Our program promotes opportunities for the following groups:

"Non-traditional" (women)
Design Architecture and Engineering careers have traditionally been male-dominated fields.  With programs like ours, this is changing.

About 20% of enrollees in the Rio Hondo College "ACEDD - GIS" Programs are women.  High Paying technical positions in the design, engineering, GIS, and computer related fields are increasingly opening their doors to women.  Through organizations like the National Association of Women in Construction (http://www.nawic.org), women in the ACEDD - GIS program receive special recognition, awards and scholarships celebrating their success.

Displaced Homemakers & Single Parents
The ACEDD - GIS department staff is sensitive to the needs of students who are re-training themselves to become more marketable in the workforce.  Together with Rio Hondo's Extended Opportunity Program and Services (www.riohondo.edu/students/eops), ACEDD - GIS can help facilitate the finest educational experience.  Single parents and students with children may be able to take advantage of Rio Hondo College's Child Development and Child Care Center (riohondo.edu/students/childcare/).  The Child Care center serves children of RHC students, staff, and community members.  The RHC Child Care Center is conveniently located on campus, with registration beginning in July for the Fall Semesters and in December for the Spring semesters.

Individuals with Disabilities
The "ACEDD - GIS" program features teachers and facilities that promote optimum accessibility.  Disabled students can find accessible workstations in every lab.  Drafting stations feature fully height adjustable and tilt-adjustable drawing surfaces that are controlled from the touch of a button.  Computer labs include adjustable workstations that can very the height and position of the keyboard and computer.  In coordination with the Disabled Students office (riohondo.edu/dsps), we can offer such services as interpreters for the hearing-impaired, Braille transcribers, and specialized tutoring. The ACEDD - GIS labs makes a high-tech education available no matter what your challenge or obstacle.

The ACEDD - GIS department offers additional helpful services such as:

• Extended Open Lab hours that allow students without computers at home to work outside of scheduled class hours.
• Individualized and group tutoring to supplement classroom instruction.
• Peer mentoring and tutoring.
• Highly accessible instructors with offices adjacent to classrooms.