By Erik Galicia After several months of navigating distance education, Michael Ortega decided to drop his courses at Riverside City College. Ortega, 44, a formerly incarcerated student, struggled with the sudden lack of face-to-face interaction. He said he needed one-on-one time with his instructors and the ability to walk into the Writing and Reading Center
By Rolinda Espinoza Riverside City College student government is planning a second round of stimulus money for students, with an emphasis on serving undocumented students. Stimulus money was first provided to Community Colleges through the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to help students who were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES
By Jennipher Vasquez The head of the California Community College system discussed the difficulties students are facing amidst the current social, economic and political climate during a student press conference Sept. 24. Eloy Ortiz Oakley, California Community Colleges chancellor, reported an enrollment decrease of up to 7% this semester and encouraged students to return in
By Erik Galicia The head of the California Community College system called for students to actively participate in advocacy for their needs as they navigate the financial uncertainty of the fall 2020 semester. The system is looking at around $1.5 billion in deferrals for the 2020-21 academic year, meaning colleges may not receive that amount
By Erik Galicia Student leaders have created a pandemic stimulus fund available to all Riverside City College students after federal guidance on the distribution excluded all students who are ineligible for FAFSA. These restrictions left Nathalie Ntwali, a first semester RCC international student, feeling uncertain about her academic future. “If I’m not able to pay
By Erik Galicia A bleak economic forecast was predicted for the state’s Community Colleges during a teleconference with student reporters April 14. “We don’t know how big of an impact this is going to be because we are not through this crisis yet,” Eloy Oakley, California Community Colleges Chancellor, said during the call. The Riverside
By Erik Galicia Spring Break will be absorbed into the spring semester to make up for the week lost as Riverside Community College District faculty prepared for the March 23 switch to remote learning caused by COVID-19. “This way, we will be able to complete our 16-week compressed calendar and fulfill our state’s requirement for
