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Maricopa Student Center Maintenance Dec. 30

The Maricopa Student Center will be down for planned maintenance Wednesday, December 30, 6-11 a.m.

The following online student services will be unavailable during this time: Maricopa Enterprise ID account creation, enrollment for classes, grade reports, transcripts, financial aid information, and the student message center. If you need to access any of these services, you are encouraged to do so before December 30. 

Visit this web page for the latest details about scheduled maintenance and services available to you during the process.

Services Available to You During Winter Break

Happy Holidays to our Rio Salado Family! We look forward to creating new possibilities with you in 2016!

As a reminder, most Rio Salado services will be closed for winter break, beginning at noon, Dec. 24, - Jan. 3. We will resume regular business hours on Jan. 4.

Some Rio Salado locations and services will be available during the break. Here is a listing services available to you.

Location	Dates Open for Service	Hours
RSC Financial Aid	Throughout the break	24/7
RSC Tempe Computer Lab	Sat, Dec. 26 Mon., Dec. 28 - Thurs., Dec. 31	8 a.m. – 2 p.m. 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
RSC Technology Helpdesk	Throughout the break	24/7
RSC Tempe Testing	Sat., Dec. 26 Mon., Dec. 28 - Thurs., Dec. 31 Sat., Jan 2	8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
RSC Tempe Tutoring	Mon., Dec. 28 - Wed., Dec. 30 Sat., Jan 2	10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Comm Surprise Testing	Sat., Jan 2	8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Comm QC Testing	Sat., Jan 2	8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
RSC Northern Computer Lab	Mon., Dec. 28 - Wed., Dec. 30 Sat., Jan 2	8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
RSC Northern Testing	Sat., Dec. 26 Mon., Dec. 28 - Thurs., Dec. 31 Sat., Jan 2	8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Please visit this web page for links and details about closures and special service hours for each location.

As a reminder, Ask a Librarian services are also available 24/7.

Save the Date: Feb. 23 College Information Night

Join Rio Salado for a College Information Night at the Communiversity at Surprise, February 23, 2016!

This event is ideal for teens transitioning from high school and working adults who are interested in going back to school!

Representatives from Academic Advising, Admissions and Records, Financial Aid and other departments will be present to provide attendees with the information they need to get started, how to choose a major, how to secure funding... and how to succeed in college.

Learn about the programs and services available to you!

College Information Night at Rio Salado College
Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016 
Presentations: 6:30, 7, and 7:30 p.m.
Communiversity at Surprise 
15950 N. Civic Center Plaza
Surprise, AZ, 85374

For more information call: 480-517-8231

More details coming soon!
 

Attend Free Parenting Workshops in 2016!

Rio Salado College’s Early Childhood and Human Development Program and Shining Stars Learning Center will offer free parenting workshops in 2016 at the Communiversity at QC.

These non-credit classes are based on a training program developed by the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning at Vanderbilt University, which promotes the social and emotional development of infants and toddlers, and school readiness by the age of five.

2016 Saturday Workshops
10a.m. - 12p.m. 

Jan. 9 - Recognizing and Dealing with Childhood Trauma 
Feb. 20 - Teach Me What to Do!
Mar. 12 - Facing the Challenge (Part 1)
Apr. 9 - Facing the Challenge (Part 2)

Register online with Shining Stars Learning Center at www.sslcaz.com or call (480) 888-9545.  

Participants will earn a two-hour training certificate upon completion of each class.

Classes meet Arizona’s Children Association and A Place to Call Home training requirements.

Classes are free and open to the public.

Learn more about Rio Salado instructor and co-owner of Shining Stars Learning Center Victoria Diforte, in this related blog story.



Interested in taking your education a step further? Learn how Rio Salado can help you earn a degree in Early Childhood Administration and Management.

PTK Student Project - Why Go Back to School

Students from Rio Salado's Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Alpha Theta Omicron Chapter decided to produce a video as part of their 2015 student project, which focuses on why working adults are returning to school and the obstacles they have overcome-- in an effort to inspire other adults to go back to school.

This video is the culmination of their efforts and we hope it inspires you to embark on your educational journey. 

Students also contributed written testimonials about their experience.

This personal narrative by Rio Salado PTK Chapter President Vanessa Williams beautifully encapsulates the struggles and triumphs she has encountered on her educational journey.

Milton Berle, once stated that “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” 

A few years ago, I felt that there were no opportunities for me to advance. After spending years on the street homeless and addicted, I made the first step by getting clean and sober. I found a job and was living in my own place. Life was great, but something was missing. 

I loved my job, however, I knew I wanted to build a better financial future for myself. I looked around and saw that other people were attending college and working. I did some research and found that Rio Salado would be the perfect fit for my schedule.

It wasn’t easy going back to college. I was in default on my student loans and I didn’t know how I would afford to pay back the loans with my part-time job. I spoke with the Department of Education’s ombudsmen and found out that I could make payments that would be based on my income. I was ecstatic. I began the process of applying to Rio as soon as I was out of default.

There were some challenges along the way, but with the help of a great support system, I have been able to keep up in school. I even joined some student activities such as Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success. I have been able to travel and meet new people. I have had the pleasure of working with the wonderful staff at Rio Salado during some of our student activities.

Going back to school has opened the door for me. When opportunity didn’t knock – I built the door. I am thankful every day that Rio Salado College opened that door to a better life for me.

Are you ready to go back to school?  Visit this web page for an introduction on how Rio Salado can serve you.  

To learn more about PTK and other student life initiatives, visit this Rio Salado Student Life web page.

New Veterans Club in 2016!

Rio Salado College and the East Valley Veterans Education Center are joining forces to establish a Student ‪Veterans‬ Club.

The club is open to all veteran students and is free to join! Subscribe to our mailing list and let us know if you're interested in learning more.

Join the Club!

Benefits include networking, ready access to scholarships, travel opportunities, job fairs, programs and resources designed to assist veterans and more!

Winter Break Closure & Special Service Hours

Rio Salado College and the Maricopa Community Colleges will be closed for winter break at noon Thur., Dec. 24, 2015 – Sun., Jan. 3, 2016. We will resume normal business hours Mon., Jan. 4.

The Café @ Rio, Computer Lab, Library, Testing and Tutoring services at the Tempe Headquarters will be closed all day on Thur., Dec. 24 and remaining services will close at noon.

Please also take note that most Rio Salado locations will be closed Sat. – Wed., Dec. 19-23. RSC Tempe, Northern and Luke will be the only locations providing services at this time. Most Tempe headquarters departments will have 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. office hours, Dec. 21-23.

Some Rio Salado locations, services and testing centers will be available during the break.

Please visit this web page for links and details about closures and special service hours for each location.

Students are encouraged to use self-serve enrollment options at My.Maricopa.edu.

We hope you enjoy a safe and happy holiday season and New Year!  We look forward to being of service to you in 2016!

Demo for Students New to Rio & Online Learning

New to Rio Salado College and online learning-- or thinking about enrolling?  This new demo was made for you!

Explore the options and convenience of our online learning platform and see why more than 40,000 online students have taken classes at Rio Salado College.

Start your demo now.

#onlinelearning #onlineclasses #tutorial #onlineeducation  

Mental Health Awareness & Maintenance Tips

Finals and the holiday season are here and the end of the year is near-- which means some of us maybe feeling a bit more stressed and overwhelmed. Here are some perspectives, insights and wellness tips about mental health from Rio Salado Counselor Amberly Lebeck Brown to consider-- all year long.

In the scope of health and wellness, the focus is often on physical well-being while forgetting the important component of mental wellness.

Struggles with physical illness and disabilities are discussed openly and tend to be met with empathy while issues of mental health—including maintaining good mental health and battling with various degrees of mental illness—may be treated in the exact opposite way to the point of being stigmatized.

Of course, many of the things designed for physical health—exercise, a balanced diet—also contribute to maintaining a balanced mental health profile. Sometimes, however, these things are not sufficient and help should be sought.

Just like a minor physical issue, such as a cold or a sprained ankle, certain emotional stresses can be adequately dealt with by speaking with supportive friends and/or family members. Similarly, a more significant physical issue, such as a broken leg, would require the professional intervention of a medical doctor. A more significant behavioral health issue, such as persistent anxiety or depression, requires the assistance of a professional counselor, therapist, or psychologist.

In fact, even mental health professionals seek out other mental health professionals from time to time. Think of it like a maintenance plan; just as cars need periodic oil changes so does one’s mental health. Spending an hour talking, processing (positive or negative) stressful events, and allowing yourself to be centered on self is a great way to exercise those mental health muscles.

Some may think mental health services are out of reach, but finding care is easier than one might think.

First, many health insurance policies—including ACCCS—provide a mental health benefit. The easiest way to find a care provider is to contact your health insurance provider and ask for a list.

Second, many providers offer a sliding scale fee for potential clients who do not have health insurance. In these cases, fees are typically based on one’s income and can be as low as $25 per session.

A third, slightly less expensive option is seeking assistance through one of the university counselor training programs. In these settings, counselors are university students and they are supervised by licensed clinicians. ASU’s Counselor Training Center is located on the main campus in Tempe and provides weekly counseling sessions during the fall and spring semesters at a cost of $80 for community members. The University of Phoenix provides free counseling at their Counseling Skills Center in Tempe.

Another option is reaching out to a crisis hotline or a warm line. There are several options within Maricopa County, including the Behavioral Health Crises Line, which offers a 24-hour crisis line at (602) 222 -9444 as well as a warm line at (602) 347-1100 that is available seven days a week.

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender National Hotline (www.glbthotline.org) offers an online chat option through its website as well as a warm line (888) 843-4564 with limited availability.

Veterans can access help through a 24-hour hotline at (877) 424-3838 and/or live chat offered by the National Call Center for Homeless Vets (www.va.gov/homeless).

The only mistake is not asking for help.

The fear of being stigmatized has prevented many people who are struggling with significant mental health issues from seeking the help they need.

Untreated mental illness is just as significant as any physical illness going undiagnosed and/or untreated and it can be just as debilitating.

For more details about Rio Salado counseling services, visit www.riosalado.edu/counseling or call 480-517-8785.

Rio Visits Wilson Elementary Bearing Gifts

Rio Salado staff visited Wilson Elementary School in Phoenix to drop off book and supply donations that were collected during the college's 2015 Valley of the Sun United Way Giving Campaign!

The group, which included Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. LeRodrick Terry, staff from the Teacher Education department and members of Rio Salado's United Way committee, met with 4th-8th grade teachers and students on Friday, Dec. 11 to share the donations.

 “As educators, we have a responsibility to serve our communities," said Dr. Terry. "Interacting with people from the community reminds me of why we do what we do. Our purpose as an institution and as people are made clearer when we take the time to serve.”

A big thank you to Rio Salado staff, students and members of our community who dropped off book donations and monetary gifts during our fall campaign.

Visit our Facebook page for additional photos.

To learn about ways you can give, advocate and volunteer with the Valley of the Sun United Way, visit www.vsuw.org.

New Titles at the Rio Salado College Library

Here is what’s new in the Rio Salado College Library! To request a title please call the Library at 480-517-8424.

Fiction

• All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark
• The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: Stories by Stephen King
• Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
• A Christmas Escape by Anne Perry
• Dark Corners by Ruth Rendell
• Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell
• An Evil Mind by Chris Carter
• Golden Age by Jane Smiley
• The Guilty by David Baldacci
• Host by Robin Cook
• Icarus by Deon Meyer
• The Lake House by Kate Morton
• The Martian by Andy Weir
• Playing With Fire by Tess Gerritsen
• The Promise by Robert Crais
• Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
• The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
• The Theory of Death by Faye Kellerman
• Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet Evanovich
• The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith

Nonfiction

• The Betrayal: The 1919 World Series and the Birth of Modern Baseball by Charles Fountain
• Bridging the Soft Skills Gap: How to Teach the Missing Basics to Today’s Young Talent by Bruce Tulgan
• The Computing Universe: A Journey through a Revolution by Anthony J. Hey and Gyuri G. Papay
• Famous Works of Art and How They Got That Way by John B. Nici
• The Francis Effect: A Radical Pope’s Challenge to the American Catholic Church by John Gehring
• Health Trackers: How Technology is Helping Us Monitor and Improve Our Health by Richard McManus
• Hollywood and the Holocaust by Henry Gonshak
• How to Get into a Military Service Academy by Michael Singer Dobson
• Lights Out: A Cyberattack, a Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath by Ted Koppel
• The Reader’s Brain: How Neuroscience Can Make You a Better Writer by J. Yellowlees Douglas
• Rescue Road: One Man, Thirty Thousand Dogs, and a Million Miles on the Last Hope Highway by Peter Zheutlin
• The State of Play: Creators and Critics on Video Game Culture by Dan Goldberg and Linus Larsson
• Understanding Autism: The Essential Guide for Parents by Katrina Williams and Jacqueline Roberts
• Washington: A History of Our National City by Tom Lewis
• What Comes Next and How to Like It: A Memoir by Abigail Thomas

DVDs

• Caring for Mom & Dad
• Growing Up Trans
• McFarland, USA