Río Hondo College will launch an intensive program to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies for students, including scientific research thanks to a $2.8 million, five-year Department of Education Title V grant. The grant will fund Enlace, a pilot program that will provide services to STEM students with a focus on low-income, first-generation, Hispanic students. More than 56% of Río Hondo students are high-need, low-income, first-generation students. More than 80.25% are Hispanic.
Río Hondo College this fall kicked off a Student Success Teams initiative to assist students as they pursue their academic goals, including access to online Career Coach and Programs of Study sites. The Career Coach offers a self-paced personal survey to help students make choices about academic and career choices that align with their strengths and interests. The Programs of Study site provides information about the array of certificates and degrees offered at Río Hondo. The Student Success Teams are trained to support students in making decisions about class schedules, financial aid, transfer applications, work readiness and counseling support.
Río Hondo College Board of Trustees Seeks Applicants to Fill Vacancy
Río Hondo College Board of Trustees is seeking applicants to serve the remaining term of District 1 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 new member will serve until García’s term ends in December 2022. Individuals interested in being considered must submit a Declaration of Appointment form and a brief resume by 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3. Information is available at www.riohondo.edu/board-vacancy.
Río Hondo College Recognized for COVID-19 Response, Collaboration
Río Hondo College has been recognized by The RP Group Impact & Insights publication for responding in a time of crisis and expertly modeling collaboration that unites a large cross-section of educators. Led by Río Hondo’s student success team, educators identified three main areas of support: academic, basic and community (the ABCs). The ABCs resource plan initiated an increase in technology resources, including an expanded capacity for Zoom and Canvas lectures. Students can access Chromebooks, calculators and hotspots from the library check-out service during the first three weeks of the semester and by appointment after Saturday, Sept. 5. Río Hondo has also launched a virtual welcome center, complete with Zoom rooms and live chats to support students.
Río Hondo College Board of Trustees 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 next month and appoint a new member in late September. The member will serve until García’s term ends in December 2022.
Río Hondo College launched the fall 2020 semester on Aug. 17 with an enhanced distance learning model, centering the academic and personal needs of students and supporting educators as they take on the new year. After intense planning over the summer, Río Hondo College developed a plan that focuses on student feedback and supports learners through an increase in technology resources, academic and mental health counseling, and specialized assistance for student groups.
Río Hondo College leaders on Aug. 14 emphasized the need to show care and compassion to students struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while delivering online instruction in fall 2020-21. The message was the core focus of FLEX Day, an annual training program held the day before classes began for fall semester. Faculty and staff leaders praised College employees for their swift and effective shift to distance instruction in spring 2020 but said the new year will require a redoubled focus on the needs of students.
Río Hondo College’s Roadrunner Hand Crew 77 has been activated for the second time 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 National Forest. The crew began its activation on Aug. 5. It was previously activated to backfill behind crews in June. The crew, created by the College’s Wildland Fire Academy, is staffed by a team of graduates from recent cadet classes, including Victor Apodaca, Nicholas Casimiro, Nicolas Demonte, Evan Espinoza, Yulfiano Gerwynaldo, Daniel Ingelmo, Jesse Jimenez, Marcus Manty Ortiz, Ilunga Mulonga, Diego Rodriguez, Alan Perez, Eduardo Reyes, Hector Samayoa and Andrew Salinas.
Río Hondo College will prepare for the 2020-21 academic year with a virtual training session on Friday, Aug. 14 that will emphasize care and compassion for students while pandemic-forced online instruction continues. Acting Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss, Board of Trustees President Oscar Valladares and leaders of the faculty and staff will deliver recorded speeches to launch the annual training day program, called FLEX Day, which will be held the day before classes begin Saturday, Aug. 15.
Río Hondo College Taps Former President as Acting Chief Administrator
Former Río Hondo College Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss has stepped in to lead the College as its acting chief administrator starting July 30. Dreyfuss started at the College as a part-time faculty member in 1987 and rose through the ranks to become interim superintendent/president in 2012. She assumed the job permanently the following year. She is credited with overseeing $300 million in construction projects, opening three regional campuses and leading the College through the Great Recession. She also started a program that gave students free tuition for their first two years. She retired in June 2019.
