The Bottom Line

NEWS & VIEWS FROM COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS • SPRING 2022

Chancellor’s

R E P O R T

by Dr. Dianne Van Hook

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s we continue to recover from the economic disruption of the pandemic, the question I hear most often is “What’s next?” Things have certainly changed, and as a result, everyone wants to know what the changes mean for our economy and the labor market.

From my perspective at College of the Canyons, it is clear there is a strong demand for the training and services we are known for providing, and we are focused on meeting the current demand, and planning for the future.

As you’ll read in the following pages, we are actively working to address our community’s workforce development needs in the wake of the pandemic and create opportunities for local residents to gain the skills and expertise needed to launch rewarding careers in new fields.

Among the most visible evidence of our commitment is the opening of the Takeda Science Center at the Canyon Country campus. The four-story facility opened its doors to students for the first time in fall 2021. It contains more lab spaces than are currently available on the Valencia campus and will prepare students to transfer to fourSee CHANCELLOR on Page 2

Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook (left) celebrates with retired biology professor Don Takeda during the official opening of the new Science Center at the Canyon Country campus named in his honor.

Takeda Science Center Officially Opens

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ith the cut of a ribbon and a round of cheers, College of the Canyons officially opened the new Science Center at the Canyon Country Campus, which is named in honor of longtime biology instructor Don Takeda, who retired in 2017.

Located at the Canyon Country campus, the

55,000-square-foot building is primarily devoted to the physical and biological sciences and serves as a focal point for students and first-time visitors.

“The Science Center is the most significant change to the Canyon Country campus since it opened,” Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook said at the Dec. 1 See SCIENCE CENTER on Page 10

Federal Funds Help Equip Stealth Tech Program Advanced Tech Center Sees First Graduates

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ollege of the Canyons has received $1 million in federal funding that will help equip an Advanced Technology Center (ATC), a state-of-art advanced manufacturing and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) production lab that will help meet the high demand for skilled employees in fast-growing industry sectors.

Congressman Mike Garcia successfully secured community project funding for the Santa Clarita Community College District through the $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package recently passed by Congress.

See ATC on Page 15

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he first cohort of the College of the Canyons Low Observable Technician Pathway graduated at a special ceremony held at the college’s culinary arts center.

After completing a 14-week program that provided 130 hours of training and instruction, the 13 students graduated with the necessary training and skills needed to be employed by Northrop Grumman.

Launched in the fall, the Low Observable (stealth) coatings application program trained students on See STEALTH on Page 12

WE BELIEVE IN TEACHING, LEADING AND STAYING AT THE FOREFRONT OF CHANGE

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Chancellor

FROM PAGE 1 year universities, or begin working in fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

We also offer short-term training that leads to career opportunities in emerging fields.

Thanks to a partnership with Northrop Grumman, we launched the Low Observable Technician Pathway, a 14-week training program that provides students with the necessary

enable us to expand our efforts at providing cutting-edge training for area firms. The college’s Employee Training Institute received a $1.5 million award from the California Employment Training Panel – the largest amount we have ever received – to provide training that supports higher wage jobs, leads to licensing or certification, and benefits communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

training and skills to work for Northrop applying the special coating that enables aircraft, missiles, and other systems to operate undetected. The program’s first cohort graduated in December, and the second group of students is being trained now.

College of the Canyons is known for its innovative training partnerships with local companies, and a new state contract will

The University Center, which offers 30 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from four partners on the Valencia campus, is launching two new Occupational Safety and Health Administration certificate programs that will benefit safety managers, engineers, and positions specializing in loss control, workers compensation and risk management.

We are also working to establish an Ad-

The Bottom Line is published by the College of the Canyons Public Information Office to inform the community of news and events of interest in the Santa Clarita Community College District.

Phone: (661) 259-7800 Internet: http://www.canyons.edu Mailing Address Santa Clarita Community College District 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91355

vanced Technology Center, a state-of-art production lab that will help meet the high demand for skilled employees in fast-growing industry sectors, including advanced manufacturing/computerized machining (CNC), welding/material joining, robotic welding, integrated personal fabrication, and construction technologies.

At the same time, our more established programs continue to excel in preparing students to succeed in their careers. Our nursing students who graduated the program in 2021 and recently completed the National Council Licensure Examination achieved the highest quarterly pass rate in program history – 95.24 percent.

We know that cost can be a significant barrier to higher education for students, whether it is paying tuition or purchasing textbooks.

That’s why we continue to prioritize the development of Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) materials in place of more costly traditional course textbooks. This change in learning materials saves our students $5 million annually. And, starting next fall, a new National Science Foundation grant will fund $10,000 scholarships for 100 students pursuing degrees in biology, computer science, engineering, environmental science, math, and physics.

So, when it comes to answering, “What’s next for College of the Canyons?” I tell people that we’re focused on exploring possibilities and expanding partnerships. While the pandemic was disruptive from both an individual and institutional perspective, College of the Canyons emerged stronger than ever, and with a renewed focus on meeting our community’s workforce needs and creating opportunities for students to reimagine their futures and achieve their goals.

Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook serves as chancellor of College of the Canyons.

Vice President, Public Information, Advocacy and External Relations Eric Harnish Managing Director, District Communications John Green Editorial Team Jesse Munoz Stephanie Corral Layout & Design Jason Sickler

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Chancellor’s Circle Dinner

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ore than 100 community members and college employees gathered for a memorable evening under the stars for the Chancellor’s Circle Dinner at the Canyon Country Campus on Friday, Oct. 22.

With an illuminated Don Takeda Science Center as the backdrop, guests enjoyed dinner, conversations, and live music in the upper plaza, as well as guided tours of the recently completed science building.

Nursing Reports Highest

$1.49 Million Grant to Fund STEM Program

Exam Pass Rate C

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he College of the Canyons Registered Nursing (RN) Class of 2021 had a 95.24 percent National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rate for the first quarter of 2021-22, which is the highest quarter result in the program’s history.

Nursing school graduates must pass the NCLEX exam in order to practice in the U.S. “Our students are finishing stronger and stronger in the midst of a pandemic,” said Mary Corbett, director of the college’s nursing program. “Our graduates are well prepared to make contributions of excellence during this challenging time in our community and beyond.”

When in-person college instruction transitioned to remote learning in 2020,

the college’s nursing program worked quickly to find ways to help students complete the clinical hours required by the Board of Registered Nursing to graduate and sit for the NCLEX exam. Faculty, along with Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook, were instrumental in securing a waiver that allowed for the expanded use of patient simulators when hospitals suspended in-person training programs.

“No matter what, our classes never stopped,” said Lidia Akkus, one of the 40 nursing students who passed the NCLEX exam. “COC professors, nursing staff, and our director really came together to allow us to continue our education. Their efforts were felt throughout the student body, and I felt so fortunate to be in a program where our professors genuinely care

ollege of the Canyons received a $1,493,379 grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund a new scholarship program to increase retention, transfer, and graduation rates among science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors in key student populations, including Black, Latinx, women, first-generation college students, and low-income students.

Launching in fall 2022, the new Scholarship-STEM Equity Alliance (SEA) Scholars program will build upon the college’s successful Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program to improve access to academic preparation support and student services.

“This is the second National Science Foundation grant the college has received this year, which is a testament to the college’s innovative spirit, academic excellence and commitment to student success,” said College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “STEMbased industries are helping to lead the economic

See NURSING on Page 14

See STEM on Page 13

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College Honored as Equity Champion

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ollege of the Canyons has been named a 2021 Equity Champion of Higher Education by The Campaign for College Opportunity for its exemplary work in awarding Associate Degrees for Transfer ADT to Latinx students. Students who earn ADT’s are guaranteed admission to a California State University.

“Across all California Community Colleges, your campus ensured that a high proportion of degree or transfer seeking Latinx students received an ADT in the 2019-2020 academic year,” Amber Roman, communications associate for The Campaign for College Opportunity, said in announcing COC’s award. “This is a tremendous achievement and the real work of equity.”

The Campaign for College Opportunity analyzed the percentage point gap (PPG) of California community colleges, which identifies campuses that are excelling in awarding ADTs to Latinx students, relative to their campus wide ADT conferral rates.

“We are honored to be recognized as a distinguished California community college that is deeply committed to creating a more equitable learning environment for our students,” said Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “The

implementation of ADTs has proven to be successful in helping many of our students reach their transfer goals.”

A change in the college’s assessment and placement of new students into math and English classes helped fuel the increase in ADTs. Rather than relying on a standardized test to determine whether new students are ready to enroll in college-level math and English, the college now evaluates students’ high school courses and grades to help determine placement. Previously, students were required to

complete as many as three developmental classes before qualifying for college-level math and English, so they took much longer to graduate.

According to college data, there was a 163 percent increase in the number of Hispanic students earning ADTs over a five-year period.

The Campaign for College Opportunity is a non-profit bipartisan organization that works toward increasing the number of California students attending two- and four-year colleges and who complete their college education.

National Ranking Recognizes Service to Hispanic Students

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ollege of the Canyons has been ranked nationally No. 19 in The Hispanic Outlook on Education magazine for enrolling the largest number of Hispanic students.

The magazine rankings for the Top 100 Community Colleges for Hispanics were based from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data for community colleges with the highest number of Hispanic students enrolled during fall 2019 and spring 2020.

According to the data, the college had a Hispanic population of 15,528 students, totaling 47 percent of the total student enrollment, which was 32,974 in the year 2019-20.

“One of the many things that makes College of the Canyons stand out is the rich diversity of our student body,” Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook said. “We are proud to be recognized once again for being an institution that continues to expand our ability

to serve the needs of our Hispanic students as they work hard to pursue their academic goals.”

College data shows that over a five-year period, there was a 163 percent increase in the number of Hispanic students earning an Associate’s Degree for Transfer (ADT). Students who earn an ADT are guaranteed admission to a California State University.

Many Hispanic students attending COC have benefited from the college’s innovative programs, such as the Canyons Promise program, which gives incoming students the tools and resources they need to transition smoothly into college life.

Of the 4,301 students the program has served since its launch in 2017, 53 percent of students self-identified as Hispanic.

The program provides increased opportunities for new full-time college students to achieve their educational goals by waiving tuition and fees during their first year.

Students who maintain the requirements

may have their Canyons Promise benefits extended to their second year of study.

Accepted students enroll in a one-year sequence of courses with priority registration, preceded by a week-long summer boot camp to learn skills needed to be a successful college student.

Canyons Promise courses are offered with the benefits of free Open Educational Resources to use as textbooks, peer mentors, and other learning community elements. To ensure students remain on track, ongoing counseling and student support is also offered. Additionally, Canyons Promise students receive a parking pass or city bus pass.

The Hispanic Outlook on Education magazine’s annual ranking is based on total student enrollment, the percentage of Hispanic students in attendance, two-year schools awarding the most associate degrees to Hispanic students, and the percentage of associate degrees to Hispanic students by two-year schools.

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COC Awarded $1.5 Million Training Contract

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he College of the Canyons Employee Training Institute (ETI) has received a $1.5 million contract from the California Employment Training Panel (ETP) to provide worker training to client companies in the Santa Clarita Valley who wish to retain an up-skilled workforce.

“It is a very exciting time,” said John Milburn, interim vice president of workforce and economic development and ETI executive director. “This is the largest ETP contract that College of the Canyons has ever been awarded, which will allow us to expand our services.”

The two-year reimbursement contract will allow the college to offset the training costs charged to employers in the private and public sectors, as well as nonprofit organizations.

The goals of the program are in support of higher wage jobs, training leading to licensing and certification, and workforce training efforts for communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

“Employers are currently having trouble finding qualified employees,” said Milburn.

“These funds will go a long way in helping companies to upskill and retain their workforce to meet the varying needs of the business.”

Unique to California, ETP is a program that is geared toward job creation and job retention through training in an effort to keep California companies competitive and operating within the state.

College Recognized for Student Voting

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ollege of the Canyons is one of four California community colleges recognized for being among “America’s Best Colleges for Student Voting” by Washington Monthly magazine for its commitment to inspiring students to vote and actively participate in community decisions.

To document the efforts of colleges and universities promoting civic engagement, the magazine highlighted more than 205 institutions around the country.

“The Center for Civic Engagement is delighted that COC has been recognized for a second year,” said Patty Robinson, faculty director of civic and community engagement initiatives at the college.

“Fostering civic learning, community engagement, and democratic participa-

tion is central to the work of the center, as it works with the entire campus community to foster a life-long interest in voting among our students.”

The 2020 presidential election’s remarkable voter turnout included a surge of young voters.

“More than half of the ballots cast in the 2020 presidential election were from 18- to 24-year-olds,” reported the magazine. “Part of why youth turnout shot up is thanks to the deliberate work of student voting organizers, who mobilized young Americans to register and cast ballots despite the pandemic and restrictive voting laws.”

COC participates in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, a national, nonpartisan awards program recognizing colleges and universities for

improving civic learning, political engagement, and student voting rates. As a part of this initiative, students, faculty, and staff have worked together to develop and implement an action plan to increase voting and civic engagement.

During election seasons, COC hosts numerous discussion panels and distributes nonpartisan materials that provide additional information on propositions and candidates.

The school also participates in the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE), which provides colleges and universities with data on student registration and voting rates.

These numbers provide benchmarks to measure the success of future voting engagement efforts.

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Student Applies Skills, Saves Life F

ive months after enrolling in the College of the Canyons Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program, Jonathan Nasrallah found himself in a worst-case scenario, which prompted him to use his newly acquired skills and knowledge to save the life of a family member.

While celebrating with his family in Glendale, Nasrallah’s uncle Steve collapsed.

“He’s like a dad to me,” said Nasrallah. “In a second, the adrenaline started rushing inside of me and I knew that I had two to three seconds to do something.”

After checking his uncle’s pulse and placing his ear to his face to detect breath, he realized his uncle had gone into full cardiac arrest. Recalling from his studies that the human brain can only survive five to six minutes without oxygen, Nasrallah sprang into action and started administering CPR as his family watched and screamed in horror.

“I remember everything around me disappeared and everyone zoned out, like you see in the movies,” said Nasrallah. “I was praying, ‘God, I don’t want my uncle to die in my hands.’”

With his father’s help with ventilations, Nasrallah was able to do approximately 100 compressions per minute until the paramedics arrived and took over.

Nasrallah’s quick actions saved his uncle’s life.

Once his uncle had been taken to a hospital, Nasrallah called his EMT instructor Patti Haley.

“I said, ‘Thank you for pushing us,’” recalled Nasrallah, speaking on behalf of his EMT classmates. “Not only do they teach us CPR, but they make sure we practice. The program as a whole, from

College of the Canyons EMT student Jonathan Nasrallah and his uncle, Steve Nasrallah.

family members.

“It is much easier to take care of an anonymous patient with a team of EMS responders, than to handle an unexpected incident with a loved one at a family celebration as a lone EMS provider,” said Haley.

idea what had happened.

“He thought he passed out,” laughed Nasrallah. “He was shocked and full of big thanks.”

The Granada Hills resident says saving his uncle’s life not only brought his family closer together, but it also confirmed

“The program as a whole, from the way it is structured to the equipment we use, is amazing.” the way it is structured to the equipment we use, is amazing.”

Haley was immediately impressed by his quick thinking and ability to manage the scene and give directions to other

Two days later, when Nasrallah’s uncle woke up from therapeutic hypothermia—a medically induced procedure to prevent brain damage in cardiac arrest patients and aid in recovery—he had no

his decision to become an ER doctor.

“That whole incident sealed the deal with me,” said Nasrallah. “It made me want to do it even more and save other lives.”

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New Grant Funds Native Bee Research

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ollege of the Canyons received a $74,707 Campus as a Living Lab (CALL) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide opportunities for underrepresented community college students to engage in undergraduate research focusing on native bees.

“This experience will increase the knowledge and awareness students have regarding native bee distribution and ecology, as well as methods to increase campus native bee species numbers through habitat enrichment,” said Jeannie Chari, a biology instructor at the college and the grant’s principal investigator.

Native bees were chosen as they are a critical source of global natural capital with approximately 20 percent of species found in the U.S. Chari will collaborate with Patricia Palavecino (Antelope Valley College) and Jaime Pawelek (Essig Museum at UC Berkeley) to create a Training Toolkit for instructors from community colleges with high percentages

of underrepresented students to implement on their respective campuses.

Using the campus landscape as a living lab, faculty and students will research native bee biodiversity with the intent to enrich campus habitats, foster increased biodiversity of native bee species and address the current rapid loss of biodiversity affecting ecosystem stability and pollination services.

The collected research data will be shared among the participating network institutions through public databases.

The project’s goal is to create a strong foundation for establishing a sizeable future network of colleges that can use the available data to foster ongoing critical pollinator research opportunities for underrepresented students.

“Community college campuses can ultimately serve as habitat islands and corridors for native bees,” said Chari. “The research will contribute to native bee conservation on a local and global scale.”

University Center Offers OSHA Certifications

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he Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center at College of the Canyons launched two new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certificate programs in spring 2022.

The Advanced Safety and Health Certificate and the Certified Safety and Health Official Certificate programs are offered at the University Center through the California State University, Dominguez Hills OSHA Training Institute Education Center, the only federally authorized OSHA center in the Los Angeles area.

“These certificate programs provide the local and specialized training employers need to ensure a safe working environment for all employees,” said Leslie Carr, director of operations at the University Center.

The training is ideal for company owners, supervisors, safety managers and engineers, along with those positions focusing on loss control, workers compensation, and risk management.

The OSHA certificate programs teach participants how to create workplace safety plans, understand OSHA standards, identify common violations, and how to

propose abatement actions to fulfill regulatory mandates.

The goal of the 110,000 square-foot University Center is to increase student access to advanced degrees by forging partnerships with surrounding four-year colleges and universities. Those institutions then make their academic programs available

to students through courses offered at the University Center. These partnerships enable students to earn advanced degrees without leaving the Santa Clarita Valley.

More than 3,950 students have graduated from the degree programs offered by the University Center’s partner institutions without leaving the Santa Clarita Valley.

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Audits of Bond Spending Affirmed

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he 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 2020-21 fiscal year.

Eide Bailly, LLP conducted financial and performance audits, and issued the District an unmodified opinion—the best

rating possible—noting no adjustments, audit findings, questioned costs or instances of bond noncompliance.

“The financial statement audit tells us the numbers being presented to us are correct, and the performance audit tells us the money being spent is in accordance with the provisions of the bond,” Oversight Committee Chairman Kevin Holmes said at the January 10 meeting.

Auditors reviewed documents associated with 54 percent of expenditures made with bond funds. Purchase orders, approved invoices, bid documentation, contracts, and payments were reviewed and found to be compliant with state regulations and district board policies.

Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Business Services Sharlene Coleal attributed the results of the audit to the collaboration of her staff with Jim Schrage, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Facilities Planning, Operation and Construction, and his team.

“With our departments working together to provide careful fiscal oversight and ensure strict compliance with regulations that govern general obligation bond-fundSee BOND AUDIT on Page 15

Refinancing Saves Taxpayers $2.9 Million

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ollege of the Canyons refinanced $36.8 million of outstanding general obligation bond debt.

The district’s taxpayers will have cash flow savings of $2.9 million. This represents an overall savings of 5.79 percent of the bonds that were refinanced.

“The Santa Clarita Community College District has a longstanding reputation for finding ways to save local property owners money whenever possible,” said College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook.

“We are very pleased to have been able to refinance our general obligation bonds once again with fantastic results.”

“Since 2013, the Santa Clarita Community College District’s refinancing efforts have resulted in nearly $50 million in cumulative savings to taxpayers,” said Sharlene Coleal, assistant superintendent/vice-president of business services, who has coordinated all bond refinancings for the district.

This is the fourth time in eight years the college has refinanced bonds in an effort

to lessen the tax impact on property owners. A 2019 refinance yielded $8.3 million of savings, which represented a 12.96 percent reduction. That refinancing also lowered taxes for area property owners. Prior refinancings also occurred in 2016 and 2013.

“I applaud the Santa Clarita Community College District for its repeated efforts to provide savings to local taxpayers over the years,” said Kevin Holmes, chair of the bond oversight committee. “Their proactive approach to bond refinancing is truly admirable

and is great news for the Santa Clarita Valley community.”

The Government Finance Officers Association, a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing guidance to improve government management, advises that agencies should consider refinancing bonds if they can save taxpayers at least 3 percent.

Measure C, which local voters passed in 2001, funded a number of significant facilities improvements at College of the Canyons, including the cost of acquiring 70 acres of See BOND REFINANCING on Page 15

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Greg Herrick Hits 600 Career Wins

College of the Canyons women’s basketball head coach Greg Herrick and his team celebrating his 600th career victory.

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ollege of the Canyons women’s basketball head coach Greg Herrick picked up his 600th career victory in December after a 78-67 win over Rio Hondo College, prompting an emotional post-game celebration with friends, family, colleagues, fans and supporters.

“This acknowledges all of the players over the course of the last 29 seasons that contributed to the 600 wins,” said Her-

about the players,” he said. “With all the players that I’ve coached, there is a love affair with all of them. If they were all here, I’d thank every one of them.”

COC Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook congratulated Herrick on the accomplishment and said, “This remarkable achievement is due to Coach Herrick’s passion for the game and his commitment to his players. He personifies the best of community college athletics in his abili-

also qualified for the CCCAA Southern California Regional Postseason in 23 seasons, including a run of 21 straight appearances from 1994-2014. In 1997, Herrick guided the Cougars all the way to the state championship game, eventually finishing runner-up to Ventura College.

Herrick has also been named the WSC, South Coach of the Year on 10 occasions.

“College of the Canyons gave me the opportunity to coach the sport I love so

“He personifies the best of community college athletics in his ability to teach, motivate and inspire his studentathletes to succeed on the court, in the classroom, and in pursuing their goals in college and beyond.” rick, moments after being presented with the official game ball and having an opportunity to address the crowd.

“I get the credit, but the team, and all the players are the ones that should get all the credit because they’re the ones that did it,” added Herrick, who took over the COC women’s program prior to the 199293 season.

“I’m very happy, I’m proud of what we’ve done all these years, but it’s all

ty to teach, motivate and inspire his student-athletes to succeed on the court, in the classroom, and in pursuing their goals in college and beyond.”

Herrick’s 30-year tenure at College of the Canyons has included 16 Western State Conference (WSC), South Division Championships in 29 seasons. COC did not compete during the 2020-21 year due to cancellations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. His teams have

much,” said Herrick. “When somebody gives you that opportunity and gives you the freedom to build the program in your image, I am overly appreciative of that. I will never forget them for giving me this chance.”

Stay up to date on action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

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Don Takeda (center) celebrates the grand opening with his family.

Science Center from Page 1

event. “It will be the largest building built on the campus to date. It effectively doubles the classroom and lab space that was available on the Canyon Country campus, and it will offer more instructional space for science curriculum than we currently have at the Valencia campus in three science buildings.”

The opening of the center marks a major milestone in the development of the campus, which opened 15 years ago.

“When we began planning for this campus, we promised local residents that we would expand access to higher education on the east side of the college’s service area,” Dr. Van Hook said. “By increasing access to science curriculum, this building will play a critical role in equipping students for successful careers in fast-growing fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony also recognized Takeda, who was joined by family, friends, and former colleagues, and was presented with a resolution from the college’s Board of Trustees for his significant contributions to the biological sciences during his 46-year teaching career at COC, which began on Jan. 1, 1972.

“Don’s career is truly remarkable, and he

has touched thousands of lives as he inspired not only his students, but all of us at College of the Canyons who were lucky enough to count him as a colleague and as a friend,” said Dr.

Van Hook.

Alongside Jim Boykin, COC’s first biology instructor, Takeda helped build the college’s biology department. As lead faculty/chair of

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the college’s biology department for over 25 years, Takeda played a pivotal role in upgrading molecular-cellular biology and organismal biology courses.

He also provided oversight for a major remodel of biology classrooms and laboratories in the Boykin building, and was instrumental in developing the design of Aliso Hall and Aliso Lab, which opened at the Valencia campus in 2007.

“I am just incredibly honored that this has happened,” said Takeda, who resides in Canyon Country. “It is a testament to the leadership of this district to honor faculty members.

When I get this kind of tribute it is reflective of all the other faculty members, past to the present, because that is what makes the institution so great. This institution is a gem in the Santa Clarita Valley.”

Among the more than 100 attendees were members of the Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees, as well as COC staff, administrators and students.

Also in attendance was former board member Bruce Fortine, who hired Takeda in 1972.

Members of the Canyon Country Campus Advisory Committee were on hand to celebrate, along with representatives from Kruger Bensen Ziemer Architects and Lundgren Management, the firms responsible for the design and construction of the facility.

Assemblywoman Suzette Martinez Valladares and representatives from the offices of Senator Scott Wilk, Congressman Mike Garcia and Supervisor Kathryn Barger were on hand to recognize Takeda and congratulate the college.

The ribbon cutting ceremony ended with a guided tour of the new building, which houses eight lecture classrooms, eight science labs, three computer labs, nine group study/conference rooms, as well as 24 faculty and staff office stations. Construction of the Don Takeda Science Center was funded by Measure E, the $230 million bond measure that was approved by local voters in June 2016.

The building is expected to help alleviate the demand for health and science courses, such as prerequisite classes for the college’s nursing program, which are often waitlisted.

“On behalf of the Canyon Country campus

faculty, staff, and students, we are so excited about the Takeda Science Center and what it means to the campus and expanding access,” said Dr. Ryan Theule, vice president of the Canyon Country campus. “This is not just any new facility, but a complex of long-awaited science laboratory spaces, instructional service rooms, faculty offices, lecture halls, computer labs, and student study spaces. Ultimately, it is a place for students to learn and engage in a beautiful building with amazing instructional resources. We are thankful to have this amazing new facility at the Canyon Country campus.”

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Low Observable Technician Pathway graduates celebrate with Assemblyman Tom Lackey, Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares and Senator Scott Wilk.

Stealth from Page 1

how to apply special coating to aircraft, missiles and other defense systems that will allow them to operate undetected.

COC is the only community college in the state to offer a Low Observable (stealth) coatings application program. It was launched at the request of, and in partnership with, Northrop

Grumman, to address their need for trained technicians. A second cohort launched in spring 2022.

“Community colleges are uniquely positioned to create a long-term pipeline of well-qualified students by providing education that links classroom learning to jobs,” Dr. Omar Torres, assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction at the college said at the graduation event. “At College of the Canyons, we take seriously our role in training the

workforce.”

Students enrolled in the online program learned from subject matter experts about low observable fundamentals and proper application techniques.

“We honestly could not have asked for better partners to start this project,” Northrop Grumman Vice President Pat Hund said of College of the Canyons. “Your actions, transparency, and speed of action made it possible to set up this program in a very short

amount of time to facilitate such valued training.”

Senator Scott Wilk, Assemblyman Tom Lackey, and Assemblywoman Suzette Martinez Valladares were in attendance, along with representatives from the offices of Congressman Mike Garcia and Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

The graduation ended with a demonstration of the virtual simulator students used for the hands-on portion of the training.

District Clears $950K in Student Debt

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n an effort to remove financial debt as a barrier to higher education, the Santa Clarita Community College District cleared nearly $950,000 in student debt through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. As a result, the debt forgiveness initiative restored registration eligibility for 3,215 College of the Canyons students to enroll in winter and spring 2022 classes.

“This was a state priority to use the funds provided by the state and federal government to allow students to return to

school,” said Jasmine Ruys, assistant superintendent, and vice president of student services at the college. “We want to help students get back on track with their education goals that were disrupted due to the pandemic.”

The college targeted unpaid student fees remaining from the spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, winter 2021 and spring 2021 terms.

The kinds of fees that were cleared included any past due balances for all district-owed fees, including enrollment fees,

non-resident tuition, college fees, and district debt for Return of Title IV funds.

The amount of the college’s debt forgiveness ranged from the smallest of $1 to the largest of $5,981.

Students whose balances were paid off were notified of their enrollment re-eligibility by mail.

The college’s debt forgiveness plan was funded through the $3.6 million CARES Act award it received in May 2020 to assist students with needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SPRING 2022 ] THE BOTTOM LINE 13

Auto Technology Program Receives Donations

Jeannie Brewer, Acura of Glendale owner, presents a check to Gary Sornborger, automotive technology chair, and Nadia Cotti, dean of applied technologies.

T

his spring, College of the Canyons received a $10,000 donation from the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association (GLANCDA) and a $4,750 donation from The Rotary Club of Santa Clarita Valley in support of the college’s automotive technology program.

The donations will fund four scholarships for auto technology students during the fall 2022 semester and aid in the purchase of electric vehicle training aids.

“Our members have long been dedicated supporters of these efforts across the greater Los Angeles region,” said Bob Smith, GLANCDA executive director.

“We are committed to supporting job growth and creation in the region and are so pleased to be able to support these important workforce development programs.”

The automotive technology program is designed to prepare students with the entry-level skills needed for an automotive technician position in a variety of settings including dealerships, independent automotive repair facilities, as well as with county or federal agencies.

“We are very grateful to The Rotary Club of Santa Clarita Valley for this donation and their continued support of our students and program,” said Nadia Cotti, dean of applied technologies at the college.

Rotary Club President Dave Reeves (second from left) presents a scholarship donation to (from left) John Zakizadeh, automotive technology assistant; Gary Sornborger, automotive technology chair; Nadia Cotti, dean of applied technologies, and Kimberly Night, automotive technology instructor.

“These scholarships will help ease the financial challenges faced by many students by covering the cost

of textbooks, equipment and other materials required to complete the auto technology program.”

STEM

from Page 3 recovery from the pandemic, so this award comes at the perfect time. This funding provided by the grant will play a crucial role in helping College of the Canyons to eliminate barriers for students interested in entering these competitive and ever-evolving fields.”

The SEA Scholars program will recruit, mentor, and support academically talented STEM students pursuing degrees in biology, biological sciences, computer science, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, and physics.

During the six-year grant period, 100 STEM students will receive financial and academic resources, including scholarships of up to $10,000 ($5,000 for two

years). Student scholars will participate in five cohorts of 20 students each, with the ultimate goal of completing an associate degree and joining the STEM workforce or transferring to a four-year university.

“We are thrilled to receive this substantial grant from the National Science Foundation,” said Patricia Foley, the grant’s principal investigator and a chemistry professor at the college. “This award will help us create structures to provide our underrepresented students with the academic, social and financial capital that is necessary to pursue STEM careers.”

Students will also engage with faculty

members through well-defined mentoring relationships and participate in STEM career exploration activities.

In addition, participating COC faculty will learn how to create inclusive, equitable, and culturally responsive STEM classrooms, which is a proven approach for heightening STEM achievement among low-income, underrepresented, and educationally disadvantaged students.

Created by NSF, the S-STEM program’s mission is to enable low-income and talented students to pursue successful careers in promising STEM fields.

14 THE BOTTOM LINE ] SPRING 2022

Nursing from Page 3

about us and want us to succeed.”

As a result, Akkus felt prepared when she sat down to take the NCLEX exam in August.

“COC’s nursing program prepared me throughout the program as we had assigned Kaplan testing prep to get us used to NCLEXstyle questions,” said Akkus. “In addition, our class exams had similar NCLEX-style questions called ‘Select All That Apply,’ which is arguably the most diffi-

cult aspect of the NCLEX exam.”

As a COC nursing student, Akkus also took advantage of the college’s Creating Pathways program, a collaborative Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)/ Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) program with CSUN, which allowed her to work earning a BSN degree in the summer while enrolled in COC core nursing classes.

“This program covered my

textbook expenses and provided me with weekly one-to-one tutoring with an RN,” said Akkus.

“This helped me develop critical thinking skills as I was able to talk aloud about pathophysiology and pharmacology.”

Akkus currently works as an RN at Dignity Health and at the COC Nursing Skills Lab where she shares her knowledge with COC nursing students.

“Working in the skills lab so-

lidified my love and desire to teach,” said Akkus. “It has made me so happy to be able to contribute the knowledge I have acquired to students in a school I love.”

Akkus plans on continuing her education and becoming a nurse practitioner.

“I am excited about this journey and am thankful to have attended the College of the Canyons nursing program,” she said.

COC Receives Second Highest AMATYC Score

C

ollege of the Canyons received the second highest team score in the nation for the American Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) Student Mathematics League Test, which is a two-round competition that tests the problem-solving skills of students against others across the nation.

Of the 29 College of the Canyons students who competed, the cumulative scores of Praneel Samal (first place), Roman Yakunin (second place), Melquicedec Avila-Cruz (third place), Zhiyuan He, and Osmaan Mysorewala placed the college on the scoreboard with 66.5 points ahead of 51 other teams.

“This is a tremendous achievement that speaks volumes about our motivated and

talented students,” said Charlie Johnson, chair of the college’s mathematics department. “It is a culmination of years of hard work and dedication. I would like to thank Ruzanna Baytaryan, Jim Gilmore, and Violeta Kovacev-Nikolic for their continued support and for organizing the exam at COC every year since 2002.”

During the one-hour AMATYC exam, students individually take a 20-question multiple choice exam which contains nonstandard challenging math questions.

Students compete both as individuals and as a member of a team representing their school.

To help prepare students for the rigorous exam, faculty are allowed to hold practice sessions with the use of questions

from previous competitions.

The college’s top five winners will receive AMATYC Certificates of Merit at the end of the academic year. The top three winners at COC share a $200 prize, and the student who earns the highest score in the nation gets a $3,000 Charles Miller memorial scholarship prize to be used to continue his or her education at an accredited four-year institution.

Established in 1974, AMATYC strives to be the leading voice and resource for excellence in mathematics education in the first two years of college. The association aims to provide high-quality professional development and create communities of learners for all involved in mathematics education at two-year colleges.

SPRING 2022 ] THE BOTTOM LINE 15

Bond Audit

from Page 8 ed construction projects, we achieved outstanding audit results,” Coleal said.

The audit showed $21 million of Measure E funds spent during 2020-21, primarily on construction of the Takeda Science Center and the Student Services/Learning Resources Center at the college’s Canyon Country campus.

Since 2017, the college has spent a total of $82.6 million of Measure E bond revenue, according to the audit. Funded projects include the parking structure at the

Valencia campus, along with the Central Energy Plant, Science Center, and Student Services/Learning Resources Center at the Canyon Country campus.

Local voters approved Measure E in June 2016, providing the college with $230 million to invest in facilities upgrades.

“We appreciate the support of our community and take seriously our obligation to maximize the value of Measure E funds, and ensure they are spent as intended,” said Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook.

“The audit results demonstrate our ongoing commitment to sound fiscal management, as well as our intent to continue delivering high-quality facilities and programs that lead to outstanding educational opportunities and expanded access to training for our community.”

The committee also approved its Annual Report, which is available to the community on the college’s website at https://www. canyons.edu/administration/committees/ bondoversight/index.php

projects, including construction of all the initial buildings at the Canyon Country Campus. It also qualified COC to receive state matching funds used in building the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center that now offers 30 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, and certificates.

Other key projects included the Culinary Arts building, the Mentry Hall classroom expansion, The Library and Learning

Center expansion, the Applied Technology Education Center at the Canyon Country campus, and the Canyons Hall student services center.

Together, Measure C and Measure M qualified College of the Canyons to receive $56.2 million in construction funds from the state. Colleges that have local bond funds available are given priority when applying for state funding.

Bond Refinancing from Page 8

land on Sierra Highway to build the Canyon Country campus, and constructing the Hasley Hall classroom and computer facility, the Aliso Hall and Aliso Lab science facilities, and the Pico Canyon Hall performing arts classroom and rehearsal spaces.

The funding provided through Measure M, approved by voters in 2006, helped the college complete a number of facilities

ATC

from Page 1 “We are very excited to have received funding to support the development and launch of an Advanced Technology Center and we are grateful to Congressman Mike Garcia for his continued support,” said College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook.

“This project will continue COC’s demonstrated history of enhancing economic devel-

opment in the community, and creating pathways for students to employment in high-wage, high-demand fields.”

The ATC will include both simulation and full production type machining centers to prepare students for stackable industry-recognized credentials to demonstrate the necessary skills for workforce readiness as they work toward degree

attainment.

“Rapid growth in industrial automation and advanced technology combined with an aging workforce has created the urgent need for skilled technicians in advanced manufacturing/computerized machining (CNC), welding/ material joining, robotic welding, integrated personal fabrication, and construction

technologies,” said Harriet Happel, dean of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at the college. “The ATC will provide state-of -the-art technical training in these STEM fields to meet employer needs and to prepare students for high-skill, high-demand, high-wage jobs.”

The ATC is expected to launch in fall 2022.

Santa Clarita Community College District 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91355 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dr. Edel Alonso Mr. Michael D. Berger Mr. Sebastian C.M. Cazares Ms. Michele R. Jenkins Ms. Joan W. MacGregor Ms. Abigail Royster, Student Trustee

RUNNER CLAIMS COC’S FIRST INDIVIDUAL CROSS COUNTRY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP F

reshman Danielle Salcedo clocked a program-record time of 17.54.9 on the 5K course at Fresno’s Woodward Park to become the first California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Women’s Cross Country Individual State Champion in College of the Canyons history.

Salcedo’s state championship caps a season in which she also won the CCCAA Individual Southern California Regional Championship and Western State Conference (WSC) Individual title.

She ran the entire 2021 season undefeated in community college competition, winning the Moorpark, Canyons, Oxnard and Mt. San Antonio College (SAC) Invitationals, and WSC Preview, meets along the way.

“To remain undefeated in community college competition is a challenge in any sport,” said COC cross country and track & field head coach Lindie Kane. “Danielle remained focused and took the entire season one race at a time, which led to some outstanding results.

“She arrived at the state meet well prepared and with the confidence needed to become a state champion,” added Kane. “It was exciting to watch Dani run with such success and a tremendous way to conclude our first season back in competition.”

Salcedo was also named a JC All-American for her performance at the state championships.

College of the Canyons freshman runner Danielle Salcedo is the first women’s cross country individual cross country state champion in COC history.

Photo credit: Dean Lofgren/CCCAA