After the initial rush of changes due to the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic, College of the Canyons has settled into a new system of operations, officials said.

“Our world is shifting and will continue to do so.  Little will be the same,’ said Dr. Dianne Van Hook, Chancellor of College of the Canyons. “But, one thing that will remain the same, and I am certain will even get better, is that on which our foundation is built – the capacity, the courage, and creativity that each of us possesses.”

Van Hook stated that what makes College of the Canyons different from others is that while the school keeps its mission as a beacon, it keeps in the forefront of the faculty’s minds “people always.”

Monday, March 23, marked the day where almost 100 percent of COC classes began being offered to students remotely.  While in the midst of the country and the world at large facing a crisis the likes of which no one alive today has ever seen, COC staff navigated the ever-changing conditions, worked to provide emotional support to each other, their students, and to their families, and did so with “rare courage and dedication,” according to Van Hook.

While responding to new information from national, state, and local entities several times a day, the college community has worked together to fundamentally change the way they do business, including how they plan, how they communicate, and how they plan for the future, officials said.

“In spite of pressure the likes of which we have never seen, the emotional investment, expertise, attention to detail and humanness that I am evidencing day in and day out is indescribable,” said Van Hook. “I am deeply grateful and appreciative, and I extend to all of our staff the highest and most sincere praise I can offer.”

The Chancellor congratulated the staff for a number of accomplishments and adaptations over the past week or so, including learning to use teleconferencing, online, and other alternative teaching and delivery modes; listening to colleagues’ and students’ frustration and offering help; and grappling with how to keep students moving forward with confidence and courage about the future.

“As much as any college CEO can, I am counting on those who support us to lead, to care, to create, to connect, and to communicate,” said Van Hook. “In this time, when we all really need something to hold onto and are remotely dealing with conflicting and incomplete information from the outside, we have each other.”

In addition to the updates to online courses, Van Hook also shared some updates on programs for the Canyon Country Campus (CCC) for at least the next three weeks:

• As with the Valencia Campus, the Canyon Country Campus has transitioned from classroom instruction to remote/online learning based on the latest guidelines from the CA Department of Public Health and other directives.
• The CCC campus team has worked with tremendous effort and the flexibility to support the needs of students while promoting health and safety during this critical time.
• Many campus events, such as the popular Star Party and other campus gatherings, have been postponed.  Faculty plans to revisit these events for potential rescheduling once the situation changes.
• At this time, the administration plans to develop online or teleconference monthly updates for the campus advisory committee.
• Future event and campus updates will be sent in the coming weeks and will be posted to the campus website.

The Canyon Country Campus team and COC extends its warm thanks and appreciation for the ongoing support and hopes all of the students, staff, and supporters are safe and well during this challenging time, according to Van Hook and Ryan Theule, vice president of the Canyon Country Campus.

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