'MIDDLE' COLLEGE TO GET NEW HOME?

Byline: Eugene Tong  Staff Writer

VALENCIA - A Hart district academy that allows students to earn college credit while attending high school could find its way into College of the Canyons' planned University Center building.

The proposal would allow Academy of the Canyons - which has operated at the college campus since 2000 - to occupy a wing of the planned complex where various bachelor's and master's degree programs from four-year universities are offered.

The William S. Hart Union High School District board is slated to consider the move at its Thursday meeting.

``It's strictly conceptual,'' said Rory Livingston, assistant superintendent of business at Hart. ``We're taking it to the board and saying, This is where we think we can go - do you want to pursue it or not?''

With both the academy and the center currently operating in a set of portable buildings and in need of a permanent home, a partnership appeared an ideal match. The college has the land, but is trying to raise $10 million just to erect one of two proposed wings for the University Center. At the same time, the Hart district academy is entitled to part of the $158 million Measure V construction bond, but has nowhere to build.

``It would enable us to have a permanent facility without having to purchase land, which is always a good thing,'' said Leslie Crunelle, Hart's assistant superintendent of education services. ``I would imagine the tenants in the University Center are interested in sharing space with students who are serious students.''

With about 160 students this year, Academy of the Canyons is a ``middle'' college where students are free to pursue intensive college-level course work while completing high school.

College Executive Vice President Phil Hartley said both the academy and the University Center offer a glimpse into the future of higher education.

``Rather than being on campuses that are at a distance from population centers, where people spend four years living in a dormitory, I think the future is multiple higher-education opportunities within the community,'' he said.

Both districts have worked together before on facility projects, such as the construction and maintenance agreement for the $1 million artificial-turf field now covering the college stadium.

But the proposal on the table would be for real estate in the building's second wing, which exists only in concept. The first wing - the prime beneficiary of the $10 million capital campaign - would house current University Center tenants.

They include California State University, Northridge, which offers nursing and teaching credential programs and Chapman University's bachelor's degree programs in psychology and criminal justice.

Still, Crunelle said the proposal deserves further examination.

``It's one of those opportunities that if we don't look at it and talk about it, we might regret letting it go by,'' she said.

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com