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Rio Salado Awarded Grant to Help Retrain Boomers for Encore Careers

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:47:01 PDT

Rio Salado College was recently awarded a $25,000 grant to support a targeted retraining program aimed at adults over the age of 50 who are eager to prepare for new careers in education.

The grant, which was awarded from Civic Ventures and Metlife Foundation, allows Tempe-based Rio Salado to customize its online teacher certification programs for eligible adults, who are interested in re-careering and pursuing teaching positions in early childhood, elementary, secondary and special education.

“Many adults over the age of 50 are facing unemployment and depleted retirement funds,” said Kimberly Tobey, Rio Salado College’s community liaison director. “Now, they are turning to Rio Salado to retool their careers with a goal to combine meaningful work and income.”

Based on adults’ areas of interest, experience, educational backgrounds, and employment situations, candidates will be able to enroll in one of four online teacher certification programs.
The programs are:

Post Baccalaureate Teacher Prep for candidates who have a bachelor’s degree and may be working fulltime.
Teacher in Residence for candidates who have a bachelor’s degree and are working in the classroom while completing their teacher certification.
Teacher Education for candidates who do not have a college degree.
Troops to Teachers for military personnel transitioning from the military to second careers.

“This program will prepare future workers and fill the need for qualified teachers in high demand sectors,” said Tobey. “There is still need for teachers in Arizona’s rural areas and certain subject matters.”

Rio Salado was one of eight community colleges selected from a nationwide pool of 100 applicants and chosen for its innovative approach to matching boomer talent with social purpose jobs that fill specific local workforce needs.

Civic Ventures and MetLife Foundation launched the project to provide support to community colleges that are updating their offerings to help people over the age of 50 prepare for encore careers combining continued income, personal meaning, and social impact.

The grants were awarded to community colleges that are piloting, marketing or expanding courses to retrain boomers for jobs in education, social services, health care and, new this year, green jobs.

“Even in good economic times, it’s not easy to get from the end of a midlife career to the beginning of an encore career,” said Marc Freedman, CEO and founder of Civic Ventures. “In these tough times, community colleges are stepping up to provide a vital bridge to older job seekers who want work that means something to them and that matters to the world.”
Rio Salado College is developing an orientation video, which will be available to view online and in-person at the Rio Lifelong Learning Center in Surprise, the Tempe Public Library, and at additional locations throughout Maricopa County.

For more details about the Rio Salado College program and to inquire about enrolling, please contact Rio Salado’s Enrollment Services at 480.517.8580.

Preparing Students for Life After the Military

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:15:27 PDT

When someone’s military service is coming to an end, the question of “what’s next” starts to linger in the back of their mind. Since they’ve faced tougher situations, they tell themselves it will be an easy transition to handle. However, the anxiety tells them they are about to enter an entirely different, unfamiliar territory — civilian life.

While military instructors prepare people for military life, it is college instructors that will prepare people for careers after the military. Even after 30 years, or more, in the military, someone still has plenty of time to pursue a second career, and Rio Salado College is online and on site preparing students for these careers.

Tech. Sgt. Mitzi Eggers, of the 162nd fighter Wing in Tucson, is one of the many students who is preparing for a second career after she retires from the Air National Guard.
“I will earn a Level I Certificate of Completion in Chemical Dependency in November,” said Eggers, who also has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. “I have taken classes through two other colleges, but their Web sites didn’t function well as Rio Salado’s site, and there was very little support from the instructors.”

“Rio’s online courses are managed very well, it’s understandable, and there is plenty of instructor support,” she said. I’m very pleased with Rio Salado and plan to continue my schooling with them.”

The Certificate of Completion in Chemical Dependency Program prepares individuals with the skills necessary to become a chemical dependency case manager, as well as provide continuing education to current chemical dependency professionals. Level I courses focus on theories and techniques, ethics, communication skills, interviewing and documentation, and recovery and relapse.

Most military students have busy schedules and many students find online classes to be a good option for earning a degree. As a single mother with two toddlers Eggers definitely falls into this category.

“Between time at the air force base and caring for two children at home there is no room for classes at a traditional college,” said Eggers. “Students in the military don’t have as much free time as other people. Our schedules can be erratic, and we need the flexibility online classes offer us.”

Besides flexibility, military students can get their education nearly paid in full.
“The Air Force Tuition Assistance program pays 100 percent of an Airman’s tuition cost for college courses up to $4,500 per fiscal year,” said Bill Bristol, Rio Salado College’s coordinator of instructional programs at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale. “We provide students with information about financial aid and scholarship programs, too.”

“My only expenses are books and a $15 registration fee,” said Eggers. “Anyone can afford this, and everyone in the military should be taking advantage of this opportunity. The military prepares us for a lot, but there is a whole second life after the military to consider.”

Rio Salado 12th in USA for 2-year Certificates

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:25:05 PDT

According to Community College Week magazine, Rio Salado College ranks 12th in the nation in providing two-year certificates in all disciplines. In all, seven of the Maricopa Community Colleges ranked in the Top 100 associate degree and certificate producers for 2009. Read more.

Rio Salado Exposes Financial Aid Fraud

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:21:16 PDT

Rio Salado College, working with federal authorities, has exposed a massive financial aid fraud scheme, resulting in 130 indictments against the perpetrator and her accomplices. Upon its early detection of suspicious activity, Rio Salado contacted authorities and worked in partnership with them throughout the investigation with the intent to bring the perpetrators to justice. We are grateful to our staff for their alertness, which lead to the identification of this problem, and their vigilance over federal student aid funds. At no time were any Rio Salado employees participants in the financial aid scheme.

What is the nature of the financial aid fraud that was committed against Rio Salado?
Rio Salado College in Tempe was targeted by an individual (not an employee) who, it is alleged, purposefully set forth to commit financial aid fraud. She recruited four other individuals (non-employees) to assist her, and they in turn recruited dozens of others who agreed to pose as “straw students” – in other words, non-authentic students—in order to obtain financial aid funds, which would then be illegally shared with the original perpetrator. There was considerable forgery of documents, such as high school diplomas, and false information was supplied to the college. These straw students had no intention of staying enrolled and dropped or were dropped from their classes once their checks were received. The estimated amount of federal financial aid that was fraudulently obtained in the form of loans and grants is in excess of $538,000.

On June 24, 2009, after an extensive investigation by federal authorities, the U.S. Attorney/District of Arizona (Diane J. Humetewa) held a press conference to publicly expose the fraud and to announce the indictment and arrest of the original perpetrator, identified as Trenda Lynne Halton of Peoria, AZ, on 130 counts of criminal activity, plus indictments against 64 other individuals suspected of involvement.

How was the scheme exposed?
Early on, a very alert part-time employee in Rio Salado’s Financial Aid office noticed similarities in handwriting on financial aid applications. She brought it to the attention of her supervisors, and internal investigations revealed irregularities on multiple applications that suggested suspicious activity. These facts were quickly brought to the attention of the U.S. Department of Education/Office of the Inspector General in Long Beach, CA. Because mail fraud was also suspected, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service became involved as well. Rio Salado not only uncovered the scheme but assisted with the extensive federal investigations every step of the way.

What is the position of the federal authorities toward Rio Salado College?
During the June 24 press conference, U.S. Attorney Diane Humetewa publicly commended Rio Salado for its alertness in detecting the fraud and its ongoing cooperation with the federal investigation.

What safeguards does Rio Salado have in place to protect against fraudulent financial aid schemes?
First, it is important to note that in the case of Rio Salado, the processes already in place worked and there was early detection. These processes are followed by Rio employees:
1. Rio adheres to the Maricopa Community College District policy to mail financial aid checks and not deliver them in person. In fact, many checks in this fraudulent scheme were never received because the addresses used were false.
2. Rio Salado’s own policy is to mail checks only after the drop/add period ends. This prevents students from enrolling and quickly dropping simply to receive financial aid.
3. Rio Salado verifies identification through photo ID for certain types of disbursements, such as book vouchers. ID may include drivers’ licenses, birth certificates, and passports.
4. Financial aid employees are trained to follow standardized policies and procedures to detect irregularities or fraud.

Do colleges with a significant online student population face an increased risk of financial aid fraud?
There is no reason to think online colleges are more at risk, because the FAFSA application is the same for online and in-person students.

What are the penalties for federal financial aid fraud?
It should be noted that the official FAFSA application for financial aid carries warnings that financial aid fraud is a crime punishable by significant fines. However, multiple other charges, including mail fraud, are pending against everyone indicted in this particular scheme. Conviction for mail fraud, for example, carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000, or both for each count.

What is Rio Salado’s current point of view regarding the investigation?
President Linda M. Thor released a statement during the June 24, 2009 press conference that read:
“As President of Rio Salado College, I want to express how proud I am of the staff of our Financial Aid Office for their stewardship of taxpayers’ funds. I commend them for being alert, vigilant, well-trained and cooperative. Federal financial aid is for the benefit of serious students wishing to better their lives and definitely not for misuse. We will not tolerate abuse of the system, and we will continue as a college to practice due diligence in processing all financial aid applications. It is our intent to continue to fully cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all designated authorities for this case.”

To view the US Attorney’s Office press release, click here.

Students Learning Sign Language Via YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:05:08 PDT

Parents used to tell their children to turn off the tube and do their homework. Now, some college students are being told to do their homework by turning on the tube — YouTube that is.

Recently, Tempe-based Rio Salado College started using the popular social networking site YouTube as the classroom for its American Sign Language (ASL) classes.

YouTube is a video sharing Web site, which allows users to upload videos and share them with other people.

“Using a social networking site has taken online learning to a new level, and I don’t think any other school is offering an entire sign language class online,” said Angela Felix, faculty chair of languages at Rio Salado College. “With YouTube, teachers and students get to see each other and this makes the class a more personal experience for both.”

ASL Instructor Maryann Stegall agrees with Felix, and said she and her students are lucky to get to interact with each other using this medium.

“Sign language is a visual language and the students need this type of interaction,” said Stegall, who helped develop the courses for Rio Salado College. “As I review the students’ videos, I can give them immediate feedback, which will keep them from forming bad habits and signing the wrong words.”

One student who enjoys the quick feedback from Stegall is Diane Vasquez, a Mesa schoolteacher who is taking the class to fulfill an ESL endorsement.

“The teacher gets back to me promptly,” said Vasquez. “This helps me practice my signs properly and confidently move on to the next assignment at my pace.”

Besides immediate feedback on her progress, Vasquez appreciates the convenience of being able to take the class at anytime and from anywhere.

“I’m going to a conference in Baltimore and I will be taking my class while I’m there,” said Vasquez. “Rio Salado is the only school I could find that offered a sign language class entirely online. If this class weren’t available, I would have to choose between going to Baltimore or completing my endorsement. This class is allowing me to do both.”

Besides her out-of-town trip, Vasquez said the classes do not interfere with her busy family life either.

“My son is involved in several activities at school,” she said. “The flexibility of the class lets me be involved with my family and take the class when it fits into my schedule.”

Kate Cleaveland, of Mesa, is a home-schooled student who needed language credits and found the Rio Salado class easy to adapt into her schedule.

“My mother teaches me at home and this class meshes well with my schedule,” said Kate, who is starting her junior year of high school. “I need to learn a second language and thought sign language sounded interesting. I think online learning works well for people who have irregular schedules.”

Vasquez and Kate are not the only people who are enjoying the YouTube classroom. According to Felix, every class has been full since it was introduced.

“This class is more popular than we anticipated,” said Felix. “The second level was slated to begin in the fall, but due to demand we had to make it available sooner. Now, we are preparing to offer the third level and bringing in another teacher.”

Other language classes offered by Rio Salado College include: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. For more information, please visit http://www.riosalado.edu/programs/general_education/Pages/languages.aspx.

New Programs Offered by Rio Salado

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:07:35 PDT

With unemployment still a hot topic in Arizona today, going back to school is more relevant than ever. Those looking to re-career and get a job in a new field, and even new students deciding on a career can look to community college as an affordable option. And now, students have even more educational options to choose from with six new academic programs being offered through Rio Salado College.

New programs offered through Rio Salado College:
· General Business
· Accounting
· Paralegal Studies
· Creative Writing
· Sustainability and Ecological Literacy
· Language and Literary Culture of the USA

The Accounting, Paralegal Studies and General Business programs are offered as a certificate of completion or an associate in applied science degree. Creative Writing, Sustainability and Ecological Literacy, and Language and Literary Culture of the USA are offered as academic certificates.

General Business
For those interested in a business career, the first step is to understand the fundamentals of how a business works. Rio Salado’s general business program provides an overview of business courses including management, accounting, computer information systems and business communications. Having an understanding of general business concepts can help students identify a specific business field to pursue.

Accounting
Because accounting is an important part of the business world, Rio Salado offers a program that provides students with the basic skills and knowledge needed to enter the accounting field.
Students learn about how a business operates through its financial activities, with courses covering accounting principles, managerial accounting, payroll and more.

Paralegal Studies
Paralegals assist attorneys with their legal work, including legal research, legal writing, preparation of exhibits and case management. While not authorized to provide legal advice or practice law, paralegals are an integral part of the legal community. Through the Paralegal Studies program, students will get an overview of the types of law and the fundamentals of litigation.

Creative Writing
For those more interested in the liberal arts, Rio’s Creative Writing program offers the ultimate form of self-expression. Students will have access to a community of writers, and creative writing activities and workshops. Established authors provide instruction and offer guidance on improving writing techniques and marketing your works. Writing-centric classes focus on poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and children’s literature.

Sustainability and Ecological Literacy
Sustainable and green practices are a growing concern in today’s world. In this new program, students gain an understanding of sustainable living practices, and the skills necessary to become ecologically and environmentally aware through classes like Environmental Ethics, Geological Disasters and the Environment, and the Economics of Natural Resources.

Language and Literary Culture of the USA
The Language and Literary Culture of the USA program was developed to give students of English as a non-native language a strong foundation in the oral and written structure of North American English.

For more information about these or other academic programs offered through Rio Salado College, visit www.riosalado.edu/programs.

A Head Start on College

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:38:18 PDT

High school students earn college credit

Throughout the Valley high school seniors are celebrating graduation and preparing for college. Among these teens are students who already completed their first year of college while they were in high school. Now, they are selecting courses for their sophomore year of college. How did they accomplish this? The students enrolled in Rio Salado College’s dual enrollment program.

One student who has benefited from the program is Wayne Unger, a recent graduate of Mountain Pointe High School in the Tempe Union High school District. Unger started taking dual enrollment classes during his sophomore year and completed high school with 40 college credits.

“The dual enrollment program was a great opportunity for me,” said Unger. “This will allow me to pick a flexible schedule next year. With these credits, I’m seriously considering a double major, too.”

While students like Unger are appreciating the flexibility and likelihood of graduating from college early, they are not the only people who see the benefits of the dual enrollment program. Parents are enjoying the program, too.

“The dual enrollment program is a tremendous asset for our daughter,” said Kathrine Komarnisky, whose daughter, Sydney, is a starting her junior year at Hamilton High School in the Chandler High School District. “There is the obvious financial savings, but my husband and I thought it would be a great experience for her. It is teaching her responsibility and preparing her for college life.”

According to Kathrine, Sydney earned college credit for her Spanish classes and is looking forward to earning more credit before she graduates in 2011. While Kathrine is proud of her daughter’s accomplishments, she sees even more benefits to the program.

“This means a lot of her teachers are highly qualified, and that is something parents want to hear about teachers and the school,” said Komarnisky. “Sydney is the oldest of five children and we will definitely look into this when our other children reach high school.”

Rio Salado College has partnered with 50 high schools throughout the Valley to make the dual enrollment program a reality. For a class to qualify for dual enrollment, the syllabus and textbooks are evaluated by Rio Salado to ensure it is a college-level course.

Dr. Vernon Smith, Dean of Instruction at Rio Salado College stated, “In order to teach dual enrollment classes through Rio Salado College, high school instructors must meet strict qualification requirements, which usually include having obtained a Master’s Degree in their teaching discipline and being approved by Rio’s Faculty Chair. Once qualified, these instructors teach the high school class using the college curriculum, so students are assured they are receiving the highest quality college experience early on.”

With parental permission, students can take online classes through Rio Salado College even if their high school does not have a dual enrollment partnership established.

Dual enrollment credits transfer to all Arizona public colleges and universities, as well as many public and private colleges and universities outside of Arizona. As college tuition rates continue to increase, Rio Salado College is holding steady and not raising tuition rates for the upcoming 2009-10 school year; thus, earning college credit in high school is one of the smartest decisions a parent or student can make.

For more information about the dual enrollment program, visit http://www.riosalado.edu/dual

or call 480.517.8080.

The Drive to Succeed

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:05:54 PDT

Online Courses Open Job Market for Two Rio Salado Graduates

Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital is hiring registered nurses, along with Banner Desert Medical Center and many other medical facilities throughout the Valley. While the current job market looks bleak for many job seekers, it is looking bright for registered nurses.

“Nursing is a field where there is still a large demand and many hospitals are hiring,” said Sue Adams, faculty chair of the Nursing program at Rio Salado College. “For some time now, we have been seeing a large influx of students applying for the nursing program. We also are seeing a large group of professionals advancing their education to re-career as nurses. The majority of our recent graduates are re-careering.”

Among Rio’s recent graduates are Thom Hudson and Mike Adams, two of the eight re-careering paramedics in the nursing program. Both Hudson and Adams found Rio Salado College a conducive fit to their busy lives as they juggled family, work and school while pursuing nursing degrees.

For Hudson, changing careers wasn’t something he planned to do. It was a decision he made as his family started to grow and he realized he wanted to spend more time with his wife and children.

“I decided to change careers for my family,” said Hudson. “Being a paramedic is tough on the family dynamic. I saw how it strained other paramedics’ family lives, and I didn’t want to go through that. I’m building on top of what I already have, and going on with my education to become a registered nurse seemed like a natural move.”

While finishing his education seemed like a natural move, Hudson was not sure if he could fit it into his schedule. Unlike the majority of his classmates, Hudson does not live in the Valley or even Maricopa County. He lives in Kearny, Ariz., which is approximately 80 miles southeast of Tempe in eastern Pinal County. With most college programs, Hudson would have had to drive to his classes and clinicals four days a week, but through Rio Salado was able to take advantage of online classes and cut down his traveling and time away from the family.

“Rio Salado’s program made continuing my education a reality,” said Hudson. “The online classes allowed me to take classes on my schedule, which gave me more time to spend with my wife and children. It also saved me a lot of money. It meant two less days of driving to classes and two less days in a motel room.”

Hudson’s classmate Mike Adams, of Prescott, Ariz. was in a similar position. Adams had a long drive from Yavapai County to his clinicals in the Valley, and said online classes were the best route for him.

“I work fulltime as a paramedic and Rio Salado offered the only program that fit into my life,” said Mike Adams. “If I couldn’t take online classes I would have to drive and rent a room four days a week. I honestly wouldn’t have been able to pursue this career change at a traditional school.” With online courses from Rio Salado, Tom Hudson and Mike Adams were able to follow a new career path where there are more employment opportunities.

Overcoming Obstacles

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Tue, 19 May 2009 09:56:52 PDT

Rio Salado Graduate Earns Diploma, Builds Confidence

“I had chosen motherhood over a master’s degree, car seats over corporate ladder climbing, and babies instead of a briefcase and a Beemer,” said Wilma Macliver, of Phoenix, as she delivered the commencement speech to more than 100 graduates during Rio Salado College’s recent General Education Diploma (GED) graduation ceremony at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix.

Macliver is not a celebrity guest speaker receiving an honorary degree. She is a graduate who finally earned her GED after dropping out of high school in 1981 during her junior year to get married and start a family. Despite being a proud parent — both of her sons graduated high school with honors during their junior years — Macliver was not satisfied with letting her high school diploma elude her for nearly 30 years.

“Not finishing high school really bothered me. I felt like I wasn’t setting the right example for my kids,” said Macliver. “And now that I have grandchildren, I need to be a better role model.”

To overcome this obstacle, Macliver attended free GED classes at Rio Salado’s Orangewood Learning Center, which is one of 19 locations throughout the Valley. This wasn’t her first attempt at earning her GED. More than 15 years ago, she took classes with a different organization, but gave up when the instructor told her she couldn’t pass the exam.

“My first attempts to take GED classes were very negative,” said Macliver. “The first place I tried had an instructor who told me I wasn’t smart enough to pass the test, and the second place didn’t have any teachers. It was a do-it-yourself program, and that is not the way I learn. I need people I can turn to with questions.”

Luckily, she had a better experience with Rio Salado. At the Orangewood facility, she was welcomed into a positive environment with coordinators and teachers who focused on her needs and offered her encouraging words.

“My experience at Rio Salado was much better. Coordinator Kate [Tsepilova] was very kind and inviting,” said Macliver. “Preparing for the GED test meant partnering with the correct people, and I found those people here.”

This partnership did more than teach her the lessons she needed to pass the GED exam. It provided her with the determination to succeed.

“When I first met Wilma she was lacking confidence and looked very uncomfortable,” said Tsepilova, Rio Salado’s instructional coordinator at the Orangewood Learning Center. “After scoring well on placement tests, she gained some confidence. But after she passed the GED tests, she became much more confident and poised.”

At the beginning of the year, Wilma Macliver was going on her 28th year of being a high school dropout. Today, with the support of Rio Salado College, Macliver is a self-assured high school graduate who is looking forward to taking her first college class in the fall.

“This is about more than getting a GED,” said Macliver. “This is about overcoming the obstacle of thinking ‘I can’t.’”

Classes are funded by the Arizona Department of Education, Adult Education Division. For more information about Rio Salado’s Adult Basic Education program, visit www.riosalado.edu/abe.

Communiversity Brings New Model for Higher Education to West Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:05:19 PDT

The Communiversity @ Surprise, which is located at the new Surprise Civic Center Complex, is a unique educational partnership between private and public entities. In collaboration with the City of Surprise, host college Rio Salado has invited several institutions to provide classes and programs. The partners include: Phoenix College, Glendale Community College, Ottawa University, the University of the Incarnate Word, and West-MEC.

The Communiversity concept, the first of its kind located west of the Mississippi River, allows students to complete everything from a certificate and associate degree, to bachelor’s and master’s degrees, in-person and/or online all in one location.

“The Communiversity at Surprise represents a new model for higher education,” said Linda M. Thor, president of Rio Salado College. “By providing affordable options in higher education, we are confident the Communiversity will help increase bachelor degree completion rates in Arizona.”

By allowing them to take up to 90 credits through the community college partners, students save on tuition before transferring to a university partner for the remaining credits.

Students can choose from more than 40 degree programs through the Communiversity’s educational pathways, which include: health care, education, business, information systems, public safety and liberal arts. Classes at the Communiversity will be available in-person and/or online.

“Education is a top priority in Surprise,” said Surprise Mayor Lyn Truitt. “The Communiversity will be a beacon to the entire West Valley. Residents and employers will appreciate its accessibility, affordability and convenient location.”

A modified schedule of classes will be available through the Communiversity in late August, with a full schedule slated for October. The Communiversity is located at 15950 W. Civic Center Plaza in Surprise, AZ. For more information visit www.riosalado.edu/communiversity.

2009 Graduates Inspire with Determination, Patience

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:24:07 PDT

Alana Parker and Loretta Price couldn’t be more different, and yet more similar. One is a mother. One is a grandmother. One is starting her career. The other is supplementing an already diverse work history. Both are commencement speakers at Friday’s Rio Salado College graduation ceremony. And both have overcome tough individual challenges to reach this goal.

Parker, whose life-long dream is to become a nurse, is graduating with an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree.

“Earning my degree has empowered me,” said Parker, who began taking classes in 2001. “I am excited to help improve the quality healthcare offered to individuals in my community.”

While working towards her degree, Parker juggled school, a job, and the day to day family responsibilities that come with having a husband and two young sons. Soon, however, the stress started building up.

“I faced massive stress during the first two blocks of my program,” Parker said. “I would sit in the testing center, sweating bullets, and having heart palpitations. Everything I studied would blur in my head.”

Parker reached out to Melanie Abts, Rio Salado counseling faculty member, for support.

“Melanie taught me how to relieve my stress using different methods of relaxation,” Parker said. “She helped me understand my studying method, and how to prepare and minimize test anxiety.”

Having conquered stress, Parker then found herself dealing with self-confidence issues.

“At times I would feel as though I couldn't achieve my goal,” said Parker. “I would look at others in my class and feel so under qualified due to my lack of work and educational experience. I realized halfway into the program that I could achieve anything I put my mind to.”

That same determination is a trait also exhibited by Loretta Price, who is earning an Associate in Arts degree in Public Administration.

In 1976, Price immigrated to the United States from South Africa, where she grew up during the apartheid years.

“A strong work ethic and desire to achieve in life were instilled in my family,” Price recalled. “But life in South Africa was actually much simpler and less commercial.”

In this country, Price worked for a car rental company for many years before getting a recruiter position with Maricopa County.

There she joined the Maricopa County Cohort, a program where county employees attended onsite classes to earn certificates or degrees through Rio Salado College.

“I was apprehensive because this was my first exposure to any American school,” Price said. “My educational experience in South Africa was high school and three months of college.”

Price found the cohort experience beneficial thanks to the camaraderie between members. “We formed a bond and would encourage each other to come to class after a tough day at work,” she said.”

Price’s cohort completed their certificate program in 2006, and decided to continue with the degree program. When the cohort ended in 2008, Price forged ahead, taking online classes on her own to complete her degree.

“I learned it’s never too late to start your education,” said Price. “Rio Salado took away all the obstacles and made getting an education very easy.”

Rio Salado’s commencement ceremony takes place Friday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 West Adams Street, in downtown Phoenix. For more information visit www.riosalado.edu/graduation.

Rio Salado, Kaiser Partner to Offer Online Sales Professional Class

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:01:59 PDT

You can become a sales professional in eight weeks, thanks to a new online class created by Rio Salado College and Kaiser Companies.

The Sales Professional I class outlines the basic principles of relationship selling, and reviews the theories and methods of successful sales strategies.

The class is designed for people who are looking to enter into a sales profession or revitalize their selling techniques, and also presents an employee training opportunity for business owners.

“The techniques taught in this class are especially important in today’s economy when strategizing on how best to reach your target markets,” said Chris Bustamante, Vice President of Community Development and Student Services at Rio Salado. “Employees can really benefit because at some point everyone uses sales and customer service practices in their jobs.”

Specific topics covered in the class include how to build customer relationships, prospect and qualify leads, overcome objections, make effective presentations and close the deal. The online class is led by a certified sales expert.

“Kaiser Companies is extremely passionate about sales education and helping others to realize their full potential,” said Jim Kaiser, President and CEO of Kaiser Companies. “We are very excited about the release of our first Sales Professional class through Rio Salado College.”

The sales professional class is offered at an introductory rate of $595, with special rates available for employee groups. The non-credit class also includes a one-year subscription to Selling Power magazine.

To preview the class, visit www.riosalado.edu/sales.

Employee Group to Participate in Rio Salado Graduation

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Mon, 04 May 2009 08:54:38 PDT

Through its partnership programs, Rio Salado College works with local corporations, government agencies and community organizations to provide access to training and career-path programs for their employees.

“Rio Salado offers a number of options to employers looking to train new employees, update employee skills, and provide employee advancement opportunities,” said Michelle Tellez, Partnership Programs Coordinator at Rio Salado.

Two years ago, a group of eight employees at American Express in Phoenix formed a cohort to earn certificates in Organizational Leadership from Rio Salado College.

In two weeks, cohort members Jackie Colon (pictured above) , Gayle Dunbar and Jo Ann Murray will attend Rio’s graduation ceremony, having completed their goal.

“Besides the convenience of having the classes take place at American Express, everyone involved had the same goal in mind,” said Colon, of the cohort experience. “The cohort also gave me the opportunity to build a network of relationships with other employees within the company.”

Murray echoed the sentiment.

“I had not really considered continuing my education since it had been nearly 35 years since I was in high school,” said Murray. “The onsite classes combined with the tuition reimbursement offered by the company made this an offer that was too good to refuse.”

Cohort members agreed that they likely would not have pursued this educational opportunity if had not been for the partnership between American Express and Rio Salado.

“Going back to school was not in my plans, however it was too convenient not to give it a try,” said Murray. “I began by taking one class, and continued one class at a time.”

Dunbar had previously taken classes at her workplace, but at one point the classes ceased.
“As soon as I heard the classes would be held onsite again, I signed up, and have now completed two certificates in three years,” said Dunbar. “The more educated you are, the better your chances of succeeding.”

Murray has already noticed benefits of being in the cohort program. “Almost from the beginning, I found that the information was useful in all my interactions with both peers and management,” Murray said.

All three cohort members plan to take their education to the next level. “Now that I have a foundation, I am planning to continue taking classes to complete my associate degree,” said Murray.

Due to economic reasons, Colon was recently let go from American Express, but says she will continue to pursue her education on her own.

“Being a part of this program instilled in me the discipline I need to achieve my goal of earning a degree,” said Colon. “In today’s job market, having a degree can be the deciding factor when it comes to job offers.”

For more information about Rio Salado’s partnership programs, visit www.riosalado.edu/partnerships.

Rio Salado Wins Gold Edison Award

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:35:07 PDT

What does Rio Salado College have in common with the Apple iPhone, WiiFit and the Obama Campaign? It recently won a Gold Edison Award.

On April 1, Rio Salado College, 2323 W. 14th St., Tempe, was awarded the top honors in the Living and Working Environments category during the prestigious 2009 Edison Best New Product Awards. The college was honored for the innovative workspace design and furniture arrangements at its newly renovated administrative headquarters. The space, which is designed to bring Rio’s faculty and administrators together, allows a wide range of groupings for interactive gatherings for anywhere from two to 200 people, and encourages and supports brainstorming, peer critiques, and the free exchange of ideas.

“We often overlook academia as a place where innovation needs to be nurtured,” said Sarah Miller Caldicott, great grandniece of Thomas Edison and chairperson of the Edison Awards Steering Committee. “Rio Salado's innovative renovation of this centrally-located workspace has enabled faculty and staff alike to benefit. It is my hope that more educational institutions will follow the strong example Rio Salado College has set. The college has established an excellent benchmark for what will be necessary for nominees to compete effectively in future years.”

The Edison Awards were established in 1987 and have honored some of the mostinnovative companies, business leaders and products in corporate America. Other 2009 Gold Edison Award winners include: WiiFit, Apple iPhone, MacBook Air, the Obama Campaign, Omnipod, Tide to Go, NogginLabs, Trek Madone 5.2, and Bixi – Montreal Bike System.

Career Fair Highlights Teaching Opportunities

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:18:58 PDT

Future teachers hoping to make a job connection will get a head start at Rio Salado’s 7th annual Teacher Career Fair on Thursday, April 30, from 2-6 p.m. The fair is free and open to the public.

“Our goal is to foster a community-wide event connecting, public, charter, and private schools with potential teacher candidates,” said Paulina Ngo, marketing coordinator for Rio Salado’s Teacher Education program.

According to Ngo, while some school districts are facing layoffs, there are hiring opportunities for teachers in Title I and charter schools and districts in rural communities, especially in high-need areas such as special education, math and science.

“I think students will absolutely benefit from the career fair experience,” said Janine Weyers, Field Experience Coordinator for the Teacher Education program.

“Even if it does not lead to a job immediately, students can make contacts and learn about the various school districts,” Weyers said. “Having that exposure and talking to human resources personnel will help prepare them for a time when jobs are available.”

Leanna DeKing (photo above) and Gary Kreus are two Rio Salado students who will attend the career fair in hopes of landing a position.

“I plan to network and place myself before several people representing as many schools and districts as possible,” Kreus said. “If no offers are extended, I will try and maintain contact with the districts over the next school year.”

DeKing realizes today’s economy may make it more challenging to find a position. “With the tremendous number of teachers that received non-renewal or reduction in force notices, the market is very competitive.”

DeKing recently completed Rio Salado’s Teacher-in-Residence program, and focused on special education because it provided her “the opportunity to help students who are perhaps most in need of my skills and talents,” she said.

Even if she doesn’t land a position, DeKing plans to continue her education. “I am currently working on my master’s degree in education, and my long-term goal is to obtain an educational leadership position.”

Kreus decided to pursue a teaching career to fulfill a lifelong interest in social studies and sharing that knowledge with students. His future goal is to teach high school social studies in either the Deer Valley or Glendale school districts.

“The influence of my own teachers also had a large bearing for me in making this choice,” Kreus added.

Kreus found Rio’s online teacher certification program convenient, because it allowed him to continue working while he pursued the post-baccalaureate program.

“The high-quality course material and challenging assignments have prepared me for the reality of teaching and managing a classroom effectively,” Kreus said.

“School districts love coming to our career fairs because they find our students to be well prepared,” Weyers said. “And our students love the fair because it is such good career exposure for them.”

For more information about the Teacher Career Fair call (480) 517-8414 or visit www.riosalado.edu/teachers.

From Migrant Family to College Graduate

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:51:15 PDT

Maria Luz Navarrete is one of a kind. Just ask her family. The 53-year-old is about to graduate with an associate degree in general education from Rio Salado College. That is a remarkable feat in itself for someone who first began her college career 25 years ago. What is more remarkable is that Navarrete is an unlikely student, having been born into a migrant family.

“My father didn’t have one day of education, and my mother only went to the 2nd grade,” said Navarrete, the fifth child of six siblings. “But their expectation of attending and finishing school was of the utmost importance. My parents didn’t want us to continue the lifestyle we were born into.”

A few years ago, at a family reunion, one of Navarrete’s cousins commented on the low number of grandchildren in Navarrete’s family.

“Our cotton picking days are over,” replied Navarrete. “Plus, there are machines doing that now.”

Thanks to her upbringing, Navarrete knew that education was a must in her quest for a better life. She began taking community college classes in the 1980s, but was forced to drop out due to working full-time, raising two daughters as a single mother and caring for her ailing father.

Despite these challenges, Navarrete was determined to fulfill her dream.

“The main reason I returned to school was to finish something that I had desired for many years,” said Navarrete, who has worked in the Mesa school district for 28 years, most recently as a liaison in the Migrant Child Education Program.

“We broke the cycle that would’ve kept us from searching for and reaching a better life,” she said.

Navarrete chose to continue her education at Rio Salado College because it offered flexibility, mixed-media classes and supportive academic advising.

“My academic advisor Jacqueline Beale listened to me whenever I called her with any concerns, worries or uncertainties,” Navarrete said. “She would remind me of how much I’ve gone through to get to this point, and how it would feel to reach my goals.”

Navarrete won’t be the family’s only graduate this May. Her youngest daughter Estrella is getting a degree from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business.

“My plan is to have a double graduation party,” said Navarrete. “Now that I’ve fulfilled my goal of obtaining my associate degree, I’ve proven to myself that I could do it. I made good grades, supported my daughter and worked a full-time job. My social life took a back seat for many months, but it was worth it!”

Tempe Grandmother Logs on to Career in Nursing

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:49:40 PDT

Control-Alt-Delete. Scrolling and clicking. Menus and icons. These are basic terms familiar to a majority of today’s students. In fact, current television commercials depict children using computers to download and email photos, and make mini-movies online, seemingly boasting “it’s so easy a 4-year-old can do it!”

But to Tempe resident Doris Laidlaw, a mother a five and grandmother of four, computers were a foreign concept. And that was a scary prospect for someone who wanted to go back to school and get a nursing degree.

“I was not deterred by the little fact that I knew absolutely nothing about computers,” said Laidlaw, whose lifelong goal is to become a registered nurse.

“The first time I thought about becoming a nurse was when I was 9 years old,” Laidlaw said. “My grandfather died I did not understand why he could not be saved. I wanted to learn to save someone’s life.”

Laidlaw has worked for 17 years as an LPN, and has spent the last seven years specializing in home health care nursing for special needs children.

She originally decided to pursue a nursing degree 27 years ago, taking general studies classes at various local community colleges.

“I have always planned to finish my degree, but stopped school to raise my growing family,” said Laidlaw. “Being a wife, mother, and grandmother has kept me very busy, so that traditional school wasn’t an option.”

Unfazed, Laidlaw began exploring her options, and learned about Rio Salado’s online nursing program.

“Online classes allowed me to finish my degree without totally abandoning my family,” Laidlaw said, adding there was a learning curve involved.

“At times it was very frustrating when I couldn’t figure out how to save, copy, or send something,” said Laidlaw. “I turned to my friends or classmates and they would talk me through it. I called the technical support desk so often they knew me by name!”

Laidlaw also received support from her family. “My children didn’t give me advice so much as encouragement,” she said. “They always wish me good luck when I take a test and say ‘good job’ when I pass it. They are all very proud of me.”

Laidlaw credits the flexibility and quality of Rio Salado’s program for helping her realize her dream. “I would recommend Rio because their program has state-of-the-art technology that offers technical help 24 hours a day, an online library, and tutoring,” she said. “The best part is the convenience of doing your homework anytime, anywhere and being able to make it fit your own schedule.”

Laidlaw will receive her Associate in Applied Science in Nursing degree at Rio Salado’s 2009 Commencement ceremony on May 15, 2009.

“Graduating with my RN degree is one of the most significant achievements of my life,” said Laidlaw. “Because I was 15 when I had my first child, I got my GED instead of graduating from high school. So the upcoming cap and gown experience is especially meaningful for me.”

For more information about Rio Salado’s online nursing program visit www.riosalado.edu/nursing.

Rio Salado College Launches Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:05:33 PDT

Out with the old, in with the new and improved. Next week, Rio Salado College debuts its new publication, U @ Rio Salado magazine, which features course listings, informative articles and valuable information about taking online classes through Rio Salado.

In the past, Rio Salado published a class schedule each year listing course options at the college. With the debut of U @ Rio Salado, the college is moving to a more instructive and interactive format.

“The magazine will still highlight some class offerings,” said Dr. Linda M. Thor, president of Rio Salado College. “But we also wanted to present an overview of the community college experience at Rio Salado.”

A complete listing of Rio Salado’s 500+ classes is available online, while the magazine will provide a synopsis of the top online classes by enrollment and degree pathway.

The debut issue of U @ Rio Salado includes articles on Tempe residents who have turned their passion for teaching into careers, a class that helps students identify what career is right for them, and how one Rio teacher will soon become a student.

In addition, the magazine highlights the benefits of online learning through Rio Salado, with articles about the online student union, and about RioLearn, the college’s innovative and cutting-edge way to deliver and manage course content.

Several academic programs are covered in the debut issue, including an overview of computer, business and healthcare programs offered at Rio Salado, as well as the introduction of a new associate degree available in the recently established eLearning Design program.

U @ Rio Salado offers tips for students struggling to pay for college in “Financial Aid 101,” and examines the advantages of online learning in “Why Choose Rio Salado Online?”

“If you are seeking college classes to help you obtain a new career or for job advancement, Rio Salado is a smart choice,” Thor said. “Even though there have been recent challenges in the economy, there has never been a better time to strengthen your resume by earning college credits, because the benefits of a college education will last a lifetime.”

U @ Rio Salado will be published three times per year, in April, July and December. It is aavailable for free at all Rio Salado sites, local libraries, Fry’s Marketplace and grocery stores and other businesses throughout Tempe, Phoenix and Scottsdale, as well as online at http://www.uatrio.com/.

New Sales Professional I Class - Enroll Now!

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:20:10 PDT

Rio Salado College and Kaiser Companies have partnered to create a new, online learning opportunity for sales professionals. The class, Sales Professional I, outlines the basic principles of relationship selling, and reviews the theories and techniques of successful sales strategies.

Sales Professional I is a non-credit class geared towards salespeople, sales support staff, and those who want to build and revitalize their existing selling skills. The class format includes lectures, innovative online exercises, case studies, and a free one-year subscription to Selling Power magazine.

For more information, visit www.riosalado.edu/sales

Military Programs Let Students Aim High

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:09:06 PDT

Arizona residents who choose a career in the military don’t have to forgo an education thanks to educational programs offered by Rio Salado College.

Rio Salado partners with the Army National Guard Institute, the Coast Guard Institute, eArmyU and GoArmyEd to offer service members a variety of online certificate and degree programs with military emphasis.

“A service member’s mission is to provide protection for the country, while our mission is to provide them with an education,” said Yvonne Lawrence, coordinator of Rio Salado’s Military Education program.

“The populations that we serve are active duty and veteran personnel and their dependents,” said Lawrence.

Currently, more than 2,700 GoArmyEd students and 1,900 students from the other Armed Forces are taking classes through Rio Salado.

“We have a variety of students located overseas, in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Lawrence. “Rio’s online format is conducive for them to continue their education while they are deployed. No matter where they are, if they have access to the Internet, they can go to college.”

According to Lawrence, the most popular courses that service members take online are computer technology, military leadership and medical prerequisites.

The federal government’s Department of Veterans Affairs offers various educational assistance programs for veterans, active duty personnel and reservists, which will include the Post-9/11 GI Bill available in August 2009.

Benefits of the Post 9/11 GI Bill will include a monthly housing allowance as well as money for tuition, books and other fees associated with attending a university, community colleges or trade school.

Army veteran and Rio Salado student Rajeeyah White already had an associate degree when she completed her military assignment in 2003.

“When I was discharged, I decided to go back to school to become a dietician or nutritionist,” said White. “I decided to take online classes because I have a little one at home. This allowed me to spend time with him and be a good mom and pursue my education at the same time.”

Rio’s Military Education program is managed by an experienced five-person advisement team that assists students with military transcript evaluation, course selection, degree plans, and graduation.

“Rio is dedicated to making sure military service members complete their degrees while they are serving our country,” said Lawrence.

For more information about the Rio’s Military Education program visit www.riosalado.edu/military.

About Rio Salado College
Rio Salado, founded in 1978, is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges in Arizona. The college serves more than 60,000 students annually, more than half online, making it the “college within everyone’s reach.” Rio Salado offers general education courses as well as a variety of degree and certificate programs. For more information visit www.riosalado.edu.

Lights Out: Rio Salado Supports Earth Hour

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:42:09 PDT

(Tempe, AZ) - Rio Salado is encouraging Valley residents to take part in Earth Hour-a global event in which millions of people will turn out their lights to make a statement of concern about our planet and climate change. On Saturday, March 28, 2009, Rio Salado will show its support by turning off the lighted marquee which faces the I-10 freeway from 8:30-9:30 p.m.

For Rio Salado College, caring about the environment represents a lifestyle change that blends into daily routines. The college has adopted several measures to “think green” and beyond. It is in this forward-thinking nature that we have become committed to the principles of sustainability.

We take a broad view of sustainability, including socio-cultural, environmental and economic dynamics to make sustainability bearable, equitable, and viable. To put it simply, we aren’t blindly “going green.” We’re carefully weighing the benefits and costs in the big picture and taking an approach that makes sense.

Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour got started just two years ago and is now the largest event of its kind in the world. Last year, more than 50 million people participated and the lights went out at the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the Colisseum in Rome, just to name a few. Even Google's homepage went black for the day! In Israel, President Shimon Peres personally turned off lights in Tel Aviv.

This year, Earth Hour will be even bigger-already 250 cities in 74 countries have agreed to take part including Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville with more signing up every day. Around the world, cities like Moscow, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Shanghai and Mexico City will turn out their lights.

Participating in Earth Hour is easy, fun and free. Rio Salado hopes you will join us for this amazing event. To sign up, visit http://www.earthhourus.org/ where you'll learn more, including ways you can spread the word about Earth Hour, plus creative things to do when the lights go out in case you need inspiration!

Please pass this note along to anyone you think might want to take part. Let's all turn out and take action. To get a better sense of the event, check out this video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjWD8pbK5t8

Earth Hour is a global movement led by the World Wildlife Fund to address climate change. It began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour. In 2008, Earth Hour went global. More than 50 million people turned out their lights, and the world’s most famous landmarks went dark, including the Empire State building, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Roman Colosseum. Earth House ’08 garnered widespread media coverage, inspiring people around the world to change their energy habits.

HR Professionals Can Now Prepare for Certification Online

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:23:12 PDT

Rio Salado College now offers an online test preparation course for human resource professionals to study for the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification exam.

The three-credit course (Course #MGT289) covers several aspects of human resources including:

* Developing strategic goals
* Managing employee and labor relations
* Evaluating recruitment/employment marketing strategies
* Summarizing laws regarding workforce development
* Explaining compensation policies and programs
* Summarizing payroll responsibilities and procedures
* Evaluating benefit programs

"The online education offers an excellent opportunity where education resources are not available outside of Maricopa County for human resource professional to prepare for taking the PHR exam," said Betty Doran, Certification Director for the Arizona Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

"Also, because of its flexibility, all SHRM members can study for the exam at their convenience as well as earn credits towards a degree program as well," Doran said.

Students who enroll in the class can take advantage of the benefits of online learning at Rio Salado, including online student support, a 24/7 helpdesk and the flexibility of doing coursework at their convenience.

About Rio Salado College
Rio Salado, founded in 1978, is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges in Arizona. The college serves more than 60,000 students annually, more than half online, making it the “college within everyone’s reach.” Rio Salado offers general education courses as well as a variety of degree and certificate programs. For more information visit www.riosalado.edu.

Rio Salado Relaunches Website Using Microsoft Software

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:49:40 PDT

In keeping with the concept of innovation, one of its three core values, Rio Salado College has relaunched its website using Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, a software product that runs Intranet and Internet sites, and allows people, teams and expertise to connect and collaborate.

“Rio Salado is showcasing its innovation and extending much deeper interaction with the community through this new site,” said Anthony Salcito, General Manager for Microsoft US Education. “The college is taking the best of Microsoft SharePoint technologies to engage and assist students, faculty, administrators, and the broader academic community in the life of the campus.”

Rio Salado is the first college in Arizona to use Microsoft Office SharePoint Server as the backbone of a public website.

Thanks to the SharePoint product, Rio Salado’s website, http://www.riosalado.edu/, has a fresh new look that makes it easier for students and prospective students to find information about the college and its online offerings.

“Using SharePoint has enabled us to create a streamlined, easy to navigate website that benefits the public as well as our students, faculty and staff,” said Edward Kelty, Vice President of Information Services at Rio Salado.

SharePoint has also benefited Rio’s eLearning system by enhancing its web portals, email systems, grade books and rosters, alerting capabilities and allows the use of multimedia, threaded discussions and more. Rio's employee portal also uses SharePoint, making communication across the college seamless and up to date.

About Rio Salado College
Rio Salado, founded in 1978, is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges in Arizona. The college serves more than 60,000 students annually, more than half online, making it the “college within everyone’s reach.” Rio Salado offers general education courses as well as a variety of degree and certificate programs. For more information visit www.riosalado.edu.

Rio Grad Helps Other Students Succeed

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:10:35 PDT

Fifteen years ago, Dawn Beck dropped out of high school due to living in a dysfunctional home environment. Two years ago, the married mother of two decided enough was enough. She enrolled in online classes at Rio Salado College, having already passed her GED exam.

Since then, Beck has earned an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in psychology, a process that would take most students four years or more. Beck did it in two, and now wants to help other students by sharing her secrets.

“I have been asked many times over how I was able to get a degree in such a short time, how to deal with financial aid, how I stayed organized, and how I did all of this with kids,” said Beck. “So I decided to write a book to answer these questions, and to inspire others to go back to school and better themselves.”

Beck’s self-published book, the Online Education Handbook, offers tips and insights on how to succeed in the world of online education, including how to find the right school and program, and how to accelerate classes.

“When I made the decision to go back to school, I chose Rio Salado because of the number of online classes offered, because it was affordable and because of the flexibility, said Beck.

Beck credits Rio’s flexibility with helping her accelerate classes to obtain her associate degree in one year’s time.

“I have had people say to me, ‘but I have kids’ or ‘but I work,’ and they think they don’t have the time to go to school,” said Beck. “But going to school online allows busy people to get an education when it is convenient for them.”

Beck found that online classes suited her home life perfectly. “It was the solution that worked for me because I was able to do my schoolwork late at night or early in the morning, when my kids were still sleeping,” Beck said.

When Beck began her studies at Rio Salado, she still didn’t know what career path she wanted to focus on, but says that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“The beauty of community college is that you don’t have to know what exactly you want to do yet,” said Beck. “By taking my general education classes from different disciplines, I was able to find what interested me, which is psychology.”

Today, Beck is pursuing an online master’s degree in psychology that should be completed in November, and plans to begin working on a doctorate in clinical psychology next year. Beck would like to ultimately own a psychology practice, but also sees herself teaching.

“Once I have my master’s degree, I would love to teach introductory psychology online,” said Beck, clearly keen on helping students succeed with their online education goals, now that she has gone through the experience first-hand.

“I hope that my book helps students and potential students get through some of the confusing barriers associated with going back to school,” Beck said. “I had to find my own way through and I want to make life easier for other students on a similar path.”

More information about Beck’s book can be found at http://www.dawnlbeck.com/.

About Rio Salado College
Rio Salado, founded in 1978, is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges in Arizona. The college serves more than 60,000 students annually, more than half online, making it the “college within everyone’s reach.” Rio Salado offers general education courses as well as a variety of degree and certificate programs. For more information visit http://www.riosalado.edu/.

Rio Debuts "U @ Rio Salado" Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Rio Salado College) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:40:23 PDT

Rio Salado debuts its new publication, U @ Rio Salado magazine, the week of April 6th. The magazine features course listings, informative articles and valuable information about taking online classes through Rio Salado. U @ Rio Salado replaces our previous class schedule publications. It will be published three times per year, in April, July and December. Each issue highlights an academic season:

* April issue – Summer/Fall
* July issue – Fall/Winter
* December issue – Winter/Spring

In addition to local libraries, U @ Rio Salado is available at all Rio Salado sites, Fry’s Marketplace and grocery stores, and many other businesses throughout Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe.