will be measured in terms of how we’ve beenable to transform people’s lives for the better.”

STUDENT SERVICES & ADMINISTRATION BUILDINGValencia CampusStatus: Under construction, estimated completion fall 2014Size: 46,370 square feetCost: $16.4 million

The new Student Services & Administration Building,one of only three community college projectsapproved for construction statewide in 2011-12, willallow the college to dramatically expand a variety ofkey student services. It will accommodate an expand-ed Admissions & Records Office that will feature newcomputer labs and kiosks for student use, as well as anew “Welcome Center,” a first stop for new studentsand visitors. The building will also house areas for theFinancial Aid Office, Counseling Center, TransferCenter, Career Services Office, Student Services Office,Instruction Office and various administrative offices.

COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS INSTITUTE FORCULINARY EDUCATIONValencia CampusStatus: Under construction,estimated completion fall 2014Size: 12,208 square feetCost: $8.5 million

The new permanent home for the college’s culinaryarts program is being built in an architectural stylethat lends an elegant sophistication appropriate for abuilding that will serve both educational and socialfunctions. Approximately $3 million of the construc-tion costs come from bid savings on the Library proj-ect. The building will include a Show Kitchen, SavoryKitchen, Sweets Kitchen, a Wine Studies area andCulinary Lab space. Most importantly, the facility willexpand a premier culinary arts program whose quali-ty is comparable to those offered by private culinaryarts institutions, but at considerably less expense.

LIBRARY EXPANSIONValencia CampusStatus: Completed fall 2012 Size: 51,435 square feet added (total size now 86,606 square feet)Cost: $15.8 million

The Library was dramatically expanded and now pro-vides a home for the heavily utilized TLC (TheLearning Center), which occupies 41,435 square feeton a single level. The Library now occupies 45,171

square feet on two levels. The expanded facility offersa new Computer Commons area with 100 studentworkstations, group-study rooms, and a SpecialCollections area to accommodate rotating exhibits ofstudent and community art.

DR. DIANNE G. VAN HOOK UNIVERSITY CENTER Valencia CampusStatus: Completed 2009Size: 110,000 square feetCost: $39.8 million

The Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center providesinstructional and support space for numerous degreeprograms offered by partner universities such asBrandman University, California State UniversityBakersfield, Cal State L.A., Cal State Northridge, theUniversity of La Verne and National University. As ofJune 2013, 1,839 people had graduated from its vari-ous degree programs, with master’s and doctoral pro-grams accounting for 1,206 of those graduates. Since2002, when University Center programs were housedin an interim facility, nearly 30,000 students havebeen enrolled in degree, certificate and credentialprograms. The new facility also houses the TEACHprogram, the William S. Hart Union High SchoolDistrict’s Academy of the Canyons, the City of SantaClarita’s WorkSource Center and a variety of key col-lege departments, many of which will relocate to theStudent Services & Administration Building when it’scompleted in late 2014. The center’s unique approachto providing easy access to degree programs frommultiple universities was summed up by U.S.Department of Education Under Secretary Dr. MarthaKanter, who lauded it as a model of higher educationaccess that should be emulated nationwide.

CANYON COUNTRY CAMPUSStatus: Phase 1 completed 2007Size: 70 acresCost: $58 million

The Canyon Country campus welcomed more than3,000 students when it opened in 2007, fulfilling thecommunity’s need for convenient access to collegeprograms in the eastern Santa Clarita Valley. Thecampus has made a huge contribution toward meet-ing the area’s educational and training demands. Thecampus has benefited from a number of improve-ments, including the opening of the Carl A.Rasmussen Amphitheater, a free-standing food con-cession and extensive landscaping improvements.

APPLIED TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CENTER Canyon Country CampusStatus: Completed 2011Size: 10,315 square feetCost: $7.1 million

The Applied Technology Education Center, the firstpermanent building on the Canyon Country campus,houses a variety of new educational and training pro-grams, including alternative energy management,automotive technology, construction management,building inspection, landscape management andwater systems technology.

MENTRY HALL EXPANSIONValencia CampusStatus: Completed 2010Size: 28,000 square feet added (total size now 78,237 square feet)Cost: $12.3 million

The Mentry Hall expansion, a design-build projectthat was completed in less than a year, added morethan 32,000 square feet of instructional space, includ-ing two computer labs, a large lecture room, 11 class-rooms, a 2-D drawing classroom, a life/drawing class-room, two conference rooms and 12 offices. Spaciouscorridors feature lounge areas where students meetand study. The expansion increased the overall size ofMentry Hall to 78,237 square feet.

CANYON COUNTRY CAMPUS PARKING LOT 2 Status: Completed 2010Cost: $1 million

TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES Status: CompletedCost: $1 million

Other Measure M-funded improvements include sec-ondary effects in Bonelli Hall and Mentry Hall ($3.4million), the Facilities Master Plan ($253,000), andvarious health and safety upgrades ($50,000) prima-rily on the Valencia campus.

The Measure M construction pipeline is filled withmyriad projects that are planned in the future, includ-ing several permanent buildings at the CanyonCountry campus, upgrades at the Del Valle firefightertraining facility near Val Verde, replacement of equip-ment, scheduled maintenance and other secondaryeffects.

COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • FALL 2013 7

aN artIst’s reNderINg Of the cOLLege Of the caNYONs INstItute fOr cuLINarY educatION, WhIch Is NOW uNder cONstructION.

spacIOus cOrrIdOrs IN MeNtrY haLL feature studY areas.

studeNt servIces aNd adMINIstratION BuILdINg reNderINg.

MEASURE M: BOND MEASURE FUELS PROGRESS

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

“We view this as an investment whose ultimatevalue will be measured in terms of how we’ve been

able to transform people’s lives for the better.”DR. DIANNE G. VAN HOOK, CHANCELLOR

STAY INFORMEDFOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT MEASURE M, CITIzENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AGENDAS AND MINUTES, AND MORE, VISIT:

canyons.edu/pio

CONSTRUCTION UPDATESNAP THE QR CODE AT LEFT FOR A VIDEO UPDATE OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE VALENCIA CAMPUS, OR VISITYOUTUBE.COM/COLLEGEOFTHECANYONS.

8 COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS BREAKING NEWS • FALL 2013

Cougar Stadium is ready for fallsports! The largest athletic stadiumin the Santa Clarita Valley under-

went a summer renovation that resurfacedthe running track and replaced the playingsurface with a higher grade of artificialturf.

The process of removing the previousartificial turf, which was installed 10years ago, began June 17. It was replacedwith a state-of-the-art surface calledFieldTurf Revolution, designed to pro-vide an unparalleled level of player safety

at a surface temperature up to 40 degreescooler than traditional artificial turf.

The same type of artificial turf is uti-lized by Division I schools such as theUniversity of Texas, University ofMissouri and U.S. Naval Academy.

The stadium track also was complete-ly resurfaced with a new 7-mm layer ofrubber and granules before beingrestriped with official collegiate track &field markings. The pole vault/longjump/triple jump runways were complete-ly resurfaced as well.

The approximately $780,000 renova-tion was funded by a deferred mainte-nance and replacement account set upjointly by the Santa Clarita CommunityCollege District and the William S. HartUnion High School District, whoseschools make routine use of the facility.Both districts have contributed equally tothe account since the original artificialturf was installed in 2003. The remainingbalance was funded by Measure M bondfunds, which local voters approved forsuch purposes in 2006.

The Chancellor’s Circle is a partnership between College of the Canyons and a

diverse group of businesses, community members, non-profit groups, govern-

ment leaders and others who are committed to strengthening our community –

by actively supporting a strong community college. The underlying tenet of the

Chancellor’s Circle is the strong belief that by working together we can add value

to a community college education, provide support for creative and innovative

programs that enrich the educational experience of students, and provide need-

ed workforce skills that will strengthen and sustain our economy – that we can

achieve, by working together, much more than we can by working alone.

MEETING THE CHALLENGESOF A CHANGING WORLD...

TOGETHER!

CHAMPIONAT&TMorton Manufacturing Inc.

LEADERBoston Scientific NeuromodulationHonda Performance Development Inc.LED Inc. – Chris FallMark Jenkins and Roxie RameySoCal Edison – Anna Frutos-Sanchez

ADVOCATEAerospace Dynamics InternationalAMG & Associates – Albert M. GiacomazziAM – Touch DentalBradley J. Kirst D.D.S. Inc.Gary and Diana CusumanoHaas Automation Inc.Andrew and Elisa HorowitzDr. Susan Komsky

Math Support Services Inc.Jim and Jill MelladyBill MirandaMitzi and Randy MobergMortensen Law, Tax, Trust & Estate AttorneysDr. Skip NewhallNE Systems Inc. – Ed PadillaNewhall Escrow Co. – Steve CornKirk and Ana Palmer

Harold and Jacquie PetersenShepard Insurance AgencyLloyd Sreden, CPADr. Dianne and Mr. Roger Van HookWells Fargo

LIFETIME MEMBERS Lou and Rita GarasiTom and Colleen Lee

Please consider joining us!• Call the College of the Canyons Foundation at (661) 362-3435• Visit canyonsfoundation.org and click the Support Groups button

sOccer pLaYers practIce ON the NeWLY reNOvated pLaYINg fIeLd.

WOrkers rOLL Out NeW sYNthetIc turf.

the resurfaced track.

FIELD OF DREAMS

COUGAR STADIUM FIELD AND TRACK RENOVATED