Take Part in BestCompaniesAZ 4th Annual Military Career Event, March 7

Transitioning out of military life? Looking for a new career? Take part in BestCompaniesAZ 4th Annual Military Career Event for veterans and their spouses, March 7 in Phoenix. 

More than a thousand jobs will be made available through Arizona’s veteran committed employers. 

The Career Expo will be held from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., where veterans can meet hiring representatives from more than 40 military-friendly, award-winning employers. 

Visit MilitaryAZ.org for the registration link, event details, hiring companies, open positions and on-site resources.

The hiring and networking event is open to all military – active, retired, reservists -- as well as their spouses and significant others. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in the hiring event that conducts job matching and potential interviews with hiring companies from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the day of the event. 

Register before the Feb. 21 pre-match deadline!

Launch Your Criminal Justice Career with Rio Salado's Administration of Justice Studies Program

Do you have a passion for justice? With Rio Salado’s Administration of Justice Studies (AJS) program, you can earn the credentials you'll need to enter a variety of careers in the criminal justice field:

• Private detectives and investigators 
• Judicial law and court clerks 
• Legal support workers 
• Gaming surveillance officers and gaming investigators 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the criminal justice field is projected to grow, which is why Rio Salado created its AJS program.

“Rio Salado’s AJS program is designed with industry expertise to address specific employment needs within the industry,” said Rio Salado Public Safety and Paralegal Faculty Chair Angela Kwan, who played a key role in the development of this program. 

Additional cost-savings!
These classes do not require textbooks:

AJS100

AJS101
AJS109
AJS123
AJS148
AJS192
AJS195
AJS200
AJS225
AJS260

Classes Start Mondays! 

Learn more at www.riosalado.edu/justice

AZ K-12 Schools Need Teachers. Answer the Call.

What is the state of Arizona K-12 education? 

This azcentral report by Education Reporter Ricardo Cano addresses one of the most pressing issues-- a looming teacher shortage.

Arizona needs you—to teach! 

Join Rio Salado's Teacher Education team for a free orientation session in-person or online to learn about the educational pathways, scholarships, teacher-in-residence programs and employment opportunities available to help you succeed.

Visit www.riosalado.edu/teachers or contact a Rio Salado College Academic Advisor at (480) 517-8580 for more information.

Post-Baccalaureate Orientation Schedule:
www.riosalado.edu/programs/education/post-baccalaureate

Teacher-in-Residence Orientation Schedule:
www.riosalado.edu/programs/education/teacher-in-residence

Rio Salado College offers Arizona Department of Education approved Educator Preparation programs that provide convenient and cost-effective ways for undergraduate students and working individuals with a bachelor’s degree to transition into teaching.

Volunteer to Help Veterans in Need Jan. 25-27

Help veterans in need by volunteering your time during the 2018 Maricopa County StandDown, Jan. 25-27.

This event, which is hosted by the Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance and Arizona Housing Coalition is open to local military veterans and their families in need of medical services, housing, employment, clothing, other essential services and more.

More than 2,100 veterans benefited from this event in 2017!

How to Volunteer:
Maricopa Community Colleges employees are encouraged to register through the Maricopa Learns through Service HCM portal. For questions, please contact Dee Dee Tapson at 480-731-8299 or via email at creative.pathways@domail.maricopa.edu.

Maricopa Community Colleges students are encouraged to register using this Valley of the Sun United Way portal.

Services that will be provided during the event:

• VA Benefits Assistance 
• DES Benefits Assistance 
• Maricopa County & City Municipal Courts 
• MVD Services - IDs & driver licenses 
• Social Security Administration Services 
• Medical, Vision, & Behavioral Health Services 
• Substance Abuse Assistance 
• Housing Assistance 
• Employment Services 
• Education Services & Opportunities 
• Pet Care (all domestic animals welcome) 
• Haircuts & Hygiene 
• Sleeping area for men, women, and families 
• On-site storage for personal items 
• Dental services provided by Central Arizona Dental Society Mission of Mercy 

Get the latest news and information about this event by visiting azhousingcoalition.org/MCStandDown

Understanding the Science Behind the Flu!

Flu season reminder! Take a moment to understand the science behind the flu and how viruses work with this fascinating NPR video.

Please, help stop the spread of germs: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Get more NPR science news on member-supported KJZZ Phoenix, a community service of Rio Salado College.

A Call for New Higher Learning Federal Policies that Address Needs of Non-traditional Students

This eCampus News feature addresses how federal higher education policies need to be revisited given that they were designed when a typical college student attended a four-year college directly after high school—and presents a new framework proposed by Higher Learning Advocates that emphasizes "high-quality outcomes, focusing on today’s students and creating a more affordable and responsive system of education and training beyond high school.”

Included are remarks by Rio Salado College President Chris Bustamante, who also serves as a Higher Learning Advocates board member.

“Quality, outcomes and the needs of today’s students should guide federal policy rather than historical precedent and institutional convenience,” said Bustamante. “Built on those three principles, new policy solutions can help institutions and systems support and educate a broader range of students and embrace technological innovation.”

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 75-percent of college students are either working, part-time students, parents with dependent children or students with some other non-traditional status.

Rio Salado Community Service Sun Sounds of Arizona Empowers Disability Community with News & Information

This feature by Ahwatukee Foothills News contributor Coty Dolores Miranda, provides wonderful insights into how Sun Sounds of Arizona and its dedicated staff and volunteers are helping Arizonans living with disabilities stay informed through print.

Pictured above is Sun Sounds Director Andrea Pasquale who said, “Some people think the service is only for the blind, but we’re there for anyone who can’t read print readily. It could be dyslexia, a traumatic brain injury where they can’t concentrate on the printed word, or arthritis or a quadriplegic who can’t physically hold a newspaper or magazine.”

Sun Sounds of Arizona is a community service of Rio Salado College, providing audio access information to people who cannot read print because of a restricting disability. Sun Sounds of Arizona makes creative use of technology and talent to ensure that every disabled person has the opportunity to access the current and local information necessary to a self-directed, productive life. Effectively this will help establish that the inability to read print will no longer be a disabling condition. Sun Sounds of Arizona will continue to be a leader in the field of information access services and a willing partner to organizations with like goals. Sun Sounds of Arizona is innovative, committed to quality and to customer satisfaction. Learn more at sunsounds.org/

Rio Salado Removes the Barriers to Education. No More Excuses! Register for Spring 2018

At Rio Salado College you can count on affordable tuition, 600+ online classes, flexible Monday starts, seamless university transfers, student support services from caring staff--and more!

Whether you’re just getting started, looking to transfer to a four-year university or learning new skills, our advisors can help you plan toward your goals.

No more excuses—begin your journey into higher learning today!  

Get Started Now

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Closure, Jan. 15

The Communiversity at Queen Creek will be closed Monday, Jan. 15 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, Jan. 16. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. on Education

“Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction.”

“The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.”

“Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education.”

Veterans Get Help at Maricopa County StandDown Jan. 25-27

Attention Maricopa veterans. Do you and your family need a helping hand with housing, employment, clothing or other essential services? 

The Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance and Arizona Housing Coalition are hosting the 2018 Maricopa County StandDown to help you, Jan. 25-27. 

This event is open to ALL United States military veterans, and their families, in the local area who are in need of the following resources:

• VA Benefits Assistance
• DES Benefits Assistance
• Maricopa County & City Municipal Courts
• MVD Services - IDs & driver licenses
• Social Security Administration Services
• Medical, Vision, & Behavioral Health Services
• Substance Abuse Assistance
• Housing Assistance
• Employment Services
• Education Services & Opportunities
• Pet Care (all domestic animals welcome)
• Haircuts & Hygiene
• Sleeping area for men, women, and families
• On-site storage for personal items
• NEW THIS YEAR! Dental services provided by Central Arizona Dental Society Mission of Mercy

More than 2,100 veterans benefited from this event in 2017!

Get the latest news and information about this event by visiting azhousingcoalition.org/MCStandDown

Volunteers Needed

Rio Salado and the Maricopa Community Colleges encourage students, faculty and staff to volunteer their time.

Maricopa Community Colleges employees are encouraged to register through the Maricopa Learns through Service HCM portal. For questions, please contact Dee Dee Tapson at 480-731-8299 or via email at creative.pathways@domail.maricopa.edu.

Maricopa Community Colleges students are encouraged to register using this Valley of the Sun United Way portal.

Apply for Rio Salado Federal Work Study Jobs

Need a job to help pay for college? Looking for workforce experience? Join Rio Salado's Financial Aid team to learn about Federal Work Study (FWS) opportunities and benefits, Jan. 10, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Tempe headquarters.

Staff will be available to share insights about current openings, the application process and some of the financial benefits that are available to students who choose to take on a FWS position. Look for their information booth near the front lobby on the first floor of the Tower at Rio.

Visit this job page to view current FWS and other part-time openings. 

We encourage you to join our team!

Pictured here are Rio Salado Financial Aid specialists Maribel Carlos, Traneice Bradley and Mary Herron, who will be among the staff available to help you apply.

Date Night? Try a Community Cooking Workshop!

Looking for a Date Night idea with a culinary twist? The Café at Rio has eight Community Cooking Workshops scheduled for this spring at Rio Salado College in Tempe! 

Visit www.riosalado.edu/cafe and click on community education workshops to view all offerings.

Price range $22.50-$29.00 per class, with discounts for parties of two.

Here’s the spring lineup:

• Feb. 1 Party Hors D'oeuvres for Beginners
• Feb. 22 Pizza Making
• Mar. 8 Creating Garnishes
• Mar. 24 Tamales Workshop Morning Session
• Mar. 24 Tamales Workshop Afternoon Session
• Apr. 12 Grilling Tricks of the Trade Workshop
• Apr. 26 Thai Cooking for Beginners
• May 3 Desserts for Beginners- Lemon Meringue and Key Lime Pie

Rio Salado culinary workshops are non-credit classes designed for the beginner—with fun in mind.

Take Part in a Student Forum with Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Maria Harper-Marinick, Jan. - Feb. 2018

Join Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Maria Harper-Marinick for a Student Forum.

This is a chance for you to share ideas, address student issues and speak your mind!  Take part! Your input is invaluable.

Engage in the dialogue at one of these upcoming events:

January 31 

Paradise Valley Community College 

Q Class 120A/B
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

February 7 

Phoenix College 

Hacienda Conference Room
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. 

February 8

Scottsdale Community College
Turquoise Room SC164

10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Time for a Career Change? Be a Super Teacher!

The need for preK-12 teachers is greater than ever, especially in Arizona. Ready to answer the call? Join Rio Salado's Teacher Education team for a free orientation session in-person or online to learn how to become a super teacher-- and what kind of benefits are available to you!

Rio Salado College offers Arizona Department of Education approved Educator Preparation programs that provide convenient and cost-effective ways for undergraduate students and working individuals with a bachelor’s degree to transition into teaching.

Undergraduate Bachelor's Degree Pathway

This program allows students to complete 90+ credits at the community college level and then transfer to Northcentral University for the remaining courses toward earning a bachelor's of education degree.

Post-Baccalaureate Programs

Designed for individuals who have a bachelor's degree or higher (in any area) from an accredited university and would like to complete an educator preparation program that leads to certification.

Teacher-In-Residence Programs

This program provides a convenient and cost-effective way for students and working professionals with a bachelor’s degree to transition into and launch a teaching career—with paid employment opportunities in the classroom

Attend one of these sessions to learn about the educational pathways, scholarships, teacher-in-residence programs and employment opportunities available to you as an Arizona teacher.

Post-Baccalaureate In-Person Orientation Sessions

• January 8 
• February 5 
• March 12 
• April 24 

Post-Baccalaureate Virtual Orientation Sessions

• January 16 
• February 20 
• April 2

These events will take place 6-8 p.m. In-person orientation sessions will take place at the Rio Salado College Conference Center at 2323 West 14th Street, Tempe, Arizona 85281. A link to join the meeting will be sent with the registration confirmation.

TIR In-Person Orientation Sessions

• January 10 
• January 31 
• April 25 

TIR Virtual Orientation Sessions

• January 3 
• January 24 
• March 28 
• April 11 

These events will take place 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. In-person orientation sessions will take place at the Rio Salado College Conference Center at 2323 West 14th Street, Tempe, Arizona 85281. A link to join the meeting will be sent with the registration confirmation.

No need to wait. Get started today! For more information visit www.riosalado.edu/teachers or contact a Rio Salado College Academic Advisor at (480) 517-8580.

Free ASU Entrepreneurship Program for Maricopa Community Colleges Students!

Poder is a 5-week entrepreneurship program offered at no cost to Maricopa Community College students by Arizona State University, supported by grant funding from the Cisco corporate advised fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

In this program, students will learn to apply entrepreneurship skills to solve community issues, how technology can maximize their positive impact on the world and how to pitch their business idea.

ASU Poder involves attending in-person sessions, completing self-paced virtual modules, and meeting with mentors for about 30-hours over 5 weeks.

The spring 2018 Poder program is tentatively scheduled for February 5 - March 5, 2018.

Apply now

All Maricopa Community Colleges students are eligible to apply. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply.  There are no GPA requirements or costs to students.

Happy New Year Queen Creek!

Here's to an awesome 2018!

We look forward to helping you achieve your educational goals at the Communiversity at Queen Creek!