WHITTIER – Rio Hondo College’s Career Development Center has been renamed the Center for Career and Re-Entry Services (CCRS) to reflect its new role in providing comprehensive support for students ages 25 or older who are beginning their higher education journeys or returning after a five-year absence.

Adult re-entry students constitute about a quarter of all new Rio Hondo College students each fall – typically between 1,200 and 1,300 students.

“We wanted to create a place on campus where our adult re-entry students will feel at home and where their diverse educational needs can be met in a thorough and efficient manner,” said Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss.

Adult re-entry students face a number of challenges specific to them that include financial responsibilities, childcare issues and balancing the demands of school, work and home, Re-Entry Services Counselor Angelica Martinez said.

“Our center is uniquely equipped to help our re-entry students succeed as they pursue their educational goals through a combination of services and support based on our deep understanding of their specific challenges,” said CCRS Coordinator Belen Torres-Gil, a counselor and professor at Rio Hondo College.

Along with the name change, the College has hired two staff members to work with adult students. The center will offer adult re-entry students:

  • Individualized counseling for educational and career planning
  • Assistance with their College application, registration and financial aid
  • Use of a dedicated computer lab and career library
  • Job preparation aid, including help with resumes, interviewing and job searches
  • Free career assessments and interpretations
  • Access to CCRS’s job and internship board
  • Assistance with using social media for professional networking purposes

“I’m thrilled we are targeting our services to ensure our adult students have a haven on campus where they can share their challenges and receive a hand in determining how best to move forward with their education,” said Board of Trustees President Madeline Shapiro. “Programs like the Center for Career and Re-entry Services embody the essence of ‘community’ in community college.”

Rio Hondo College will host a career success conference for adult re-entry students from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 in the Mid Quad area of campus.