The Río Hondo College Foundation is seeking immediate community support to help Río Hondo students during this unprecedented health crisis. The Foundation is seeking donations for the Río Cares Student Relief Fund, established to assist students facing extraordinary challenges with housing, food scarcity, digital connections and stress as they juggle family, work and school during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.
Río Hondo College is serving hundreds of meals through a drive-through food pantry and is providing 400 Chromebooks to assist students, faculty and staff during the COVID-19 health crisis that forced a shift to online instruction and remote student services. The services are one piece of a massive expansion of student support launched by the College since shifting to online instruction on March 16. The College now provides online services across all student groups, including special programs structured for single mothers, economically disadvantaged students, former foster youth, veterans and others.
Río Hondo College is providing a full menu of online services to ensure students – especially those most vulnerable and marginalized – receive the support they need while completing spring classes via online instruction. Services include remote counseling, online tutoring, financial aid assistance, psychological services, food pantry distribution, Chromebook loans, access to free Office 365 and internet, guidance for undocumented students, and access to local, community-based support.
Río Hondo College has extended all teaching and student services through Saturday, May 9 to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Faculty and staff will continue provide robust online instruction, counseling and student services for six more weeks.
Río Hondo College’s Board of Trustees declared a state of emergency on March 16, providing Superintendent/President Dr. Arturo Reyes with greater flexibility to formulate a response to issues related to COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The action was taken during a special 6 p.m. board meeting called specifically to address the issue.
In response to the recent coronavirus pandemic and in consultation with its Board of Trustees, Rio Hondo College is transitioning courses to an online format. Effective March 16 through April 4, as many courses as possible will be moved online to the College’s Canvas instructional management tool. The College will continue to follow its academic calendar, closing for spring break March 21-27.
Río Hondo College will launch a series of Community Education Forums at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 to showcase its stellar instructional programs, student support services, transfer-focused curriculum and award-winning career pathways in fields such as automotive, police, fire safety and nursing. Faculty and deans from an array of academic and career programs will make presentations and spotlight the Río Promise, which provides two years of free tuition to new, full-time students.
Río Hondo College Hires Former Arson Investigator to Head Fire Academy
Andrew E. Grzywa, the new director of the Río Hondo Fire Academy, brings more than 35 years of experience as an urban firefighter, wildland firefighter, arson investigator, police detective, fire agency executive and instructor to the post – in addition to being a graduate of the Río Hondo College program. Grzywa, hired by the Board of Trustees in January, succeeds Chief Tracy E. Rickman, who helped lead the academy for 22 years.
Río Hondo College Foundation to Host 8th Annual ‘A Taste of Río’
More than 700 guests are expected to sample artisan cuisine, fine wine and craft beer from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 17 during the Río Hondo Foundation’s eighth annual “A Taste of Río” event. The event, which supports Río Hondo student programs and scholarships, will feature more than two dozen local restaurants, music, a silent auction and opportunity drawings. The event has sold out for the last three years. The College is at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Río Hondo College to Hold First-ever Major Declaration Day on March 3
Río Hondo College will hold its first-ever Major Declaration Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, working with students to envision a clear path to their goals as a way of helping to ensure success. The event will feature a chance to network with faculty, counselors and staff from across all academic disciplines, learn about key transitional skills and the connection between majors and career options. The College is at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
