Technology School Expands Into Valley

A groundbreaking ceremony Thursday will mark the entry of DeVry Institute of Technology into the San Fernando Valley.

Construction of the 20-acre site on part of the former Hughes Aircraft property has already begun, with classes for 2,700 students expected to start next fall, representatives said. There will be approximately 50 full-time and 50 part-time instructor positions, in addition to 100 administrative jobs and 300 part-time jobs for students.

High-tech jobs are fast growing in Los Angeles County, as projected by Employment Development Department of California and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Computer engineering is expected to be the third fastest-growing occupation in the county, increasing 131% from 1993 to 2005, while the number of computer scientists is expected to jump by 117%.

DeVry sees itself poised to fill a growing need for trained computer workers as technology continues to evolve. “We’re definitely positioned at the right place, at the right time for all the technology that’s coming,” said Rose Marie Dishman, president of DeVry/Southern California.

DeVry--which has California campuses in Pomona, Long Beach and Fremont--offers bachelor’s degrees in computer information systems, electronics engineering technology, telecommunications management, business administration and accounting, in addition to an associate’s degree in electronics and a technical management program for those who already have an associate’s degree.

In addition to the new campus, the former aerospace site on the northwest corner of Roscoe Boulevard and Fallbrook Avenue is the future home of a police dispatch facility.