A lot has changed since opening day at the College of the Canyons Canyon Country campus in the fall of 2007.

The grounds and surrounding hillsides have been landscaped, additional parking has been added, and new facilities, including the Carl A. Rasmussen Amphitheater and Center for Early Childhood Education, have been built, providing a preview of how the campus will look in the years to come.

Meanwhile, each semester students continue to fill the campus’ classrooms and laboratories in greater numbers, while college officials work to add new programs and build educational facilities designed to provide students and community members with an abundance of academic and career training opportunities.

In keeping with the campus’ emergence and subsequent growth, students have pointed to the creation of more “student life” as one aspect of the Canyon Country campus they’d like to see continue to grow.

“Connecting students with the campus is one of the key priorities for the ongoing success of the Canyon Country campus,” said Dr. Dena Maloney, Founding Dean of the Canyon Country campus. “Creating student spaces and gathering places has helped with this goal – and the Associated Student Government is taking a leadership role in developing programs and events to bring the campus to life for our students.”

Though COC students may be more familiar with the wide range of events and activities that routinely take place in the Valencia campus’ grassy Honor Grove area, the college’s Associated Student Government (ASG) is continually planning for, and hosting, a variety of events in Canyon Country.

The arrival of the Carl A. Rasmussen Amphitheater in the spring of 2008 has given students at the Canyon Country campus a central location to meet, mingle and relax between classes — while also providing ASG with an ideal facility to host on-campus events.

Already during the fall 2009 semester, ASG has handed out free snow cones, coordinated a blood drive and hosted a “club rush” to promote the college’s many clubs and student groups.

In October, the campus celebrated an ASG-sponsored Oktoberfest festival in traditional German style with games, polka music, a dance contest and plenty of food — including traditional German sausages, pretzels, spicy mustard and strudel.

“We want to host events that represent as many different cultures as possible and hopefully bring a little flavor to the campus,” said Mylcah White, ASG student representative for the Canyon Country campus and the group’s cultural student involvement coordinator.

“I think we had at least 100 people here today,” added White, as polka music blared and students competed in an Oktoberfest chicken dance competition in the amphitheater. “Hopefully events like these help students get a little something extra out of their college experience.”

In fact, the desire to involve students in campus life and provide them with a more fun and fulfilling college experience is one of the ASG’s primary goals, and a key factor in the planning of the group’s various events and functions.

“There is a mountain of evidence that supports the retention and success of students who get involved with student life,” said Beth Asmus, Dean of Student Services at the Canyon Country campus. “Student life opportunities foster the development of a person in a way that engages their mind and promotes personal and social responsibility, helping to prepare students for lifelong success in a diverse, global society.”

Upcoming events at the campus include a mid-day concert with a live band and barbeque in the Carl A. Rasmussen Amphitheater from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, November 18. it will launch a campus-wide holiday clothing drive that will culminate before the semester ends in December.

“We are always working on ideas for fun new events to host at the Canyon Country campus,” said Alyssa Gresham, ASG student representative at the Canyon Country campus. “But I’d love to hear other ideas from students, who are here at the Canyon Country campus everyday like myself, about what they’d like to see.”

“And remember,” added Gresham. “It’s never too late for students to join ASG.”

For more information about ASG or to find out how you can get involved at the Canyon Country campus please visit www.canyons.edu/ASG.