LEARNING INNOVATING PARTNERING
“Visionary Higher Education Leader” - Forbes magazine
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 WHO WE ARE 4 CULTURE 5 WHO WE SERVE 7 ONLINE LEARNING 9 OUR STUDENTS 11 OUR FACULTY 13 THE SMART CHOICE 15 PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 17 EAST VALLEY VETERANS EDUCATION CENTER 19 COMMUNIVERSITY 20 SUSTAINABILITY 22 DIVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICE 23 LOCATIONS
Pictured left: Rio Salado College Administrative Headquarters 2323 W. 14th St., Tempe, AZ 85281 www.riosalado.edu/about Published March 2012
Dr. Chris Bustamante Rio Salado College President
Pictured from left to right: Dr. Jennifer Shantz Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs
Dr. Jim Paluzzi Dean of Public Service
Todd Simmons Vice President of Administrative Services
Kishia Brock Vice President of Student Affairs
Edward Kelty Vice President of Information Services
“Community colleges are the most accessible, flexible and affordable means of preparing today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow. Knowledge will help open the doors to a successful future and career. That is why it’s never been more important for individuals to pursue a higher education.” To help meet our nation’s current and future job needs, a national mandate is calling for an additional five million degree and certificate completers over the next 10 years. That’s where Rio Salado College comes in.
WHO WE ARE Rio Salado College transforms the learning experience and takes pride in providing educational pathways for our students! • Pioneer and innovator in online learning • Dedicated to student success • National award winner
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
www.riosalado.edu/about
4 CULTURE
Our Core Practices In the context of our core values, and sustained by disciplined people, thought, and action, our work is focused on the following core organizational practices:
Our Vision We astonish our customers!
• Learning • Innovating • Partnering
Our Mission Rio Salado College transforms the learning experience through: • Choice, Access and Flexibility
Our Core Values
• Customized, High-Quality Learning Design • Personalized Service and Organizational Responsiveness
Our Purposes Serving our local, national, and international communities through online learning and collaborative partnerships, we provide:
Through living our values, Rio Salado College creates a climate of high expectations for the success of our current and future students, clients and employees. We are committed to demonstrating, assessing and being accountable for the following core organizational values: • Sustainability • Customer Focus
• General Education and Courses for University Transfer
• Relentless Improvement
• Programs for Workforce Development in Business, Industry and Government
• Professionalism
• Inclusiveness • Teamwork
• Adult Basic Education • Comprehensive Student Services • Cultural Enrichment and Community Service • Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning Opportunities
Our Service Standards In order to implement our vision, we are committed to the following service standards: • Accuracy • Consistency • Timeliness
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WHO WE SERVE As the largest online public community college in the nation, Rio Salado College is dedicated to serving our local, national, and international communities through adult basic education, collaborative partnerships, early college initiatives, and online learning. Our students include: • Business & industry partnership students
• Local employees
• High school students
• Military service members
• Incarcerated students
• Non-traditional students
• International students
• Re-entry students
• Lifelong learners
• Working adults with families
www.riosalado.edu/about
ONLINE LEARNING As a leader in online learning, Rio Salado College incorporates the latest technologies to better serve our diverse student population.
8 RioLearn is an innovative and reliable online course management, support and delivery system. It was developed specifically for Rio Salado College and was designed to maximize the teaching and learning experience. RioLearn’s platform and online support system seamlessly integrate for a completely user-friendly experience. Students, faculty and staff members each have separate portals for their specific purposes while benefiting from the many options available.
Online Student Services • 24/7 Instructional Helpdesk
• Financial Aid & Scholarships
• 24/7 Technical Helpdesk
• Library Services
• Academic Advising
• RioLounge Online Student Union
• Admissions
• Tutoring
• Bookstore
• Veterans Affairs
• Career Counseling
“Innovative Delivery of Postsecondary Education” - Beating the Odds Report
www.riosalado.edu/about
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OUR STUDENTS Rio Salado College, the largest of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges in terms of headcount, serves nearly 70,000 students each year through: adult basic education, collaborative partnerships, early college initiatives and
Student Demographics Gender Female Male Unknown Other
61% 37% 1% 1%
online learning. Rio Salado College is committed to the assessment and improvement of the following student learning outcomes: critical thinking, information literacy, reading, writing, and sustainability. Our students are frequently recognized among the nation’s top community college scholars through All-USA Academic Team competitions.
“Education pays in higher earnings and lower unemployment rates.” - Bureau of Labor Statistics
www.riosalado.edu/about
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Age
Ethnicity 19 and Under 20-29 30-39 40-49 50 and Over Unknown
20% 40% 22% 12% 6% 0.16%
White, not of Hispanic Origin Hispanic Black, not of Hispanic Origin Other/Not Specified Asian or Pacific Islander American Indian/Alaskan Native
60% 15% 11% 8% 4% 2%
Demographic/statistical data from the IRIS database & MCCCD Web trends provided by Institutional Research (Oct. 2011).
- Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2011 www.riosalado.edu/about
11 OUR FACULTY Rio Salado College is proud to offer our students exceptionally qualified and experienced faculty who are dedicated to higher learning and education. Full-time faculty chairs oversee teaching and learning and lead nearly 1,500 adjunct faculty members. Our instructors are actively employed in the disciplines they teach, so they can share valuable, real-world experience that can be immediately applied to their students’ long-term career success.
PROGRAMS at RIO SALADO Accounting Addictions & Substance Use Disorders Computer Technology Creative Writing* Dental Assisting Dental Hygiene Dental Office Management Early Childhood & Human Development eLearning Design Specialist General Business Language/Literary Culture of the USA* Language Studies*
Law Enforcement Technology Military Leadership Organizational Management Paralegal Public Administration Quality Customer Service Retail Management Small Business Start-up Sustainability & Ecological Literacy* Sustainable Food Systems Teacher Education
*Academic Certificate For program details such as estimated costs and graduation rates please visit www.riosalado.edu/programs.
www.riosalado.edu/about
THE SMART CHOICE When analyzing the cost of attending a four-year university, Rio Salado College is a smart financial decision. Arizona students can save thousands of dollars, because tuition at community colleges can be up to 75% less than tuition rates at public and private universities.
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Average Annual Tuition Comparison Rio Salado College
AZ State Universities*
AZ Private Universities
$2,280
$9,500
$16,500
Figures based on two 15-credit semesters. *Source: Arizona Board of Regents.
www.riosalado.edu/about
15 PARTNERSHIPS Corporate, Government, Community and Educational Entities Each year, Rio Salado College prepares thousands of students for today’s careers. We partner with local corporations, government agencies, community organizations and other educational institutions. We provide access to training and career-path programs, create added value to the learning model, and provide a gateway for degree completers.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Rio Salado has many locations throughout the Valley to serve students. Each location is uniquely tailored to the community it serves. Students can take advantage of classes, programs, and services to improve their lives and empower the surrounding community. The locations also provide meeting hubs for community leaders and organizations to network, dialogue, collaborate, and to improve services for local residents. (See all of Rio Salado locations on pages 23 and 24.)
Rio Salado is the first college in Arizona to educate employees where they work.
www.riosalado.edu/about
HOST INSTITUTION
The Maricopa Community Colleges East Valley Veterans Education Center (EVVEC) provides educational outreach and college advisement services to veterans and their family members at no cost. The EVVEC offers a “one-stop-shop” where veterans can get practical information about the educational resources available to successfully pursue a college education.
EVVEC Services Offered: • Assistance in applying for VA educational benefits • Educational and employment development workshops • Tutoring and academic skill building • Activities to ease transition to college life • Referrals to community services EVVEC educational partners include: Rio Salado College, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Scottsdale Community College, Mesa Community College and GateWay Community College.
www.riosalado.edu/about
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Rio Salado College serves as the host institution for the EVVEC and Communiversity @ Surprise.
The Communiversity concept is a new model of higher education, with several institutions partnering to offer students certificates, and associate through master’s degrees, all under one roof. The first Communiversity opened in Surprise, Arizona, with an additional location planned for the southeast Valley in the town of Queen Creek.
How it works: • Students have access to several educational pathways • Partnering institutions jointly provide dozens of educational programs • Classes are offered online, in-person and a combination of both • Students can earn progressive degrees through partner institutions • Students save money by taking up to 90 credits at community college tuition rates Communiversity partners include: The City of Surprise, Rio Salado College, Glendale Community College, Phoenix College, Northern Arizona University, Ottawa University and West-MEC.
www.riosalado.edu/about
SUSTAINABILITY Rio Salado College was named “America’s Greenest Campus” by Climate Culture for having the highest average of carbon reduction per person.
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For Rio Salado College, caring about the environment represents a lifestyle that blends into daily routines. We practice a comprehensive approach to sustainability, including socio-cultural, environmental and economic dynamics and have adopted significant measures to “think green� and beyond. Rio carefully weighs the benefits and costs to meet the needs of the present while taking care of the future.
www.riosalado.edu/about
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DIVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICE Rio Salado College owns and operates two radio stations; KJZZ 91.5 FM, KBAQ 89.5 FM, as well as Sun Sounds of Arizona. The college also supports SPOT 127, a youth media initiative.
KJZZ (91.5FM)
Sun Sounds of Arizona
Source for news, entertainment, jazz and blues. KJZZ is an NPR, PRI and APM member station.
Award-winning radio reading service for people who cannot see, hold or understand print due to disability.
KBAQ (89.5 FM)
SPOT 127
Source for classical music, arts, culture and news.
KJZZ’s new youth media after-school initiative designed to train the next generation of digital content producers.
SUN SOUNDS
OF ARIZONA
www.riosalado.edu/about
101
College Location Communiversity Coming Soon
47th Ave
57th Ave
101
59th Ave
Bell Rd
83rd Ave
LOCATIONS
El Mirage
Union Hills Dr
Cactus Rd Peoria Ave Olive Ave
Rio Salado College - RSC Administrative Headquarters 2323 W. 14th Street Tempe, AZ 85281 480-517-8000 or 1-800-729-1197
2 East Valley Veterans Education Center 3 RSC Downtown 4 RSC Avondale
Indian School Rd
5 RSC Luke Air Force Base (LAFB)
Thomas
Dysart Rd
Glendale Ave Litchfield Rd
1
Gr an
d
6 RSC Orangewood 7 RSC Northern 8 RSC Lifelong Learning Center 9 RSC Thomas 10 SPOT 127 11 RSC Southern 12 Communiversity @ Surprise 13 Communiversity @ Queen Creek
Rio Salado College is establishing new locations and improving existing facilities to better serve and expand its educational offerings to students and the community. For the most current information, visit www.riosalado.edu/locations.
I -10
Av e
24
Beardsley Rd Union Hills Dr Raintree 87th St
I -17
32nd St
Thunderbird Rd
Shea Blvd
12th Ave
Tatum Blvd
Dunlap Ave
Lincoln
101
y
Hw
y
Bu
Chaparral Rd
McDowell Rd
I -17
sh
Power Rd
Hayden Rd
51
w
i
el
Be
H ne
McKellips Rd 202 Country Club Dr
40th St
143
Broadway Southern Ave
60
Baseline Rd
Priest
7th St
7th Ave
5
I -10
10
Queen Creek Rd
480-517-8000 or 1-800-729-1197 www.riosalado.edu/about