Convocation and Flex

Convocation

Start the new year in community! Join us Friday, August 18 for the Fall 2023 Convocation.

• 7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast and Coffee with President Lisa Cardoza
• 8:30 a.m. Convocation program
• 11:30 a.m. Buffet lunch provided with indoor and outdoor seating

This event will be live-streamed to meet remote needs.

Need to pick up your employee parking permit? Find the LRPD table at Convocation to pick up your permit. Bring your completed vehicle registration form for faster service!

Flex Week

Tuesday, August 15 - Thursday, August 17

Flex Week events are here! Events are scheduled on Tuesday through Thursday. View a full list of the Fall 2023 Flex Week activities including the schedule and full event descriptions. You can also find the schedule on the Center for Teaching and Learning website. 

Some events are in-person while others are online. To attend an online event, use the link that appears with the event description in the online PD document where one is offered. There’s a great lineup of Flex events scheduled, and we thank all those who are facilitating these events. In the online PD document, you will also find descriptions of some of the upcoming fall semester professional development events; additional opportunities will continue to be added during the semester.

In addition, our sister colleges are offering Flex activities, which all Los Rios employees are welcome to attend. View Flex schedules for Folsom Lake College, Cosumnes River College, and Sacramento City College.

ARC Natomas Center Groundbreaking

On July 31 we were thrilled to officially break ground on the ARC Natomas Center Phase II & III project! This new two-story addition will add almost 53,000 square feet of instruction space including 10 new labs and six classrooms. These modern classrooms and labs will provide an enhanced learning environment at Natomas, and expand our ability to serve the Natomas community and dual enrollment students.

Dining Options

Dining will reopen for the fall semester starting Monday, August 21. During the fall semester the Café will be open Monday - Friday from 7:30 am - 2 pm and the Oasis Coffee Bar will be open Monday - Friday from 7:30 am - 2:30 pm.

New School Year, New Zoom Background!

Check out the new Zoom Background webpage and some new background options to bring ARC to your Zoom screen!

Get IT Support through Service Central

You can request IT services or get support for any IT issue through the online Service Central portal. This includes submitting a request for computer support, software (for example, Adobe Acrobat), hardware (for example, a computer monitor), or access to tools and systems (for example, Zoom or Canvas). In this centralized online system, you can track your requests online and ultimately receive faster responses from the IT team!

Update Your Directory Information

All employees should review their Employee Directory listing yearly to ensure the information is current and accurate. If changes are needed, employees can make the updates in Employee Self-Service. Features include the ability to add a profile photo, edit biographical information, and review academic information and job roles. Visit the Web Directory Management Tool webpage to learn more.

Important Information

Here are some helpful reminders for the college community:

• Emergency Resources: Check out the Los Rios Police Department website for Emergency Procedures, including what to do if a shelter-in-place happens on campus.



• Parking: Parking permits will be required for employees and students for the fall semester. Staff parking decals are valid for two years and will expire on June 1, 2025. Paid parking will be enforced for students and visitors during the semester.

• Smoking: American River College is a tobacco-free, smoke-free, and vape-free campus.

• Free Speech: Please be aware that outside groups occasionally visit campus exercising their constitutionally protected right to free speech. These groups might display images or engage in speech that is offensive to some. Learn more about free speech on campus.

How May We Assist You?

Our college and districtwide Marketing and Communications teams are here to support the great work happening at our college by creating awareness and sharing the story of American River College, the Los Rios colleges, our students, and our impact on the community. Using the online Marketing and Website Support Request form is a convenient way to request support for one or more of the following services: website updates, event or news promotion, and graphic design. When completing your form, please keep in mind:

• All sections of the form must be completed or your request could be delayed.
• Event, social media, or newsletter promotional requests should be made at least two weeks in advance to allow for the best promotion possible. Publicity requests that are received less than two weeks in advance will be included at the discretion of the communications team as time and scheduling allows.
• Promoted activities and events should be directly affiliated with the college or district, i.e. not facility rental or unrelated community organization events.
• Due to the unique nature of digital media, flyers will not be posted. High-resolution images or graphics with minimal text are best suited for digital promotion. Flyers will be replaced with alternate graphics as needed (Note: recommended image sizes for social media are 1200 x 630px for Facebook/Twitter and 1080 x 1080px for Instagram). If you do not have an image or graphic and would like one provided for you, please note it in your request.

Free Teletherapy Services for Students

Los Rios students have access to free 24/7 teletherapy via TimelyCare as part of the Health and Wellness Services program. By partnering with TimelyCare, Los Rios is responding to the growing and ever evolving needs of students. The addition of TimelyCare enhances our network of mental health services.

With TimelyCare, students have access to:

• Scheduled counseling
• Care providers
• Talk Now 24/7 service
• Webinars and workshops

Student Deadlines

Here are some key student deadlines for fall full-term classes.

• September 1 - Last day to drop classes and qualify for a tuition refund
• September 3 - Last day to enroll in classes; also last day to drop classes without notation on record

Looking for the latest academic dates and deadlines?

• Fall 2023 academic calendar
• Final Exam Schedule
• Enrollment dates for upcoming semesters

Sac Republic to Play 10th Anniversary Match at SCC!

We are excited to share that Sacramento City College will be hosting Sacramento Republic FC’s 10th anniversary match on Saturday, August 26. This game brings SRFC back to Hughes Stadium where it all started – it was the team’s first home field. 

The game starts at 7:30 p.m. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni can purchase discounted tickets for this historic match against Orange County SC. Tickets are limited, so get yours early!