Week ending October 5, 2018

Week ending September 17 – October 5, 2018

 SOROPTIMIST LUNCHEON -- On September 18, Superintendent/President Dreyfuss presented at the Soroptimist Luncheon along with Board of Trustees President Madeline Shapiro and Trustee Mary Ann Pacheco. President Dreyfuss announced her retirement and shared that during her time leading as Superintendent/President the number of ADTs have increased from four (4) to 27 and that we were selected as only one of 15 colleges to offer a four-year degree, ours being in Auto Tech. President Dreyfuss also shared that Rio Hondo College is: o Financially strong and solvent per our 2018-19 balanced budget adopted on September 12, 2018 by our Board of Trustees. o The first in Los Angeles County to offer FREE TUITION for the first two years, through our Rio Promise program, to first-time college students who enroll as full-time students. We are able to provide the second year of free tuition due to our College being fiscally sound. o Achieving Student Success as illustrated by our completion and persistence rates: . Completion rate is 73.4% for college-ready students who achieved at least 30 units and 60.4% for college-ready students who completed a degree, certificate or transfer-related outcome. Source: 2018 Student Success Scorecard . Persistence rate is 78% for college-ready students who enrolled in the first three consecutive terms. Source: 2018 Student Success Scorecard o Achieving Student Success as demonstrated by the increase of degrees and certificates awarded to students from 2013-14 to 2017-18: . The number of degrees and certificates awarded to college-ready students increased by 234% from 1,263 to 4,224. Source: Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Data Mart Numbers Week ending October 5, 2018 . The number of degrees awarded to college-ready students increased by 84% from 982 to 1,824. Source: California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Data Mart Numbers . The number of certificates awarded to college-ready students increased by 785% from 271 to 2,400. Source: California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Data Mart Numbers

 PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE – On September 20, President Dreyfuss co-chaired the President’s Advisory Committee meeting with Co-Chair Alex Morales. The President’s Advisory Committee is comprised of community leaders from the College’s service area, including elected official representatives, city commissioners, non-profit representatives, school district leaders, and community activists. She delivered the State of the College address to the members of the President’s Advisory Committee. Joining her were Vice President Henry Gee who provided an overview of the RHC Promise and Dr. Russell Castañeda Calleros who provided an update of the GO RIO program. Also attending the meeting were Vice Presidents Dr. Laura Ramirez and Yulian Ligioso, and Director of Financial Aid and Veterans Services Yvonne Gutierrez-Sandoval. President Dreyfuss also showcased the three student-produced promotional videos that were recognized as the winners of the spring Rio Hondo College student video contest, organized by the Office of Marketing and Communications.

 BOYS & GIRLS CLUB GALA – On September 22, President Dreyfuss attended the Boys & Girls Club Gala at the Friendly Hills Country Club along with Board President Shapiro and Trustee Pacheco. According to the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier’s Executive Director Oscar Hernández, this was the largest annual gala in both attendance and the amount fundraised. After expenses, the net amount raised was between $190,000 to $200,000.

 FORENSICS SPEECH AND DEBATE – The Rio Hondo College Forensics Speech and Debate team participated at the first competition of the year – PSCFA Warm-UP – held at from September 22-23. This was a great season opener for Rio Hondo’s Speech and Debate team. Please join us in congratulating the following students in their achievements:

o Excellence award in OPEN IPDA: Brandon Leon; o Excellence in Parli Team: Alejandro Robles & Diana Macias; Cambria Pinal & Kristian Lozano; o Excellence in Impromptu Speech: Diana Macias; o Tournament Top Speakers: Diana Laureano, 1st Speaker; Cambria Pinal, 3rd Speaker; Kristian Lozano, 5th Speaker; Diana Macias, 6th Speaker; Ryutaro Miyamoto, 12th Speaker; Alejandro Robles, 18th Speaker; and Robert Duran, 19th Speaker.

Special thanks to the Coaches and Assistant Judges: Patricia Hughes and Alex Cadena; Victor Wright; Juan Guerrero; and Mike Moran.

Week ending October 5, 2018  RIO PROMISE 2nd YEAR LAUNCH - On September 25, we launched the 2nd year of free tuition in the Board Room, which was a standing room only event with the room overflowing with attendees in the lobby area. Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, Assemblymember Ed Chau, and Assemblymember Cristina Garcia all attended, spoke and presented Rio Hondo College with State Assembly commendations. Many other elected officials including Congressmembers, County Supervisors, and local elected officials sent their representatives to present Rio Hondo College with commendations – thanks to the coordination efforts of the Office of Government and Community Relations.

After President Dreyfuss gave the welcome, Board of Trustees President Shapiro also gave remarks, and Trustees Mary Ann Pacheco and Vicky Santana both attended. Two of our Rio Promise Scholars shared how the Promise has benefited them and their families, and are extremely grateful for the expansion of the Rio Promise with the 2nd year of free tuition.

Thank you to all who attended and supported the launch of our 2nd Year of Rio Promise. Thanks to Vice President Henry Gee, Dr. Melba Castro, Lisa Chavez and their team, and to the Marketing & Communications Team for all their hard work in creating all the marketing materials, programs, brochures, etc.; for coaching the student speakers; and, securing great media coverage, which included the following:

Media Outlets Date News Aired on TV or Published

ABC 7 News at 11am & 4pm, Sept. 25 Social Media Telemundo News at 12pm, Sept. 25

Univision News at 11pm, Sept. 25

Whittier Daily News Published, Sept. 25

World Journal Published, Sept. 26

Epoch Media Group Published, Sept. 26

Mid Valley News October issue

 CAMP RESEARCH GROUP MEETING -- On September 28, President Dreyfuss welcomed the CAMP Research Group to Rio Hondo College. The CAMP Research Group is composed of the following founding community colleges: , Antelope Valley, Mt. Sac, PCC, and Rio Hondo College. As one of the original five colleges to have established this regional group, 17 years ago, back in 2001, President Dreyfuss was delighted to see that the CAMP Research Group has expanded to include other community colleges, especially since College of the Canyons and Antelope Valley did not attend this meeting. Week ending October 5, 2018

President Dreyfuss thanked the group for the important research, planning and development work they all do to make our college campuses more effective and data-driven, especially with all the new college-wide initiatives being implemented. We need this kind of work now more than ever. She encouraged them to continue sharing best practices with each other so that community colleges could improve in meeting the diverse needs of our students by meeting them where they are – especially as we are all tackling how best to implement equity-minded approaches and practices, and recent changes like AB 705.

She shared that one of the ways Rio Hondo College has committed to meeting students where they are, is through our Rio Promise program which promises two years of free tuition to first- time, full-time college students. Rio Hondo College is the first in LA County to promise this opportunity to California students. She also reported Rio Hondo College’s completion and persistence rates as well as the number of degrees and certificates awarded, which could be viewed by clicking here https://www.riohondo.edu/marketing/wp- content/uploads/sites/23/2018/10/2018FactSheet.pdf.

 CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER GRANT – On September 28, we received notification that the Rio Hondo College Child Development Center (CDC) was awarded $664,220 ($166,055 per year for four years) in ED funding as part of the Child Care Access Means Parents Stay In School (CCAMPIS) Program. This is a great opportunity for the CDC to expand its service to Rio Hondo College’s student parents, and is a compliment to the Rio Promise. Not only will we offer free school tuition for two years to those students who meet the requirements, but we will now be able to subsidize child care costs for student parents as well as for members of the local community. This will also assist the CDC in meeting one of its goals to increase enrollment. Congratulations to our Grant Development & Management Team Michaela Brehm and John Salgado, and to the Proposal Team Shireetha Gethers and Kelly Lynch.

 MAYOR OF PICO RIVERA APPRECIATION NIGHT -- On September 28, Director of Marketing and Communications Ruthie Retana attended the Mayor of Pico Rivera Appreciation Night at the Pico Rivera Course. Mayor Gustavo Camacho, during his remarks, thanked the strong partnership the City of Pico Rivera has with Rio Hondo College. Assemblymember Cristina Garcia attended as well as the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club Oscar Hernández and Monica Sanchez of Rio Hondo College’s Citizen’s Oversight Committee.

 BUSINESS DIVISION – On Oct. 2, it was announced during Administrative Council that the Business Division’s enrollment growth was 24% this Fall 2018 term, after experiencing 5% decline in enrollment each of the previous three years. This growth was due to a great team effort, including: 1) advertisements (billboards, bus ads, and social media funded by the Strong Workforce program) created by the Marketing & Communications Team; 2) Business Division faculty and staff outreaching to K-12 schools along with Student Services attending career fairs and developing partnerships for dual enrollment; and 3) schedule optimization to meet student needs with offerings such as accelerated certificates with 8-week courses.

Week ending October 5, 2018  FOURTH ANNUAL LIP SYNC EVENT – On October 4, Board of Trustees President Shapiro, Trustee Pacheco, and Academic Senate President Michelle Bean performed “Yes We Can” by the Pointer Sisters (aka the Rio Sisters) at the Fourth Annual Lip Sync Event to raise funds for the Women’s and Children’s Crisis Shelter’s (WCCS). Other community leaders and members that participated in this kick-off event for “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” were: Whittier City Council Member Cathy Warner with Mayor Joe Vinatieri and City Council Member Fernando Dutra as her back up dancers; Whittier Host Lions Club; Brookdale Uptown Whittier Seniors; City Council Member of Commerce Oralia Rebollo; several realtors and business owners; and, our very own Ruthie Retana who serves as the Board Secretary for WCCS where she performed the opening act with her fellow board members to the fitting song “Reach Out, I’ll be There” by the Four Tops.

The Board Members of WCCS thank Rio Hondo College for their participation as a “Restoring Safety” sponsor, performers, as donors, and as audience members as quite a few Rio Hondo College faculty, classified staff and retirees showed up to cheer on the performers and to contribute to a worthy organization that provides emergency shelter and supportive services to the women, men, and children affected by domestic violence in Los Angeles County. Additionally, El Paisano student reporters Noah Garcia, Brayan Altamirano, and Diana Juarez covered the event.

 Board of Trustees Meeting, Wednesday, October 10, 6:00 p.m., Board Room  Works in Progress Dance Concert, Thursday, October 11, 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Wray Theater. A $10 donation is suggested at the door.  Pathway for Citizenship, Part 2, Friday, October 12th Part 2, Science Building, S136 http://bit.ly/PathwaysforCitizenshipFall2018 Open to all students, parents, and community! Attorney Acosta will be discussing the following: Marriage-based petitions, Green Card through waive-ins/ Military, and other possible pathways for citizenship.  Gordon D. Crowell Observatory Public Night Program Fall 2018, Fridays, 7:00 p.m., September 21 and 28. Fridays, 8:00 p.m., October 12, 19, 26 and November 16 and 30. Park in Lot C and meet at the gate in front of the Child Development Center at the designated time. Please wait at the gate as the group will walk up the ½ hill together.  Día de los Muertos Community Altar Building, Thursday, September 20 through Friday, November 2, LRC 1st Floor

ATHLETIC EVENTS

Women’s Volleyball Wednesday, October 10 – Pasadena @ Rio Hondo, 6pm Week ending October 5, 2018

Men’s Soccer Schedule Tuesday, October 9 – Chaffey @ Rio Hondo College, 6pm Friday, October 12 – Rio Hondo @ L.A. Harbor College, 6pm

Women’s Soccer Schedule Tuesday, October 9 – Chaffey @ Rio Hondo, 4pm Friday, October 12 – Rio Hondo @ L.A. Harbor College, 6pm

Men’s Water Polo Schedule Wednesday, October 10 – Rio Hondo @ Long Beach, 4:30pm Friday & Saturday, October 12 – Rio Hondo @ Tournament, All Day

Women’s Water Polo Schedule Monday, October 8 – Pasadena @ Rio Hondo, 3pm Wednesday, October 10 – Rio Hondo @ Long Beach, 3pm Friday & Saturday, October 12-13 – Rio Hondo @ Tournament, TBA

Men’s Wrestling Schedule Wednesday, October 10 – Santa Ana Dual @ Rio Hondo, 7pm Saturday, October 13 – South Duals @ , All Day

Have a specific question that you would like asked and feel others may want to know as well? Forward them to Angie Tomasich in the President’s Office for inclusion in next week’s e-Messenger.