Passing of a Colleague

It is with great sadness we share the news that our former colleague Brian Pond passed away unexpectedly on February 9. Brian was a long-time counselor at American River College, supporting students for 25 years before retiring in 2013. He is remembered fondly among colleagues for his dry sense of humor and his continual support and encouragement of students and colleagues alike. Our heart goes out to Brian’s family, friends, and colleagues. 

There will be no memorial or celebration of life per Brian’s wishes.

Loss can affect us all differently. If you need to speak with someone, counseling services are available 24/7 via phone through our Employee Assistance Program at 1-888-881-5462 or visit supportlinc.com (group code: losrios) to get text support or schedule a session in person or virtually. You can also contact your medical provider directly for counseling services.

LRPD Chief Impressions Group

Los Rios is in the process of selecting a new Chief of Police. Students, employees, faculty and managers are invited to meet the final three candidates in a virtual Impressions Group scheduled for Friday, February 23. Please join the meeting (Zoom ID: 813 8841 7193) by 8:40 am.



• Prep time, 8:40 a.m.
• Candidate 1, 9:00 to 9:30 am
• Candidate 2, 9:40 to 10:10 am
• Candidate 3, 10:20 to 10:50 am
• Group review/discussion, 10:50 am

Bridge the Gap: Pro-active Communication Skills

Friday, February 23, 9:00 am, Student Center Community Rooms 3 & 4

This offering is tailored for ARC Faculty. The quality of our conversations and relationships is critical to the success of our students and the overall vibrancy of our ARC community. This workshop, Bridge the Gap, will equip you with practical proactive communication strategies and tools that help you connect better with students and colleagues. This experience will be engaging and interactive while providing actionable shifts that you can implement immediately.

In this workshop, we will learn:

• The dynamics of human behavior and emotional intelligence and why it matters in your conversations, especially during times of stress and pressure.
• How to foster and accelerate an environment of trust and respect to connect better and with a diverse spectrum of people and personalities.
• Student-centered approaches to communicating better.
• Five critical conversation paradigms to increase understanding, give feedback, gain clarity, be honest, and transform breakdowns into breakthroughs

Grants Clinic for Classifieds

Tuesday, February 20, 9:00 am, President’s Conference Room in the

Administration Building

Curious, confused or keen to learn more about grants? Maybe you’re working on a grant application and need help with a particular section, or perhaps you’re searching for that elusive grant, or have spotted a grant and are wondering “what now”? If so, this workshop is for you! Sue Byrne, Director of Grants Management, will take you through the key steps in the process from what grants are, to what makes a great grant application, to how college and district processes can support you.

Comunidad District Meeting

Join us for the first Comunidad district meeting – an employee resource group serving Latinx/Chicanx and undocumented communities. All staff, faculty, and administrators are warmly invited to join us online via Zoom on Monday, February 26, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. No pre-registration required.  

Let's come together to explore and discuss our vision for Comunidad at both the campus and district levels. Contact Liliana Mendoza at MendozL@crc.losrios.edu for more information.

Black History Month Events

The Los Rios Black Experience Virtual Forum: “How Systems of Oppression Impact All of Us”

Thursday, February 22, 10:00 to 11:30 am, online via Zoom

Join Folsom Lake College’s BASE (Black. African. Student. Edu-Culture) program for the final in this three-part conversation series on matters impacting the Black/African community in higher education. All Los Rios students, staff, and faculty are invited to participate.

Join us for this week's events celebrating Black History Month.

Celebration of Culture

Tuesday, February 20, 11:00 am, UNITE Center in the Student Center

Stop by the Student Center and join the Center for Leadership & Development as well as the Black Student Success Center in a Celebration of Culture. There will be historical artifacts, art, music, and more.

UNITE in Cinema Week 

• 1619 Project

Tuesday, February 27, 1:30 pm, UNITE Center

Join us to start the Docuseries: 1619 Project, Told through Pulitzer Prize-winning author Nikole Hannah-Jones' personal story, historical events, and the modern fights for voting rights.

• Stamped from the Beginning

Wednesday, February 28, 1:30 pm, UNITE Center

Stamped from the Beginning, the new documentary adapted from Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s 2016 book of the same name, opens with a provocative question: “What is wrong with Black people?”

• Rustin

Thursday, February 29, 1:30 pm, UNITE Center

Bayard Rustin, advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., dedicates his life to the quest for racial equality, human rights, and worldwide democracy. However, as an openly gay Black man, he is all but erased from the civil rights movement he helped build.

Unlock Financial Aid Access: Create Your FSA ID Now

What’s an FSA ID?

The FSA ID is a username and password combination you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education (ED) online systems. The FSA ID is your legal signature and shouldn’t be created or used by anyone other than you—not even your parent, your child, a school official, or a loan company representative. You’ll use your FSA ID every year you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and for the lifetime of your federal student loans, if applicable.

Creating and Using the FSA ID

To create an FSA ID, you will need your Social Security Number (SSN), full legal name, and date of birth. You’ll also need to create a memorable username and password, and complete challenge questions and answers so you can retrieve your account information if you forget it. Set up your FSA ID.

How to Create a FSA ID Without a SSN

While in the past, a Social Security Number (SSN) was required to obtain an FSA ID, students’ spouses, parents, and step-parents who do not have an SSN can now obtain an FSA ID. How to set up an FSA ID without an SSN.

Note: On Friday, February 23, Los Rios Financial Aid and Admissions & Records offices will be closed for staff training and development.

Writing Across the Curriculum

If you notice students in your class or program who need some extra help with their writing, please send them our way! Writing Across the Curriculum is here to help your students with any writing assignment. They can enroll today in ENGWR 96, 95, or 306. All sections are available online or in person.

Spring Transfer Workshop Series

We are excited to offer a lineup of workshops designed to guide our students through the transfer process of top colleges like Sacramento State, UC Davis, University of California (UC) campuses, HBCU’s, and other private colleges. Visit our webpage and spread the word about this amazing resource.

Internship Info Session: Broadway at Music Circus

Broadway at Music Circus, California’s largest nonprofit musical company, is on the lookout for talented students to join their magical community. Spread the word to students who may be interested, and encourage them to join our online informational session on Tuesday, February 27, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm.

The ARC Theatre Presents “Airness”

Looking for a little rock-and-roll escapism? Or perhaps a play that's "fricking funny, hella heartfelt, and badass brilliant!” (in the words of critic J. Stoltenberg). Then don't miss your chance to see American River College Theatre's production of "Airness" by Chelsea Marcantel. This hilarious play, joyfully sweeping the nation since its debut in 2020 at Benchmark Theatre, is now on ARC's stage—but only until February 25! Visit ARCTheatre.org for tickets and details!