The College of the Canyons (COC) Board of Trustees convened for its scheduled meeting on Wednesday, addressing various topics, including the rollout of the college’s first bachelor’s degree program.

One of the most significant moments of the meeting was the introduction of College of the Canyon’s first on-campus bachelor’s degree program, a Bachelor of Science in Building Performance, designed for students pursuing architecture and interior design careers.

College’s First Bachelor’s of Science in Building Performance – Program Overview

Jason Oliver, Professor and Department Chair of the Architecture and Interior Design Program, and Thomas Valle Stallman, also a professor, presented an overview of the program, explaining its timeline, outreach efforts, and long-term goals. 

Oliver mentioned that in the past, students transferring from COC with their Architecture AA to larger universities didn’t always find success.

“Any architecture community college professor will tell you, maybe a small handful of students actually get in, maybe a good year we get three students in,” he said. “Most students end up going to Woodbury University, and that’s obviously a huge financial commitment for them. So when we were talking with our CSU partners and industry experts, we realized that one of the biggest gaps in the architecture industry is that our buildings aren’t designed with performance in mind from the very beginning. That’s a vocational, technical skill that we can teach. And so that’s what we built our curriculum off of.”

The program is designed to meet the growing industry demand for sustainable building practices and energy-efficient construction.

The four-year program is expected to cost $12,000 for the entire degree, making it significantly more affordable than most four-year programs. 

“This new program will be pivotal for enhancing COC’s mission of helping students build their future, as well as providing an opportunity for graduates to apply directly for master’s level architecture programs or pursue professional licensure and industry certifications in California,” said Former COC Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook when the degree was first announced.

This is COC’s first bachelor’s degree program on campus. 

The first class of fifteen students began the program in January 2025.

New and Modified Course Approvals

The Board also approved curriculum updates for:

• Six new courses
• Thirteen modified courses
• Seventeen technical changes

These updates ensure that course content remains relevant to industry trends and meets community and workforce needs, according to the board.

Clinical Affiliation Agreement with Palmdale Regional Medical Center

COC approved a five-year clinical affiliation agreement with Palmdale Regional Medical Center to bolster its Nursing, Phlebotomy, and Medical Lab Technician programs. 

This partnership, set to run from March 13, 2025, to March 12, 2030, is set to provide students with hands-on training opportunities to meet clinical hour requirements for their respective programs. 

Faculty and students are expected to evaluate the clinical training quality, ensuring alignment with industry standards.

Mentor Program Agreement with Saugus Union School District

The Board also approved a Mentor Program Agreement with Saugus Union School District under the California Early Childhood Mentor Program. 

This initiative, funded by the California Department of Social Services, places COC’s Early Childhood Education students in supervised fieldwork placements with experienced mentor teachers. 

The partnership comes at no cost to the district.

New Developments in Student Services and Campus Operations

The Board approved updates to the 2024-2025 Spotlight Series at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, including an additional event:

• Lead Singers of Classic Rock – March 22, 2025

The Board also authorized a contract extension with Lucky Luke Brewing Company to sell alcohol at select events. 

Funding for these performances is fully self-supported through ticket sales, sponsorships, and grants.

Virtual Parking Permit and Citation Management System

To improve campus parking services, the Board approved a new two-year contract with IPS Group, Inc., which is expected to introduce a virtual parking permit system. 

Features include:

• License Plate Reader Technology
• Online permit purchases for students and staff
• Enhanced citation management system

The initial implementation costs a total of $9,000, with ongoing annual fees of $11,100.

New Food Service Agreement Following University Center Café Closure

Following the closure of the University Center Café, the Board approved a refrigerated meal service agreement with WB Group, Inc. (Dailycious). 

The new Smart Fridges are set to provide fresh, chef-prepared gourmet meals, including vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian options. 

“The UC Cafe would close down around two o’clock every day, so if you had a later class, it would be hard to get to,” COC staff said.

The service aims to address food availability issues during academic breaks when traditional vendors struggle with fluctuating sales. 

The board discussed that if this program proves successful, they may expand it to the Canyon Country Campus at some point in the future.

Security and Safety Concerns

The board also addressed security concerns after a recent vehicle theft involving a faculty member at the Valencia campus. 

Discussions focused on potential improvements to campus security to prevent further incidents.

Enrollment Fraud and Administrative Challenges

During the Vice President’s report, concerns were raised about enrollment fraud. 

COC received 17,000 applications for the Fall 2025 semester, and administrative staff must manually review each application to determine its authenticity. 

This process has been time-consuming, and efforts are being made to ensure legitimate students can register for classes without delays.

Search for a New CEO

COC is beginning the process of searching for a new CEO. 

The proposed timeline for the search includes:

• Obtaining a search firm by April 2025
• Opening the application process by June 2025
• Recruiting candidates from June through September 2025
• Setting the application deadline for September 2025

Looking Ahead

The next COC Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for March 26 2025, where further discussions on campus expansion and student services are expected to be discussed.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.