College of the Canyons has always taken pride in responding to the changing needs of the community we serve. That commitment extends beyond our classrooms and campuses. It also involves understanding where our regional economy is headed, listening to employers, and ensuring students have access to the education and training they need to succeed in industries that are vital to our region and nation.Â
That responsibility was brought into focus on Sept. 4, when COC hosted the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense for a hearing at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center focused on the nation’s defense industrial base and workforce development for skilled trades.
The topic was especially relevant to the Santa Clarita Valley, which has a significant aerospace and defense manufacturing presence. For decades, companies throughout northern Los Angeles County have contributed to some of the nation’s most important aerospace and defense programs. Their success depends not only on groundbreaking technology and engineering, but also on a highly skilled workforce capable of turning innovative ideas into reality.
Community colleges have an important role to play in developing that workforce.
At College of the Canyons, we believe preparing for the future means giving students multiple pathways into rewarding careers.
While we are proud to prepare students who will transfer to universities and become tomorrow’s engineers, we also recognize the tremendous need for technicians who manufacture components, operate sophisticated machinery, maintain networks, weld materials and support complex production systems.
Those careers are essential to our economy, and the demand for workers with those skills continues to grow.
COC has a long history of responding quickly to the needs of local employers. When industry partners identify skills gaps, our faculty and staff work collaboratively to develop training that addresses those needs.
For example, the college’s Low Observable program was created in response to Northrop Grumman’s need for technicians trained in specialized coatings used on advanced aircraft and other systems. By working directly with an industry partner, we created a pathway that prepares students with highly specialized, job-ready skills.
That same responsiveness is shaping the future of career education at COC.
Our interim Advanced Technology Center, which opened in 2023 in a 13,000-square-foot off-campus facility, provides students with hands-on advanced manufacturing training. Students can develop foundational machining skills before progressing to sophisticated equipment such as robotic computer numerical control machines.
But we know the workforce needs of our region require us to think even bigger.
Plans for a permanent Advanced Technology Center on the Valencia campus would bring advanced manufacturing, welding and network technology programs together in an 81,000-square-foot facility designed specifically for the needs of students and industry. The expanded space would allow the college to serve more students, accommodate advanced equipment, and provide both entry-level education and opportunities for workers looking to upgrade their skills.
Most importantly, the ATC is being shaped by conversations with the employers who will ultimately hire our graduates. That collaboration helps ensure students are learning relevant skills and that businesses have access to the talent they need to remain innovative and competitive.
A strong workforce strengthens the entire community. When students can train locally for careers that provide economic mobility, they have an opportunity to build their futures close to home. Employers benefit from a reliable pipeline of skilled workers. Our regional economy becomes more resilient.
In the case of local aerospace and defense industries, developing that workforce contributes to maintaining the industrial capacity and technical expertise our nation relies upon.
Hosting the congressional hearing provided an opportunity to highlight those connections and demonstrate firsthand what community colleges can contribute to this national challenge.
It also reinforced something we have understood for many years at College of the Canyons: Workforce development works best when education, government and industry work together.
As president of the College of the Canyons board of trustees, I am proud that our college continues to embrace that responsibility.
We will continue listening, collaborating, and creating opportunities that prepare students for meaningful careers while strengthening the community and economy we all share.
The future of American innovation depends on talented people who know how to build, operate, maintain, and improve the technologies that power it. College of the Canyons is committed to helping train the next generation of skilled workers who will strengthen our economy, support our national defense, and keep our nation competitive for years to come.
Sharlene Johnson serves as president of the Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees, which oversees College of the Canyons.
