Win $20,000 With The Big Pitch

Are you an entrepreneur? Do you have the next big business idea? If so, The Big Pitch is your chance to win $20,000 to launch your business.

The Big Pitch is a student startup challenge offered by the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation. Rio Salado College is looking for a student entrepreneur (or team) with a business idea that has the potential for success to move forward in The Big Pitch competition.

The Big Pitch applications are accepted now until Jan. 31, 2020.

The student or team who is selected to be Rio Salado College’s semifinalist will attend The Big Pitch Business Accelerator over Spring Break from March 9th – 15th, 2020.

Click here to learn more.

Download the MyInfo App Today

Rio Salado College is now in the palm of your hand!

Download the Maricopa MyInfo app and connect with your Rio Salado courses. The MyInfo app gives you access to:

· Textbooks

· Financial Aid

· Grades

· Schedules and more

Stay on top of everything this semester with the free MyInfo app from Maricopa, available in the Apple app store and Google play store.

Download the Hearizona Podcasts Today!

Have you checked out the Hear Arizona podcasts?

Hear Arizona is dedicated to addressing the issue of accessibility and empowering our community and people with disabilities.

Their new podcast, “(in)Accessible” debuted in November. It is hosted by Andrea Pasquale and focuses on Arizonans with disabilities and the resources dedicated to making the state more accessible.

The first episode explores how people with disabilities get around in metro Phoenix.

Other Hear Arizona podcasts include Aging, and (Un) Affordable Housing. Episodes are available at Heararizona.org and on all streaming podcast services. New episodes are announced on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Remember To Make You Tuition Payments!

Have you submitted your tuition payment already?

There are a few options when it comes to paying for college. Student payment options include:

· Self-pay

· Financial aid

· Federal work-study

· Scholarships

· Military benefits

· Job sponsorship and more

Make sure to check your Online Student Center at My.Maricopa.edu for information on balance due and payment due dates.

Convenient ways to Pay?

· Online

· In-Person

· By Phone

· By Mail

For more information on tuition and fees, visit the Rio Salado Student Business Services Website.

Have You Tried These Student Success Tips?

A big welcome is in order for our new Rio Salado College students! We want you to succeed at Rio Salado and to help make that happen, below are a few Student Success Tips you can follow to start off on the right path to success.

Students can visit our Academic Advisement webpage to select degree pathways, review transfer credits, schedule a meeting with an academic advisor and more! Students can also check out our Counseling and Career Services webpage to schedule an appointment with a counselor to discuss things such as career planning, strategies for overcoming stress or any concerns interfering with your academic success.

Do you prefer digital resources? Head over to our YouTube channel for Student Success Tips videos! You’ll find helpful videos on “How to Pay for College,” “Study Skills and Time Management Tips,” “Test-taking Tips” and more!

You can also find useful tips in our Welcome to Rio Salado College YouTube videos.

Here you can:

· Learn the Rio Salado enrollment process

· Understand block calendars

· Find out if dual enrollment is right for you

We also encourage you to get involved in Rio Salado student life activities! By taking part, you’ll increase your chances for success in the classroom, develop life and career-building skills, meet and network with other students and community members and help make a difference in other peoples' lives.

Visit RioSalado.edu to learn more.

Rio Salado College Thomas Testing Center Hours

The testing center at Rio Salado College Thomas is piloting extended hours of operation from January 6-June 30, 2020.

To better serve our students and community members, the center will now be open on Mondays (in addition to the regular Tues-Thurs hours) from 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.

Have You Tried These Online Study Tips?

Having good study habits is an important part of succeeding in college. Here are a few tips that can help you succeed in your online classes here at Rio.

1. Make a study plan

2. Manage time carefully

3. Have dedicated study blocks

4. Find a quiet space

5. Limit Social Media

Online classes are perfect for the working adult because you can fit education into your schedule.

Register for classes today http://www.riosalado.edu/schedule/Pages/default.aspx

Congratulations To The Dental Graduate Class of 2019

Congratulations to Rio Salado College’s graduating Dental Hygiene class of 2019!

This marks the 20th graduating class for the program.

Along with the class walking across the stage, a few students were recognized as award winners.

· Shirin Rahimi – Western Society of Periodontology Award

· Erin Rusch – Colgate STAR Award

· Katie Knutson – Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award

 


Rio Salado’s school of dental hygiene prepares graduates who possess the skills and knowledge to competently, legally and ethically assess, plan, implement and evaluate dental hygiene services for diverse populations.

Enroll in our dental hygienist program today. Learn more about our class schedule, degree programs, enrollment, and financial aid. Contact an academic advisor today.

Rio Salado Northern Special Hours

Due to remodeling at Rio Salado College Northern, the computer lab will be closed on Saturdays only from Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019-Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. 

In addition, the testing center will be closed from Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019-Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. We are updating our facilities to better serve students and apologize for any inconvenience.

Opportunities for Youth Reengagement Centers Now at Rio Salado

Rio Salado College adult education locations are now full-service Opportunities for Youth (OFY) Reengagement Centers for 16-24 year-olds who need help going back to school, finding gainful employment and securing other support services. 

Rio Salado Downtown, one of six

new OFY reengagement centers 

A Reengagement Center is a term used nationally that refers to youth-serving organizations that offer a combination of career and educational services with integrated support services.

OFY is an initiative of Arizona State University’s Center for Human Capital and Youth Development in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. OFY was founded in 2015 in response to a report by Measure of America classifying the Phoenix Metropolitan Area as having the highest rate of opportunity youth among 25 major metro areas in the United States. 

Opportunity youth are young adults, ages 16-24, who are neither in school nor employed. At the time of this report, nearly 19% of Metro Phoenix’s population of young adults ages 16-24 was classified as opportunity youth. Since then, OFY’s goal has been to reduce that figure to 11% by 2020 and 7% by 2030. OFY has made significant strides in that effort. In 2019, Measure of America reported the rate dropped to 11.9% in Metro Phoenix. 

OFY Reengagement Centers provide a one-stop-shop for local youth to get help with education, food insecurities, employment and job training, housing, domestic violence, immigration, mental health issues and more. The addition of Rio Salado’s six adult education locations increases the number of Reengagement Centers to 18. 

“We are honored to work with ASU on this initiative, which is in perfect alignment with what we’re trying to achieve at Rio Salado and the Maricopa Community Colleges,” said Rio Salado Interim President Kate Smith. “Our adult education locations are a hub for students to take English as a Second Language and GED® test prep classes, acquire workforce development skills, and get help transitioning into college. We also work closely with other agencies and initiatives like Chicanos Por La Causa, A New Leaf and now Opportunities for Youth to provide integrated support services to help students overcome barriers and increase their chances of success.” 

Elizabeth Cole
   

Among the distinguished and diverse OFY Leadership Council Members spearheading this effort are Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Phoenix College President Larry Johnson and Arizona Department of Education Deputy Associate Superintendent Sheryl Hart. Chicanos Por La Causa Director of Workforce Solutions Victor Contreras will serve as the 2020 chair and Rio Salado College Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships Elizabeth Cole will serve as the 2020 incoming chair. 

“As the largest provider of adult education in Arizona with Valley-wide locations, and one of the top three largest colleges serving Maricopa County residents, we are poised to help in a unique and impactful way,” said Cole, who has been serving as an OFY Leadership Council Member since 2016.   

The Arizona Department of Education named Rio Salado College as the Adult Education Program of the Year and Adult Basic Education/Adult Secondary Education Excelling Program award-winner for 2017-18. This is the second year in a row Rio Salado received the Program of the Year award. 

OFY services are available now at Rio Salado locations. For more details visit oppforyouth.org.

By Rio Salado College Media Relations Manager Annette Flores

Rave Alert Test, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m.

The Rio Salado College Incident Management Team will conduct a test of our RAVE Alert system on Thursday, December 19 at 10 a.m.

We encourage you to check your email and text service for this test message.

If you don’t receive an email or text message, please check the status of your RAVE account via your My.maricopa.edu student center to confirm whether you’re opted in and that your current mobile phone is listed. Here’s how:

• Log in to My.maricopa.edu and go to your Student Center
• Under Personal Information, click on the Demographic Data tab
• Click on the Phone Numbers tab
• Ensure your mobile phone number is correct and listed as Mobile. If it is not listed, simply click on the Add a Phone number bar
• Click on the Save bar

We also encourage you to upload the Rave Guardian mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Learn more.

Questions? Please contact our public safety team at 480-377.4555 or Public.Safety@riosalado.edu.

We appreciate your participation in this test and your commitment to safety.

Are You Struggling With Hunger? Rio Can Help

Did you know one in seven people struggle with hunger in Arizona? On any given day, thousands of students struggle with chronic hunger, which means they may not know where they’re going to get their next meal.

Are you struggling with hunger? Let us help you.

We’re prepared to provide emergency relief services to Rio Salado College students across the country through a non-profit meal delivery service.

Remember, you are not alone. Do not hesitate to contact one of our counselors if you need help overcoming food insecurities interfering with your academic performance. Call 480.517.8785 or click here for immediate assistance.

Winter Break Dec. 24 - Jan. 1

Happy Holidays! We wish our students, employees and the entire Rio community a very happy holiday season. Please note that the Maricopa Community Colleges and Rio Salado College will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019-Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 for winter break.

Some departments will have special hours on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, and some will have limited services over the break. Our 24/7 services such as Technology Helpdesk, RioLearn, Ask a Librarian and My.Maricopa.edu will remain available.

For a complete list of Rio Salado department closures and special hours during winter break, please click here.

We will resume regular business hours on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020.

Complete Your FAFSA And Beat The Deadline

Have you completed your FAFSA yet?

The federal deadline for the FAFSA is June 30, but students are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.

What you will need to provide:

- Social Security #

- Alien registration number (if you aren’t a U.S. citizen)

- 2018 Taxes: W2’s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA form using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)

- Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)

- An FSA ID so you can electronically sign the FAFSA form

If you are a dependent, you’ll also need most of the above information for your parent(s).

Get started with your online application today!

Online: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa

Mobile App: Download the new myStudentAid app for iOS and Android

To submit your application as a Rio Salado College student, use school code 0014483.

Continue Your Education In The Dental Field With Rio

Are you thinking about furthering your education in the dental field?
Rio Salado College offers non-credit online and hybrid courses that provide continuing education hours for the registered dental hygienist and dental assistant. An observation course is also available for the prospective dental hygiene student.

A few benefits of Rio’s continuing education courses include:

· Starting any Monday

· Online accessibility

· Prepares the dental assistant for the Dental Assisting National Board exams for AZ certification dental x-rays and coronal polishing in the dental office (CRP, CRPTP. RAD and RADTR)

Contact our dental department today to learn more. Call 1.800.729.1197 or visit us online.

Need Help On A Big Research Paper? Ask a Librarian 24/7

Do you have a big class project you have to start doing research for? We can help. 

Ask a Librarian is a free, 24/7 online help tool available to Rio Salado students. With Ask a Librarian, you can get help with:

- Advice on how to start your research

- Tips on how to research topics

- Where to find examples of citations for different source types

- How to check for bias in books, articles or web pages you’re reading

Are you a late-night studier? You can use the Ask a Librarian tool at any time to get questions answered.

Try it today! Ask a Librarian now.

Disability Services Special Hours 12/6/19

The Disability Services department will be closed on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., so staff can attend an Academic Affairs division training.

Students may complete a Follow-up Request Form to request service from impacted department during the closure. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Thomas Location Incident Report - All Clear

Phoenix and Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) police responded to a report of a shooting near our Thomas location in Phoenix at approximately 9 p.m. yesterday, Dec. 3.

There were no Rio Salado students or employees involved in the incident, which occurred on the street, near the location. The investigation is being handled by the Phoenix Police Department. At the time of the investigation, the suspect was not in custody.

The Thomas location is open for regular business hours today.

We encourage you to report any suspicious activity to MCCCD police by calling 480-784-0911.

We would like to extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery to the individual who was injured. We would also like to extend our deep appreciation to our college incident management and public safety teams and local law enforcement for responding so quickly to address this matter.

College Closure Dec. 5, 2019

Some Rio Salado College departments will have special hours on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, for staff to attend a retreat.

The following departments will be closed and have no services:

· Financial Aid

· Institutional Advancement

· International Education

· Military/Veteran Services

· National Division

· Student Life

· Testing-all locations.

These departments will be open with limited service (phone calls only):

· Advising

· Admissions, Registration & Records

· Financial Aid (855-622-2332)

Students may complete a Follow-up Request Form to request services from impacted departments during the closure. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Reminder: College Closed For Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is turkey day! We want to remind you of our hours during this Thanksgiving week.

Rio Salado will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, for the Thanksgiving holiday. We wish our students, employees and the entire Rio community a very happy Thanksgiving!

In addition, most Rio Salado locations and services will close early at 5 p.m. on Nov. 25-27, 2019. Please visit Thanksgiving Day Hours for details about special hours and services available. Regular business hours resume on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019.

Reminder: SIS Scheduled Outage Nov. 27 - Dec. 2

Heads up! The Maricopa Community Colleges’ Student Information System (SIS) is scheduled for an outage from today, Wednesday, Nov. 27 starting at 5 p.m. that will last until 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2.

All SIS tools during this time will be unavailable, including the Student Center.

If you need to request service from an impacted department during the outage, please complete a Follow-up Request Form here.

Thank you for your patience as we work to update our systems to improve your learning experience.

Don't Miss The Encore Presentation of Faculty Senate President Dr. Wanda Tucker On Channel 12

Did you get a chance to see Rio Salado’s own Faculty Senate President Dr. Wanda Tucker on Channel 12 News Sunday Square off?

If you missed it, don’t worry. There will be an encore broadcast of the program Sunday, Dec. 1 at 8 a.m.

Dr. Tucker spoke with Channel 12 news’ Brahm Resnik about retracing her family’s history as a descendant of the first generation of African slaves brought to the United States in 1619.

Learn more about Dr. Tucker’s personal journey here.

Rio Salado Bookstore’s Thanksgiving Cyber Sale!

The Rio Salado Bookstore’s Thanksgiving Cyber Sale runs from Wednesday, Nov. 27-Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. This sale is only available online. Shop here.

Rio Salado Wins 2019 WCET Outstanding Work Award for Assessing Student Soft Skills & Ensuring Equitable Instruction

Rio Salado College Interim President Kate Smith

Recent studies and news stories make it abundantly clear today’s employers value “soft skills” as much as— or more than “hard skills.” 

Assignments, tests and GPAs can help colleges and employers gauge students’ hard skills like technical knowledge but quantifying soft skills like listening, communications, problem-solving and teamwork has been much more difficult.

Rio Salado College created a technological solution to address this issue, a proprietary dashboard called the Dynamic Assessment Data Display (DADD), which was designed by faculty and staff to identify and document every student’s achievement, over time— in each course they take, across all platforms— from the time they begin taking courses until graduation.

The college was recognized for its efforts by WCET (the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies) as a 2019 WCET Outstanding Work (WOW) award-winner. WCET, which is a leader in the practice, policy and advocacy of technology-enhanced learning in higher education, has presented its WOW awards since 2014 to recognize “outstanding efforts by member institutions and organizations in applying an innovative, technology-based solution to a challenging educational need.” Rio Salado is one of three 2019 awardees.

Dr. Angela Felix and President Smith accepting 2019 WOW Award

“Our faculty and staff have developed a data-driven solution to assess students’ soft skills and overall performance through this dynamic dashboard, which in turn gives us the means to determine if there are any achievement gaps and quickly assess the effectiveness of curricular interventions,” said Rio Salado Interim President Kate Smith, who accepted the WOW award on behalf of the college at the WCET annual meeting award ceremony, Nov. 6 in Denver, CO.

How does the DADD work? “Our faculty subject-matter experts in the areas of Critical Thinking, Writing, Reading, Information Literacy, and Oral Communication "tag" assignments across the curriculum that align with one or more of these skills,” said Rio Salado Faculty Chair for Languages Angela Felix, a key member of the DADD development team.

According to Felix, “the DADD displays the results of this backend work so faculty and instructors can see how their students are performing in these key areas. The results can be sorted by student group to help ensure that all populations have an equal chance to succeed. If instructors see that results for one or more groups are lagging, they can focus their efforts on modifying their instructional practices to narrow the gap and improve overall student performance. The DADD puts critical data directly into the hands of faculty who can then quickly check the effectiveness of interventions.”

“Data available via this dashboard helps ensure we are providing equitable instruction to all students,” continued Smith. “If soft skills are in high demand in today’s workplace, then we have a responsibility to make sure all students have an equal chance to acquire them and intervene if there are achievement gaps. The DADD helps us do just that with real-time data that’s available on demand to all faculty and instructors.”  

Check out this related video to learn more. 

By Rio Salado College Media Relations Manager Annette Flores

Thanksgiving Week Hours & Closures

It’s almost turkey time! So, we wanted to give you a heads up on the service hours and closures for Thanksgiving week.

Rio Salado will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, for the Thanksgiving holiday. We wish our students, employees and the entire Rio community a very happy Thanksgiving!

In addition, most Rio Salado locations and services will close early at 5 p.m. on Nov. 25-27, 2019. Please visit Thanksgiving Day Hours for details about special hours and services available. Regular business hours resume on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019.

SIS Down for Maintenance Nov. 27-Dec. 2

The Maricopa Community Colleges’ Student Information System (SIS) has a scheduled outage from Wednesday, Nov. 27, 5 p.m. - Monday, Dec. 2, 6 a.m.. During this time, all SIS tools including the Student Center will be unavailable.

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 in your Student Center. Please plan accordingly.

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

If you need to request service from an impacted department during the outage, please complete a Follow-up Request Form.


We appreciate your patience as we update our systems to improve your learning experience.

Celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week With Rio Salado College

Happy Global Entrepreneurship week! How will you celebrate?

Each year from Nov. 18-24, more than 10 million students in 170 countries participate in Global Entrepreneurship Week, recognizing innovators who dream big and bring ideas to life.

Global Entrepreneur Week introduces entrepreneurship and innovations to those who may not have ever considered it as a career path.

Do you want to become an entrepreneur or learn about how a small business works? Register today for Rio Salado’s entrepreneurship or small business courses, developed by real entrepreneurs! Learn more here.

Visit our Facebook page all this week as we celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week. Check back for Global Entrepreneurship facts and info.

Get Tech Savvy At The Girls Get IT Event 12/6/2019

Did you know that in 2018, only 20% of all US tech jobs were held by women? Join us in helping to close the gender gap at the GIRLS GET IT event Friday, Dec. 6, 2019.

There will be more than 50 professional women in IT available to share their stories and provide advice on what steps young women interested in IT can take to advance or start a career.

Attendees will enjoy lunch, a lineup of keynote speakers, career resources and opportunities to network with successful women in IT.

The Girls Get IT event is dedicated to introducing girls and young women to the expanding array of careers in STEM fields.

When: Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

Where: Mesa Community College, Navajo Room

Time: 12-4 p.m.

There is no cost to attend the event. All attendees must register ahead of time.

Rio Salado Awarded Adult Education Program of the Year. State Increases College Funding to Reduce Student Wait Lists.

Members of Rio Salado College's Adult Education Team with Arizona
Department of Education Deputy Associate Superintendent Sheryl Hart

The Arizona Department of Education named Rio Salado College as the Adult Education Program of the Year and ABE/ASE Excelling Program award-winner for 2017-18. 

This is the second year in a row Rio Salado received the Program of the Year award.

“We are honored by this recognition and take great pride in serving as Arizona’s largest provider of adult education,” said Rio Salado Interim President Kate Smith.

The Program of the Year Award criteria is based on student education and employment outcomes, student retention, cost per participant, compliance with grant requirements and timely reporting.

Rio Salado serves nearly 4,000 Maricopa County residents annually through its adult education programs, which are available at locations across the Valley. Students can learn the English language, prepare for GED® tests, engage with workforce preparation and employment skills training, take industry-specific workforce training classes-- and get help transitioning to college.

Students pay a registration fee in the range of $25-70 every 16 weeks, based on a sliding scale, which is determined by household income and family size.

“Through our adult education program, we are helping students improve their chances of finding gainful employment and increasing their earning potential-- while offering a seamless pathway to higher education,” said Smith.

According to GED Testing Service, 97% of colleges and employers accept the GED credential and GED grads average $9,000 more a year in income than someone without a diploma.

This azcentral story by reporter Lily 

Altavena provides insights into adult ed.

Recent news stories have reported there are wait lists for adult education services throughout Arizona but that’s not the case at Rio Salado College.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona State Board of Education approved a one-time additional $500,000 in Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act funding to help agencies expand their services and reduce wait times. Rio Salado will receive $185,000 of that funding to increase the number of students served and expand awareness about the services it has to offer.

“We are poised to scale up our operations and to accommodate more students,” said Rio Salado Associate Dean of Community Development Tamara Cochran. “Our priority is to help students improve their academic and employability skills, create a talent pipeline for the local workforce and prepare students for success in their future educational and occupational pursuits. We plan to use this funding to help more students who are eager to get started now.”

To learn more about Rio Salado College adult education services, visit: www.riosalado.edu/programs/abe.

Rio Salado Workforce Open House

Do you need help preparing for the workforce, studying for GED® tests or receiving employment skills training?

Rio Salado College Southern is hosting an open house connecting students with wrap-around support services to assist in their educational journey.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 19

Where: RSC Southern, 3320 S. Price Rd., Tempe, AZ 85282

Time: 5-6 p.m.

Rio Northern Lab Closure 11/18/19

The Rio Salado Northern computer lab will be closed on Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. The center will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Celebrate Native American Heritage All Month Long

How are you celebrating Native American Heritage Month?
Heritage month is an opportunity for native people to educate the general public about its tribes, unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.

Check out Rio Salado Library’s Native American Heritage Month Guide for library and web resources that explore the culture, achievements, and history of Native Americans.

Rio Ranks Top 3 On List of Phoenix Colleges

Have you heard the news? Rio Salado College ranks in the top 3 among the largest Phoenix-area colleges and universities.

Serving more than 21,000 Fall enrollees in 2019, Rio Salado College is proud to be one of the largest colleges in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Check out the Phoenix Business Journal article here.

Don't Miss Out On Your Chance At $40,000 Towards College

Are you a student who excels in the classroom? Are you making an impact in the community? If so, the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship may be right for you.

With up to $40,000 per year for educational expenses, the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship selects the nation’s top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities.

Rio Salado students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, a record of school/community service and some level of financial need are encouraged to apply.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. To apply or determine eligibility, click here.

You can also call 480.517.8050 or contact StudentLife@riosalado.edu if you need help applying.