www.SanTanSun.com
Business by Joan Westlake
For more than 30 years, Rio Salado College, a Maricopa Community College, has been a national leader in offering learning opportunities, creating innovations in higher education and developing community partnerships. Renown for providing the flexibility, convenience and affordability for working adults to earn accredited, online degrees, Rio Salado has evolved into a way for high school students to earn college credits, veterans to find a path back home, community members to acquire tools such as CPR and, in this tough economy, a mode for people to enhance their working skills or re-career. “In this economy, no one should be left out,” says Rio Salado College President Chris Bustamante. “Education is the backbone of our country, and more people than ever are reaching out to us to help them achieve their educational and career goals. We take pride in being innovative and creating learning opportunities for non-traditional students.” Maricopa Community Colleges go to the head of the class when it comes to an affordable education. At $71 per resident credit at Rio, annual tuition for a full time student is $2,130 compared to $8,132 at Arizona State University, $15,900 at University of Phoenix and $16,500 at Grand Canyon University. There is a wealth of scholarships as well as student assistance available. Rio offers more than 500 online as well as in-person and “hybrid” classes – which combines online and in person – plus more than 40 degrees and programs. Associate degrees or certificates are available in a wide range of topics including accounting, computer technology, creative writing, dental assisting, general
business, law enforcement, paralegal, teaching and more. Academic tracks such as biology, chemistry, English, math, social sciences, history and languages are also featured. Transfer agreements with ASU, Northern Arizona University and universities across the nation put students on a direct path for a bachelor or master’s degree, sometimes with
March 19 - April 1, 2011 Rio Salado goes beyond ‘by the book’ learning
we continue to look ahead at what we must do in the next year and decade to provide our students with the better life that a college education brings,” says Bustamante. For more details, visit
www.riosalado.edu or call 480-517-8580.
Joan Westlake is a longtime journalist and East Valley resident. She can be reached at
Joan@SanTanSun.com.
Rio Salado College President Chris Bustamante
WORKING LUNCH: Rio Salado College student Courtney McCollum takes advantage of online classes during her lunch break as she works on her associate degree in psychology.
special tuition and enrollment privileges. High school seniors, juniors and qualified sophomores and freshmen can get a head start on their college degree with Rio Salado’s Dual Enrollment program. More than 50 high schools offer the program to their students including Basha, Chandler, Hamilton, Horizon, Queen Creek and Williams Field. Coming soon is The Communiversity @ Queen Creek, a partnership that will give Southeast Valley students more opportunities to pursue their education. Hosted by Rio Salado College in collaboration with the town of Queen Creek, the Communiversity will provide educational programs in a variety of degree pathways. Currently, Rio and the town are partnering with Chandler-Gilbert Community College and the Maricopa County Community College District. More partners will be added as the facility expands. The Communiversity @ Queen Creek, which is scheduled to open this fall, will be located in a 15,000-square-foot facility to be constructed adjacent to the Queen Creek Library on the southwest corner of Ellsworth Road and Victoria Lane.
Submitted photo “No matter what we’ve accomplished at Rio Salado,
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Kudos for Rio Salado College
“America’s Greenest Campus” from Climate Culture “Military-Friendly School” from G.I. Jobs magazine “Top Military-friendly School” from Military Advanced Education
“Top 10 Digital Savvy College” from the Center for Digital Education and Converge magazine
“Best of the West 2009” in Higher Education from WESTMARC for the Communiversity @ Surprise
“Best of the West 2009” in Service to Communities from WESTMARC for the Lifelong Learning Center’s partnership with the City of Surprise and Interfaith Community Care
“Gold Edison Award” in Living and Working Environments from Edison Awards for innovative workspace design
“Excellence in Education” award from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix
“National Top 100 Test Centers” by the College Board
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