Antelope Valley's higher education institutions continue to add new academic programs and facilities to meet the demands of a fast-growing population.

The Valley's oldest higher education institution, Antelope Valley College (AVC) recently added a new program for training men and women as firefighters with municipal fire departments. The college already has a program for training wildland firefighters.

AVC has acquired a site on 25th Street East in Palmdale to serve as its second college campus. Meanwhile, Antelope Valley College continues to offer programs to residents through its main campus in Lancaster and a site in Palmdale at 1529 E. Palmdale Blvd.

Work continues on the expansion and modernization of the Lancaster campus, to increase its capacity to serve more than 20,000 students. Construction projects due to begin this year include an agriculture/landscaping complex, a theater, and complex for an early college high school program, Students on the Academic Rise (SOAR) High School. Ongoing projects include upgrades to the campus infrastructure, safety requirements and expansion of physical education facilities, including a physical agility course for the Sheriff's Training Academy at Antelope Valley College.

AVC's Lancaster campus hosts California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley, which provides upper division and graduate degree programs.

Community Services Programs
Formerly known as Community Education, Community Services Programs at Antelope Valley College offer recreational, cultural and occupational programs that are short-term fee-based and not for credit. Examples are Antelope Valley Children's Choir, notary public exam preparation, ABC's of travel, and work readiness, just to name a few.

Career and Technical Education Programs
Aeronautical and Aviation Technology, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Aircraft Fabrication, Auto Body, Automotive Technology, Business, Child and Family Education, Clothing and Textiles, Computer Applications, Computer Information Science, Computer Graphics, Deaf Studies, Drafting/CAD, Instructional Aide, Electrical Technology, Electronics Technology, Engineering Technology, Family and Consumer Education, Fire Technology, Interior Design, Management, Marketing, Medical Assisting, Multimedia, Music, Nursing Science, Office Technology, Photography, Real Estate and Welding.