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December 1, 2023

Plan Your Spring Semester

As the semester winds down, make your plans for spring! Check for your priority registration date and time in eServices and check the class schedule to find the classes you want for Spring. Your priority registration date and time is the earliest you can enroll in classes, and you can continue to enroll any time afterward throughout the registration period. Pro Tip: Add the classes you want to your cart before your priority registration for fast and easy enrollment.

Registration Station

Need help enrolling in your classes for the Spring 2024 semester? Join us in the Learning Resource Center to get assistance from the Homebase Success Teams with finalizing your registration. The teams will be available on Wednesday, December 6 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm, and Monday, December 11 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm! All students are welcome!

LGBTQ+ Course Offerings at Los Rios for the Spring 2024 Semester

This powerful course introduces students to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) studies. It explores how LGBTQ+ individuals and communities are impacted by various social, cultural, historical, and political factors. Find more information on our Class Schedule.



American River College:

• Intro to LGBTQ+ Studies (SJS 310) with Prof. Smith Silverman (#11685)
• Intro to LGBTQ+ Literature (ENGLT 365) with Prof. Logan (#19052)

Cosumnes River College:

• Intro to LGBTQ+ Studies (SJS 310) with Prof. Gage (#14084)

Sacramento City College

• Intro to LGBTQ+ Studies (SJS 310) with Prof. Kiel (#18526)

Get Ready for Final Exams



As we near the end of the Fall 2023 semester, please note that final exams are scheduled to begin Friday, December 8 through Thursday, December 14. Best of luck, Beavers — you've got this! 

Final Exam Study Tips

Finals can be a challenging and stressful time for students, but effective study strategies can boost confidence and help you succeed! Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your study time.

• Use Active Learning Techniques: Engage actively with the material by summarizing information in your own words, teaching the concepts to someone else, or creating flashcards.

• Organize Your Materials: Gather all your notes, textbooks, and class materials. Create a study guide or outline to help you focus on key concepts.

• Practice with Past Exams: If available, practice with past exams or sample questions. This can give you an idea of the format and types of questions that may appear.

• Group Study Sessions: Collaborate with classmates for group study sessions. Explaining concepts to others and discussing ideas can deepen your understanding.

• Utilize Resources: Take advantage of resources provided by your instructors, such as study guides, review sessions, and office hours. Seek clarification on any confusing topics.

Get Your Flu Shot

It takes approximately two weeks to develop immunity after getting an immunization. Think ahead. Get your flu shot now. Boost your immunity BEFORE finals and your well-deserved winter break! Come by your Student Health and Wellness Center or schedule an appointment.

New Service for Undocumented Students

Any California Community College student or employee now has the opportunity to have their Advance Parole application filing fees covered! Advance Parole is permission granted by the Department of Homeland Security allowing certain noncitizens, such as DACA holders, to temporarily travel outside the U.S. and return lawfully. This is a valuable tool that can assist with the adjustment of the status process as it can provide legal entry as well.

To qualify, you must have a valid reason for travel falling under the following categories:

• Education (examples: study abroad programs, academic research, student-athletes traveling to participate in sporting events)
• Employment (examples overseas work assignments, conferences, interviews, trainings, or client meetings)
• Humanitarian (examples: attending a funeral, visiting an ailing relative, or seeking medical treatment)

To access this benefit and learn more about advance parole eligibility, book an appointment at FindYourAlly.com and our partners at CHIRLA will assist you through the process.

Important Notes:

• Funding for this benefit is available until October 2024.
• DACA and Naturalization fees are still covered as well, so don't forget to take advantage of this support.

For more information and other resources, contact the American River College Dream Center/Undocumented Center.

Okta & Multi-Factor Authentication Coming

You should have already received an email introducing a new Identity and Access Management System called Okta. Okta is a required tool that will be used by all students to manage their Los Rios digital identity (WID), control access to various college resources, and streamline login/authentication processes. Okta is being implemented as part of the district’s ongoing efforts to combat cybercriminals and safeguard student and employee data. The Okta toolset includes the following components:

• Single Sign-On (SSO)
• Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) - for both Students and Employees
• Password Self-Service
• Okta Dashboard (Application Hub)

Systems or Services Impacted: Okta and MFA will be required to access most applications currently accessible through SSO, e.g., Microsoft Office 365, G-Suite/Gmail, eServices, and Alma. Note: Okta and MFA will not be applied to Canvas at this time.

What you need to do: Step-by-step instructions and videos on how to register with Okta including how to set up your multifactor authentication can be found at the following link: https://losrios.edu/okta

Effective Date:

Okta will be available beginning on the following dates:

• December 4, 2023, through January 3, 2024 – Optional early Okta registration period. During the early registration period, students will still have the ability to use the current SSO page without going through MFA until January 4, 2024.
• January 4, 2024 – All students will be required to authenticate through Okta in order to access most Los Rios college systems.

Contact for Assistance: Live chat support will be available to all students through January 31, 2024, to quickly help users troubleshoot any issues encountered. Click the following link to access the live chat feature: Okta Live Chat Support.

Live chat is the recommended support channel for the quickest response. However, if you are unable to access live chat for any reason, please reach out and call (916) 484-8667 or submit a ticket in Service Central.

Spring 2024 EOP&S Applications are open!

The EOP&S/CARE/NextUp application is now open for Spring 2024 starting Thursday, November 30, 2023 through Friday, January 12, 2024.

UNITE Center Presents

• Reflecting the Light

Monday, December 11 at 11:00 am in the UNITE Center

Engage in critical thinking and heartwarming activities centered in purpose and self-advocacy to successfully complete your student education plan.

• Student GPS for Success with Marianna Sousa

Monday, December 11 at 2:00 pm in the UNITE Center

Ms. Marianna will conduct a personal assessment of specific challenges and barriers, engage in relationship-building activities, and help gain insight and direction to access current student support programs provided by LRCCD for specific needs.

Elevate Your Career: Career Preparedness Workshops

All students are invited to attend a variety of virtual workshops that can help with your job and career search! Click on the workshop title below for more information and to register in advance via Handshake or Zoom. 

• Introduction to Work Experience and Internship Program

Tuesday, December 5, 12:00 to 1:00 pm

• How to Write a Winning Resume

Friday, December 8, 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Join us online for an insightful workshop on transforming your resume into a powerful tool that captures the attention of employers and lands you interviews. 

• Sharpen Your Interview Skills

Friday, December 15, 12:00 to 1:00 pm

The process of interviewing can be intimidating if you’re not sure what to expect, how to prepare, or have an understanding of what the interviewer expects from you. Come to our workshop on Friday, December 15, to sharpen your interview skills!

That's right, the semester is almost over. We are tired, we are giving one last loving push to get our students to succeed, and we just want to sleep through the night for once! Well, it is time to take a break and come to the X-SALE! 

Tuesday, Dec. 5 and Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Fantastic ceramic artwork for sale at great prices!

Behind the ceramics lab.

Cash/checks only.

There will also be ceramic bowls to help raise money to feed the cats on campus. Hope to see you all there. 

"By the Way, Meet Vera Stark" tackles Hollywood's color barrier 

with biting wit and stunning star power 

If you haven't met Vera Stark yet, you're missing something very special. She's smart, talented, funny, and gorgeous—but Classic Hollywood only sees her color. In Lynn Nottage's brilliant, sharp-edged comedy "By the Way, Meet VeraStark," audiences finally get to see Vera's talent—and also what she faced for decades due to Hollywood's infamous color barrier. The play runs Nov. 24 through Dec. 3 at American River College's Stage Two Theatre. Tickets sell quickly in this intimate space, so advance purchase is recommended at ARCTheatre.org.

Upcoming Music Events

Series 2 Jazz Combo Showcase

Friday, December 1 at 7:30 pm, Music Building Rm 547

Buy tickets

Series 2 Wind Bands Performance

Monday, December 4 at 7:30 pm, Main Campus Theater

Buy tickets

Series 2 Concert Choir Performance

Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30 pm, Main Campus Theater

Buy tickets

Series 2 Vocal Jazz Ensemble Performance

Wednesday, December 6 at 7:30 pm, Main Campus Theater

Buy tickets

Music from the Nordic Nations of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland

Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30 pm, Main Campus Theater

Buy tickets

The Parrot

Squawk! Squawk! Issue #176 of The Parrot ESL Newsletter is ready to talk, so sit back, relax, and enjoy! Check out the work of the Parrot staff and some of our ARC ESL students!

In this issue:

• The Untold Story of an Afghan Woman: An Interview with Dr. Mary Aryanpur by Asila Sadiqi 
• It’s an Alien Invasion!  Bollywood’s “PK” Looks at Earth Life:  a Movie Review by Edres Sadiqi
• To Pay or Not to Pay?  What a Horrible Question! Bathrooms around the World, page 21
• Grammar Myth Exploded by Prof. David N. Evans, page 32
• Odes to BMW, Rainbows and Baseball–original student poetry from ESL 350
• Autumn Leaves in “Explore California” by Manny Madrid
• Parrot Pastimes:  The Joy of Exploring, page 11
• Shark! A Close Encounter by Nabil Kirolos, ESL 47
• Laughter across Cultures by Mohammed El mrani
• Canvas Problems:  A Student’s Perspective
• Parrot Voices from Kazakhstan and Ukraine
• Pet Elephant?  by Mitra Sayad, ESL 47 page 6 
• and much, much more . . .

Support and Resources for ARC Students

The tragic events that continue to unfold in Israel and Gaza have caused feelings like grief, uncertainty, and loss in communities worldwide, including our own. Witnessing horrific violence and suffering, coupled with the significant stress many are carrying for loved ones in this region, is resulting in tensions in our daily lives. A sense of helplessness can create an environment where frustration is expressed as anger, but despite the complex feelings surrounding these tragedies, we must remember that our diversity is our strength. 

As a community, American River College rejects all forms of identity-based hate, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. We are committed to fostering an inclusive campus for students, staff, and faculty across all faiths and belief systems. As we face these challenging times, we must center our shared humanity in everything we do. 

It can be challenging to care for ourselves when our hearts and minds are elsewhere, but your well-being and the well-being of the ARC community is our priority. Below is a list of available support services and resources and a brief survey to help us identify where we can grow to meet your needs and better serve our community.

Peer-to-Peer Virtual Support

Looking to connect with peers in a safe and anonymous virtual space? Log into Togetherall and share your feelings and concerns with an understanding community of your peers. Available 24/7 when you need it and free – a whole community is ready to support you. The peer community is moderated and strives to create a space where people can support each other. You may create your own post or search using relevant terms to find a discussion.

Individual Mental Health Therapy Sessions

Do you prefer to talk individually in a safe space? Los Rios provides all students with up to 17 free mental health therapy sessions. You are not alone. 

• Make an in-person or virtual appointment online with a college therapist for up to 5 free one-to-one sessions. On-campus in-person and virtual appointments are available during college hours. 
• TimelyCare virtual teletherapy is also available for students during college hours, as well as evenings and weekends for up to 12 free sessions.  

Student Survey: Additional Support

In addition, we want to make sure what we are offering is meeting your needs. Please fill out the short survey below to give us insight on the best avenue of support.

SURVEY: Supporting Students Impacted by Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Reporting Harassment and Discrimination

Everyone has the right to feel safe on our campus, free from harassment and discrimination. If you or someone you know experiences discrimination or harassment at ARC, we urge you to send a report to the American River College Equity Officer at arc-equity@arc.losrios.edu. Our Equal Opportunity and Title IX Officers are responsible for receiving and responding to reports and concerns of discrimination, harassment, and gender-based violence involving students, faculty, staff, and third parties.

ARC Events Calendar