LEARNING CURVE QUALITY EDUCATION WITH DYNAMIC INSTRUCTORS NEVER FAR AWAY.

Byline: - Lisa Van Proyen

Chemistry professor Simone Aloisio transforms his forensics lab into a working crime scene for students at California State University, Channel Islands.

At the Camarillo campus, students spend weeks collecting and analyzing evidence, and eventually learn DNA fingerprinting.

At Mission College in Mission Hills, instructor Mike Reynolds immerses his students into graduate-level lab work at a university or a biotech company - where they are paid.

And at CSUN, professor Nicholas Kioussis introduces the newest ideas in physics to his students after brainstorming with some of the world's top scientists. Kioussis was named a 2005-2007 scholar with the prestigious Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, headed by David Gross, the 2004 Nobel Prize winner in physics.

Whether it's a community college or university, San Fernando Valley area residents need not look far for a quality education with dynamic, hands-on instructors.

Colleges and universities in the Valley and nearby offer a wide range of programs - from free courses for seniors to more specialized classes to brush up on job skills.

``We are fortunate to have such high quality faculty at our Valley colleges,'' said Darroch ``Rocky'' Young, chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District. ``We have so many talented professionals who have won awards in their fields and have chosen to teach in a community college. Our students greatly benefit from their expertise and experience."

At Glendale Community College, photography instructor Joan Watanabe teaches a full load of four classes while retouching the faces of celebrities for TV editors during her time off at home.

``The textbooks have their own mind-sets. I try to break things into step-by-step demonstrations,'' said Watanabe, the recipient of the 2005 Distinguished Faculty Award at GCC. ``I try to give them practical solutions to things.''

CSUCI professor Aloisio plans to take 25 students to Japan this month to learn about physics with the bullet train and gain lessons on global warming at Kyoto University.

CSUCI students selected Aloisio as the Outstanding Professor for 2005.

One of Aloisio's students, Ronnie Sullivan, a sophomore English major, praised his professor's approach.

``Somehow he manages to bypass all of the jargon and allows us to absorb the information,'' he said. ``He's the type of guy who wants to see everybody succeed.''

At California State University, Northridge, which set a record campus enrollment in fall 2005 with 33,243 students, Kioussis seeks out students to attend workshops and help in his research to create smaller, yet reliable transistors in computer chips.

``I think it's quite important to involve students in research earlier on as undergraduates so that students do publish earlier on in their careers,'' Kioussis said.

At Mission College, Reynolds' students are also actively involved in research.

``They're doing graduate-level research at the undergraduate level,'' said Reynolds, an assistant professor of life sciences.

Adrienne Paz, 21, of Pacoima is one such student who spent last summer at CSUN doing research on sea urchin embryos.

``Mike is very animated with his lectures. He'll dance in front of you if he has to. His talent brings importance to the subject,'' said Paz, who plans to go to medical school.

``He really reaches out to those in need and motivates anybody.''

Here is a list of some local universities and colleges

California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge; [phone]. The 356-acre university was founded in 1958 and until 1972 was called San Fernando Valley State College. CSUN serves 33,243 students. Annual fee to attend: $3,036 (includes state university fee, student health and association fees, plus other miscellaneous costs.)Student-to-instructor ratio: 20:1. University president: Jolene Koester. Web site address:www.csun.edu.

California State University, Channel Islands, 1 University Drive, Camarillo; [phone]. The 670-acre campus, a converted state hospital, opened in fall 2002 as the newest CSU campus. CSUCI serves 2,575 students and offers 15 bachelor's degrees and single- and multiple-subject teaching credentials. Annual fee to attend: $962 (0-6 units); $1,490 (6.1 units or more). Student-to-instructor ratio: 17.9:1. University president: Richard R. Rush. Web site address: www.csuci.edu.

Valley College, 5800 Fulton Ave., Valley Glen; [phone]. The 105-acre college was founded in 1949 and serves nearly 18,000 students. Associate degrees are offered in such areas as accounting, media arts, respiratory therapy, administration of justice and journalism. About 60 occupational certificates also are available. Strong programs of study include biology, nursing, cinema arts and child development. Cost to attend: $26 per unit.Student-to-instructor ratio: 35:1. The transfer rate to two- or four-year colleges: nearly 35 percent. College president: Tyree Wieder. Web site address: www.lavc.edu.

Mission College, 13356 Eldridge Ave., Sylmar; [phone]. The newest in the Los Angeles Community College District, this college on 22 acres was founded in 1975 and serves about 7,500 students. Some strong programs include multimedia,administration of justice, life sciences and culinary arts. Cost to attend:$26 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: 30:1. Transfer rate: 26.2 percent. College president: Dr. Jose A. Leyba. Web site address: www.lamission.edu.

Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills; [phone]. Founded in 1947, the college serves about 19,500 students on its 426-acre campus. Pierce is noted for its fast-track honors program; no student who completed the program has ever been turned down by the University of California, Los Angeles. One of the largest feeder schools to California State University, Northridge, the college is on the 15-week semester plan and offers more than 100 areas of study, including chemistry, business and technology. Fee to attend: $26 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: 38:1. Transfer rate: 29.9 percent. College president: Robert M. Garber. Web site address:www.piercecollege.edu.

Glendale Community College, 1500 N. Verdugo Road,Glendale; [phone]. Founded in 1927, the college on 59 acres serves about 15,000 students and offers special programs - as in digital animation, flight training, nursing and firefighting - aswell as free courses designed for senior citizens. Associate degrees and certificates of completion are offered. Fee to attend: $26 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: about 28:1.Transfer rate: roughly 15 percent. College president: John A. Davitt. Web site address:www.glendale.cc.ca.edu.

California State University, Bakersfield, Antelope Valley College Campus, 43909 30th St. W., Lancaster; [phone]. CSUB offers bachelor's and master's degree programs, teacher credential programs and other certificate programs on Antelope Valley College's north campus. Web site address: www.csub.edu/av.

Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark; [phone]. Founded in 1967, the 134-acre campus serves about 13,500 students. The college offers 1,500 classes in 100 areas of study, including an animal training program offered at only one other college in the nation. Fee to attend: $26 per unit. Student-to-instructor ratio: 22.5:1. Class sizes range from 25 to 40. Transfer rate: roughly 30 percent. College president: Eva Conrad. Web site address: www.moorparkcollege.edu.

College of the Canyons, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Valencia; [phone]. Founded in 1969, College of the Canyons is recognized for its technical advancement, professional programs and learning excellence. The college also has a 4,500-square-foot satellite facility in Canyon Country, with four classrooms and a computer lab. Student-to-teacher ratio: 26:1. Transfer rate: 42 percent. College president: Dianne G. Van Hook. Web site address: www.canyons.edu.

Antelope Valley College, 3041 W. Ave. K, Lancaster 93536; [phone]. Antelope Valley College is a California community college that offers more than 60 associate degrees and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges. Technical, trade, business, allied health and service programs are offered for the occupational student. College president: Jackie L. Fisher Sr. Web site address is www.avc.edu.

Cerro Coso Community College, 3000 College Heights Blvd., Ridgecrest; [phone]. Cerro Coso is a California community college that offers 25 associate in science and associate in arts degrees. It also offers distance learning degrees through its online program. Web site: www.cerrocoso.edu.

California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks; [phone]. The university was founded in 1959 and serves more than 2,900 students. CLU is a 290-acre campus with an emphasis in liberal arts and sciences. Graduate centers are also located in Woodland Hills and Ventura. The college offers 36 majors and 29 minors. Annual tuition for 2005-06: $23,170 (undergraduate). Student-to-instructor ratio is 17:1. University president: Howard E. Wennes. Web site address: www.clunet.edu.

California Institute of the Arts, 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia; [phone]. Established in 1961 by Walt and Roy Disney, CalArts is the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of the visual and performing arts. It offers programs in art, music, dance, film/video, theater and critical studies leading to bachelor's or master's degrees. CalArts president: Steven Lavine. Web site address: www.calarts.edu.

Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock; [phone]. The college was founded in 1887 and is one of the nation's few leading liberal arts colleges in an urban setting. The 120-acre campus is home to 1,839 students, with the top five major fields of study being psychology, economics, English, art and diplomacy and world affairs. Tuition and fees: $45,000 (includes room and board). Student-to-instructor ratio: 11:1. Acting university president: Kenyon Chan. Web site address is www.oxy.edu.

The Master's College, 21726 Placerita Canyon Road, Santa Clarita; [phone]. Founded in 1927 as Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary, the 100-acre college was renamed in 1985. The four-year college is a liberal arts school with a biblical world view taught in all courses, which range from accounting to print media to social science and theology. Average tuition: $8,500 per semester (full time). Student-to-instructor ratio: 16:1. College president: John MacArthur. Web site address: www.masters.edu.

Woodbury University, 7500 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank; [phone]. The 22-acre campus was established in 1987 and serves 1,400 students. It offers 15 courses of study, including its flagship programs in business and management and architecture and design. Average tuition: $22,000. Student-to-instructor ratio: 16:1. University president: Kenneth Nielsen. Web site address: www.woodbury.edu.

ITT Technical Institute, 12669 Encinitas Ave., Sylmar; [phone], or [phone]. ITT's Sylmar campus was founded in 1982 and serves about 825 students. The college offers associate and bachelor's degree programs that include information technology, electronics, criminal justice and digital entertainment and game design. Tuition: $405 per credit hour. Student-to-instructor ratio: 21:1. College director: Nader Mojtabai. Web site address: www.ITT-tech.edu.

University of Phoenix, 5955 De Soto Ave., Suite 200, Woodland Hills; and 1202 W. Ave. J, Suite 500, Lancaster; [phone]. Geared for the working person, the college is the nation's largest private, accredited university, with more than 100 campuses and learning centers throughout the nation. The 33,000-square-foot Woodland Hills facility offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees; the Lancaster campus, bachelor's and master's. Some of the college's major fields include business, accounting, education, health care and technology. Annual fee to attend: $412 per credit hour (bachelor's degree); $474 per credit hour (master's degree). Student-to-instructor ratio: 10:1. Web site address: www.phoenix.edu.

Chapman University College, 40015 Sierra Highway, Suite B-160, Palmdale, [phone]; and 140 Methusa Ave. 95, MSS/DPEE, Edwards AFB, [phone]. Programs include psychology, social science and criminal justice. Bachelor's and master's degree programs offered. Web site address: www.chapman.edu.

West Coast Baptist College, 4010 E. Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster; [phone]. Major courses of study include: church ministries for women and men, elementary education and music. Web site address: www.westcoastbaptist.edu.

Phillips Graduate Institute, 5445 Balboa Blvd., Encino 91316; [phone]. Phillips offers a unique psychology curriculum including master's degrees in marriage and family therapy, art therapy and school counseling, and doctoral programs in clinical psychology and organizational consulting. Tuition: $675 (master's program per unit); $690 (doctorate program per unit). Student-to-instructor ratio: 13:1. University president: Lisa Porche- Burke. Web site address: www.pgi.edu.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

(color) Chemistry professor Simone Aloisio at California State University, Channel Islands, helps student Melissa Dawson, 19, in the lab.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

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Here is a list of some local universities and colleges (see text)