matters
rios los
American River | Cosumnes River Folsom Lake | Sacramento City
Launching a New STEM Building WHY I GIVE GROW IT, Prepare It, Eat It
Celebrating
100 years
MAKING a Promise FALL 2016
ENHANCING THE VITALITY OF OUR REGION
LOS RIOS MATTERS
ART EXHIBITIONS
FALL
2016 contents
ON THE COVER Half Dome by Gregory Kondos on display at Sacramento City College
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LETTER FROM THE CHANCELLOR
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A New Vision for Los Rios
AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE 4 5 5
New STEM Building Coming to ARC ARC Alum Helps USA Win Deaf World Cup Soccer Gold Class of 2016
COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE
6 6 Aquí y Allá 2 by Michelle Ángela O at Folsom Lake College Wolf Rider II by Lisa Reinertson at Cosumnes River College
Paintings by Ken Hendrickson & Sculpture by Linda Fitzgibbon American River College | October 20-November 10
Bay Area Contemporary Ceramic Sculptors Exhibition Cosumnes River College | October 21-December 1
Gráfica Transfronteriza Folsom Lake College | September 16-November 13
One Hundred Years, One Hundred Objects Sacramento City College | October 10-26 FALL 2016 | Los Rios Matters
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Building Industry Careers are Growing in Sacramento Region Consider Higher Education to Recession-Proof Your Career Grow It, Prepare It, Eat It
LOS RIOS FOUNDATION
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The Los Rios Promise Los Rios Foundation Giving Opportunities Why I Give
FOLSOM LAKE COLLEGE 10 Making a Promise 11 Build, Create, Innovate 11 Curtain Call
SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE 12 12 12 13
Celebrating 100 Years New Student Trustee to Serve Los Rios District, Students Workability From a Future of Uncertainty… to College Professor
14 LOS RIOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN
15 THE CHOICE IS YOURS
A New Vision
LETTER FROM THE CHANCELLOR
for LOS RIOS
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elcome to Los Rios Matters, a new publication of the Los Rios Community College District that I hope will help you better understand and appreciate the importance and value of the four Los Rios Colleges to the greater Sacramento community. For starters, consider our District’s vision statement: To transform the lives of students and enhance the vitality of our region. It is integral to our newly implemented 2016 Strategic Plan, a blueprint for action that the District will follow for the next five years. With your participation and support, we can accomplish great things. Today, Los Rios is the second-largest community college district in California, with an annual operating budget of nearly $337 million and more than 75,000 students attending American River, Cosumnes River, Folsom Lake and Sacramento City colleges. These students are pursuing associate degrees, certificates or four-year transfer opportunities in dozens of majors and career fields. A growing number of our students attend two or more Los Rios Colleges, a testament to the collaborative spirit and academic synergy of our staff, faculty and curriculum. Nearly 6,500 students were enrolled in more than one Los Rios College in fall 2015, a 42 percent increase over our multiple-college students only eight years ago, in 2008. Since its founding in 1965, the District has educated more than 1.2 million students, many of whom stay or return to the Sacramento region. And Los Rios employs more than 3,650 full- and part-time employees, including more than 960 full-time faculty. Our Los Rios Colleges are home to a diverse and proud faculty, staff and student body. More than 42 percent of our students are the first in their families to pursue a college education – a percentage that continues to rise. And our student veteran population is also growing – with services and counseling to meet their needs. State support and taxpayer support is key to our ability to help our students find their success. I’d like to thank you for your continued, generous support for bond measures that have helped us build our District into the strong educational institution it is today. Looking ahead, the Los Rios
District’s Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to support the Kindergarten Through Community College Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2016, on the November 8 ballot, saying, “Quality community college facilities enhance the education and training of a skilled 21st century workforce.” But additional public and private support is necessary to help create a margin of excellence. Grants provide much needed resources to our colleges to develop and expand programs, and they help our region to be competitive on a national scale. This past year, for example, our colleges were successful in securing more than $13 million in state and federal grants to enhance our services across the district. In the coming year, we intend to pursue even more grants to support important projects, including expanding and enhancing our math and science pathways. In fact, the District’s Educating a Region philosophy has always focused on a cost-effective “We are where you are” smart-growth approach to locating our four colleges and six educational centers nearest to where our students live and work. Our newest center – Folsom Lake College’s Rancho Cordova Center – was dedicated a year ago, in October 2015. And thanks to the Rancho Cordova City Council, all students who reside in the city, graduate from high school in the 2016-17 school year and enroll full time at Folsom Lake College in fall 2017 will be eligible to have their tuition and fees paid largely from a 2014 voter-approved sales tax hike. A comparable program could launch in West Sacramento if voters there pass a tax measure on the November 8 ballot. The Los Rios Colleges form a unique District with an enviable reputation for academic excellence, community engagement and fiscal stability. As we proceed with our new Strategic Plan, we pledge to continue to be prudent stewards of our financial resources and to work with you – our community partners – with the singular vision of transforming our students’ lives and enhancing the vitality of our region.
Brian King Chancellor kingb@losrios.edu
Los Rios Matters | FALL 2016
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AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE
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New STEM Building Coming to American River College
merican River College (ARC) will break ground in fall 2017 on a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) building. The 38,000-square foot, three-story building will replace the Liberal Arts Wing that has stood at the college since the 1960s. Design elements will provide shared, flexible and movable space and labs for several programs, including Business & Computer Science, Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics and Engineering. The second phase of the project will benefit the Science division (which produces 47 percent of ARC’s graduates and is the largest division in the Los Rios Community College District) with
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long-awaited modern lab space and state-of-the-art “wet” labs for biology and chemistry.
“This new STEM building will offer greater opportunities to even more students.” ARC President Thomas Greene “Many successful alumni in the fields of science, healthcare, engineering, biotech and research have benefited from their start at ARC,” said college President Thomas Greene. “This new STEM building will offer
greater opportunities to even more students.” ARC will soon launch a major fundraising effort with its Campaign for STEM Innovation and 21st Century Science. The campaign will seek to raise $1 million in private support and provide a margin of excellence for students in both phases of the project. Private funding will be used to enhance the construction with industrial-grade lighting, technology and lab equipment. For more information on how you can support this effort, visit www.arc. losrios.edu/found or contact the ARC Foundation office at (916) 484-8175.
AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE
Former Beaver Helps USA Win Deaf World Cup Soccer Gold!
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ormer ARC soccer star McCall Madriago helped lead the U.S. Deaf Women’s National Team to gold at the 2016 Deaf World Cup in Italy! The U.S. was dominant throughout the Cup, finishing undefeated in six matches and outscoring opponents 25 goals to 2. The U.S. beat Russia in the final, 3-0. Madriago started several matches for the U.S., playing an important role in the squad’s dominance in the midfield. She also was key to supporting the squad’s quick-strike offense that overwhelmed most Cup opponents. In her time at ARC, Madriago finished with 3 goals and 2 assists, playing center midfielder in 2014 and 2015. She transferred to Humboldt State, where she will play starting in fall 2016. Prior to ARC, Madriago played at Folsom High School. In 2012, the Folsom High Bulldogs were Crosstown Cup champs, undefeated Section Champs, state semi-finalists, 2nd in state and 7th in the nation.
Class of 2016
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RC is excited to report that its 2016 graduating class was up 14 percent from last year. That’s 2,889 degrees awarded, with 1,320 of those Associate in Science degrees and 1,569 Associate in Arts degrees. What is even more exciting is that the average GPA (grade point
average) was 3.04! Grads with a GPA of 3.5 or higher received the honor of “great distinction” – all 557 of them. The average age of our graduates was 30, but to prove that one is never too old or young to graduate from college, our youngest grad was 18 and our oldest – 80.
For more information on ARC athletics, please visit www.arcbeavers.com
Los Rios Matters | FALL 2016
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COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE
Building Industry Careers Growing in Sacramento Region make a contribution to the campus that left a lasting impression on me.” The CRC alum found learning to be enjoyable and it opened up new subjects for him, but he always loved architecture and knew in high school that is what he wanted to do.
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s California’s economy continues to slowly improve, many look to the building industry as a predictor of growth in the region. Curtis Owyang, a Cosumnes River College (CRC) alumnus and co-owner of LPAS Architecture + Design, says the design and construction industry has been on the upswing for the past couple years and should continue to enjoy growth for the next few years. “We’re seeing activity in many market sectors, including housing, retail, institutional and commercial work,” Owyang said. “We’re beginning to see more activity from the state of California, which is another good sign for our region.” Owyang is now the director of Design at LPAS and is personally involved with a project to expand the College Center building at CRC. “The opportunity to add to the campus is a dream project that is humbling and incredibly satisfying at the same time,” he said. “My career as an architect comes full circle to the place where my training began, and I’m excited to
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Los Rios Matters | FALL 2016
“My career as an architect comes full circle to the place where my training began, and I’m excited to make a contribution to the campus that left a lasting impression on me.” Curtis Owyang As more projects become a collaboration between architects and contractors, Owyang says that students who are interested in the building industry will do well in their career if they understand all aspects of the job. “Working closely as partners is essential for the architects and contractors in (the design-build) method,” he said. “The better the understanding and appreciation of all aspects of the process will make for a more successful project for the designers, builders, owners and end users.” As the building industry continues to grow, Owyang advises students to find a career they are passionate about: “To get where you want to go and to do it well will take hard work, but if it’s what you truly enjoy, it will be worth the effort and investment.”
Consider Higher Education to Recession-Proof Your Career If you have a college degree, you are much more likely to land a job in our nation’s ongoing economic recovery. An estimated 11.6 million jobs have been created since the Great Recession, and 8.4 million of them have gone to those with at least a bachelor’s degree, according to a new report from the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University. Another 3 million went to those with associate’s degrees or some college education. “One of the best things about obtaining additional education is that it provides you with greater career options,” said CRC President Edward Bush. “When the economy is suffering, having options that can potentially lead to promotion or to transition to a different career gives you the financial flexibility needed to recession-proof your life.” College educators encourage workers to take a look at improving their skills before a recession hits. “The best time to consider starting or going back to college is not once you are displaced in your job, but the preferred time to work towards your degree is when you are more financially stable,” added Bush. “Even if your current work schedule only allows you to take one or two classes a semester, you would be surprised by the amount of progress you can make in a short period of time towards becoming a college graduate.” Cosumnes River College (CRC) can provide the education and training needed to make someone more employable. Whether it’s taking a class to learn something that will cover a skills gap, getting a degree in a field that is growing, or re-training in a whole new industry, consider college as an option to recession-proof your career. Some information in this article was taken from www.money.cnn. com/2016/06/30/news/economy/collegegrads-jobs/index.html
Grow It, Prepare It,
COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE
Eat It
New Program at CRC Combines Horticulture & Nutrition
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new program beginning in fall 2017 will provide students a deeper understanding of where food comes from and how to prepare it to optimize personal health, and limit environmental impact throughout the entire farm-to-fork process. CRC’s horticulture and nutrition departments are collaborating on a new “Plant-based Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture” certificate program where students will grow their own crops and then prepare meals, while learning the science behind food and how it affects their bodies. “I’m thrilled to be part of such a cutting-edge and practical new program,” said Nutrition Professor Timaree Hagenburger. “With Sacramento being recognized as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, our nutrition and foods department is deeply committed to optimal health by way of whole, plantbased foods, and the collaborative relationship with our strong horticulture department – it is a natural fit!” The certificate program will comprise three classes: a plant-based nutrition course, a food preparation of plantbased foods course and a sustainable agriculture course. “We’re hoping to show people what they can do in their own yards and also open up some career opportunities for new students who decide that they want to try small urban production,” said Horticulture Professor Dave Andrews, who will teach the sustainable agriculture class. “It’s been quite lucrative as a business and career opportunity for students to do urban agriculture.”
Students will help develop a half- to three-quarter acre garden without the use of conventional fertilizers. The goal is to make the garden organic, a process that takes three years. “There’s a lot of success with some of these people who have done just that,” said Nutrition Professor Dana Wassmer. “So now we want to be able to formalize it and provide some real education behind it. I think that’s what is missing in so many people’s educational process. They theorize it, but then they don’t get to actually see it and do it. We’re trying to capture that.”
Once the certification program is established, Wassmer, Hagenburger and Andrews plan on expanding multiple aspects of nutrition and sustainable agriculture with an outdoor demonstration kitchen, retail nursery and large-scale composting. Though the program does not officially begin until fall 2017, Wassmer hopes to offer one or more of the courses in spring 2017. – CRC student Courtney Fong contributed to this article. For more information on CRC’s Nutrition program please visit www.crc.losrios.edu/areas/ct/nutri
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LOS RIOS FOUNDATION
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THE LOS RIOS PROMISE
he Los Rios Foundation is planning a new philanthropic campaign to make the first year at any of the Los Rios Colleges fee-free for graduating high school seniors in the greater Sacramento region. We believe an education is an investment worth making in every person who dreams of a better life, and finances should not stand in the way of those dreams. Today’s community college student faces many obstacles. Most are untraditional students and nearly 70 percent are considered low income. We may not be able to help with all of life’s challenges, but the Los Rios Promise can help us go a long way toward removing financial barriers to education. By providing affordable and aligned pathways from K-12 to higher education and on into a career, individuals flourish, families succeed and the Sacramento region thrives. We are making this commitment, this promise, to the Sacramento community and we invite you to join us in our vision. If you are interested in getting involved in the Los Rios Promise or making a financial gift to make the Promise a reality, please contact the Los Rios Foundation, foundation@losrios.edu or (916) 568-3075 for more information.
LOS RIOS FOUNDATION Giving Opportunities
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he Student Emergency Fund helps students at American River, Cosumnes River, Folsom Lake and Sacramento City Colleges who face emergency situations that jeopardize their ability to continue their education. Since 2009, the Los Rios Foundation has awarded more than $100,000 in emergency grants to students who have very few other places to turn. Some recent examples include: → A stolen bike was replaced for a student who was unable to drive due to a medical condition. The bike served as his sole transportation. → A student’s textbooks were replaced after a house fire resulted in their loss midway through the semester. → Relocation funds were granted to a student nearing graduation that had left an abusive marriage and needed to relocate quickly when the ex-spouse was suddenly released from prison. These are just a few examples of the many emergency situations that arise for our students. With the support of our donors, we can keep these students in school and on the road to a better future. To donate, please visit http://foundation.losrios.edu
FOUNDATION CONTACTS Each of our four colleges has specific needs based on student populations, program offerings, and areas of focus. To find out more about how you can get involved at each of our colleges, please contact:
LOS RIOS FOUNDATION
Kristin Frame: (916) 568-3075 or foundation@losrios.edu
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Los Rios Matters | FALL 2016
AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE FOUNDATION
FOLSOM LAKE COLLEGE FOUNDATION
Kirsten DuBray: (916) 484-8175 or DuBrayK@arc.losrios.edu
Sally Howard: (916) 608-6643 or HowardS@flc.losrios.edu
COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE FOUNDATION
SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
Peter F. Bostic: (916) 691-7320 or BosticP@crc.losrios.edu
Dan McCarty: (916) 558-2197 or McCartW@scc.losrios.edu
LOS RIOS FOUNDATION
LOS RIOS FOUNDATION Board of Directors OFFICERS
WHY I GIVE Every day, the volunteer members of the Los Rios Foundation lead by example by giving generously of their time, talent and personal resources to better the colleges of the Los Rios Community College District. Here are the stories of several board members who have made giving back to the Los Rios Colleges a priority in their lives.
I Give Because…
DIRECTORS
“I believe in the crucial work that Los Rios is doing in our region. Each of the District’s four colleges provides exceptional academic programs and technical training, creating a stronger workforce and more informed public. Los Rios provides pathways to success for people from all walks of life, as demonstrated by alumni luminaries such as Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the California Supreme Court chief justice. The Los Rios Foundation’s Student Emergency Fund makes a profound difference in students’ lives; helping them to overcome unforeseen hardships, stay in school and pursue their dreams.”
David Diepenbrock
I Give Because…
David Diepenbrock, Chair, Diepenbrock Elkin Jim Allen, Chair-Elect, SAFE Credit Union Erica Taylor, Finance Chair, Golden 1 Credit Union Marty Katz, Stewardship Chair, SMUD David Younger, Immediate Past Chair, Lionakis Brian King, Chancellor, LRCCD Kristin Frame, Secretary, LRCCD
Los Rios Foundation Chair Principal, Diepenbrock Elkin
“I know that giving to the Los Rios District will benefit the entire Sacramento region. An education can mean a better job, a more stable financial situation or fulfillment of a dream to the many students served by our four colleges. Whenever and however I donate, I want to know that my time and resources are benefiting my neighbors, coworkers and peers in our communities. The Los Rios Colleges make a difference for individuals and all of us who call the Sacramento region our home.”
Stephanie Bray, United Way Anthony Chee, NY Life Insurance Pat Derickson, Stafford King Wiese Architects Christopher Ellis, CalSTRS Gordon Fowler, 3fold Communications Mark R. Ingram, A. Teichert and Sons Sergey Ivannikov, Russian American Media, Inc. David Lowe, KVIE Public Television Michelle Odell, Kaiser Permanente Theresa Paige, LPAS Paula Petersen, PRIDE Industries Kevin Pressey, Pressey & Associates, Inc. Alena Quintero, DPR Construction Anthony Retodo, Kaiser Permanente Sam Spiegel, Public Safety Partners Carol Spurgeon, Community Volunteer Alex Taghavian, Linked Learning Alliance Erik Winje, Clark Pacific Kären C. Woodruff, Wells Fargo Foundation
Jim Allen
Los Rios Foundation Chair-Elect Senior Vice President & COO, SAFE Credit Union Los Rios Matters | FALL 2016
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FOLSOM LAKE COLLEGE
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Making a Promise
ore than 100 Rancho Cordova high school graduates will attend their first year of Folsom Lake College (FLC) fee-free, thanks to the Folsom Lake College/ Rancho Cordova College Promise, an innovative grant program recently launched by Folsom Lake College, the Folsom Lake College Foundation, and the city of Rancho Cordova. Designed to improve access to higher education and degree completion for Rancho Cordova residents, the “Promise” program encourages local high school seniors to further their education and reach their academic goals. This program, the first of its kind in the region, will provide the first year fee-free (up to 12 units per semester) for any 2016-17 high school graduate who is a Rancho Cordova resident and enrolls in Folsom Lake College full-time for the fall semester
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Los Rios Matters | FALL 2016
of 2017. Eligible students will receive funding that can be applied toward tuition and fees, textbooks or class materials. “By partnering with the Rancho Cordova City Council and supportive local businesses, Folsom Lake College can increase access to postsecondary education, which means a well-educated workforce, and one that will inevitably advance the regional economy,” said FLC President Rachel Rosenthal. The Rancho Cordova program is modeled after the Long Beach and Ventura College promise programs. Studies have found that similar programs have resulted in improved student performance and degree/certificate achievement rates when compared with non-Promise students. “The findings indicate that Promise students stay in school after their first year at double the rate of non-Promise
students,” Rosenthal said. “They also are more likely to remain in the local community after graduation. This is truly an investment in our community.”
PROMISE
PROGR AM FOLSOM LAKE COLLEGE and!RANCHO CORDOVA
FLC has operated for more than 40 years out of several locations in the area. In October 2015, the first permanent location of the Rancho Cordova Center opened at the corner of Mather Field Road/Paseo Drive and Folsom Boulevard, and the center now serves as an educational hub for this close knit and diverse community. “Many of our students do not have the financial means to attend college,” said Rancho Cordova Center Dean Brian Robinson. “The new Promise program will help remove some of those economic barriers.” The Rancho Cordova City Council provided initial funding for the Promise program from the Measure H Community Enhancement Fund. “The Promise program is an innovative way to continue making Rancho Cordova a vibrant community that values education, opportunity and partnerships,” said Rancho Cordova Mayor David Sander. The Community Enhancement Fund is underwritten by Measure H, a ½ cent local sales tax measure that Rancho Cordova citizens approved in November 2014 to provide locally controlled funds for local priorities. The college hopes to continue the program with additional Measure H support and matching gifts from corporate and individual donors.
FOLSOM LAKE COLLEGE
BUILD, Create, Innovate
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LC’s Innovation Center is undergoing some innovation and renovation of its own, to re-launch next year as a comprehensive makerspace. A makerspace – sometimes referred to as a hackerspace or Fab Lab – is a location where people gather to share resources, equipment, tools, and knowledge, work on projects, network and build in a technology-rich environment. In short, it’s a place where anyone can make anything. This informal hybrid of a lab, shop and conference room offers an inspired learning environment through handson exploration. Students from all disciplines will tackle open-ended, real-world challenges as they prepare for careers of innovation and invention. The makerspace will help them become more competitive in a rapidly changing job market. “The hacker community may be small,” writes Journalist Heather Brooke, “but it possesses the skills that are driving the global economies of the future.”
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Professor and “Maker” Zack Dowell is overseeing the Innovation Center overhaul, which will include the installation of 3D printers, computer numerical control, or CNC, machines, laser cutters, microcontrollers and hand and electrical tools. The makerspace will allow instructors to enhance traditional Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEM/ STEAM) education along with providing a structural basis for future degree and certificate programs in Pre-Engineering and Modern Making.
Curtain CALL
he murmurs of the packed house quiet. The lights dim. The curtain rises. It’s opening night for the Falcon’s Eye Theatre production of The Who’s Tommy. For the next two hours, the rock opera is artistically translated to the Harris Center for the Arts’ main stage as a high-energy, one-of-a-kind theatrical event. “Our students have the unique opportunity to work backstage with the touring companies during their visits as wardrobe assistants, wig maintenance crew, electricians, assistant stage managers, spot light operators and fly-rail crew,” said Harris. “These experiences are an irreplaceable addition to our curriculum in design and technical theatre.” The fusion of course instruction with hands-on training provides an inimitable form of preparation for students and community members who serve as actors and stage technicians. Wallace’s team spearheads the scenery, lighting, sound and costume elements. Harris works closely with the performers to bring their characters to life through specializations like dancing, sword fighting, singing or speaking in a dialect. During technical rehearsals, the whole story comes together as each component is painstakingly incorporated into a cohesive production.
As the final curtain falls for The Who’s Tommy, the audience leaps to its feet with thundering applause. “Our goal is to produce a piece of performance art that is refined, precise, powerful, and entertaining!” Harris said. Mission accomplished. The Falcon’s Eye will continue its run of provocative and insightful theatre this fall with the Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman perennial favorite You Can’t Take It With You, opening November 4.
Los Rios Matters | FALL 2016 11
Celebrating SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE
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100 years
A HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO
CITY COLLEGE IN
acramento City College (SCC) turns 100 this year, and is planning a yearlong celebration! It is the oldest higher educational institution in Sacramento. To commemorate the occasion, SCC Archaeology Professor Bill Doonan has spent two years writing a book about the 100 objects that represent the college’s history and meaning to the capital city. “Archaeologists try to interpret and reconstruct cultures based on their objects,” Doonan said. “The idea is that the objects we surround ourselves with can tell our story.” Items and their stories include a lion skeleton, a “hot wave” hair styling machine from the 1930s and a safe sex “condom cart.” “A History of Sacramento City College in 100 Objects” is now available for $25 through the Sacramento City College Store. For more information on the centennial, go to: www.scc.losrios.edu/sccat100/
New Student Trustee to Serve Los Rios District, Students
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emember Marianna Sousa’s name. You may be seeing and hearing it often in the future. Sousa is the student trustee on the Board of the Los Rios Community College District. A whirlwind of energy, this SCC student often makes time to chat – and hug – faculty, staff and fellow students. Ask her a simple question, and she may take 10 minutes to enthusiastically answer it. She created the first “Safety Day” at SCC, where numerous state and local agencies came together to address campus safety and security issues. Sousa’s team also organized the first “Sac City Talks,” an event where more than 20 community members spoke about the future of California to a packed audience. Sousa is a Communications major who is confident that her work experience and involvement as a community activist, organizer and former student body president have prepared her well for the student trustee position. “It has always worked being authentic with people,” she said. “As I learn more about the policies and how they can amplify what we’re trying to do, then we’ll all be soaring together.”
WORK ability
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isabled Los Rios students get assistance finding meaningful employment – and several other services along the way – under the federally sponsored Workability III program housed at SCC. The program helps students find jobs that utilize the education they are receiving in college with career counseling, resume building workshops and interviewing practice. Program coordinator Rachel Stewart, who uses a wheelchair, says the program is geared toward serious students who want meaningful employment after graduation. Stewart sees herself as an example. She earned a master’s degree and has worked nonstop for a decade helping other disabled individuals get good jobs. “I may not have the same disability as someone else, but there certainly is a connection there,” Stewart said. “I hope my story can be an inspiration.” To be eligible for Workability III, Los Rios students must be clients of the California Department of Rehabilitation. More information: (916) 558-2590.
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SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE
From a Future of Uncertainty... By Crystal Lee
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esus Limón Guzman recalls a future without promise. At eight years old, he and his family crossed the border into the U.S. That passage began a life of constant fear and uncertainty – uneasiness that all they had, anything they earned or worked toward or built, could vanish in an instant. “When I was in high school, I had this awareness that we were undocumented,” says Limón Guzman. “There was no pressure – or hope – of going to college, because even if I went to college it wasn’t promised that it would lead to a career.” In Limón Guzman’s reality, if he were lucky, he would face a lifetime of labor as a custodian, pressure washing and cleaning parking lots. Anything more was out of reach – not meant for people like him. This was the understanding shared by all undocumented immigrants. Yet perhaps there was a seed of hope for something more, because Limón Guzman did apply to college. He tried Sacramento State first, but was told he would have to pay out-of-state tuition, which he could not afford. “That’s when I went to Sac City, and that’s when everything changed,” he says. From the moment he stepped onto the tree-lined campus of Sacramento City College, everywhere he looked, he saw people like him. He saw people with brown skin, people from his neighborhood who dressed like him and talked like him, people who struggled, who had family obligations and juggled multiple jobs while attending school. He saw himself in his classmates, but also in his instructors and counselors. When he met counselors Juan la
to College Professor
have a professional career in education, he figured, he could still use his own education to give something back to his community: “It gave me a sense of purpose. I could contribute.” But it wasn’t until the Obama administration implemented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that Limón Guzman’s world truly opened up. He applied for a work permit and was hired as a tutor at SCC’s Writing Center. Meanwhile, he continued volunteering and earned a master’s degree in English Literature from Sacramento State. He began teaching part-time at SCC and American River College. He was hired as a lecturer at Sacramento State and continued to apply and interview for full-time positions. Then, this past “Education has allowed summer, he received me to come back to the news that he had been selected from my community with a a competitive pool genuine purpose.“ to teach English as Jesus LimÓn Guzman a tenure-track professor at Sacramento “I never exCity College. perienced that before. I never expeNever had he imagined that any of rienced those two worlds meshing,” this could happen for him. When he Limón Guzman says. “I hadn’t met greets his students in the fall, he will someone that could articulate some of have one thought above all else: He the struggles I was going through in an wants to provide them with the space intellectual fashion.” and the tools to discover who they are It pushed the boundaries of Limón and gain the confidence and perspecGuzman’s reality. Gradually, his idea of tive to change their own narratives. success and what was possible began “I would like for my students to to shift. He started to see that he could experience a reflection of themselves do more, even within the limitations of in my class,” he says. “Education is emhis employment options as an undocupowerment. Education has allowed me mented immigrant. to come back to my community with a He began volunteering. Educagenuine purpose.” tion became important to him, so he poured his energy into developing – Crystal Lee is SCC’s Public after-school literacy and tutoring Relations Technician. programs for local youth. If he couldn’t
Chica and Keith Muraki, he says, he couldn’t believe his eyes and ears. Here were two people who, by virtue of their positions as college counselors, commanded respect and embodied success. They spoke intelligently, yet they were approachable and familiar. They ate at the same South Sacramento restaurants as Limón Guzman and his friends and family. They understood where he was coming from.
Los Rios Matters | FALL 2016
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LOS RIOS MATTERS
LOS RIOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN The Los Rios Community College District has a new fiveyear strategic plan that focuses on increasing student access and success through enhanced teaching and learning opportunities, and on expanding the District’s role in workforce development.
The Los Rios Board, on a unanimous 6-0 vote on May 12, 2016, approved a 2016 Strategic Plan that had been in the works for nine months. Here are some of the highlights. You can learn more and download the Plan at www.losrios.edu/ strategic-plan
Mission:
The Los Rios Colleges provide a vibrant learning environment that empowers all students to achieve their educational and career goals.
Vision: To transform the lives of students and enhance the vitality of our region.
Goals: 1. Establish effective pathways that optimize student access and success. 2. Ensure equitable academic achievement across all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and gender groups. 3. Provide exemplary teaching and learning opportunities. 4. Lead the region in workforce development. 5. Foster an outstanding working and learning environment.
For more information about the Los Rios Strategic Plan, please go to our Strategic Plan website at www.losrios.edu/strategic-plan/
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Los Rios Matters | FALL 2016
LOS RIOS MATTERS
THE CHOICE IS YOURS! The Los Rios Community College District is one of the nation’s most respected learning institutions and the second-largest community college district in California. You are welcome to attend any of the District’s four colleges: American River, Cosumnes River, Folsom Lake and Sacramento City colleges, as well as any of our education and outreach centers in Davis, Elk Grove, Natomas, Placerville, Rancho Cordova and West Sacramento.
You may choose to attend the college that offers the courses in your area of interest or the college closest to your work or home. Most courses are offered at all four colleges although some are offered at only one or two campuses. The choice is yours! For a complete list, please go to www.losrios.edu and click on “Programs of Study.”
3D Animation A S Accounting A C F S Administration of Justice A F S Administrative Assistant A C F Advertising A C S Aeronautics S Agriculture / Ag Business C Air Traffic Control/Air Dispatcher S Allied Health C F S American Studies C F Animal / Equine Science C Anthropology A C F S Arabic S Architectural Design Tech C Architecture/Green Bdng Design C Art A C F S Art History A C F S Art New Media A C Art Photography A C Astronomy A C F S Automotive Collision Technology A Automotive Mechanics Tech. A C Biology A C F S Biotechnology A Broadcast Journalism C Building Information Modeling C Building Inspection Technology C Business / Business Tech A C F S Cantonese S Chemical Dependency Studies A C Chemical Technology S Chemistry A C F S Commercial Music A S F Communication/Speech A C F S Community Studies S Computer Info Science A C F S Construction/Construction Mgmt C Cosmetology/Nail Technology S Culinary Arts Management A C Customer Service S Deaf Culture & ASL Studies A S Dental Assisting & Dental Hygiene S Design Technology A Desktop Publishing A C Diagnostic Medical Sonography C Diesel/Clean Diesel Technology A Dietary Service A Digital Media C Early Childhood Education A C F S E-Business C Economics A C F S Electronics Technology A S Elementary Teacher Education A C S Emergency Medical Tech A C F Engineering A C F S Engineering Design Technology A S English A C F S English as Second Language A C F S Environ. Studies/Sustainability C F Ethnic Studies C S
Occupational Therapy Assistant S Office Administration A C F S Paramedic A Persian S Pharmacy Technology C Philosophy A C F S Photography A C F S Physical Science A F Physical Therapist Assistant S Physics A C F S Plant Science C Political Science A C F S Pre-Allied Health & Nursing S Project Management F Psychology A C F S Public Management F Punjabi S Purchasing F Radio Production C Railroad Operations S Real Estate A C F S Recreation A S Respiratory Care A Retail Management A C S Robotics A Russian A S Science A C F
Family & Consumer Science C F S Fashion A S Fiber Optics A Field Ecology S Film/Dig. Cinema/Media Studies C Finance C Fire Technology A C F Floristry A French A F S Funeral Service A Game Design S Geographic Information Sys. A C F S Geography A C F S Geology A C F S German A S Gerontology A F S Graphic Communication S Graphic Design & Illustration A Greek S Health Care Information Tech C Healthcare Interpreting A Health Education A C F S Health Information Technology C Heating, Cooling & Refrigeration S History A C F S Honors A C S Horticulture A C F Hospitality Management A Human Career Dev. A C F S Humanities A C F Human Services A C F S Information Systems Security A C S Interactive Design S Intercultural Studies S Interdisciplinary Studies A C F S Interior Design A S International Studies A S Italian A S Japanese S Journalism A C S Korean S Kinesiology/Physical Ed A C F S Landscaping A C Legal Assisting A Liberal Arts C Liberal Studies C F Library A C F S Management A C F S Management Info Sys. C S Mandarin S Marketing A C F S Mathematics A C F S Mechanical-Electrical Tech S Mechtronics A Medical Assisting C Medical Assisting-Administrative C Music A C F S Natural Resources A F Nursing A (RN, NA); S (RN, LVN) Nutrition & Foods A C F S
Sign Language Studies C F Small Business Mgmt A C F S Small Engine Repair C Social Science A C S Sociology A C F S Solar Technology A Spanish A C F S Speech/Communication A C F S Speech - Language Pathology A Statistics A C F S Student Government A C F S Surveying (Geomatics) S Sustainable Landscape/Irrigation C Tagalog S Teacher Prep Program A C F S Technical Communications A Telecommunications A Television Production C Theatre Arts A C F S Theatre Arts & Film S Veterinary Technology C Vietnamese C S Wastewater Mgmt F Welding A C Women’s Studies C F S Work Experience A C F S
A - Offered at American River College C - Offered at Cosumnes River College
F - Offered at Folsom Lake College S - Offered at Sacramento City College
LOS RIOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Los Rios Matters | FALL 2016
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1919 Spanos Court Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 568-3041 www.losrios.edu
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER
Non- Profit Org US POSTAGE PAID Sacramento, CA Permit No. 2917 ECRWSS
American River College 4700 College Oak Dr. Sacramento, CA 95841 (916) 484-8011 www.arc.losrios.edu
Cosumnes River College 8401 Center Pkwy. Sacramento, CA 95823 (916) 691-7344 www.crc.losrios.edu
Folsom Lake College 10 College Pkwy. Folsom, CA 95630 (916) 608-6500 www.flc.losrios.edu
Sacramento City College 3835 Freeport Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95822 (916) 558-2111 www.scc.losrios.edu
matters
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Los Rios Matters is published by the Communications Office of the Los Rios Community College District.
Editor Mitchel Benson
Contributing Editors Scott Crow, ARC Kristie West, CRC Kristy Hart, FLC Rick Brewer, SCC Kristin Frame, LRCCD
Production Teri Winkley Graphic Design Alexandra Badolian