COC ranked in magazine Top 100 list
College of the Canyons has been ranked in the Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine’s Top 100 colleges and universities list for graduating Hispanic students, according to a Thursday news release.
“It is a privilege to have a student population that is diverse and inclusive,” said Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook, the College of the Canyons chancellor. “Their success inspires us to continue enhancing the programs and services that support their efforts to accomplish their goals.”
The college was ranked 29th out of 100 colleges nationally.
The rankings were based on data for community colleges granting the most associate degrees in 2016, from the National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, according to the news release. “According to the data, the college had a Hispanic population of 9,144 students totaling 46 percent of the total student enrollment, which was 19,966 in fall 2016.”
The magazine does an annual ranking, based on total student enrollment, the percentage of Hispanic students in attendance, two-year schools awarding the most associate degrees to Hispanic students and the percentage of associate degrees to Hispanic students by twoyear schools, according to the Thursday news release.
“The college’s efforts to help students succeed have paid off,” according to the news release. “There was a 79 percent increase in the number of Hispanic students who were awarded a degree.”
COC has been recognized by the United States Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2010.
COC competed for and received a Title V “Developing Hispanic Institutions” Grant in 2014 to increase the number of Hispanic students that attend COC from the Hart district right after graduation, increase the number of transfer students and increase the number of students who receive a degree or certificate, according to the news release.
The college’s It Takes a Barrio program has served more than 100 Hispanic students at Golden Valley and Canyon high schools since 2013.
The program was launched with the help of a National Education Association grant, according to the news release. “The program provides firstgeneration Hispanic students with the resources and guidance they need to succeed academically.”
COC’s First-Year Promise program was launched last year. It promises to expand access to education for more students.
“(It) links students with coaches, mentors, counselors and college personnel dedicated to their academic success, as well as tutoring in a variety of subjects,” according to the news release. “The combination of services is designed to propel students forward to achieve their academic goals by providing them with a tuition-free year of study.”