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Rio
Hondo College News
MEDIA ALERT
3600 Workman Mill Road / Whittier, CA 90601 / 562-692-0921
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Merle Enriquez Secretary
Department: Planning and Development
Phone: (562) 692-0921 Ext. 3412
Rio E-Mail:
MEnriquez@riohondo.edu
Article published: Tuesday, January 31,
2006
Whittier Daily News and San Gabriel Valley
Tribune
Student crush hits Rio Hondo
By Tracy Garcia Staff Writer
WHITTIER - Thousands of backpack-hauling students battled parking
lot jams, trudged up hillside slopes and waited in long lines
Monday as Rio Hondo College launched its spring semester.
The semester began later than in previous years because a four-week
intersession program pushed back the first day of spring classes
by about two weeks.
However, the delay gave students more time to register for classes,
said Voiza Arnold, executive vice-president of academic services.
In addition, late registration will continue for another two
weeks.
"We're trying to accommodate as many students as we can,"
she said.
Enrollment projections show that about 20,000 students will attend
Rio Hondo this semester, although the final figures will not be
available for several weeks.
"Our enrollment fluctuates, but we're basically growing
2 to 3 percent every year," Arnold added. "We had a
dip in 2004-05, but at the same time, the state community college
system lost about 314,000 students."
Arnold said a recent study showed that an increase in community
college tuition in 2004-05 - from $11 per unit to $26 per unit
- was the major reason for the enrollment decline.
"We're just hoping to maintain our enrollment this spring,"
Arnold said.
It was a typical first day on the hilly campus. Students who
drive to school battled for parking spaces. Others darted between
cars, racing to get their classes.
Still others stood in long lines that snaked around the campus
- one line to register for classes; another to pay tuition fees;
another to buy books.
"There are a lot more people here than I expected,"
said second-year Rio Hondo student Alena Casas, 22, of Montebello.
"Usually, the spring semester isn't so packed."
She and other returning students said they were eager for the
college to finally break ground on a massive renovation and construction
project funded by a $245 million bond measure. College officials
have already revealed the school will launch construction of a
new library/learning resource center later this year.
However, Arnold said details of the college's master plan for
campus improvements will be spelled out in a state-of-the-college
address by Rio Hondo President Rose Mary Joyce next month.
-RHC-
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