It’s Flex/PD Time

Sacramento City College has a full line-up of virtual and online professional development offerings this week. Check out the online PD Week schedule and join your colleagues for Convocation 9 AM Friday, August 21 on Zoom.

ARC, CRC and FLC are also offering great workshops and trainings this week. All Los Rios employees are invited to attend!
On a light yellow background "City Ways" is typed in our school colors
Start Fall the City Way!

As we start our fall semester online, consider how you can help bring City Ways to life in your virtual classroom or virtual office.

Faculty
1. Personal Connection
Establish a personal connection with your students early in the semester—learn their names, get to know them, tell them about yourself.
2. Relatable Materials
Use materials students can relate to and can apply to their lives—make those and other resources easy for students to find.
3. Clarity and Flexibility
Set clear expectations and deadlines, and be flexible when needed.
4. Communication
Communicate with your students, electronically and in person, as often as possible—talk with them, not at them.

Classified Professionals
1. Ask and use the student’s name
Greet students and help them feel comfortable—make eye contact, smile, acknowledge them, say hello, ask and use their name.
2. Clarify
Help clarify practices and processes for students—eliminate barriers for them when you can.
3. Next Steps
Give students clear directions for next steps in their processes—help them find the answers they are looking for.
4. Follow Up
Follow up—close with your business card and/or email to follow up.
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Dates and Deadlines

CSU Spring 2021 Application Deadline: August 31

August 31 is the deadline for transfer students to apply to CSU Spring 2021 admission. The Sacramento City College Transfer Center is offering a variety of resources to help support students as they apply.
Technology Needs for Students

Throughout the summer, we have been working hard alongside our colleagues at our sister colleges to maximize our limited resources and help students address their technology needs before the start of online classes. Collectively, we purchased an additional 1,700 Chromebooks above what was purchased and distributed in the spring (continuing students who borrowed a device in spring are able to keep the device for the new semester if they stayed enrolled). We also have a small number of other devices available for students whose needs cannot be met by Chromebooks.
 
We recognize that we may not be able to address barriers for all of our students, which is why it is so important that we focus first on the students who need help the most. For that reason, we agreed on a consistent criteria for prioritizing our neediest students based on CA Promise Grant and Dream Act eligibility and students’ unit load. Distribution of the Chromebooks is already well under way, and we are closely monitoring the need relative to our available technology.
 
To address students’ access to reliable high speed internet, we have worked with Comcast on a program to offer free internet service to qualifying students who live in the Comcast service area. We are continuing to explore partnerships with providers for those who live outside of the Comcast service area, but in the meantime our SCC Technology for Remote Classes page has great information about free and low-cost internet resources in our region.
 
In both cases, students who are eligible for these programs were communicated with directly via their eServices account. If a student who has not received information asks any faculty or staff about what resources are available or whether or not they are eligible, please have them contact Kevin Flash.

Additional Tech Resources:
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Supporting our Own

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free, confidential resource for employees that is paid for by Los Rios. It provides resources to help employees lead healthier and happier lives, including:
  • Confidential counseling
  • Wellness coaching to assist with weight management, smoking cessation, stress management, fitness, and so on
  • Financial services, such as planning for retirement, credit counseling, debt, budgeting, and so on
  • Legal services, including attorney consultations for criminal, civil, and family matters
  • Help finding childcare or eldercare

Visit mhn.advantageengagement.com and register using the company code LRCCD to learn more. The EAP is administered by Managed Health Network, Inc. For more information, call their toll-free line at (800) 535-4985 (open 24 hours a day, seven days a week). TTY users can call 711.

Download the EAP Informational Flyer (PDF) for more information.