November 14, 2022

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Los Rios Vaccine Requirement to be Lifted for Students and Employees November 14

On October 19, the Los Rios Board of Trustees voted to end our district’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement for employees and students as soon as practicable. The vaccine requirement will be lifted for all Los Rios students and employees beginning on Monday, November 14.

Beginning on November 14:

• Any student or employee can access any Los Rios facility regardless of their vaccination status.
• Faculty will no longer see students’ vaccination (“cleared/not cleared”) status on class rosters.
• Students and employees with approved medical or religious exemptions no longer need to provide a negative test in order to come to any college or district facility. 
• Students enrolling for the Spring 2023 semester will not need to upload any vaccination information in order to enroll in in-person classes.

Los Rios will continue to heed all relevant guidance and requirements from state and local public health experts relating to measures to mitigate the spread of infection. As we have consistently over the past several years, if public health guidance changes then we will respond accordingly. 

Public health remains a top priority for Los Rios and our colleges. Consistent with guidance from local public health experts, we continue to strongly recommend wearing masks and appropriate face coverings when indoors. We also strongly recommend that everyone eligible continue to stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccine and booster regimens. 

Lastly, Los Rios is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students and employees. We expect that those who opt to wear masks, regardless of the reason, will be treated with dignity and kindness. None of us can fully understand what our colleagues’ or classmates’ family health dynamics are, and we will respect those individuals’ choices without judgment or derision.

Thank you for everything you have done, and continue to do, to keep our colleges safe for our students and employees.

Law Enforcement Seminar Thursday

All students are invited to a law enforcement seminar on Thursday, November 17, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm in the ARC main campus Student Center. This event features a variety of guest speakers and is designed to connect law enforcement to students. ARC President Melanie Dixon will provide welcoming remarks. Daniel Hahn, Dean, of Sacramento Regional Public Safety Center and retired Sacramento Police Chief, will serve as moderator for a panel of guests including:

• Kathy Lester - Police Chief, Sacramento Police Department
• Amanda Ray - Commissioner, California Highway Patrol
• Sean Ragan - Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations
• Lasha R. Boyden - Acting United States Marshal, Eastern District of California
• Guillermo Viera Rosa - Director of Division of Adult Parole Operations, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
• Marlon Yarber - Chief Probation Officer, Sacramento County

There will also be information tables for numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office and the Folsom, Elk Grove, Roseville, Tracy, West Sacramento, Los Rios, and Sacramento State police departments. Students need to register in advance.

Natomas Center Event

All are invited to the Natomas Center for a Community Outreach and Cultural Event on Thursday, November 17, from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. This will be a full afternoon of food, fun, entertainment, and cultural celebration - don’t miss out!

College and Community Resources for Students 

Below are college and community resources that may be helpful to you as you engage with students this semester who may be exhibiting signs of distress.  

ARC Resources

• ARC Beaver Cares - The Beaver Cares Basic Needs Center offers a wide range of services including food assistance, housing resources, and more. 
• ARC CAST (Crisis Assessment Support Team) - CAST provides short term support to connect students to a variety of campus and community resources to help them navigate life’s circumstances. Turnaround time for CAST referrals is up to 48 hours. 
• ARC Center for Mental Health and Wellness - The Center for Mental Health and Wellness provides a variety of services to all currently enrolled students, including short-term individual therapy and group therapy, as well as training and workshops on a variety of wellness topics.
• ARC Office of Student Conduct - We help students, faculty, and staff of ARC understand the college's expectations of student behavior and conduct. 
• ARC Student Health and Wellness Center - College Nurses in the Student Health and Wellness Center provide TB testing, immunizations, assistance with health requirements for academic programs, and any physical concerns. 
• ARC Telehealth - Timely Care - All ARC students have access to FREE 24/7 (anytime, anywhere) medical or mental health services through ARC Telehealth. 
• Los Rios Police Department - Call Los Rios Police Dispatch at 916-558-2221 or call 911 if:
• If a student is exhibiting threatening behavior and you are concerned for your safety or the safety of other campus community members.
• If a student has indicated possible harm to self or others.

Community Resources

• ARCHub/Findhelp - A searchable resource database that connects people in need to the programs that serve them within the community.
• CalHOPE - CalHOPE Connect offers safe, secure, and culturally sensitive emotional support for all Californians who may need support relating to COVID-19. 
• Crisis Text Line - Free, 24/7 crisis counseling. Text CONNECT to 741741 to chat with a Crisis Counselor or crisistextline.org
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources. Call or text 988 or 988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now
• Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services - A place for hope and prosperity, a place where women and men, children and elders, are offered the tools they may need—food, education, technology, or just plain kindness—as they move toward a path of financial independence and self-sufficiency. Call 916-456-1980 or visit sacramentofoodbank.org
• WEAVE - Promotes safe and healthy relationships and support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex trafficking. Support Line: 916-920-2952 or weaveinc.org

Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being Activity

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being is hosting a physical fitness and mental well-being activity for the ARC community on Tuesday, November 15, from 5:30 to 6:15 pm in the Student Center Community Room. Join state and national experts to learn and practice positively connecting your physical movement and mental wellness. If you have questions please contact Rebecca Sterling at 916-281-8879 or rebecca.sterling@gov.ca.gov.

Great American Smokeout

Are you a smoker and would like to quit? November 17 is the date for this year's Great American Smokeout. Quitting smoking isn’t easy. It takes time and a plan. Let the Great American Smokeout event be the day to start your journey toward a smoke-free life!

The Los Rios Community College District is tobacco-free, smoke-free, and vape-free. LRCCD Student Health and Wellness Services offers smoking cessation counseling and Quit Kits, and the American Cancer Society can help you access more resources and support for quitting.

For more information visit the Great American Smokeout website.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. Transgender Day of Remembrance was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester's death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. Visit the GLAAD website for more information.

Geography Awareness Week Guest Speakers

The SCC Geography Department is celebrating Geography Awareness Week on Monday, November 14, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm by welcoming special guest speakers to discuss what planners do along with some of their projects and their career paths. This is a hybrid event - in person in SCC Rodda North 258 and via Zoom.

Guests are: Chelsey Payne, AICP, Director or Urban Design and Planning for Ascent Environmental; Nguyen Nguyen, Assistant Planner, City of Sacramento; and Rosie Ramos, Equity and Engagement Coordinator, SACOG.

Want to know what's happening?

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