Community members are invited to attend an Open House at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center located on the College of the Canyons Valencia campus.  The event, which will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, August 19, 2010, will provide prospective students with information about the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered through the Center by partner institutions.  
Attendees will be able to talk to university representatives, learn about financial aid programs, meet with academic counselors and fill out admissions applications.  In addition, attendees can learn about the many new programs to be offered in the center.  One of those new programs is a Certificate Program in Fitness Instruction that will be offered by UCLA Extension in Fall 2010.  The Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center is a new, 110,000-square-foot building that currently hosts over 35 programs offered by partner universities such as CSU Bakersfield, CSU Northridge, University of La Verne, Brandman University (formerly known as Chapman University), UCLA Extension and National University.   
By bringing bachelor’s, and master’s degrees from four-year colleges and universities to the College of the Canyons campus, the University Center removes barriers for students wishing to pursue their higher education goals, especially for working adults and single parents.  The concept is especially appealing to those who don’t have the time to commute to distant university campuses.  An Interim center was operated on the College of the Canyons campus starting in 2002.  More than 1,200 students received degrees and credentials through the Interim Center.
With the new facility now open, it is anticipated that several additional partner institutions will bring a variety of new certificate and degree programs to the Center in the coming months and years.  The University Center is best accessed via University Center Drive, the southernmost campus entrance on Rockwell Canyon Road.  Parking in the campus parking lots 13, 14, and 15 is free for this event.
For more information about the College of the Canyons University Center open house event and programs visit our website at www.cocuniversitycenter.com, call 661-362-5474 or email universitycenter@canyons.edu.