COLLEGE A WORLD OF CHANGE NEW LOOK, ATTITUDES, FACULTY AT CAMPUSES.

Byline: SUSAN ABRAM Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE -- Despite some grumbles about traffic jams, long lines and triple-digit heat, the word on local campuses Tuesday was ``transformation'' as colleges and universities opened around the San Fernando Valley.

Some campuses had hired new teachers over the summer, others had added classrooms or spruced up aging buildings. And many students returned from vacation with a new attitude and an eye toward graduation next year.

``This year I want not to slack off as much,'' Kevan Mascoso, 20, said pensively as he took a break from classes at California State University, Northridge.

``I'm trying to finish up a triple major in sociology, psychology and Asian-American studies,'' he said. ``I was undecided on my major two weeks ago. But I asked my friends what I was good at and they told me that I'm good at helping people.''

An estimated 33,000 students were expected to be enrolled at CSUN this fall, on track with enrollment figures from the last few years.

Thomas Dang, a Marine who had served in Iraq a year ago, said he was looking forward to graduation after an uninterrupted semester of classes.

``I go to classes from 8 to 5, no breaks,'' the 23-year-old biology and arts major said. ``I teach martial arts, and I have military training on the weekends. This semester is going to be tough.''

Inglewood resident Tonisha Ford rested under the shade of a tree before her first class in Pan African studies. A new student, Ford, 21, said she was overwhelmed with the size of the CSUN campus, yet excited nonetheless.

``The setting here is huge,'' she said. ``It's so different from Santa Monica College.''

Across the Valley, some community colleges saw healthy increases in student enrollment as well as gradual infrastructure changes, thanks to the $2.2 billion Proposition A/AA construction program.

``It's a great day,'' said Pierce College spokeswoman Doreen Clay. ``We have all these new teachers, new classes, a new president who greeted students in the morning.

``It's a lot of new life-blood coming into the college.''

The college saw a 6.5 percent increase in student enrollment this semester, said Clay, who credited the campus' Internet registration process.

Enrollment at Valley College increased by 3 percent over last year.

``We really took a concerted effort to take a look at our schedule of classes,'' said college President Tyree Wieder. ``We've expanded our Friday and Saturday classes. We're working on expanding our online courses, too.''

Mission College's enrollment plunged 6.5 percent, but administrators hoped interim President Ernest H. Moreno can rejuvenate interest in the campus.

Moreno, who began his one-year term on July 20, said he plans to enhance community outreach and to work on ways to improve student access.

``There's going to be much more emphasis on efficiency, such as not carrying classes that are too small, because that's been hitting us financially,'' Mission spokesman Ed Pardo said. ``We are trying to make changes to schedules, to make classes more convenient.''

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(1 -- 2) Students make their way to class during the first day of the Fall semester at California State University, Northridge on Tuesday. Left, Sabrina Sparlin waits for her class to begin. An estimated 33,000 students are expected to be enrolled at CSUN this fall.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer