Undocumented Student Action Week

Serving the largest number of undocumented students in the state, California Community Colleges are committed to serving ALL students, regardless of immigration status. In its seventh year, Undocumented Student Action Week (Monday, October 16 to Friday, October 20) is a system-wide campaign to advocate and provide support resources for our undocumented student population. To register for free statewide webinars, visit the California Community Colleges website.

ARC Undocumented Student Action Week Events

You can also download a Los Rios Undocumented Student Action Week Zoom background to show your support all week. To learn more about services available to American River College’s undocumented students, visit the UndocuScholar Resource Connection webpage.

Open Enrollment Begins Soon!

Mark your calendars because the time to choose or modify your benefits for 2024 is fast approaching! Open Enrollment begins on Monday, October 23  and ends on Wednesday, November 15. This annual opportunity allows you to select the best coverage for yourself and your loved ones. This year we are excited to announce the following:

• New Text Messaging Updates
• Medical Plan Updates
• New FSA Vendor
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) updates

Have Questions? Contact Employee Benefits at Benefits@losrios.edu.

Division Contact Page

We have created a Division Office webpage to serve as a quick and easy resource for information including location, hours, and contact information for Division Deans and Administrative Assistants. 

Updated COVID-19 Health and Safety Procedures

As we enter the respiratory diseases season, please review American River College's COVID-19 procedures to keep yourself and our community healthy.

We want to encourage you to stay home if you’re not feeling well and submit the COVID Reporting Form if you test positive for COVID-19 and were on campus within 48 hours of when symptoms began or your positive test collection date.

Monthly Grants Clinic

Curious, confused or keen to learn more about grants? Sue Byrne, Director of Grants Management, will be running a monthly grants clinic on campus this Tuesday, October 17 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in the President’s Conference Room (in the Admin. Building). Maybe you’re working on an application and need help with a particular section, or are searching for that elusive grant, or have spotted a grant and are wondering “what now”? Make an appointment to meet with Sue or simply drop in!

Innovation Grant Reminder

Don’t forget, this Fall we will be awarding up to $100,000 in Innovation Grants! The innovation grants program has been retooled to align with our work on equity and inclusion. The application period is from Monday, September 11 to Monday, November 6, 2023. Complete the Innovation Grants Form to apply.

Questions? Contact: 

• Kirsten DuBray for application questions.
• Dr. BJ Snowden, Dean of Equity, Institutional Effectiveness & Innovation for guidance on aligning your application.

Community Forum for Los Rios Chief of Police

Los Rios is in the process of a national search for a new Chief of Police and is seeking input from the students and employees at our colleges. The district would like to know what characteristics you feel are most important in the person who will be hired for the position. Please join us for an open forum via Zoom on Thursday, October 19, at 5:00 pm.

The Chief of Police oversees the activities and operations of the Los Rios Police Department (LRPD), including safety and security services at each college campus and all district locations. The Chief of Police is also the district’s liaison to local law enforcement and emergency service agencies and plays a critical role in our work to align LRPD’s policing practices with the needs and values of our colleges and the students we serve.

Changing the Future of (Online) Education with Retrieval Practice

Presented by: Dr. Jason Chan, Professor, Iowa State University, and ARC Office of Institutional Research

In the college hour on Thursday, October 19 at 12:15 pm in the ITC Training Room, Dr. Jason Chan, a researcher at Iowa State University, presents research on onlinelearning (including with ARC students) guided by psychological learning and memory principles. This research was conducted in partnership with ARC’s Office of Institutional Research.

According to Dr. Chan, “Online education is becoming increasingly relevant, but students are often inattentive during online learning. I will present evidence-based methods that can improve student learning and test performance. Virtually all of the research in this literature has involved university students as participants, but I will present data featuring students from community colleges, including students at American River College. Lastly, I will discuss research on whether unproctored online exams can accurately assess learning.”

Dr. Chan’s research focuses on improving memory performance in both educational and legal contexts. His research has received over 3,000 citations and he has published in many of the top journals in his field, including Psychological Bulletin, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Psychological Science, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. His research is supported by the National Science Foundation.

This college hour is intended for a broad audience, including faculty, staff, administrators, and students.

Canvas Tips for Success

Canvas is a powerful tool for both in-person and online teaching, and these online workshops will provide you with valuable insights and tips to make the most of it. Whether you are a Canvas novice or a seasoned user, you'll discover innovative strategies to enhance your teaching, engage your students, and streamline your workflow.

Canvas Tips

Tuesday, October 17, 4:00 to 5:00 pm, online via Zoom

Learn how to make Canvas easier for you and your students to navigate.

How to Use the Canvas Gradebook

Wednesday, October 18, 12:00 to 1:00 pm, online via Zoom

Learn how to enter grades and set grading policies by using the Canvas Gradebook.

For questions, contact Gabriella Nuttall at nuttalg@scc.losrios.edu.

Internship Info Sessions

The Los Rios Work Experience and Internship Program invites all students to a series of virtual sessions this fall to learn about available, quality, local internships and the organizations that are offering them! 

October internship info sessions include:

• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Internship Program - Tuesday, October 17, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
• SMUD Internships - Tuesday, October 17, 1:00 to 2:00 pm
• Siemens Internship & Career Opportunities - Wednesday, October 18, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
• Sac State Institute of Social Research Job Opportunities - Thursday, October 19, 12:00 to 1:00 pm
• Mercy Hospital of Folsom Volunteer Program - Tuesday, October 24, 3:00 to 4:00 pm
• Kaiser Permanente KP LAUNCH Internship Program - Wednesday, October 25, 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Study Abroad in Florence, Italy Spring 2024!

All Los Rios students will have the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy during the Spring 2024 semester. Interested students are encouraged to join us for an upcoming virtual information session to learn more about the program and how to apply. Info sessions will be held via Zoom every week in

October during the following times:

• Wednesdays, 3:00 to 4:00 pm
• Thursdays, 1:00 to 2:00 pm
• Fridays, 10:00 to 11:00 am

The program will run from February 3 through May 3, 2024, and will be led by Dr. Nancy Olsen, SCC Professor of English. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 3, 2023. For questions, contact Nancy Olsen at olsenn@scc.losrios.edu.

Measure A Passes, UTP Program Extended

An overwhelming majority of Los Rios Community College District students who voted in a special election this week favored extending the Los Rios and Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) Universal Transit Pass (UTP) Program through December 31, 2028. 

The program gives all Los Rios students a discount on public transit, saving hundreds of dollars a year off an RT pass and providing access to all RT light rail and bus lines 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As it is an extension of the existing program, students currently paying the UTP fee will not see an increase in their per-unit fees.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the CDC, other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. The National Breast Cancer Foundation provides early detection screenings, including mammograms, breast health education, and a supportive community. For more information, please visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation website.

Spring Awakening Wows Opening Weekend Audiences - Just Seven Performances Remaining 

With rock-concert lighting, spectacular vocals, and a top-notch pit band, ARC's

production of Spring Awakening brought down the house with its opening weekend performances. Closing October 22, there are only seven shows left! Here are what audience members have said about this show...

"Spring Awakening is a timeless and powerful show made even more beautiful by this insanely talented cast here at ARC! I promise you will leave feeling touched and inspired, do yourself a favor and see this incredible production!" — Bailey W.

"A wonderful production and the voices are exquisite. I'm coming to see the show again. I loved [the] staging, and the production values are just excellent, particularly the stage lighting." — Roberto P.

"It's an amazing show with an incredibly talented cast and great musical numbers. I definitely recommend bringing tissues when you watch it!" — Heather M.

Winner of 8 Tony Awards, this unique musical blends a once-banned cautionary tale from the 1800s with modern rock-and-roll elements to create an experience you won't soon forget. Get your tickets early before this show sells out, closes or both! Go to ARCTheatre.org for tickets and information. We can't wait to see you there! All shows at American River College Theatre.

Remaining Shows:

• Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm
• Saturday, October 14 at 7:30 pm (ASL Interpreted this night)
• Sunday, October 15 at 2:00 pm
• Thursday, October 19 at 7:30 pm
•  Friday, October 20 at 7:30 pm (Talkback with cast and director following this show)
• Saturday, October 21 at 7:30 pm
• Sunday, October 22 at 2:00 pm

Tickets: $16/Students • $18/Seniors • $20/General