Established in 1969, College of the Canyons serves just over 33,000 students on three campuses in the Santa Clarita Valley. The college’s modern and integrated architecture, along with its 66 associate of arts and associate of science degrees, 31 associate degrees for transfer, and growing certificate programs are the product of significant community support and an unwavering focus on student success.
When a potential student or employee visits the campus, they are immediately struck by a “lead with yes” attitude that is the hallmark of its chancellor, Dr. Dianne Van Hook, who has led the institution for the past 34 years.
When we visited the campus seeking stories about student success initiatives that drove results, what stood out was the institution’s response, and in particular it’s leader’s response, to the pandemic.
The college shut down physical operations in March 2020 but mobilized quickly to support its students through online instruction and tutoring, providing laptops for students, enhancing wi-fi coverage in the parking lots, and hosting drive-thru food and grocery card give-aways. The college pushed to bring essential infrastructure programs like nursing and emergency medical technician back to campus so students could safely meet in person and learn hands-on skills.
Chancellor Van Hook came to campus every day to work. She personally responded to student emails and voicemails, speaking with current and potential students about how dropping out or postponing their education might impact their lives and the lives of their families and community.
“It’s been said that one of the keys to leadership is simply showing up, and that was never more true than during the pandemic,” Dr. Van Hook said. “Although they weren’t here on campus, students still expected to find help here. That meant we needed to have a presence on campus to ensure our students knew they were being thought of, cared for, and properly served.”
Following Dr. Van Hook’s example, the team at College of the Canyons was pro-active in its pandemic response.
“We did everything in our power to ensure students stayed connected to the college throughout the pandemic,” said Dr. Jasmine Ruys, the college’s vice president of student services. “The disruption of the pandemic was significant, and we knew we had to act quickly to meet real needs and eliminate the barriers that stood between our students and their academic goals.” For Ruys that meant personally dropping off laptops to students, some of whom lived more than 40 miles from the college.
In a time where leadership transitions are frequent and student success initiatives too short-lived, tenure, enthusiasm, and focus on solutions are hallmarks of the leadership at College of the Canyons, and it makes a difference in what students can achieve.
“This institution has opened so many doors for me and introduced me to so many amazing and inspiring people,” said Isabella Solorio, who graduated in 2022 and was one of just 100 students nationwide selected as a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholar. “I am grateful to have been a part of so many organizations and clubs, which have broadened my horizons and allowed me to gain the skills I needed to keep pushing myself. Within my time here, I’ve gained experiences I never thought would be available to me as a Latina and first-generation college student.”
To learn more about College of the Canyons, visit their website at www.canyons.edu.
