About the Canyon Country Campus
The College of the Canyons Canyon Country campus is an exciting addition to the eastern portion of the Santa Clarita Valley, but especially for Canyon Country. Great change has already occurred and more is on the way in coming months and years. This information is designed to keep the community informed about changes as progress on the campus occurs. We'll revise this information periodically to reflect the most recent developments. The campus opened for classes on Aug. 27, 2007. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony was held the following day, and an "Opening Celebration" was held Oct. 6 to introduce the campus to the community. Hundreds of people attended the celebration and toured the facilities; met faculty, staff, dignitaries and elected officials; enjoyed local and college entertainment, and learned about the unique history of Canyon Country. Frequently Asked Questions  Where is the Canyon Country Campus property located?
The site is located on the southeast side of Sierra Highway, approximately 1.7 miles northeast of the intersection of Sierra Highway and Soledad Canyon Road. The address is 17200 Sierra Hwy., Santa Clarita, CA 91351-1622. View a locator map How large is the campus? The Canyon Country Campus consists of 70 acres. About 40 acres are being developed. Why has College of the Canyons built a campus in Canyon Country? Studies show that about thirty-two percent of the nearly 19,000 students currently attending COC reside in ZIP codes in and around Canyon Country. The Southern California Association of Governments estimates that nearly 68,000 people will be living in Canyon Country by 2010, an increase of 32 percent over 10 years. The number of students who will seek college classes in that vicinity will grow dramatically. At the same time, significant growth is predicted throughout the entire Santa Clarita Valley resulting in the College of the Canyons campus in Valencia reaching capacity as student population reaches the 20,000 to 25,000 level. What is the cost of the Canyon Country Campus? Costs for the new campus break down in two ways. - Cost to purchase the 70-acre property: approximately $13.5 million.
- Cost for construction and development of the interim campus, including significant infrastructure that is already in place to serve the permanent campus: estimated $38.1 million
- Total projected cost by December 2007: approximately $51.6 million
Where did the money come from? The property and some of the development costs were paid from Measure C funds, an $82.1 million general obligation bond measure that local voters approved in November 2001. The construction and most development costs were paid from Measure M funds, a $160 million general obligation bond measure that passed in November 2006. Measure M funds also will allow the district to leverage state funds to complete the permanent buildings on the campus. How many classrooms are currently available? There are 23 classrooms and five lab spaces arranged in groupings over five quad areas of the campus. Additional space accommodates student services, food service and many additional functions. How many permanent buildings will be constructed on the campus, and how big will they be? The college plans to build six, two-story buildings on the site, totaling nearly 240,000 square feet. The Valencia campus currently has 560,000 square feet of space. These buildings will each be 40,000 square feet and be used for: - Health Occupations/Technology
- Arts and Humanities
- Applied Technology Center
- Engineering/Math/Science
- Social Science/Humanities
- Library/Media Tech/Student Services/Admin/Tutorial
When will the first permanent building begin construction? The first permanent building will be in the working drawing stage in 2007/08 and under construction during 2008/09. It will be a 40,000-square-foot building. The second and third buildings will be at intervals of two years after that. How many students will the site accommodate? Classes began Aug. 27, 2007, with accommodations for more than 3,000 students. In fact, 3,200 students registered for fall classes at the new campus. The permanent facility will accommodate 7,000 to 10,000 students at build-out, which is estimated to be complete by 2015 or sooner. How does development of the Canyon Country Campus benefit the neighboring community and the Sierra Highway corridor where it is located? There are numerous ways the Canyon Country Campus benefits the community in which it is located: - College classes that are offered close to the thousands of new homes projected for the area eliminate a commute across the SC Valley for those residents and provide essential educational services to the developing neighborhoods in the area.
- There will be a major improvement of the appearance and use of that portion of the Sierra Highway corridor. Planting of grass, trees and irrigation will also contribute to reducing airborne dust and dirt in the area.
- Students making the Canyon Country Campus a destination spend money in local restaurants, gas stations and other businesses in the area and provide a significant economic impact on business volume and job creation locally. Construction and build-out of the campus over the next 10 years will also bring many millions of dollars into the local economy.
- The campus will eventually provide employment for nearly 300 staff members and faculty when it is built out.
- Facilities are available for community use through the Civic Center Act and through partnerships with the Sulphur Springs School District, Wm. S. Hart Union High School District, the City of Santa Clarita Parks and Recreation Department, and other local agencies.
- Expansion of services to business partners such as additional skills training, continuing education for employees and job-specific classes benefit the economic development of the area.
- The Santa Clarita Valley's air quality will improve since thousands of local residents won't be driving across the valley to the Valencia campus, which will result in reduced vehicle emissions.
- According to Santa Clarita Transit, the education center will be an increased generator of public transit riders.
Is the Canyon Country Campus a vocational campus? No. This campus offers a balance of general education, transfer courses, career education and Community Education. All major disciplines are represented. What academic programs are offered at the campus? A full complement of courses is included in the fall 2007 schedule. These will be enhanced and added to over the coming years. Currently, we are offering basic skills, general education transferable classes, computer information technology, administration of justice, real estate, water quality technology, early childhood education and more. In addition, the Student Services offered at the Valencia campus are also offered at the Canyon Country campus, some on a daily basis and others on a scheduled weekly basis: - Admissions and Student Business Office
- Extended Opportunities Programs and Services
- Computer Lab
- Assessment
- Financial Aid
- Transfer Center
- Student Health Office (coming soon)
- Disable Students Programs
- Career Center
- Academic Advising and Counseling
When does the Child Development Center open? In order to operate a Child Development Center, the State needs to visit and assess a facility once it is completed. The Canyon Country campus facility will be completed in the very near future at which time representatives will visit and the state will begin its approval process. We are doing everything we can to assist the state in speeding up this process so we can open the Canyon Country Child Development Center as soon as possible. Does the programming at the Canyon Country Campus duplicate that of the Valencia campus? Not an exact duplication. At Valencia there might be eight choices to fulfill the fine arts requirement, while at the Canyon Country Campus there may be only three choices. A general transfer degree is available by using a combination of Canyon Country Campus classes and on-line classes. Does Canyon Country have any unique majors or programs? Yes. There will be programs housed entirely at the Canyon County campus. Just as at Valencia, we will have some unique classes and programs offered strictly on the Canyon Country campus. We are currently developing new classes and programs in recreational leadership, mountain biking, hiking, landscape architecture and construction trades. Are there any arts programs at CCC? Yes. We offer watercolor painting and oil painting. When we are in our permanent buildings, then we'll have the option of offering larger, more intense programming such as ceramics. What are the hours of operation at the new site? The campus is open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. It is likely these hours will expand over time as programs and activities grow on the campus. Can high school students attend the new campus? Yes. High school students can enroll as concurrent students through the established, College of the Canyons, procedures. Another option would be to apply via the Hart District to be part of the Early College High School, which will be housed at the Canyon Country Campus. Are there athletic teams/facilities? Athletic facilities that are available at the campus include an activity room for cardio-fitness training, step aerobics, and yoga. We are also developing additional physical fitness classes including mountain biking and hiking. We are exploring developing additional facilities including an activity field, and a sand volleyball court. Intercollegiate sports teams will continue to be hosted at the Valencia campus. How will the property be landscaped? The campus will be completed with landscaping that is "appropriate to the environment" with green belts, trees and plantings native to the area. Areas for students to congregate comfortably have been incorporated into both the initial design and will be included in the "permanent" building designs. There is sufficient exterior lighting and appropriate signage to provide a safe and logical campus experience. How is the campus staffed? The campus opened with one full-time academic administrator, the founding dean. Nine additional full-time classified staff members are responsible for campus safety, custodial, computer support, student services, switchboard/receptionist and other support functions for the campus. Six full-time faculty members from English, math, history and biology comprise the founding faculty for the campus and are accompanied by a mix of part-time and full-ime instructors to teach the nearly 300 sections offered at the campus in the fall 2007 semester. As the site expands, additional staff and faculty will be assigned to the campus based on need. Can a student achieve a complete degree at the Canyon Country Campus without driving to Valencia for classes? Yes. At opening, students are able to achieve a general education/liberal arts transfer degree in four semesters through a combination of on-site classes and online classes. As time progresses, additional degree and certificate programs will be added when feasible. Can students pay their enrollment and student fees at the Canyon Country Campus? Yes. Available student services include counseling, registration, transcript requests, student business office, assessment testing, and a variety of other student services functions. In addition, the campus has a student bookstore, a food services operation, a reference library and daily check out of materials from the Valencia campus, and a tutoring lab with computer workstations. Additional services will be added as the site grows and as permanent buildings replace the temporary modular buildings. Will students miss anything academically by attending classes in Canyon Country and not in Valencia? No. The classes held in Canyon Country are of the same high quality that students have come to appreciate from the Valencia Campus. There are no differences in the content or rigor of classes from one campus to the other. College of the Canyons is noted for its outstanding delivery of education and that is not, in any way, change based on where a class happens to be located. How much parking will there be? The facility will ultimately feature 1,500 parking spaces, phased in as building and student population progresses. Do I have to pay for parking? Yes, parking fees are collected. One parking permit allows students to park at both campuses. Are there food services on the campus? The ISSI Marketplace Café is located in Room 300 and provides grab-and-go cold foods such as sandwiches and salads, soft drinks, chips, coffee and other snacks. The Marketplace Café is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m .and on Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition, we are installing vending machines on the campus for snacks and soft drinks. Why is the cell phone service so spotty on campus? The campus location and terrain impede consistent cell service. The best location for cell reception is along the back walkway behind the quad areas. Where do I get information on financial aid? Financial aid information is available. Financial aid workers are located in the Student Services building in Quad 1. Students should keep in mind that they can apply for financial aid at any time during the year and, as always, they can access complete financial aid information on the College of the Canyons Web site at: www.canyons.edu/finaid What are the bookstore hours? The Canyon Country campus bookstore is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and is closed Friday through Sunday. During the first two weeks of classes, the bookstore had extended hours so students could purchase books and suppliers. The bookstore carries textbooks, supplies, snacks and candy, as well as some limited Cougar wear clothing. Is there security at night? Yes. Campus Safety and security personnel are physically on the Canyon Country campus at all times. Where do I get my parking permit? You can purchase your parking pass for the Canyon Country Campus at the cashier's office in the Student Services building in Quad 1, Building 1-C. You may also purchase a parking pass in the Student Business Office in the Administration Building on the Valencia Campus. How long does it take to drive from the Canyon Country Campus to the Valencia Campus? We estimate that the transit from the Canyon Country Campus location on Sierra Highway to the Valencia Campus takes roughly 25 to 30 minutes, depending on time of day and traffic conditions. Will the campus have bike lanes? The campus is bike-friendly. The issue of bike lanes on Sierra Highway is something that has to be discussed with the city and the county. The college can control the bike lanes only on its own property. What is the college doing with the historic "Honey House" that is located on its property? The Honey House is currently being used as construction offices but future uses may include an information center, a local history repository, a meeting center or any of a number of other possibilities. Read a brief history of the Honey House What impact does the new campus have on traffic along Sierra Highway? Architects and college officials have been working with the City of Santa Clarita to deal with any impacts the new campus has on traffic flow in the area. The entry road has a dedicated right-turn lane into the campus from Sierra Highway. A signal light is being installed at the exit, and one-way traffic travels through the campus through a series of "loops" to access campus locations. Will the buildings be available for community uses as they are on the Valencia campus? Yes. Under the Civic Center Act (Education Code Section 82537), the college district can make its facilities available for use by community groups and organizations, provided those uses do not interfere with the primary use of those facilities for regular college purposes. The college's Board of Trustees has adopted policies (Board Policy #719) that pertain to these uses and complete explanations, rules, regulations, applications and fee structures are available at www.canyons.edu/CivicCenter or by calling (661) 362-3240. Is there also a high school on the campus? The Wm. S. Hart Union High School District, with funding from the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation, operates an "Early College High School" (ECHS) on the campus. Early College High Schools are small, autonomous schools that are designed so students can achieve up to two years of college credit at the same time as they are earning high school diplomas, essentially providing students the opportunity to complete six years of education in five years. How are decisions being made about what the campus will look like? A citizens' advisory committee has been formed to help guide the evolution of the site. The committee meets every four to five weeks and currently consists of about 40 community members, city representatives, educators, business leaders and education advocates. The committee meets with the architects (KBZ Architects), administrators and others involved with site development to exchange ideas about how the site can be developed to the maximum benefit of everyone. The college staff is also developing an educational and facilities master plan for the campus, using demographic, economic market data and analysis of student participation rates to develop an educational (curriculum) plan. How can I get involved? Anyone interested in serving on the advisory committee may call the college at (661) 362-3400 for more information. Why should businesses support the Canyon Country site? There are many benefits for businesses as a result of development of the campus site. - Noticeable improvements to that portion of the Sierra Highway corridor are occurring as landscaping is installed and the area takes on a new look. The campus is, and will be, conducive to a more friendly and inviting business environment.
- Local businesses are benefiting from the arrival of more than 3,000 faculty, staff and students since they require all kinds of services as they make the site the center of their daily lives.
- College of the Canyons is proud of its partnerships with businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley. Many of those partnerships involve the college providing needed training for employees and the development of this new site is a perfect way to open new relationships with firms located in the eastern part of the SCV.
- There are also opportunities for businesses and individuals to support the college financially through sponsorships and naming opportunities for buildings, common areas, lecture halls, labs and the like.
Updated 10/1/07 A HUGE Thank You to our Voters! College of the Canyons thanks Santa Clarita Valley voters who passed Measure C in 2001 and Measure M in 2006. These two bond measures have provided the funds so we could create this wonderful campus for our community and so much more! The voters let us plan ahead and build SMART! Voter and taxpayer support has allowed us to plan ahead, build smartly and make the best and most efficient use of our local funds. While planning for a campus in Canyon Country began in 1999, when the State of California determined that population growth would make it necessary, the first plans submitted in 2003 provided for a campus that would serve 1,500 students. Measure M funds allowed us to DOUBLE the capacity of the Canyon Country Campus from what was originally planned when we purchased the property. We were graded more property, created more parking, acquired more modular buildings and expanded everything needed to meet the needs of students in Canyon Country. Good thing -- because we opened with more than 3,200 students! Without those funds and those facilities, at least 1,700 students would not be getting their education today! We built more than planned, and we built SMARTER! Measure M also allowed us to install infrastructure we will need for our future permanent buildings now, avoiding the impact that inflation would have on the buying power of our dollars. We've already provided all underground utilities and the infrastructure that will support the buildout of the PERMANENT facilities, not simply the current interim facilities. This infrastructure includes communications infrastructure, power, phone, cable, network and data, the water system and central plant piping so we can create a permanent campus that supports our ecological, sustainable development goals. | 
