Focus On Rio - August 2020

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President’s Message

I’d like to welcome all our students and program, which helps students gain skills for careers and demonstrate those
welcome back our talented and dedicated skills on online platforms via digital badges. Our online service expansion is
faculty, staff and administrators as we tackle also an industry leader, as evidenced by the recognition it has earned from the
what is perhaps the most challenging year of RP Group.
our history – higher education in the time of On both fronts, the message is clear Río Hondo College is here for our
COVID-19. students and our community, no matter what challenge we face.
As a result, I believe we are poised for an incredible year during which Río
Teresa Dreyfuss This pandemic has pushed Río Hondo College Hondo College’s vast strengths in and out of the classroom will be on full
to higher levels of creativity and service as our display for our students and community.
faculty members innovate new ways to inspire As you know, I’ve recently stepped back into the post as Acting Superintendent/
and engage students and our support teams President, and I’m proud to be a part of the exciting efforts underway at our
devise ways to meet a constantly evolving set College. I look forward to a fruitful collaboration in the weeks to come!
of student needs.

Our innovations include efforts like the Business Division’s new digital badge

College Welcomes Students with RÍO IN THE NEWS: Read more about the
Remote Learning, Enhanced Services College’s recognition for student services at
the RP Group Impact & Insights publication.

Río Hondo College launched the fall 2020 semester on Aug. 15 with an to ensure that the needs of our students are met and they have every tool
enhanced online learning model, centering the academic and personal needs necessary to succeed, regardless of what is happening in our world.”
of students and supporting educators as they take on the new year.
Educators received professional development with pertinent research and
After intense planning over the summer, the College developed a plan that information on engaging students during online learning and socio-emotional
focuses on student feedback and supports learners through an increase resources to make sure students feel nurtured, safe and valued.
in technology resources, academic and mental health counseling, and
specialized assistance for student groups. The College’s response to the new services required by the pandemic has been
recognized by the RP Group Impact & Insights publication. The publication
“We are delighted to offer a robust, comprehensive online learning plan that noted the College’s expert modeling of collaboration that united a large cross-
will guide us as we continue remote instruction,” Acting Superintendent/ section of educators.
President Teresa Dreyfuss said. “I would like to thank our entire team of
educators, administrators, classified staff and faculty who work tirelessly (Continued on page 2)

College Welcomes Students with Digital Badge Program Helps Students College Leaders’ Fall Plan Emphasizes Care,
Remote Learning, Enhanced Services
1 Refine Job-seeking Skills 4 Compassion 6
District Update
3 Roadrunner Crew Re-activated to Battle Community College Consortium Hosts Job
Child Development Center Reopens
California Wildfires 5 Site for Area Employers 7

3 College Hosts Blood Drive 5 Save the Date 7

College Welcomes Students with Remote Learning, Enhanced Services

(Continued from page 1)

Led by Río Hondo’s student success team, educators identified three main For in-person programs such as fire, police, nursing and automotive
areas of support: academic, basic and community (the ABCs). The ABCs technology, personal protection equipment is provided for all individuals on
resource plan initiated an increase in technology resources, including an site, including masks, gloves, face shields and hand sanitizer.
expanded capacity for Zoom and Canvas lectures.
Through the RíoSource program, drive-thru grab & go groceries will be
Students can access Chromebooks, calculators and hotspots from the provided every other week.
library check-out service during the first three weeks of the semester and by
appointment after Saturday, Sept. 5. The College also launched its virtual The RíoSource location center also will be open once a week, enabling
welcome center, complete with Zoom rooms and live chats to support students to order groceries using disposable menus and pick up their orders
students. from a designated location to ensure a contact-free experience. Directional
signs, distance markers and footprint stickers will help direct shoppers.
Río Hondo’s website integrated new career and program exploration to
provide clear academic paths, including information on each degree and During remote instruction, students can access mental health counseling,
certificate with sample educational plans and timeline of completion for full- including individual and group counseling, and referrals to mental health
time students. resources. Students can make an appointment by calling 562-463-7302 or
emailing [email protected].
Building on the successes from spring 2020, Río Hondo’s Scholars Hub
continues to provide students with supportive, trauma-informed and holistic If you know of a student who is experiencing a mental health emergency, a
services. Scholars Hub is offering remote resources during fall 2020, including few key resources are the following:
specialized counselors, tutoring, workshops, book grants, educational supplies
and advocacy and referral services to community-based agencies and public • 24-hour Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK
assistance partners.
• Crisis Text Line: 741741 with the word “COURAGE”
Scholars Hub is home to some of the most underrepresented and
underserved students on campus, including former foster youth (Guardian • Exodus Urgent Care Center: 323-276-6400
Scholars), unhoused and housing insecure students (HOPE Scholars), formerly
incarcerated students (RISE Scholars) and LGBTQIA+ students. • LA Department of Mental Health Crisis Counseling: 855-952-9276 or 211

New certificate courses have been added in fall 2020, offering students Río Hondo College continues to grow opportunities that support students on
interested in the field of architecture the opportunity to explore theory and their educational paths. The College was awarded two federal TRiO Student
design, drafting and residential design. Support Service grants, totaling about $ 2.8 million and will be distributed
over five years, for the renewal of the TRiO PASS Program and the MESA/TRiO
STEM grant. These programs provide comprehensive services such as financial
aid and scholarship support and career and academic counseling.

Focus on Río | 2

District Update

Río Hondo College trustees received an update on
the College’s building program and will continue the
process of appointing Citizens’ Oversight Committee
members as terms expire.

A facilities master plan presentation on Aug. 12
recapped 30 projects planned under the auspices of
Measure A, a $245 million bond measure passed by
the community in March 2004.

Completed projects ranged from new police and fire
facilities to campus efficiencies and upgrades, from
community-based satellite campuses in El Monte,
South Whittier and Pico Rivera to the new Learning
Resource Center, P.E. Complex and Veterans Memorial
and projects underway for a commuter center and the L
Tower seismic retrofit. A few of the projects – including
upgrades to campus lighting, new laboratories and
signs – remain to be addressed.

The presentation also discussed the possible need
for additional or expanded facilities for health
information technology, computer science, paramedic
training, occupational therapy assistant, physical
therapy assistant, business administration and career
development.

The College is seeking applicants to serve the
remaining term of trustee Norma Edith García, who
stepped down from the governing board in July. The
board expects to conduct interviews and appoint a
new member in September. The member will serve
until García’s term ends in December 2022.






MEDIA RELEASE Child Development
Center Reopens
MEDIA RELEASE
Río Hondo College’s Child Development Center (CDC) reopened to children in July,
Río Hondo College Board of Trustees3600 W360o0rWkmorkamnaMn MililllRRooaadd/ W/ Whithtieitrt,iCeAr,9C06A0190601 helping to meet the early education and childcare needs of families in the community.

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COCNTOANCTT:A(R5C6u2thT)ie:4(6RR53e6u-3t2at1hn)4ai5e46R3e-3ta1n4a5 preserving critical developmentally appropriate practices.
in Trustee Area 1 throughRío Hondo College Board of Trustees Seeks Applicants to Fill
December 2022Río Hondo CVaoclalnecgyeinBToruasrtedeoAfreTar1utshtroeuegsh SDeeceekmsbeAr p20p2l2icants to Fill In addition to small group sizes and engaging activities, the program features cleaning
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“The CDC staff are excited to be back to serving the members of our community who
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3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
Río Hondo College is an educEatmionaalila:nRd DcoGmmalulneitgy opasr@tnerr icoohmomintteddoto.eaddvuancing social justice and

equity as an antiracist institution !"#! $%&&'$!()'&* (+)',!, (+ #&& ,!-.'+!,/ #$#.'0($ #+. $#1''1 2#!"3#*,

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President’s Office www.riohondo.edu/board-vacancy. It must be received by the President’s Office
by 5:00 p.m., Thursday Sep. 3, 2020 – no forms will be accepted after 5:00 p.m. For more
information about the vacancy, call (562) 908-3403. Specific questions regarding residency in Area
1 may be directed to the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder/County Clerk website at
www.lavote.net.

Río Hondo College is an educational and community partner committed to advancing social justice and
equity as an antiracist institution that collectively invests in all students’ academic and career pathways
that lead to attainment of degree, certificate, transfer, and lifelong-learning goals. For information on the
College or its programs, please call 562.692.0921 or visit www.riohondo.edu.

RÍO IN THE NEWS:
Read more about the Digital Badge program
on ProvenReady.

Digital Badge Program Helps Students
Refine Job-seeking Skills

Río Hondo College’s adoption of a digital badge program to boost student Student Erick Pineda, who completed all of the career prep badges before
success in seeking jobs has been praised by ProvenReady, an online platform graduating from RHC, wore his sash for his graduation pictures. He completed
dedicated to helping students enter the workforce. the badges to boost his resume as he prepares to enter the business world.

The platform spotlights Río Hondo College counselor Vanessa Chavez, who The modules are incorporated in the digital badge initiative at ProvenReady,
guides students as they seek employment. Chavez works in the College’s with analytics showing many high school students who had access to the
Business Division, where she handles educational planning, graduation badges through ProvenReady also engaged with Río Hondo’s career-readiness
criteria and career placement. badge series, serving as another way to connect Los Angeles high school
students to the community college system.
Chavez learned about the need for the program during an employer advisory
board meeting. ProvenReady partner NexusEdge shared how digital badges
can be earned by students as they gain specific skills, and then posted to
forums such as LinkedIn.

Meanwhile, Dean of Business Gita Runkle was learning about ProvenReady’s
digital platform from the Los Angeles regional directors of employer
engagement for the business & entrepreneurship, advanced transportation
and logistics, and global trade sectors.

Chavez led an effort to create content for seven career readiness modules in
fall 2019 and worked with NexusEdge founder and CEO Eddie Lin to put them
onto the ProvenReady platform. The modules cover:

• Interview skills

• Resume creation

• Informational interviews

• Professional associations

• Cover letter creation

• Networking

• Workplace etiquette

“These are good topics that any student should
know,” Chavez said. “This stuff is not rocket science, just
packaging it in a way students want to read and learn
about it.”

After completing each module, students take a quiz to earn
a digital badge, a micro-credential they can add to their
LinkedIn profile, portfolio, signature line, and/or website.

About 50 students completed at least one module as of
summer 2020, and 15 students completed all seven.
Chavez recognized those students who completed
all the modules by calling to congratulate them and
creating sashes that they could wear during virtual
commencement ceremonies in the spring.

Focus on Río | 4

Roadrunner Crew Re-activated to Battle
California Wildfires

Río Hondo College’s Roadrunner Hand Crew 77 was activated for the second time Their dedication is inspiring.”
this summer by the U.S. Forest Service, deployed first to fight the Texas Fire and
then to assist efforts against the rapidly expanding Lake Fire, both in the Angeles A Type II hand crew, the team assists with all aspects of fire monitoring,
National Forest. suppression and control, including digging fire containment lines. In past years,
the crew has been called up multiple times a year to assist with firefighting across
The crew began its activation on Aug. 5. It was previously activated to backfill California. The crew has battled fires in Yosemite National Park and helped fight
behind crews in June. the devastating Ferguson Fire.

The crew, created by the College’s Wildland Fire Academy, is staffed by a team of Each crew member must meet or exceed U.S. Forest Service requirements for
graduates from recent cadet classes, including Victor Apodaca, Nicholas Casimiro, seasonal wildland firefighters. Students also must pass an arduous physical fitness
Nicolas Demonte, Evan Espinoza, Yulfiano Gerwynaldo, Daniel Ingelmo, Jesse regime. Río Hondo College, which has fielded the crew since 2002, is well known for
Jimenez, Marcus Manty Ortiz, Ilunga Mulonga, Diego Rodriguez, Alan Perez, its Wildland Fire Academy, which typically places every graduate from every class.
Eduardo Reyes, Hector Samayoa and Andrew Salinas.
“Despite the pandemic, the Roadrunners of Crew 77 continue to aggressively move
“The young men and women of our Roadrunner Crew exemplify the best of Río forward, protecting the residents of Southern California and the valuable resources
Hondo College,” Acting Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss said. “They of the Angeles National Forest,” said Chief Andy Grzywa, academy director.
have volunteered to join the front lines in a fight on behalf of our entire state.

College Hosts Blood Drive

Thanks to campus volunteers and all those who donated blood, Río Hondo College surpassed its goals, collecting 27 units during a blood drive held Aug. 26 in
collaboration with the American Red Cross.

Focus on Río | 5

College Leaders’ Fall Plan Emphasizes
Care, Compassion

Río Hondo College leaders on Aug. 14 emphasized the need to show care and blink,” Hernandez said. “Classified staff switched over in a matter of hours to a
compassion to students struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic completely new reality of exclusively serving students online.”
while delivering online instruction in fall 2020-21.
The message was the core focus of FLEX Day, an annual training program held Hernandez noted that classified staff prepared all tools, online and otherwise, for
just before classes began for fall semester. the online delivery of instructions even while custodians deep-cleaned campus
Faculty and staff leaders praised College employees for their swift and effective facilities, groundskeepers kept the campus pristine and technology and facilities
shift to online instruction in spring 2020 but said the new year will require a staff responded to hundreds of work orders. Meanwhile, payroll, registration and
redoubled focus on the needs of students. other teams delivered a seamless transition for students and staff by ensuring
“Showing our students compassion and that we care about their successes their systems continued without glitches.
is important during a regular semester, but it’s beyond important during a
pandemic,” Academic Senate President Dr. Kevin Smith said. “Some would say it’s passion, but what it actually takes to get through these
Research shows that showing care and compassion for students not only directly turbulent times is purpose,” Hernandez said. “Your purpose is what defies
benefits their well-being but that it also can accelerate academic success. hopelessness, helplessness and negativity. This is what will get us and our
Smith said the challenges of the coming year will extend beyond instruction as students through this fall, one day at a time.”
the College also prepares for an accreditation review and continues to expand
use of Open Education Resources, which are designed to increase access to FLEX Day was organized by Dr. Alice Mecom, dean of the Division of
instructional materials and remove barriers for low-income students. Communications and Languages, who said the focus on care and compassion is
Faculty Association President Rudy Rios told faculty members that as hard as it was essential as students face new uncertainties in their lives.
for them to convert to online instruction in spring, the challenges faced by students
are even greater as they grapple with the impacts of COVID-19 on their lives. “We are in positions of opportunity, impact and influence,” Mecom said. “We can
California School Employees Associate chapter President Sandra Hernandez, make a difference in our students’ lives and our students need our support.”
whose organization represents the College’s support staff, praised her team
for its speedy transition to the new program and extensive support of the Faculty and staff spent the rest of the day in sessions focused on showing
instructional process. students their care and concern, ending the day in division meetings in which
“We, the classified staff of Río Hondo College have stood up, whether you know they developed new care strategies.
it or not, and looked this unprecedented pandemic in the eye, and made it
“I would like to thank our entire leadership team for this keen attention to the needs
of our students as we prepare for what will likely be the greatest challenge we have
ever faced as educators,” Acting Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss said.

“I’m pleased to say that not only is our team up to the task, but they are
consummate professionals who will go above and beyond all expectations to
deliver a truly amazing learning experience to our students,” Dreyfuss said.

Focus on Río | 6

Connect with Us RÍO IN THE NEWS: Read more about the Consortium on the PR Newswire.
on Social Media
Community College Consortium
RHCRoadrunners Hosts Job Site for Area Employers
RioHondo_College
RioHondoCollege Río Hondo College is part of a community college consortium that is providing free access to
Ro Hondo College YT Channel employers to a job site targeting Los Angeles-area community college students and alumni.
bit.do/riohondocollege
rhcroadrunners The Los Angeles County Community Colleges Jobs Consortium website allows employers to
register once and post an unlimited number of jobs for job seekers from Río Hondo as well as from
Serving the Antelope Valley College, East Los Angeles College, Glendale Community College, Los Angeles City
communities of College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Southwest College,
Los Angeles Trade Technical
College, Los Angeles Valley
College, Pierce College, Santa
Monica College and West Los
Angeles College.

“The consortium is a direct
pipeline to our county’s
emerging job seekers,” Río
Hondo College Career Development Specialist Cynthia Patino said. “Our students are highly skilled
and have been well prepared to reach their career goals! Many of our graduates are working adults
who have added new skills and are now ready to step into jobs located in Los Angeles County.”

Statistics show that approximately 306,000 undergraduates attend Los Angeles County
community colleges.

• El Monte • Santa Fe Springs
• South El Monte • Whittier
• Pico Rivera

and portions of: Save the Date

• Norwalk • East Whittier* Noon Friday, Sept. 4: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14:
• Downey • South Whittier* Transfer Center virtual tour of Board of Trustees study session Undocumented Student Week of
• La Mirada • West Whittier* CSU Fullerton via Zoom, Río Hondo College Action: UndocuFamily Night
• City of Industry • Avocado Heights*
• Los Nietos* 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Noon Friday, Sept. 25: 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15:
Wednesday, Sept. 9: Transfer Center virtual tour of CSU Undocumented Student Week of
*Unincorporated communities within our District Transfer Center Virtual College Whittier College Action: UndocuRio Talks
Fair
Mission Statement Noon Friday, Oct. 2: 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16:
6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9: Transfer Center virtual tour of Undocumented Student Week
Río Hondo College is committed to the success of Board of Trustees regular meeting Grand Canyon University, San of Action: UndocuScholar
its diverse students and communities by providing via Zoom, Río Hondo College Francisco State Student Panel
dynamic educational opportunities and resources
that lead to degrees, certificates, transfer, career 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, Noon Friday, Oct. 9: Noon Friday, Oct. 16:
and technical pathways, basic skills proficiency, and Sept. 11: Transfer Center virtual tour of Transfer Center virtual tour of
lifelong learning. 9/11 Virtual Memorial Claremont Colleges, Cal Poly Long Beach State, Azusa Pacific
Pomona University
Noon Friday, Sept. 11:
Transfer Center virtual tour of 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12: Noon to 1:30 p.m.
CSU Dominguez Hills Indigenous People’s Day, virtual Wednesday, Oct. 21:
Latinos Empowered Guided and
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12: Cultivated in Education (LEGACIE)
Wednesday, Sept. 16: Undocumented Student Week of Mentor Mixer via Zoom
Latinos Empowered Guided and Action: Get Social Mixer
Cultivated in Education (LEGACIE) Noon Friday, Oct. 23:
workshop via Zoom 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13: Transfer Center virtual tour of USC
Undocumented Student Week of
Noon Friday, Sept. 18: Action: You’re not Alone Gallery Noon Friday, Oct. 30:
Transfer Center virtual tour of Transfer Center virtual tour of CSU
CSU Los Angeles Northridge, UC Santa Barbara

Focus on Río | 7