Thursday, October 22, 2009
Communiversity, City Celebrate Grand Opening
The program included remarks from Rio Salado College President Linda Thor, Surprise Mayor Lyn Truitt and guest dignitaries, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and guided tours of the new facilities.
The event was broadcast live on Surprise 11. The event can be viewed online by clicking HERE.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Rio Salado Named America’s Greenest Campus
Rio Salado College has been named America’s Greenest Campus by Climate Culture for having the highest average of carbon reduction per person. The college also was awarded $5,000 to be put toward green initiatives.
Rio Salado College beat out nearly 500 colleges and universities across the country in the America’s Greenest Campus (AGC) contest, which started in April. All of the participating schools combined to save $4.5 million in energy costs and reduce their collective carbon output by 18.6 million pounds, which is equivalent to the annual amount of carbon emitted by 1,900 cars.
In effect, the award recognizes Rio Salado for having the smallest carbon footprint among all the entrants. Rio Salado’s official carbon footprint, as documented for the American College and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment, is .84 tons of C02e.
The miniscule footprint is the result of Rio Salado’s efficient learning formats, which include 550 online courses, in-person classes on-site at corporations and government agencies, and accelerated formats.America's Greenest Campus is the first nationwide contest among colleges to reduce the carbon footprints of their students, faculty, alumni and staff.
AGC partners include Climate Culture, SmartPower, Sierra Student Coalition, National Association of Environmental Law Societies and U.S. Department of Energy.
“Environmental viability is part of the culture at our college,” said Rio Salado President Linda Thor. “We want to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
Rio Salado College is planning to use the money to help fund the Community Garden Project at its main campus, 2323 W. 14th St., Tempe. The community garden will be open to Rio Salado students pursuing a degree or certificate in its Sustainable Foods Program and Rio Salado employees. Food from the garden will be used in the Café @ Rio.
Classes will emphasize the movement toward sustainable food systems, including researching food sources, purchasing locally, and building relationships with local producers. As students progress through the program, they will complete fundamental culinary course work, focus on real food and prepare for hands-on learning experiences in the Café. The Café will work toward a goal of zero-waste.
To learn more about Rio Salado's efforts, click HERE.
Rio Salado College beat out nearly 500 colleges and universities across the country in the America’s Greenest Campus (AGC) contest, which started in April. All of the participating schools combined to save $4.5 million in energy costs and reduce their collective carbon output by 18.6 million pounds, which is equivalent to the annual amount of carbon emitted by 1,900 cars.
In effect, the award recognizes Rio Salado for having the smallest carbon footprint among all the entrants. Rio Salado’s official carbon footprint, as documented for the American College and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment, is .84 tons of C02e.
The miniscule footprint is the result of Rio Salado’s efficient learning formats, which include 550 online courses, in-person classes on-site at corporations and government agencies, and accelerated formats.America's Greenest Campus is the first nationwide contest among colleges to reduce the carbon footprints of their students, faculty, alumni and staff.
AGC partners include Climate Culture, SmartPower, Sierra Student Coalition, National Association of Environmental Law Societies and U.S. Department of Energy.
“Environmental viability is part of the culture at our college,” said Rio Salado President Linda Thor. “We want to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
Rio Salado College is planning to use the money to help fund the Community Garden Project at its main campus, 2323 W. 14th St., Tempe. The community garden will be open to Rio Salado students pursuing a degree or certificate in its Sustainable Foods Program and Rio Salado employees. Food from the garden will be used in the Café @ Rio.
Classes will emphasize the movement toward sustainable food systems, including researching food sources, purchasing locally, and building relationships with local producers. As students progress through the program, they will complete fundamental culinary course work, focus on real food and prepare for hands-on learning experiences in the Café. The Café will work toward a goal of zero-waste.
To learn more about Rio Salado's efforts, click HERE.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Rio Salado, guests offering workshops at Going Green Fair
Communiversity @ Surprise partners hosting open house
On Saturday, Oct. 17, the Communiversity @ Surprise is taking part in the City of Surprise’s second annual Going Green Fair by hosting an educational fair and offering green workshops. Rio Salado College is presenting two free workshops, while AKA Green and APS will each present a workshop. (See below for current workshop details).
To register for Rio Salado or APS workshops, call 480.384.9001 or visit the Communiversity at 15950 W. Civic Center Plaza, Surprise. To register for the AKA Green workshop, please visit www.akagreen.com/workshop.php
During the fair, the Communiversity @ Surprise partners — Rio Salado College, Phoenix College, Glendale Community College, Ottawa University, University of the Incarnate Word, and Western International University — will have representatives available to help perspective students learn about classes and degree pathways offered at the site.
1. Green Home Remodeling 101 (Offered by AKA Green)
Are you thinking of remodeling a portion of your home or still have part of that kitchen left to do? This workshop is for you — homeowners who have heard about green building and want to know how it relates to home improvement projects they plan to undertake.
This two-hour workshop is a survey course that covers green building concepts as a homeowner can apply them to minor or major home renovations. Concepts covered include basic building envelope principles (energy), materials, indoor air quality, materials re-use and recycling, energy conservation and water conservation. Includes lessons learned from a.k.a. Green partner Mick Dalrymple’s documented ongoing efforts to turn a 1975 home into an eco-friendly, family-friendly, Net-Zero Energy Home through remodeling.
Presenter: Mick Dalrymple, AKA Green
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Cost: $39 per person ($70 for two people)
2. Bringing Sustainable Gardening Home (Offered by Rio Salado College)
· What is sustainable gardening and why should I care? Time for a paradigm shift.
· Sustainable vs. organic (there’s a difference?)
· Soil management comes first (don’t treat your soil like dirt)
· Composting can be sexy
· Building raised beds with recycled/reused materials
· Growing vegetables and flowers together(companion planting) for pest resistance and beauty
· Proper water usage (we have a drinking problem).
Presenter: Peter Conden, Rio Salado Community College
Time: 1 – 2 p.m.
Cost: FREE
3. We Are What We Eat (Offered by Rio Salado College)
There is a new movement in the food industry, which is to re-think how we produce, purchase and consume our food.
· Why this new shift?
· Is our current food system sustainable?
· What are the best choices for me and my family?
· How can I make these changes and still enjoy my favorite foods?
· This session will address these questions and provide an overview of the process from “seed to supper.”
Presenter: Shannon Corona, Rio Salado Community College
Time: 9 – 10 a.m.
Cost: FREE
4. Simple Things To Do To Lower Energy Bills (Offered by APS)
Wondering how to lower your energy bill? Curious about how solar energy works or if it's something you should consider for your home? Rex Stepp, of the Renewable Energy group at APS, will be presenting information on simple things you can do today to lower your energy costs as well as discussing how to take advantage of Arizona's 300 days of sunshine with today's solar technology. Along with discussing various ways to use solar energy, you'll also learn about the great incentives and tax credits currently available that can cover well over half the cost of going solar.
Presenter: Rex Stepp, APS
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Cost: FREE
On Saturday, Oct. 17, the Communiversity @ Surprise is taking part in the City of Surprise’s second annual Going Green Fair by hosting an educational fair and offering green workshops. Rio Salado College is presenting two free workshops, while AKA Green and APS will each present a workshop. (See below for current workshop details).
To register for Rio Salado or APS workshops, call 480.384.9001 or visit the Communiversity at 15950 W. Civic Center Plaza, Surprise. To register for the AKA Green workshop, please visit www.akagreen.com/workshop.php
During the fair, the Communiversity @ Surprise partners — Rio Salado College, Phoenix College, Glendale Community College, Ottawa University, University of the Incarnate Word, and Western International University — will have representatives available to help perspective students learn about classes and degree pathways offered at the site.
1. Green Home Remodeling 101 (Offered by AKA Green)
Are you thinking of remodeling a portion of your home or still have part of that kitchen left to do? This workshop is for you — homeowners who have heard about green building and want to know how it relates to home improvement projects they plan to undertake.
This two-hour workshop is a survey course that covers green building concepts as a homeowner can apply them to minor or major home renovations. Concepts covered include basic building envelope principles (energy), materials, indoor air quality, materials re-use and recycling, energy conservation and water conservation. Includes lessons learned from a.k.a. Green partner Mick Dalrymple’s documented ongoing efforts to turn a 1975 home into an eco-friendly, family-friendly, Net-Zero Energy Home through remodeling.
Presenter: Mick Dalrymple, AKA Green
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Cost: $39 per person ($70 for two people)
2. Bringing Sustainable Gardening Home (Offered by Rio Salado College)
· What is sustainable gardening and why should I care? Time for a paradigm shift.
· Sustainable vs. organic (there’s a difference?)
· Soil management comes first (don’t treat your soil like dirt)
· Composting can be sexy
· Building raised beds with recycled/reused materials
· Growing vegetables and flowers together(companion planting) for pest resistance and beauty
· Proper water usage (we have a drinking problem).
Presenter: Peter Conden, Rio Salado Community College
Time: 1 – 2 p.m.
Cost: FREE
3. We Are What We Eat (Offered by Rio Salado College)
There is a new movement in the food industry, which is to re-think how we produce, purchase and consume our food.
· Why this new shift?
· Is our current food system sustainable?
· What are the best choices for me and my family?
· How can I make these changes and still enjoy my favorite foods?
· This session will address these questions and provide an overview of the process from “seed to supper.”
Presenter: Shannon Corona, Rio Salado Community College
Time: 9 – 10 a.m.
Cost: FREE
4. Simple Things To Do To Lower Energy Bills (Offered by APS)
Wondering how to lower your energy bill? Curious about how solar energy works or if it's something you should consider for your home? Rex Stepp, of the Renewable Energy group at APS, will be presenting information on simple things you can do today to lower your energy costs as well as discussing how to take advantage of Arizona's 300 days of sunshine with today's solar technology. Along with discussing various ways to use solar energy, you'll also learn about the great incentives and tax credits currently available that can cover well over half the cost of going solar.
Presenter: Rex Stepp, APS
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Communiversity on Ch. 3
Monday, October 5, 2009
Receive a Tax Credit While Earning College Credit
By David Staudacher, Rio Salado PR Manager
Attention college students! Start saving your school receipts. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) newly-created American Opportunity Tax Credit, college students and their parents may be eligible for more tax credits.
"The amount of the credit is higher," said Eric Smith, media relations specialist at the Internal Revenue Service. "It now goes up to $2,500 per student. So, that is definitely an increase, and to get that maximum credit of $2,500, you need to spend $4,000 on qualifying expenses. That's mainly tuition and fees, but it can also include books."
The American Opportunity Credit is good for the first four years of school, which is twice as long as the old Hope Credit, which was good for the first two years. There are additional changes that benefit students and parents.
"The income limits have been raised for the American Opportunity Credit," said Smith. "There are some people who didn't qualify under the old law who now qualify under the new law. Also, there's a change for people with lower incomes. That is to say you can get the American Opportunity Credit even if you owe no tax, and that wasn't true with the old Hope Credit. For someone who doesn’t owe tax, they cannot get the full $2,500. Instead, it is capped at $1,000, which is major improvement considering they couldn’t receive anything under the old law."
According to Smith, students and their parents must file a tax return to get the credit. Pointing out that often it is better for the parent to claim the credit instead of the student.
"It may depend on who’s paying the cost," said Smith. "The key here is that students and parents shouldn’t leave this money lying on the table."
For people who need the money sooner rather than later there is a way to benefit now.
"You still have to claim it when you file your return next year, but the actual benefit or the tax savings, you can get at least some of that now," said Smith. "If you're working and you have tax taken out of your paycheck. You can actually reduce the amount of withholding that you have based on the credit that you expect to be able to claim."
To figure out how much of a credit someone can receive, visit www.irs.gov and use the withholding calculator, which will help determine if you qualify. If someone qualifies, they need to give their employer a new W-4 form and have less tax taken out of their paychecks.
Another new benefit, which is only available for 2009 and 2010, is using money from college savings plans. Money from these plans can be used to pay for computers, internet services, etc. A number of rules and restrictions apply, and contact a plan administrator for more information is highly suggested.
To learn more about Rio Salado College and the financial aid opportunities available, please visit http://www.riosalado.edu.
Attention college students! Start saving your school receipts. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) newly-created American Opportunity Tax Credit, college students and their parents may be eligible for more tax credits.
"The amount of the credit is higher," said Eric Smith, media relations specialist at the Internal Revenue Service. "It now goes up to $2,500 per student. So, that is definitely an increase, and to get that maximum credit of $2,500, you need to spend $4,000 on qualifying expenses. That's mainly tuition and fees, but it can also include books."
The American Opportunity Credit is good for the first four years of school, which is twice as long as the old Hope Credit, which was good for the first two years. There are additional changes that benefit students and parents.
"The income limits have been raised for the American Opportunity Credit," said Smith. "There are some people who didn't qualify under the old law who now qualify under the new law. Also, there's a change for people with lower incomes. That is to say you can get the American Opportunity Credit even if you owe no tax, and that wasn't true with the old Hope Credit. For someone who doesn’t owe tax, they cannot get the full $2,500. Instead, it is capped at $1,000, which is major improvement considering they couldn’t receive anything under the old law."
According to Smith, students and their parents must file a tax return to get the credit. Pointing out that often it is better for the parent to claim the credit instead of the student.
"It may depend on who’s paying the cost," said Smith. "The key here is that students and parents shouldn’t leave this money lying on the table."
For people who need the money sooner rather than later there is a way to benefit now.
"You still have to claim it when you file your return next year, but the actual benefit or the tax savings, you can get at least some of that now," said Smith. "If you're working and you have tax taken out of your paycheck. You can actually reduce the amount of withholding that you have based on the credit that you expect to be able to claim."
To figure out how much of a credit someone can receive, visit www.irs.gov and use the withholding calculator, which will help determine if you qualify. If someone qualifies, they need to give their employer a new W-4 form and have less tax taken out of their paychecks.
Another new benefit, which is only available for 2009 and 2010, is using money from college savings plans. Money from these plans can be used to pay for computers, internet services, etc. A number of rules and restrictions apply, and contact a plan administrator for more information is highly suggested.
To learn more about Rio Salado College and the financial aid opportunities available, please visit http://www.riosalado.edu.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Enrollment nears record level at Glendale CC campuses
A bumper crop of new students has signed up for classes at Glendale Community College's two campuses. Read more.
Rio sets teacher education orientation
Rio Salado College is hosting a Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Education Orientation on Monday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. at the new Communiversity @ Surprise, 15950 W. Civic Center Plaza, in Surprise.
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program provides teaching certificates in:
- Early Childhood
- Elementary
- Secondary
- Special Education
Rio Salado now offers hybrid classes to prepare working adults for teaching careers. Hybrid classes are a mixture of in-person and online, so you get the best of both worlds — the face-to-face personal interaction, and the flexibility of online learning.
For more information, call Roxie Holmes, 480.384.9008. For more information about Rio Salado College, please visit http://www.riosalado.edu/.
