Dear Roadrunners,
Welcome back Roadrunners! We are excited to begin the semester with both in-person and online course offerings. We have remained vigilant in ensuring a safe return to campus. We are committed to your success, and we are here to support your journey to realizing your educational goals. I want to share important information that will impact how you access the campus, including college policies on vaccine records or approved exemptions, masks requirements, and daily pre-screening on the NEW Rio Hondo College mobile app. A full understanding of these requirements will ensure you have a seamless transition back to campus.”
First, the latest COVID-19 plan with guidelines for Spring 2022 can be found on the College website. Based on the updated Los Angeles County guidelines, there are important college health and safety changes.
Vaccination Policy:
Students still must be vaccinated to access in-person instruction and services. A valid vaccination record or an approved exemption must be on file with the college. Vaccination records and exemption requests can be submitted at https://www.riohondo.edu/student-health-services/coronavirus/. Vaccination records are reviewed daily. We encourage students to read the following information on facts and myths about COVID-19 vaccines. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine on the CDC website, to inform you of your decisions. If you are not vaccinated or approved for an exemption Rio Hondo college has many opportunities for you to complete your degree online and we are committed to your success in the online environment.
New mask requirements:
All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a well-fitting medical grade or surgical mask, or higher-level PPE (e.g. N95 or KN95 respirator) face mask over the nose and mouth while indoors and outdoors. Cloth masks are NOT an acceptable grade. Students will be able to retrieve appropriate masks at the welcome booths located in the lower and upper quad.
Face shields alone do NOT count as masks as per Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.
No congregating in hallways, lobbies, or other indoor spaces (when class ends, leave the building or proceed to your next class)
No congregating in groups larger than five people (all physically distanced) outdoors
IMPORTANT
Returning to Campus with Rio Hondo College App:
Rio Hondo College partnered with Ready Education to provide a simple solution for students to return safely to campus. The app is designed to support daily COVID-19 symptoms pre-screening and close contact exposure follow-up. Any student coming to campus for in-person classes or services is required to complete a daily health screening for COVID-19 symptoms prior to entering the campus. You can get started with two simple steps. Take a moment to complete the following instructions.
Step 1: Download and install the Rio Hondo App to your phone:
Download Links:
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1606931939
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.readyeducation.riohondocollege
Step 2: Log into the app with your RHC username and password. Make sure notifications are enabled in the app by clicking the bell-shaped icon at the bottom of the screen and then the preferences icon at the top right.
Daily Pre-Screening
Each time you come to campus; you will be required to complete a daily pre-screening survey. Complete this survey to inform us of any symptoms you may have before accessing campus for the day. Depending on your responses, you will either be cleared to come to campus, or you will be restricted. If restricted, you will be given further instructions on how to have your pass updated and safely re-enter campus. When you receive a green pass, you are cleared to enter campus for any in-person courses and services.
If you do not have a smartphone, you can get a link to fill out the At Home Pre-Screening form on a computer by contacting: covid-response@riohondo.edu
View Campus Pass
You are always able to view your current campus pass which determines your access level to campus as well as any action items that may be required from you in order to enter campus safely. If you are on campus, staff may request to see your access level. Those without proper access levels will be asked to the pre-screening survey or requested to leave the campus.
Vaccination Form
Use this form to inform us of your current vaccination status, if you are fully vaccinated, or of any changes in your vaccination status, and upload supporting documentation. Vaccine cards will be reviewed within 48 hours and a decision will be made to accept or return for corrections based on the information provided. Students who have already submitted proof of vaccination do not need to resubmit proof vaccination card.
Exemption Form
Use this form to submit an exemption or appeal for exemption, this will be reviewed within 48 hours and a decision will be made to accept or deny your exemption based on the information provided. Students who have already submitted an exemption request do not need to resubmit.
Building Room Check-In / Contact Exposure
As you move around campus, you will be required to check-in to buildings and rooms by scanning QR codes posted on doors and walls as you enter. This allows us to inform students in close contact of a person who have tested positive of COVID-19. They look like the example above.
Check-in by clicking the box with the line through it at the top left of the app and scanning the QR code in the room. DO NOT SCAN THE CODE WITH YOUR PHONE’S CAMERA APP. THEY MUST BE SCANNED IN THE RIO HONDO APP TO CHECK-IN PROPERLY
Be sure to look for and scan QR codes at all building entrances and service offices. In the case of COVID-19 exposure, this will help us to contact the people who have also been in those areas.
If you are not cleared to come to campus, be sure to contact your instructor.
REMEMBER: COMPLETE THE PRE-SCREENING SURVEY PRIOR TO COMING TO CAMPUS AND SCAN QR CODES AS YOU MOVE ABOUT THE CAMPUS.
Student Services
Student Services will provide online and in-person services. Most offices will open on 8am-5pm Monday-Thursday, Fridays 8am – 2pm. Some offices will provide evening services until 7pm on Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Students should check the college website for operational hours for a specific office. A healthy balance will be achieved between providing excellent service to our students and maintaining safety for all faculty and staff. Stay tuned for more details regarding modified student services schedule and operating hours.
Learning Assistance Center (LAC)
All Río Hondo College students have access to FREE resources such as tutors, workshops, computers, and printing—all of which are available at the Learning Assistance Center in LR-114. You can drop in to take advantage of these valuable services, or if you would like to schedule a meeting with a tutor, call the LAC at (562) 908-3418. You can also use this link to make an appointment online: https://www.riohondo.edu/communications-and-languages/labs/learning-assistance-center-lac.
Math Science Center (MSC)
Need help with math or a natural science? Contact the Math Science Center (located in S-300) by dropping by or going online to https://www.riohondo.edu/mathematics-and-sciences/math-science-center. The MSC provides up to one-hour tutoring sessions to help with any problems in your math and science classes. This is a FREE student service. Tutoring will begin the first week of the semester. For more information, contact Enrique Bravo at (562) 463-7574 or at ebravo@riohondo.edu.
Also: This semester, in-person students who want to attend remote courses without leaving campus can do so in LR-117 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, or at the Library (on the second floor of the Learning Resource Center (LRC)) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays. Desktop computers, headphones with microphones, and webcams will be made available to students to this end. And as you likely already know, the Library will continue to provide Chromebooks and hotspots to students for semester-long checkouts while supplies last.
RIO Café
The Rio Café will be available for service to students for grab and go food options Monday to Thursday from 7 am to 4 pm. Orders can also be placed at www.riocafetogo.com (pick up only).
Road Runners, welcome back.
Be well,
Earic Dixon-Peters, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Services
