By Pat KRAMER

On Oct. 28, L.A. Mission College, which is based in Sylmar, held a groundbreaking ceremony to announce the launch of its new satellite campus at the Foothill Commerce Town Center, 7200 Foothill Blvd. in Tujunga. Speaking on behalf of the college was Mission College president Monte Perez, Ph.D., State Assemblymember Patty Lopez, L.A. Community College Trustee Nancy Pearlman, L.A. Community College Deputy Chancellor Adriana Barrera, Ph.D., and Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council President Krystee Clark.

Mission College plans to open the new campus in the spring with a variety of curriculum that will include foreign languages, career technical education, medical and administration of justice classes and entertainment production and certificated classes to retrain people who are changing professions. Many of the course credits will be transferable to the University of California and California State University systems for students who choose to go on to earn degrees.

Dr. Perez outlined plans to transform the building into a modern learning environment, flexible enough to accommodate a variety of courses.

“Improvement efforts will begin immediately so we can create a smart classroom that can hold up to 40 students and host the courses that this community is asking for,” Perez said. According to smartway-me.com, smart classrooms are described as being technology enhanced classrooms that foster opportunities for teaching and learning by integrating learning technology, such as computers, specialized software, audience response technology, assistive listening devices, networking, and audio/visual capabilities.

Nina Royal, who has been spearheading this effort since 2007 added, “We are still looking for input on what courses to offer. Those with suggestions can email Dr. Perez, president of Mission College, at Montgomery.perez@lamissioncollege.edu.  Prior to choosing the Commerce Avenue location, the former K-Mart property had been proposed for this campus.”

In addition to Royal and her committee members, Assemblywoman Lopez worked with Mission College to bring the college to the S-T community.

“I am absolutely delighted that students in the Sunland-Tujunga area will now be able to further their education at a highly-respected institution such as Los Angeles Mission College,” Lopez said.

The college campus will serve the needs of students of all ages from Sunland-Tujunga, Shadow Hills, Lake View Terrace, Sun Valley and Pacoima.

  Pat KRAMER