College of the Canyons awarded a 62 million dollar grant and one step closer to becoming UC Santa Clarita.

Grant advances the community college's goal of becoming a university, but raises concerns about corruption in the UC system.

College of the Canyons (COC) in Santa Clarita has been awarded a $62 million grant to develop student housing, marking a significant step towards fulfilling its ultimate goal of becoming a university. The project has been welcomed by students and community members, who see it as a crucial move to address the high cost of living and lack of affordable housing in the region.

The grant, awarded by the California State Chancellor’s Office, will fund the development of a 100-bed student housing facility on the COC Valencia campus. The dormitory will provide affordable housing options for students who struggle to find suitable and affordable living arrangements. The project also aims to improve student success and retention rates, as students who live on campus tend to perform better academically.

The move towards developing student housing is not only important for addressing student housing needs but is also a crucial step for COC to achieve its ultimate goal of becoming a university. The ability to offer on-campus student housing is a crucial component of a four-year university, and the lack of such housing has been a hindrance to COC’s transition into a university.

However, some concerns have been raised regarding the potential for corruption that comes with being part of the University of California (UC) system. A 2018 audit by the California State Auditor found that the UC system failed to disclose tens of millions of dollars in budget reserve funds, while raising tuition and ignoring the state’s requests for increased transparency. While COC is not part of the UC system, it is important to ensure that financial transparency is a priority in all higher education institutions.

It is important to note that it was Dante Acosta who called for a foresic audit of the UC System back in 2017. Acosta said "There is no question that the UC System provides a world-class education, however, the audit clearly reveals a pattern of obstruction and deception isolated within the Office of the President” Santa Clarita should be concerned with this great institution being in bed with such a corrupt organization.

Despite these concerns, COC is widely considered one of the best-run organizations in Santa Clarita, and its student housing project is seen as a positive step forward. The college has a long history of providing high-quality education to its students and has a robust foreign student exchange program. Providing adequate housing for foreign students can be a challenge, as they may not have the necessary documentation or credit history to secure rental properties. The new student housing facility will make it easier for international students to attend COC and contribute to the community.

While the 100-bed facility is a good start, some may argue that it is not enough to meet the needs of COC’s growing student population. In the future, it may be necessary to expand the housing or create additional facilities to accommodate more students. The dormitory should also be designed with the option to add on to the existing building if more space is needed.

The development of a student housing facility at COC is a positive step forward for the institution and the community it serves. The facility will provide affordable and convenient housing for students who struggle to find suitable living arrangements, improve academic performance and retention rates, and bring COC closer to its ultimate goal of becoming a university. It is important to ensure that transparency and accountability are prioritized in all higher education institutions to prevent corruption and ensure the success of projects like this.