Río Hondo College has been named a 2021 Equity Champion for Higher Education by the Campaign for College Opportunity, which recognized the College’s Associate Degree for Transfer program as an exemplary supporter of Latinx students. Río Hondo College will receive the award during a virtual ceremony on Nov. 16, alongside other esteemed community colleges who support Black and Latinx students through Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) programs. By earning an ADT, students meet all the general education requirements at a four-year university and are guaranteed acceptance to a California State University.
Río Hondo College Holds Virtual Undocumented Student Action Week
Río Hondo College’s Student Success and Dream Center celebrated its undocumented community during Virtual Undocumented Student Action Week, held from Oct. 18-22, heralding the 20-year anniversary of the landmark State of California civil rights legislation AB 540, which guaranteed undocumented students pay the same in-person tuition rate for California colleges and universities. The week provided the College’s undocumented community access to information and resources and encouraged them to share their personal journeys. Highlights included a virtual art gallery, panel discussions, and an UndocuFamily Night with a focus on immigration rights and mental health.
Río Hondo College students are delivering vibrant expressions of Chicano/a and Latino/x culture through their work on a Día de Los Muertos altar, which is on display at the Self Help Graphics & Art exhibition in Los Angeles, ‘Everything Connected: Land, Body, Cosmos. The exhibition, which runs through Nov. 24, is part of an ongoing partnership between Río Hondo College Arts and Cultural Programs and Self Help Graphics & Art – a community arts center that encourages and promotes Chicano/a and Latino/x artists. Río Hondo students Art Aguilar, Meliza Lopez, Emily Lopez and Esbeidy Nuñez created the altar to acknowledge the meaning of Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead – a celebration associated with the joyful observance of death and life. The altar was created under the direction of master altaristas Ofelia Esparza and Rosanna Esparza Ahrens, and Río Hondo College’s Assistant Professor of Photography Miyo Stevens-Gandara.
Río Hondo College has been recognized by Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine, placing them in the Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics list and highlighting the College’s rigorous academics and sterling degree programs. Using information from the California Department of Education’s database for the 2019-20 school year, the publication awards institutions that are committed to serving Hispanic/Latino students’ needs.
Río Hondo College motivated 30 area high school students to hone their management skills and creative thinking abilities during Entrepreneur Camp Río, a two-week camp that teaches students the ins and outs of business ownership. The camp, which ran through Aug. 6, challenged students to think beyond their typical curriculum by diving into the world of finance, marketing and free enterprise. It was created through a partnership between Río Hondo College’s Business Division and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) to inspire the next generation of young business tycoons. The camp was funded through a $20,000 California Community College Strong Workforce Grant, allowing all students to participate at no cost.
The Río Hondo College Board of Trustees adopted a balanced 2021-22 budget during a board meeting on Sept. 8, setting aside ample funding for student financial aid while avoiding the loss of staff and increasing reserves to $34.8 million in the general fund. The adopted budget allocates about $23.4 million for student financial aid from the Restricted General Fund and approximately $27.5 million from the Financial Aid Fund, which includes $47.9 million from COVID-19 federal emergency revenue.
Río Hondo College Accepts Grant to Boost CalFresh Outreach Program
The Río Hondo College Board of Trustees has approved acceptance of a grant to boost public awareness for the CalFresh Outreach Program, which helps low-income households increase their food-buying power to meet their nutritional needs. Río Hondo College was one of 54 colleges selected for the grant as part of California State University, Chico’s CalFresh grant expansion. The grant will provide Río Hondo College with $432,726 to promote CalFresh to students starting on Oct. 1, 2021 and ending on Sept. 30, 2024.
Children are smiling and playing while learning about horticulture, math, art, and conflict resolution at Río Hondo College’s Child Development Center, which has revamped and reopened following a year of virtual learning. The Child Development Center, which reopened its doors in July, has updated its classrooms, safety procedures and its personnel to provide a stronger foundation for children. The Child Development Center safety procedures will include temperature checks for all visitors, spaced out learning areas, and deep cleaning of classrooms three times a day. Students will also adhere to mask requirements while being taught cleanliness during their lessons.
Río Hondo College to Host Free Walk-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
Río Hondo College will host a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic for community members ages five and up from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are available to receive the Pfizer vaccine during this event. 100 doses are available at a first-come, first-serve basis. The clinic is a partnership between the College, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Active SGV, Veritas Healthcare and L.A. Care. The clinic will be held in parking lot ‘C’ at Río Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
The Río Hondo College Board of Trustees unanimously approved mandatory vaccinations for all students and College employees in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. During a meeting on Aug. 18, Río Hondo College administrators gave a presentation on COVID-19 facts, history, variants, trends and health compliances as well as information on improvements completed and planned by the College’s COVID-19 task force. The mandatory vaccinations coincide with the start of the fall 2021 semester, which begins Aug. 21.
