Combine Your College Credits to Earn an Official Associate Degree with the Maricopa Community Colleges!

Maricopa Community Colleges students and alumni can combine their community college and university credits to meet the requirements for an associate degree! 

See if you qualify for our Reverse Transfer Program by visiting www.maricopa.edu/academics/university-transfer/reverse-transfer.

An official associate degree is a valuable credential, which can give you a competitive edge when you’re applying for internships and jobs! 

Finish What You Started-- and get the Credit You Deserve!

Nanotechnology: Where Small is Big!

Sometimes you need to think small to do big things! With Rio Salado’s Nanotechnology program, you’ll get a chance to see how nanotech is a part of our daily lives—and how to pursue a dynamic career in the industry, which projects a need for more than two million technicians! 

Get a glimpse into the program now with Maricopa Community Colleges Television Reporter Lisa Acquafredda by watching this special Maricopa Now feature.

Included are interviews with Rio Salado STEM Faculty Chair Rick Vaughn and Rio Salado’s first Nanotech grad, Caitlin McGough.

Learn more about the ways nanotechnology can improve your life with Rio Salado College—where Nano Knows No limits. www.riosalado.edu/nano.

Classes start most Mondays and we can arrange for you to apply what you learn at Arizona State University's NanoFab and other ASU research facilities-- at a time that’s convenient for you! 

Learn more about ASU's NanoFab: nanofab.engineering.asu.edu.

Rio Salado College Extends All-Arizona Academic Team Scholarship Deadline to Oct. 29!

Regret missing the All-Arizona Academic Team Scholarship application deadline? Here's your second chance to apply. We're extending the deadline to Oct. 29!

This generous scholarship includes tuition to one of Arizona’s three state universities; Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, along with a cash award in the range of $500-1,000.

Tuition and scholarships will be issued as a two-year, full-time award or a four-year, part-time award. Candidates must have a 3.5 GPA during the past five years and have demonstrated leadership or community/school involvement.

For additional scholarship details, visit this web.

The few hours you spend on a scholarship application will be well worth the investment-- at the very least, a good learning experience and practice at mastering the application process.

2018 ALL-AZ Scholars
Crystal Roberto and Jamie Peredo

If you are selected for the All-Arizona Team, you will have the opportunity to apply for more scholarships, including the prestigious All-USA Community College Academic Team.

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity and call on our Student Life team if you require assistance, have questions or simply want to talk about the process calling 480-517-8050 or emailing StudentLife@riosalado.edu.

We look forward to reviewing your application!

Communiveristy at QC and Testing Center Closed Friday, Oct. 26

The Communiversity at Queen Creek and Rio Salado College Testing Center will be closed Friday, Oct. 26 for staff meetings and training. 

Testing services will be available Saturday, Oct. 27.

Be a Leader College Fair is Sunday, Oct. 21!

Don't forget about the Be A Leader Foundation Taking Steps Towards College Success Resource Fair, Walk-a-Thon and College Fair on Sunday, October 21! 

Register now!

Students will have a chance to meet with representatives from 200+ colleges from across the country.

New This Year! Be A Leader and its partners will provide one-on-one support with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the event. If you need help completing the FAFSA, you should register online to receive further information on what to bring.

Take a Selfie Stand Against Cheating Today!

Today is International Day Against Contract Cheating! Rio Salado College encourages you to show your support for academic integrity and ethics-- and to take a stand against cheating by sharing a selfie with a statement that completes this sentence: 

“I don’t contract cheat because ___________.” 

Share your statements via social media using hashtags #RioSaladoCollege #defeatthecheat #excelwithintegrity.

Look for shares on Rio Salado's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts later today.

Rio Salado is a proud member of the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI), which is leading the International Day Against Contract Cheating effort.

Excuses, Excuses 

While there are no excuses and the consequences are great, the stress and pressures of school can make it tempting and sometimes irresistible for students.

What is Cheating?

Most of us are familiar with cheat sheets and copying homework, but there’s a new kind of cheating called Contract Cheating.

Contract Cheating is a “form of academic dishonesty where students get academic work completed on their behalf, which they then submit for academic credit [and/or advantage] as if they created it themselves,” according to www.contractcheating.com.

Examples of contract cheating include:

• Purchasing an assignment from an online site 
• Sharing answers to an assignment on a file sharing site 
• Posting or purchasing answers to an exam, assignment, or other assessed work 
• Paying someone to write a test or exam 

Tools to Help You Succeed
We encourage Rio Salado students to take advantage of our Resources for Academic Success toolbox, Student Success videos, Tutoring services and Counseling teams.

Learn more about Contract Cheating by visiting www.contractcheating.com or contacting Rio Salado’s Academic Integrity team academic.integrity@riosalado.edu.

Sustainable Soap Making Workshop Oct. 18

Any plans this Thursday? Why not make it a date night and take a Soap Making 101 workshop Oct. 18 with the Cafe at Rio team!

Register now: www.riosalado.edu/CAFE.

Use code FALLSOAP for 15% discount.

No tests, no grades-- just fun!

Learn How to Be a Teacher at Free, In-Person and Virtual Orientation Sessions

Take part in a free orientation session to learn about the educational pathways and employment opportunities available to help you succeed as a teacher with Rio Salado College!

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

Our Post Baccalaureate courses are designed for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree or higher (in any area) from an accredited university and would like to become a teacher.

Orientation Agenda: 

• Rio Salado College's Educator Preparation Program requirements
• Program expectations and support
• Registration process and requirements
• Answers to questions you may have

Choose an in-person or virtual session that works for you!

Post-Baccalaureate Orientation Schedule:
November 5 - Virtual
November 28 - In-person
December 10 - In-person

Post-Bacc sessions take place 6-8 p.m. In-person session will take place at the Rio Salado College headquarters Conference Center in Tempe.

Teacher-in-Residence Orientation Schedule:
November 29 - In-person
December 10 - In-person

TIR sessions take place 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. In-person session will take place at the Rio Salado College headquarters Conference Center in Tempe.

Eager to learn more now? 
Check out this RioNews blog, Expert Advice on How to Become a Teacher by Rio Salado Teacher Ed Field Experience Coordinator and Coordinator of Marketing Paulina Ngo.

Visit www.riosalado.edu/teachers or call 480-517-8140 for additional information about our Teacher Education programs and services.

Rio Salado Culinary Workshops Begin Oct. 18 with Soap Making!

Looking for a culinary adventure? Join the Café at Rio and Sustainable Food Systems teams for a series of community education workshops to learn how to make soap, tortellini, pizza, holiday appetizers and tamales!

Register now: www.riosalado.edu/CAFE.

Your first adventure begins Oct. 18 with a lesson on how to make soap! Use the code FALLSOAP for a 15% discount on this workshop!

No tests, no grades-- just good old fashion fun!

10th Annual Be a Leader Resource Fair, Walk-a-Thon and College Fair Oct. 21!

The 10th Annual Be a Leader Taking Steps Towards College Success Resource Fair, Walk-a-Thon and College Fair is Sunday, October 21!
The event kicks off with the college Resource Fair, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Civic Space Park in Phoenix.

The College Success Walk-a-Thon begins at 11:30 a.m., starting from Civic Space Park and ending at the Phoenix Convention Center, where the College Fair will take place.

Students will have a chance to meet with representatives from 200+ colleges from across the country during the College Fair, 12-3 p.m.

New This Year! Be A Leader and its partners will provide one-on-one support with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the event. If you need help completing the FAFSA, you should register online to receive further information on what to bring. Register here: www.tfaforms.com/4689370.

This event is great for parents and teens who want to explore their college options-- and educational advocates who want to support a good cause.

Rio Salado is a proud sponsor of this event. Stop by our information booth to say hello!

Learn more at www.bealeaderfoundation.org/takingsteps.

Get Your Share of $2.5 Million in Scholarships

Time is running out to apply for spring 2018 Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCCDF) scholarships!  The deadline-- Oct. 14.  The prize-- more than $2.5 million in scholarships.

Apply now: mcccdf.academicworks.com.

Do the Math! 
The few hours you spend on a scholarship application will be a good investment.  Don't discount those small scholarships!

Café @ Rio -- Made with Love!

Pictured above are Café @ Rio staff members Michael Hodgins, Miana Spradlin and Thalia Martinez
    

Dash of Salt
By Rio Salado College Sr. Project Manager and Brand Journalist Mark Moran

A community college cafeteria may be the last place you’d expect to find a grilled panini, homemade soup or fresh sandwiches and salads made to order, with many of the ingredients grown just a few hundred feet away. In fact, most of the produce used at Rio Salado College’s sustainable café, called Café @ Rio is raised locally if not in the café’s on-site garden itself. Amid a clean and bright atmosphere, complete with digital menu screens and sparkling glass, waits an eager and knowledgeable staff ready to serve its patrons healthy portions of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, vegan options and lean proteins. The seafood choices all adhere to the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch standards for sustainable seafood. 

Café@Rio is unique among community college cafes in its sustainable approach to food

Café General Manager Michael Hodgins grew up in the restaurant industry. Literally. He started out washing dishes at a Country Club in upstate New York when he was 15 years-old, but it was enough to prompt his interest in the food industry. “I can tell you why I got out of doing dishes. It’s terrible staring down a pot sink,” Hodgins said chuckling. “Chef, can I peel five cases of shrimp? Anything to get me out of these dishes.” Once he got beyond the dirty dishes, Hodgins was hooked on the restaurant lifestyle. “I loved the camaraderie of the restaurant,” Hodgins said, “the adrenaline rush of the restaurant, the creativity component and the service.”

Hodgins’ career took him from New York State to Arizona where he graduated from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute and worked a series of jobs, including head chef for what was then known as Bank One Ballpark, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He learned about the sustainable food movement on the job with a company called Bon Appetit, a sustainable food services company. He was the corporate chef for the Intel properties in metro Phoenix, where he created a network of local farmers from scratch. “I found that there were so many more producers here in Arizona than I would have ever guessed.” One of the most important producers is Café @ Rio’s on-site garden. The café relies on it a lot, said Hodgins. Especially in the winter months when the garden can be at full capacity. “There are days when the lettuce on the salad bar was picked at 8 a.m. that morning and we open at 11,” said Hodgins. We have lettuce from November to April coming out of our garden.”

While providing healthy, fresh menu options for customers and adhering to the highest sustainability standards, Café @ Rio has a larger purpose, too. People who want to make a career in the sustainable food industry can earn an Associate’s Degree in Sustainable Food Systems, and the Café@Rio and its garden are the labs.

Café @ Rio is part of a much bigger sustainable foods movement in America. In Los Angeles, for example, Ron Finley, the former CEO of a volunteer group called LA Green Grounds, which plants gardens in what are known as food deserts. Those can be anything from a strip of dirt in a roadway median to a homeless shelter or a vacant lot. Despite some civic opposition, LA Green Grounds was able to get some city ordinances changed to allow for even more urban gardening, and it has grown into a force in the volunteer sustainable food community. “I got tired of driving 45 minutes round trip to get an apple that wasn’t impregnated with pesticides,” said Finley in a TED talk. “This has got to stop.” With LA Green Grounds now on firm soil, Finley has gone on to start the Ron Finley project and calls himself The Gangsta Gardner. He has released an independent film about urban gardening that documents the stories of four unlikely gardeners in high crime parts of Los Angeles. “The food is the problem and the food is the solution. Growing one plant will give you ten-thousand seeds. So one dollars-worth of green beans will give you $75 worth of food,” Finley said. “I refused to be a part of this manufactured reality that was manufactured for me by someone else.”

As part of Rio Salado’s degree program, students learn best practices for raising and using sustainable foods, what the “real food movement” is and the best ways to prepare and serve those ingredients. The college composts all of its food scraps and tree trimmings to create fertilizer, sells its fry oil to be made into biofuel, and offers nutrient dense food options on a daily basis.

You don’t have to have an eye on the food industry as a career, either. It may be that you’re simply thinking about a sustainable planet for the future. “I don’t want to be responsible for having my kids’ or my grandkids’ generation not being able to produce nutritious food for themselves,” says Hodgins. “With sustainability being one of the core values of the college, I’d say that’s kind of walking the walk.”

There is more information on Rio Salado College’s Sustainability Food Systems Program here. 

Communiversity Closing at Noon Due to Weather

The Communiversity at Queen Creek and all Maricopa Community Colleges locations will be closing today, Oct. 2 at noon due to the weather and potentially deteriorating road conditions. We plan to open as scheduled tomorrow, Oct. 3 at 8 a.m.

We encourage all students, faculty and staff to check their email regularly and to visit this blog for the latest information and updates.

Please call the MCCCD Police Department at 480-784-0911 if you encounter an emergency.

New Maricopa Community Colleges Tuition Payment Requirements Oct. 2018

Tuition is due on the day that you register with the Maricopa Community Colleges! Use one of the following three payment options to hold your class(es):

Financial Aid and Scholarships
If you have been awarded and accepted your financial aid and your award covers the full cost of your tuition and fees, your classes are secured.

If your financial aid award is less than your tuition and fees, please make payment arrangements to cover the balance.

Payment Plan
Sign-up for a payment plan to hold your class(es) on the day you register. A $15.00 down payment and a $20.00 payment plan fee per semester ($35.00, non-refundable) is required to secure your class(es). Reloadable prepaid cards may be used to set up payment plan. Learn more by visiting my.maricopa.edu/how-pay/payment-plan

Pay in Full
Log in to your My.maricopa.edu student account to pay tuition in full using a debit/credit card or pay by your checking/savings account.

For more information, visit www.maricopa.edu/payment-options

Effective October 2018, the registration processing fee is non-refundable.

Rio Salado College Hosts Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Awareness Conference, October 4 & 5 at Tempe Headquarters

Join Rio Salado College for a Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Awareness Conference, October 4 & 5 at our Tempe headquarters. 

Free and open to Rio Salado and Maricopa Community Colleges students, staff and faculty as well as the general public. We hope you will join us to engage in the dialogue.

Here’s a look at the agenda:

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Rio Salado Tower

Room 515

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
“Identifying Sexual Harassment in the Workplace”
Presenter: District EAP

“Sexual Misconduct”
Presenter: Maria Bellino, Associate VP, Administrative and Employee Services

10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
“How Does Domestic Violence affect Performance in the Workplace”
Presenter: District EAP

12 – 1 p.m.
“Putting an End to Teen Domestic Violence”
Presenter:  Bobbi Sudberry, Co-Founder of Kaity’s Way

Friday, October 5, 2018

Rio Salado Conference Center

2nd Floor South Room

10-11 a.m.
“Toxic Masculinity: The Impact of Male Insecurities on the School and Workplace Environment”

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
“Domestic Violence: The Psychology of Relationship Abuse, Coercion and Violence”

Presenters: Dr. Jon McCaine, Clinical Psychologist for Bayless Health Care Group and Program Director of Bayless Health Care’s Lighthouse Project for High Risk Teenage Youth.