Get Your Semester Off to a Great Start

The Spring 2025 semester officially begins on Saturday, January 18! Please note that American River College will be closed on Monday, January 20 in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Time to Flex for Professional Development Week!

American River College has a great line-up of Spring 2025 PD/Flex offerings for faculty and staff this week, culminating in our Spring 2025 Convocation. Convocation breakfast refreshments will be served starting at 8:15 a.m. and the program will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Student Center. Keep an eye on your Outlook for an invitation to add to your calendar which will include the Convocation agenda.

In addition, our sister colleges are offering Flex activities, which all Los Rios employees are welcome to attend. View Flex schedules for Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College, and Sacramento City College.

DOJ Finalizes ADA Title II Revisions: Campus Electronic Accessibility Standards to Align with WCAG 2.1 AA by 2026

In April 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized revisions to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure greater accessibility of electronic information. These updates will significantly impact our campus, affecting websites, learning management system (LMS) content, social media, third-party resources, and other electronic communications.

Starting in April 2026, all electronic information must comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards to meet these new federal requirements.

To learn more about the changes and their implications, explore these resources: 

• DOJ Factsheet 
• The new rule (289 pages) - PDF 
• WCAG Accessibility 2.1 Guidelines
• Written Summary by Jessie Weber a highly-respected web access expert and attorney/advocate for the blind/low-vision

Accessible Documents Training – by WebAIM

Registration is open for WebAIM Accessible Document Trainings, sponsored by the California Community Colleges (CCC) Accessibility Center. Free to CCC Staff and Faculty! This training program is designed to equip participants with the skills to create, evaluate, and optimize accessible documents in Word, PowerPoint, and Adobe PDF. Additionally, participants have access to a bonus module focusing on Excel accessibility.

Participants who successfully complete the self-paced course and assessments will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. The entire course requires approximately 10 hours of work and must be completed within 60 business days (excluding weekends and U.S. holidays) to receive the certificate. Participants who do not finish the course within this time frame will lose access. Participants who earn a certificate will have ongoing access to review the course materials after the cohort closes. For individual questions about registering for WebAIM Accessible Document Training, please email accessibility@ccctechcenter.org.

Tech Tips for Employees and Students

A wide variety of technical resources are available. Check out the Employee Technical Support webpage and direct students to the Student Technology Resources webpage. Some helpful tools and services include:

Service Central: Employees and students can request IT services or get support for any IT issue through the online Service Central portal. In this centralized online system, you’ll be able to track your requests online and ultimately receive faster responses from the IT team. Learn more about Service Central.

Canvas: Online and in-person classes both use the Canvas online learning management system. For students new to Canvas, encourage them to check out these short Los Rios Canvas "how to" videos on the most requested features or visit the Canvas Student Guide.  

Apps and Software for Students: Check out the Technology Resources webpage for instructions on how to download software like Microsoft and Adobe, plus find information about low-cost or free internet and wi-fi.

Forgotten WID or Password:

• Look up their student ID (WID) number
• Get help setting up or changing your password

Parking Information

Employees will be issued parking permits and an employee permit is required to park in any staff parking spaces. Please ensure you adhere to all parking regulations, including: Only parking in handicapped spaces if you have an appropriately issued placard and avoid parking in fire lanes or loading zones, as violations may result in a ticket.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our parking areas safe and accessible!

Stay Safe on Campus with SAFE Los Rios!

SAFE Los Rios is a safety communications tool for students and employees. It has two components – a free mobile app and a desktop alert.

About the App

Download the free SAFE Los Rios mobile app today in the App Store or Google Play for campus safety resources at your fingertips! We recommend getting the app before you need it, so you have a chance to become familiar with the features and how to use it in an emergency. Features include the ability to:

• Discreetly contact and share your location with campus police in an emergency by using the app’s Panic Button.
• Request a Campus Safety Escort from the Los Rios Police Department to walk you to your vehicle or other campus location.
• Send your location to a friend so they can track you in real time as you walk across campus and arrive safely at your destination.
• Submit a non-emergency crime tip.
• Access campus safety procedures for emergencies that may occur on campus.

About the Desktop Icon

All college or district-issued computers should have a SAFE Los Rios icon in the taskbar or system tray. The icon serves two functions – to receive emergency alerts (all computers, including laptops) and as a Panic Button (onsite stationary, non-student-use computers only).

Desktop Panic Button

• For onsite stationary computers: The SAFE Los Rios icon, located in the taskbar or system tray, functions as a Panic Button (replacing the ERNI button). The Panic Button provides a way to discreetly contact Los Rios police in an emergency situation, letting them know your location. To activate, triple-click the icon.
• For laptop users: Because location services are not precise on laptops and other Wi-Fi-only devices, the desktop Panic Button is only available on stationary computers (typically lecture computers and front-counter stations). It is highly recommended that users download the free SAFE Los Rios mobile app on their phone to use the Panic Button feature in the app (requires location services (GPS) to be on for full functionality). All employees and students should download the mobile app and become familiar with it so they are prepared in an emergency. Note: Although laptop users will see the SAFE Los Rios icon on their computer, it will not activate if clicked (its sole function on laptops is to receive emergency alerts).

Desktop Emergency Alerts

• The SAFE Los Rios desktop icon serves as a mechanism for all college- or district-issued computers (including laptops) to receive emergency mass notifications from the college or district. If you are using a laptop and do not see the icon, turn your laptop off and back on the next time you are onsite.

Text, Phone and Email Alerts

It’s important to continue to regularly update your Emergency Alert information in Employee Self-Service. This is still the method in which the college and district will send emergency texts, phone calls and emails. Log in to ESS, select “Employee Information,” then “Emergency Alert Information” to review and save your preferences. 

If you do not see the SAFE Los Rios desktop icon on your computer or you believe it is not working properly, please submit a Service Central ticket for IT assistance.

2025-2026 Financial Aid Application Now Open!

Encourage students to apply early to maximize their chances of receiving aid, including grants, work-study, and scholarships, for Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026.

Students should submit their FAFSA or CADAA application by the priority deadline, March 3, 2025. For assistance, they can contact the Financial Aid Office or join a virtual Cash for College Workshop.

Students with federal student loans, ECMS is available to help navigate repayment options and create a personalized repayment plan. Spread the word and help support our students and colleagues in securing their financial futures!

University Transfer Application Deadlines Extended

Applications for Fall 2025 admissions have been extended for Sac State, UC Davis, and some of the other UCs! See the new deadlines below:

• Sac State: The Fall 2025 Sacramento State transfer application deadline has been extended to February 15, 2025. This extension includes impacted majors and the 26 second bachelor's programs currently available.

• UC: The University of California (UC) transfer application deadline for Fall 2025 has been extended to January 15, 2025, for UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UC Merced, UC Riverside, and UC Santa Cruz.

Resume Workshop:

Help Students Build Standout Resumes!

Encourage students to join our interactive workshop on Tuesday, January 14, from 12:00 to 1:00 p,m. to learn the secrets of creating a resume that grabs attention and gets results. This online session will provide valuable tips on formatting, content, and language selection to help students effectively showcase their skills and experiences.

For questions, contact Edith Pacheco at PachecE@scc.losrios.edu.

ESL in Business Communication Training For Students

Help students enhance their communication skills and job readiness with this 6-week training program designed for English Language Learners. Participants will gain hands-on experience with business vocabulary, college-level assignments, and job retention strategies to prepare for success in college-level Business classes and the workplace. Training starts on Tuesday, January 21 but registration closes on Tuesday, January 14 – Help us spread the word!

Dates and Deadlines

Looking for the latest academic dates and deadlines?

• Deadlines to Add/Drop Classes
• Academic Calendar and Holidays

Note: Spring Recess is March 17-23

• Final Exam Schedule
• Enrollment Dates for Upcoming Semesters

MLK Day Holiday is January 20

American River College will be closed on Monday, January 20 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday; no classes will be held and college offices will be closed.