NEWS

2December 14, 2022 NEWS

Editor: Alondra Montes-Martinez viewpoints.news@gmail.com

News Briefs

Book rentals are due

Textbooks rented from the Bookstore are due Dec. 19. You may mail in or drop off rentals in person to the Riverside City College branch.

Winter break

Classes will not be in session Dec. 18 - Jan. 2 for winter break. RCC campus and student services will not be available throughout those same dates in observance of legal holidays.

New Real ID Update

Everyone 18 years of age and older must have a Real IDupdated driver’s license or state identification card by May 5, 2025 for domestic flights in the United States. Passports are still needed for international flights. The Department of Homeland Security decided the two-year extension was needed because so many Americans have not yet applied for the federally-mandated Real ID at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The card can also be updated online.

Electric ordinance passed

The Riverside City Council voted 4-3 Dec. 6 to pass an ordinance requiring newly constructed buildings three-stories or lower to be fully electric beginning Jan. 6, 2023.

Influenza season

People are encouraged to get their Flu shot at a local hospital, clinic or local pharmacy to protect themselves and others. If you are experiencing Flu-like symptoms, stay home. For more information about Influenza visit the link: https:// www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts. htm.

CORRECTION: In our previous issue, it was reported that Riverside City College has 2,800 students enrolled. That number was incorrect and has been corrected on our website to reflect the correct total.

If you feel you or others’ safety is at risk, please contact the RCCD Police Department at 951-2228171 for non-emergency calls, and in case of emergency, call 9-1-1.

To stay up to date on upcoming campus events, visit the Viewpoints calendar listed at viewpointsonline.org

District officials combat low enrollment

MARIA ODENBAUGH OPINIONS EDITOR

Although enrollment is increasing Riverside City College District Chancellor Wolde-Ab Issac is concerned about enrollment based funding.

Isaac said the pandemic is to blame for the decline in enrollment numbers since 2019.

“(The pandemic) has dictated a change in way of life,” says Isaac.

Aside from the pandemic, the increase in jobs available to newly graduated students like warehouse jobs caused a big decline in enrollment numbers as well.

“It is hard, honestly, to compete with a $21 hour warehouse job,” said Bill Hedrick, President of the RCCD Board of Trustees “When you have two of those in a family it starts looking like enough to pay the rent, so that is competition.”

Hedrick also said the economic stress from the pandemic is what hurt enrollment the most. Economic stressors caused high wage jobs in warehouses to be more enticing than furthering education.

According to the Chancellor, the District is trying new ways of advertising and increasing social media usage. Street signs, digital billboards and movie theater advertisements have served as ways to increase enrollment.

The District is trying to promote that community college is another cost saving option for high school graduates besides warehouse jobs.

“We can make the case to the students in high school both in terms of the quality education we

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS A lone student walks by the Quadrangle building at Riverside City College on Nov. 9. Low enrollment has left the campus less populated than usual.

provide, which covers the first few years of the four year university, but also the cost saving,” adds Isaac.

RCCD is also conducting a study focusing on the people who left and didn’t come back and asking what stopped them from returning to RCC.

Hold Harmless funding, however, provides a safety net for the District.

The Hold Harmless funding is based off of the pre-pandemic enrollment numbers.

“Because of the low drop in enrollment, if our funding portionally dropped we would be destabilized in a very large way,” said Isaac. “During the pandemic we lost close to 23% (of enrollment).”

The funding provides more time from now and 2025 to work on improving recruitment.

Hedrick explained the importance of improving the school’s reputation and focusing on what percentage of classes are offered in-person or online. He said he has introduced the Trustees to the idea of offering more evening and Saturday classes to accommodate students who work.

Hedrick looked at other college’s success with moving class times around.

“They have taken classes from what might be considered a traditional work day schedule and moved them to more convenient times for working students.”

The District hopes these potential solutions will allow more students to find a better workschool balance.

STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS Campus police along with first responders tend to a Riverside City College student who collapsed near the Digital Library on Terracina Avenue on Dec. 12.

Emergency on campus

JOHN MICHAEL GUERRERO MANAGING & MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

A student was seen collapsed on the curb of Terracina Dr. in front of the Digital Library Dec. 12.

Nearby students who witnessed the incident immediately notified campus police. An emergency response team soon arrived to assess their condition. The student had obvious signs of trauma to the back of their head and was bleeding.

One witness was on scene and was questioned about the incident by campus police. Several other students around the scene were also questioned. Further information could not be obtained due to campus police clearing the area.

The student eventually became conscious and was brought to a nearby hospital for assessments.

According to campus police, the student was safely transported for care and is expected to make a full recovery.