Rio Addiction Studies Re-accredited by NASAC

We are proud to announce that Rio Salado College’s Addictions and Substance Use Disorders program was granted full re-accreditation by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC) through 2027.

NASAC is an academic accreditation organization for higher education addiction studies programs. Accreditation is awarded to institutions that meet and maintain a set of credentials. NASAC accreditation is specialized and not institutional— and designed to help addiction and counselor faculty members prepare for institutional, regional accreditation like the Higher Learning Commission accreditation process, which reviews an entire university or college.

Dr. Kirk Bowden

“We work diligently to develop coursework that is relevant and up-to-date, to meet the needs of students who are entering into the field— as well as career professionals who are seeking continuing education opportunities,” said Kirk Bowden, who serves as Rio Salado's Faculty Chair for this program. 

Dr. Bowden is a national leader in the Addiction and Substance Use Disorders field, who works with a team of faculty members who are also experts in the field, to create engaging educational content to help professionals stay informed and connected. 

Rio Salado serves as one of Arizona’s top educators of addictions counseling professionals, offering online classes, certificates and an associate degree in Addictions and Substance Use Disorders.

Rio Salado also offers a series of non-credit, online seminars to help addictions and counseling professionals stay informed about the latest industry developments and strategies, and to meet continuing education requirements. Look for spring offerings soon.

“Many of our students are parents, teachers and social workers, who, through their daily lives and jobs, encounter people with addiction issues,” Bowden said. “They complete our seminars and courses for a variety of reasons. As such, we are committed to providing quality instruction that will educate and empower professionals and students alike,” said Bowden.

For more information about Rio Salado’s Behavioral Health/Addictions and Substance Use Disorders programs, visit www.riosalado.edu/ASD or call an academic advisor at 480-517-8580.

SIS Update! Dec 1 Outage Begins 6 a.m.

We advised you earlier this week that the Maricopa Community Colleges Student Information System (SIS) will not be available this Saturday for scheduled maintenance.

We have an important update.  
The outage will begin on Saturday morning, Dec. 1 at 6 a.m. As such, SIS will not be available during these scheduled maintenance times:

• Sat., Dec. 1, 6 a.m. – Sun., Dec. 2, 12 p.m.
• Fri., Dec. 7, 6 a.m. – Mon., Dec 10, 6 a.m. 

This means you will not be able to register or pay for classes, request official or unofficial transcripts, check grades and financial aid status or access to-do list items and message center notices. Please plan accordingly.

Faculty and staff will not have the ability to complete assignments or enter grades.

Maricopa email and Canvas/RioLearn portals will not be impacted by these changes and will remain available to students and faculty.

Get the latest details by visiting this web page.

We appreciate your patience as we update our systems to improve our service to you.

Thank you.

40th Anniversary Throwback Thursday 2015-17

Our 40th anniversary trip down memory lane is heading toward the final stretch, to revisit 2015-17.

Splash attends a Maricopa Community Colleges Board meeting to say hello
       

In 2015, the college introduced its first, official mascot, Splash, which was chosen by popular vote from students, faculty, staff and the public. See related story.

Rio Salado headed south of the border in 2016 to help KJZZ open its international business desk located at the Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Mexico City campus. 

The news bureau was designed to help the KJZZ Fronteras Desk team expand its coverage of the fast-growing market between Arizona and Mexico-- providing listeners with information to help them better understand economic globalization and its impact on the Southwest. See related RioNews story.  

KJZZ is a community service of Rio Salado College.

Luke A.F.B. Brigadier General Brook J. Leonard and Maricopa Community 

Colleges Chancellor Maria Harper-Marinick leading ribbon-cutting ceremony

On Nov. 9, 2017, Rio Salado opened a new Military and Veteran Success Center at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale. The center is the nation's first community supported, case-managed, holistic support center for transitioning military, veterans and their spouses. Check out this related Maricopa Now feature by MCTV and this related RioNews story to learn more.

Do you remember this time? Share your photos, stories and memories via email to RSCmemories@riosalado.edu or social media using the hashtag #RioSaladoCollege40th.

My.Maricopa SIS Outage Dec 1-2 & Dec. 7-10

The Maricopa Community Colleges Student Information System (SIS) will not be available during these scheduled maintenance times:

• Sat., Dec. 1, 6 p.m. – Sun., Dec. 2, 12 p.m.
• Fri., Dec. 7, 6 a.m. – Mon., Dec 10, 6 a.m. 

This means you will not be able to register or pay for classes, request official or unofficial transcripts, check grades and financial aid status or access to-do list items and message center notices. Please plan accordingly.

Faculty and staff will not have the ability to complete assignments or enter grades.

Maricopa email and Canvas/RioLearn portals will not be impacted by these changes and will remain available to students and faculty.

Get the latest details by visiting this web page.

We appreciate your patience as we update our systems to improve our service to you.

Thank you.

Tempe Headquarters Closing Early, Nov. 29

Most Rio Salado Tempe headquarters services will close early, at 5:30 p.m. on Thu., Nov. 29 for a staff event. 

Other Rio Salado locations and the following services will remain open for regular business hours:

• Bookstore
• Computer Lab Tempe
• Technology Helpdesk 
• Testing Centers
• Tutoring

Please visit our location pages for details about each location and service.

We will resume regular business hours on Fri., Nov. 30.

Post Thanksgiving Student Success Tips

Welcome back, Rio Waves. We hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving break and that you’re ready to tackle your studies with renewed energy! 

Many of you are about to finish up the fall semester, so here are a few tips to help you succeed:

• Stay on top of quizzes, tests and study time by using a calendar 
• Keep classwork with you in case you find extra time in your day to complete 
• Prioritize 
• Seek the help of a college advisor for planning and goal setting 

We have a series of student success videos that provide additional tips on how you can get organized. Check them out now.

And don’t hesitate to call on our Academic Advisement and Counseling teams for additional support!
www.riosalado.edu/counseling
www.riosalado.edu/advisement

#RioGivesBack Final Report

Today, we’re sharing our final #RioGivesBack report about the volunteer work our Rio Salado family has been doing to fulfill 40 acts of community service as part of our year-long 40th anniversary celebration.

Staff members of our Military and Veteran Success Centers volunteered nearly 30 hours of their time to the City of Glendale’s Stand Up for Veterans event on September 22. This annual event is designed to help transitioning military, veterans, veteran students and spouses with holistic services.

The MVSC team managed a booth and assessed a total of 36 veterans and their families that day and followed-up with each of them to ensure they were connected to the right resources. In attendance were Troy Friedman, Kelly Mills, Lex Lockett, Miles Morell, Rachelle Miller and Steve Yamamori

Our College Public Safety team hosted a book drive to benefit the Hope Women's Center in Phoenix, volunteering nearly eight hours to collect nearly 100 books. The Center's mission is to engage, encourage, and equip vulnerable women and teen girls by providing support for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Members of the team included John Porvaznik, James Catlett, Darryll Dorce'us, David Garza Lopez, Donald Gilbreth, Samuel Noriega, Steven Reynolds, Gabrielle Smeriglio and Cecilia Strabala. Pictured here are Darryll, David, Sam, Steven and James with Rio Salado Library Specialist Chris Orf.

This volunteer initiative has been an enriching and rewarding experience for all of us! We are grateful to be of service to and members of this community.

Visit this Facebook photo album to see the efforts of our entire family.

Thanksgiving Week Hours & Closures - Update!

Here are the latest updates for Thanksgiving Week.

Rio Salado and the Maricopa Community Colleges will be closed Thu. – Sun., Nov. 22-25 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Most Rio Salado locations and services will also close early, at 5 p.m., Mon. – Wed., Nov. 19-21.

Other Special Hours & Closures During the Week

• The Café at Rio Coffee Bar will close at 11 a.m., Wed., Nov. 21
• Testing Centers and most locations will close at 5 p.m. on Wed. Nov. 21

Please visit our location pages for details about special hours and services available.

We will resume regular business hours on Mon., Nov. 26.

Services Available to You During the Break

Services normally available 24/7 such as RioLearn, Technology Support Helpdesk, Ask a Librarian and My.Maricopa.edu will remain available. Some Rio Salado locations, services and testing centers will be available on Sat., Nov. 24. Here's a look at services available to you.

LOCATION	DATES OPEN	HOURS
RSC Tempe Computer Lab	Saturday, Nov. 24	8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
RSC Tempe Financial Aid	Throughout the break	24/7 phone service
RSC Tempe Technology Helpdesk	Throughout the break Saturday, Nov. 24	24/7 phone service 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
RSC Tempe Testing	Saturday, Nov. 24	8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
RSC Tempe Tutoring	Saturday, Nov. 24	9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
RSC Northern Computer Lab	Saturday, Nov. 24	9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
RSC Northern Testing	Saturday, Nov. 24	8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Communiversity at Queen Creek Testing	Saturday, Nov. 24	8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Lifelong Learning Center in Surprise Testing	Saturday, Nov. 24	8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

*Updated 11/20/2018

Stay Safe with Rave Guardian Mobile App

Safety at your fingertips! 

Take advantage of our Rave Guardian mobile app—free for Maricopa Community Colleges students and staff! Learn more about the features at bit.ly/2PMxGjH and then download the Rave Guardian app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Please note, staff and students are automatically opted in to receive RAVE Alert Text Messages about college incidents. Please take the time to confirm that your current mobile phone is listed and that it is tagged as a cell/mobile device to ensure you receive messaging. Students should use My.Maricopa.edu and staff should use HCM to confirm or update their RAVE status.

Thanksgiving Week Hours & Closures

Happy Holidays, Rio Waves. Please note, Rio Salado and the Maricopa Community Colleges will be closed Thu. – Sun., Nov. 22-25 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Most Rio Salado locations and services will also close early, at 5 p.m., Mon. – Wed., Nov. 19-21.

Other Special Hours & Closures During the Week

• The Café at Rio Coffee Bar will close at 11 a.m., Wed., Nov. 21
• Testing Centers and most locations will close at 5 p.m. on Wed. Nov. 21

Please visit our location pages for details about special hours and services available.

We will resume regular business hours on Mon., Nov. 26.

Services Available to You During the Break

Services normally available 24/7 such as RioLearn, Technology Support Helpdesk, Ask a Librarian and My.Maricopa.edu will remain available. Some Rio Salado locations, services and testing centers will be available on Sat., Nov. 24. Here's a look at services available to you.

LOCATION	DATES OPEN	HOURS
RSC Tempe Computer Lab	Saturday, Nov. 24	8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
RSC Tempe Financial Aid	Throughout the break	24/7 phone service
RSC Tempe Technology Helpdesk	Throughout the break Saturday, Nov. 24	24/7 phone service 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
RSC Tempe Testing	Saturday, Nov. 24	8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
RSC Tempe Tutoring	Saturday, Nov. 24	9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
RSC Northern Computer Lab	Saturday, Nov. 24	9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
RSC Northern Testing	Saturday, Nov. 24	8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Communiversity at Queen Creek Testing	Saturday, Nov. 24	8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Lifelong Learning Center in Surprise Testing	Saturday, Nov. 24	8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

*Updated 11/20/2018

November is Native American Heritage Month

The Rio Salado Library is proud to celebrate Native American Heritage Month and has compiled a resource guide for you to explore the rich heritage and history of Native American communities. Check out the guide now.

This commemorative month gives us a chance to enjoy the traditions, music, crafts, dance and culture of our country's indigenous communities. It is also an opportunity for Native Americans to educate the public about their tribes, the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.

Maricopa Community Colleges Celebrations

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with dance, food, storytelling and more at these events.

Celebrate the Holidays with KJZZ Storytellers!

Celebrate the holiday season with our KJZZ Phoenix, KBACH, Sun Sounds of Arizona and Soundbiteaz family and friends at the Holiday StoryFest & Authors Showcase, Dec. 1!

Get your tickets now at storyfest.kjzz.org

🔊 Be entertained by expert storytellers
🔊 Discover Glendale HOTSPOTS and discounts
🔊 Meet Authors
🔊 Record your holiday memories with KJZZ's mobile production studio, Soundbiteaz

This event is made possible by KJZZ 91.5, a community service of Rio Salado College. Additional support is made possible by azcentral, The Storytellers Project, ASU's Virginia G. Piper Center for CreativeWriting, South MountainCommunity College Storytelling Institute

Explore a Career in Senior Living Management

Become the "You," you want to be with our Senior Living Management program. 

We can help you begin or advance your senior living career with an online program that combines business management with caregiving-- and allows you to quickly move into executive-level positions. Classes begin most Mondays! 

Reach out to get started now: www.riosalado.edu/seniorliving. 

Ready enroll right now? Learn about program requirements and begin the enrollment process at www.riosalado.edu/programs/senior-living-management.

Possible Career Paths:

• Executive Director 
• Business Office Director 
• Director, Sales & Marketing 
• Director, Health & Wellness 
• Lifestyle & Leisure Director 
• Memory Support Director 

Get the latest program news by visiting our Senior Living Management Facebook page.

Tamale Workshops this December!

The holiday season is nearly here, which means it’s Tamale Time! 

Our Cafe at Rio team still has a few openings for these Tamale Making Workshops in December:

🌯 Dec 8, p.m. session: 2 openings
🌯 Dec 15, a.m. session: 5 openings
🌯 Dec 15, p.m. session: 7 openings

Work with a professional chef to make green chile chicken and red chile pork tamales—and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Register now: www.riosalado.edu/CAFE. 

$24.99 for singles, $45 for parties of two.

Dozens of Jobs Await You at 11/15 Career Fair!

Don't forget about tomorrow's Pre-Holiday Career Fair in Phoenix hosted by Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) Workforce Solutions!

Participating employers include Walmart, PSCU, Lowe's, CPLC, City of Phoenix, T-Mobile, Aramark, Cyracom, Phoenix Police Department, Carvana and many more.

Pre-Holiday Career Fair
Thu., November 15
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Chicanos Por La Causa - Workforce Solutions

at Rio Salado Downtown
619 N. 7th Ave. Building B
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Questions? Contact CPLC at www.cplcworkforce.org or call 602-527-8451

Celebrate #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with dance, food, storytelling and more!

Join us in honoring the rich heritage and history of indigenous cultures at these Maricopa Community Colleges events.

Free Tutoring Services for You!

Need a helping hand with your studies? Our tutoring centers offer free support services to help you succeed!

Enhance Your Learning Experience! Call on our tutors for help with 

• Problem-solving complex concepts and homework assignments
• Study skills and strategies
• Preparing for exams

Get help in-person and online!

🔎 Comfortable study rooms for students

🔎 One-on-one and group tutoring with professional tutors
🔎 Online tutoring via Smarthinking

There are also some video conferencing tutoring options for select subjects!

Get help with Math (All Levels), CIS ( Graphic Design, Web Development, Programming and Java), Accounting, Statistics, Spanish, English Reading and Writing, Chemistry, Biology and more!

Learn more by visiting www.riosalado.edu/tutoring

Here’s what Rio Waves are saying about our tutoring services:

Everyone one of your math tutors has been excellent. Before coming for tutoring I failed my college algebra class and nearly dropped out of school. Then I heard about the tutoring center and I decided to give it a try. Your tutors were patient with me and I never felt judged and it seemed as if they were all rooting for me. They helped me pass my algebra class with no sweat so I decided to use them for my calculus class and I aced my two calculus classes easily. Math is really easy when you have people to help. Thanks all of your tutors and you of course for hiring them in the first place. Fawn

Dawn is by far the BEST tutor I’ve ever had. She has gone out of her way too many times to help me with questions and assignments. She has provided resources on her own time to help me with the material given in courses and has a high level of knowledge of each thing taught. Larry Norris 

The fact that Rio has a Statistics dedicated tutor, Dawn Bulriss, made a big difference for me. I started out the online class by reading the book that I purchased word for word to attempt to ‘teach myself’ the statistics concepts and problems.This quickly broke down at Chapter 4-5 which was a huge week. I almost quit the class! I was encouraged by others to ask for help, something I’m not good at! In one session with Dawn, I was back on track and I decided to keep visiting twice a week. When you allowed Dawn to have online sessions, this was a real gift for me so I could continue with the needed tutoring. Lastly, I am grateful for the dedication that Dawn displays with each student she has. She has a personal stake in each student’s success. I hope to see these services continue for others. Marylin Curiel

The tutoring the Statistics tutoring program via web chat was very helpful and enabled me to get past my frustrations with the material and prepare for an exam- both assignments were successful because of the help Dawn was able to provide. Alex

Military & Veteran Success Center Anniversary

Happy anniversary to the Maricopa Community Colleges Military and Veteran Success Center West at Luke A.F.B. on its one-year anniversary! 

Learn how the Military and Veteran Success Centers of Maricopa are helping active duty military members, veterans and their spouses transition smoothly and successfully into civilian life at www.riosalado.edu/locations/mvsc

Pictured above are Luke A.F.B. Brigadier General Brook J. Leonard and Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Maria Harper-Marinick leading last year’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 9, 2017.

Check out this related Maricopa Now feature by MCTV and this related RioNews story to learn more.

Save with Perkspot Student Discount Program!

Take advantage of the benefits of being a Maricopa Community Colleges student-- like Perkspot, which will give you access to thousands of exclusive discounts and offers!

Sign up and start saving now: maricopastudents.perkspot.com. 

It's free!

#RioGivesBack Progress Report

Rio Salado staff members have been volunteering their time and talents to local charities as part of a college-wide effort to fulfill 40 acts of community service during our 40th anniversary celebration. Here’s a look at the latest activities by our Rio Salado family.

Rio Salado staff members from our Library, Counseling, Student Life and Alumni teams volunteered 20 hours of service to the Valley of the Sun United Way’s Book-in-a-Bag project on Sept 13 and Oct. 2. Volunteers collected new and gently-used K-4 grade books, decorated bags to represent the theme of the specific book and assembled literacy kits that included the books, bookmarks, reading comprehension pages and reading tips for parents. The teams were was able to assemble 27 literacy kits. They also collected 45 books. Library volunteers included Tricia Hansen, Karen Docherty, Sarah Stohr, Kirstin Thomas, Kim Watson, Chris Orf and Hazel Davis. Members from the Counseling, Student Life and Alumni teams included Melanie Abts, Amberly Lebeck Brown, Evea Morrow, Todd Aakhus and Alicia Lammie. 

Rio Salado’s Financial Aid team set up donation boxes at our Tempe headquarters and collected hygiene products for Mesa United Way’s Helen's Hope Chest. Among the participants were Christine Avenetti, Veronica Ochoa, Rebecca Feliz, Angela Clark, Maria Ruelas, Maribel Carlos, Charity Downing, Cindy Hall, Trish Smith, Nanci Regehr, Mary Rosas, Jeff Anderson and Traneice Bradley.

Members from our Admissions and Records team volunteered their time and service on Oct. 11 to OCJ Kids (Opportunity Community and Justice for Kids). The team created Cuddle Bags for children entering either foster care homes or group homes. Staff donated blankets, small teddy bears, overnight hygiene supplies, snacks and water bottles, which they placed into convenient drawstring bags so kids can easily carry. These bags are given to at-risk children when they are being removed from their homes by Department of Child Safety workers. Among the participants were Melissa Sandoval, Max Christenson, Amber Adams-Hill, Elaine Andrade, Kevin Castillo, Alma Aguilar, Sophia Cordova, Sasha Flores, Laurel Redman, Terri Sandoval, Pam Kramer, Priscilla Guitierrez, Claudia Contreras, Jake Hall, Cori Christenson & Greta, Kristine Ballard, James Schermetzler, Kay Pealstrom, Chab Bailey, Aileen Bonilla, Heather Windster, Mark Traintor, Chris McCollum, Alberta Salcido, Mary Andrade, Tamara Webb and Emily De la Ossa.

Visit this Facebook album to see more photos.