Access to higher education in Santa Clarita took a major step forward this past semester with the official groundbreaking of the Dianne G. Van Hook University Center at College of the Canyons.
Many students find themselves unable to continue their educations after graduating from College of the Canyons. By bringing Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees from four-year colleges and universities to the College of the Canyons campus, the University Center removes barriers and opens the door of opportunity for students.
Because demand for such a program was so strong from students, area employers and partnering institutions, College of the Canyons opened an interim center in 2002. It was an immediate success and proved the validity of the concept. In five years, more than 13,000 students enrolled in a variety of programs and more than 700 students earned advanced degrees and credentials.
College and community leaders broke ground on the permanent center in March after fundraising efforts generated the capital needed to complete the project. State and federal funds, along with local bond measures and contributions from private foundations, corporations and donors provided nearly $36 million needed for construction. Fundraising activities are ongoing in order to provide the resources needed to equip the 110,000-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art learning technology.
The University Center concept was the brainchild of College of the Canyons’ Superintendent-President Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. To honor her efforts, the College of the Canyons’ Board of Trustees voted in May to name the facility after her. In doing so, the trustees cited her ,“Tireless commitment to enhancing access to education, her belief in the power of dreaming big and never giving up and her premise that we, as individuals and institutions, become what we give ourselves the power to be.”
The University Center will host an open house on Tuesday, August 7th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. University partners will be on hand to discuss programs offered at the University Center.
To learn more about the programs offered at the University Center, please contact the University Center office at 661-362-5474. Additional information is available on-line at www.canyons.edu/universitycenter .