• Calendar
  • Directory
  • Locations / Centers
  • Distance Education
  • Calendar
  • Directory
  • AccessRio
  • Canvas
  • Bookstore
AccessRio Login logo
  • Click to login to Canvas
  • Click to view Campus Map
  • Click to view our Bookstore
Rio Hondo College logo
Navigation
  • Admissions & Aid
    • Admissions
      • Apply Now and Next Steps
      • AccessRio
      • Admissions & Records
      • Bachelor of Science Degree
      • Continuing Education (Noncredit)
      • Dual Enrollment (K-12 and Adult Ed)
      • Fees & Refunds
      • International Students
      • Registration
      • Residency Information
      • Student Forms
      • Transcripts
      • Virtual Campus Tour
      • Virtual Welcome Center
    • Financial Aid
      • Types of Aid
      • Steps to Apply
      • Forms
      • Keeping Your Aid
      • Links and Resources
      • Scholarships
      • Veterans Benefits
    • Academics
      • Academic Calendar
      • Academic Dates & Deadlines
      • Bookstore
      • Canvas
      • Class Schedule
      • College Catalog
      • Continuing Education (Noncredit)
      • Distance Education
      • Final Exam Schedule
    • Basic Needs
      • Child Care
      • COVID-19 Information
      • Food Pantry (RioSource Room)
      • Food Resources
      • Health Services
      • Housing Services
      • Psychological Services
      • RioSource for Social Services
      • Transportation and Maps
    • Complete Your Path
      • Petition to Graduate
      • Career Center
      • Graduation Ceremony
      • Jobs and Internships
      • Transfer Center
      • Transfer Programs
  • Academics & Support
    • Academic Pathways
      • Explore Areas of Interest
      • Degrees and Certificates
      • Academic Divisions
      • Academic Student Success Teams
      • Major Exploration Videos
    • Support Programs
      • Support Programs
      • Disabled Students Program (DSPS)
      • Career & Adult Re-entry Services
      • Counseling Center
      • Transfer Center
      • Tutoring
      • Student Success Videos
    • Academics
      • Academic Calendar
      • Academic Dates & Deadlines
      • Canvas
      • Class Schedule
      • College Catalog
      • Continuing Education (Noncredit)
      • Distance Education
      • Final Exam Schedule
    • Technical Support
      • Chromebooks, WiFi Hotspots, Calculators
      • Office 365 for Students
      • Student Printing Services
      • Tech Support for AccessRio
      • Tech Support for Canvas
    • Student Resources
      • Bookstore
      • COVID-19 Information
      • Health Services
      • Library Services
      • Psychological Services
      • RioSource for Social Services
      • Transportation and Maps
  • Campus & Community
    • Get Involved
      • Athletics
      • Clubs & Organizations
      • Student Ambassadors
      • Student Government
      • Student Leadership Institute
      • Student Media and Publications
    • Community & School Partnerships
      • Continuing Education (Noncredit)
      • CTE Summer Academy
      • Dual Enrollment (K-12 and Adult Ed)
      • Foster Kinship Care Education
      • Kids College
      • Outreach & Educational Partnerships
      • Child Development Center (Pre-School)
      • Post a Job Opening
    • Arts & Cultural Events
      • Art Gallery Showing
      • Cultural Events
      • Dance Events
      • Music Events
      • Theater Events
    • RHC Foundation
      • A Taste of Rio
      • Faculty & Staff Giving
      • President’s Circle
      • RHC Foundation
      • Ways to Give
    • Campus Resources
      • Bookstore
      • Events Calendar
      • Fitness & Wellness Center
      • Grade Grievance Procedures
      • Graduation Ceremony
      • Library
      • Transportation and Maps
      • Title IX Harassment Resources
      • Virtual Campus Tour
      • Vendors, Merchants, and Bids
  • About RHC
    • Rio Hondo College
      • About RHC
      • Academic Affairs
      • Academic Senate
      • Accreditation
      • BoardDocs
      • Board of Trustees
      • Board Policies and Administrative Procedures
      • Curriculum
      • EADA Reports
      • Governance Manual
      • Outcomes
      • Phone Directory
      • Student Equity
      • Superintendent/President
      • Vision, Mission and Values
      • Virtual Campus Tour
    • Faculty & Staff
      • Behavioral Intervention Team
      • Faculty Handbook
      • Helping Students in Distress
      • IT Helpdesk
      • Print Shop
      • Rio Mail
      • SARS Anywhere
      • Sign Production
      • Staff Development
    • Offices
      • Academic Divisions
      • Admissions & Records
      • Finance & Business
      • Financial Aid
      • Government & Community Relations
      • Grant Development Services
      • Human Resources
      • Information Technology
      • Institutional Effectiveness
      • Library Services
      • Marketing & Communications
      • Student Affairs
    • Facilities & Safety
      • Building Program
      • Directions, Maps, & Transportation
      • Emergency Procedures
      • Emergency Preparedness
      • Facilities
      • Parking
      • Security
    • Marketing & Media
      • Marketing & Communications
      • Media Services
      • News
      • Publications
      • Zoom Backgrounds
Home / About Rio Hondo College / History of Rio Hondo College

History of Rio Hondo College

Rio Hondo College celebrates its 51st academic year in 2013-2014. The Rio Hondo Community College District was established by election in October 1960, but first classes were not held until 1963-1964. Since the district’s boundaries at that time were identical to those of the Whittier Union High School District, administration of the district was by the high school district Board of Trustees. Creation of the El Rancho Unified School District in 1962 required that Rio Hondo College establish its own Board of Trustees, and an election for that purpose was held in April 1962.

The new Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Phil Putnam as the founding Superintendent-President in February 1963. In May 1963, the Board chose Rio Hondo as the name for the college. The name, long associated with the area surrounding the Rio Hondo River, means “deep river.”

College classes were offered for the first time in the late afternoons and evenings in September 1963 at Sierra and El Rancho High Schools. Following selection of the present campus site, a $12 million bond issue to build the college was approved by 80.1 percent of the district voters in October 1963. During 1964 and 1965, Rio Hondo College conducted classes for a limited
enrollment at the former Little Lake School in Santa Fe Springs.

The present campus opened in the fall of 1966 with an enrollment of 3,363 day and 2,682 evening students. Measure A, a $245 million bond passed by voters in 2004, now provides new buildings and facilities upgrades campus-wide as well as new off-site educational centers in South Whittier and El Monte. Today, Rio Hondo enrolls approximately 20,000 students per semester.

The Rio Hondo Community College District encompasses a 65.5 square-mile area which includes
the cities of Whittier, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, and portions of Norwalk, La
Mirada, Downey, La Puente and Industry, some unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, and the portion of the City of El Monte, south and east of the Rio Hondo River.

School districts within the college boundaries are the Whittier Union High School District, El Rancho Unified School District, and the El Monte Union High School District.

Students come to Rio Hondo seeking a variety of educational experiences. Rio Hondo’s educational program includes courses for transfer to four-year colleges and universities, general education courses for greater understanding of individual and community life, vocational training in certain areas, and courses for improving academic performance necessary for studying at a higher level.

The Rio Hondo College Foundation was established in 1992. The Foundation assists the college in meeting the needs of its students and community. The Foundation’s focus is to secure financial and community resources to support Rio Hondo College programs and services such as student scholarships, innovative educational projects, teaching and training support, and capital expenditures

  • About Rio Hondo College
    • Institutional Code of Ethics (BP 3050)
    • History of Rio Hondo College
    • Institutional Goals & Objectives
    • Vision, Mission and Values Statement
  • Board of Trustees
    • Agendas and Minutes
    • Public Comment Card
    • Meeting Calendar
    • Board Code of Ethics
    • Board of Trustees Biographies
      • Anais Medina Diaz
      • Kristal Orozco
      • Oscar Valladares
      • Rosaelva Lomeli
      • Vicky Santana
    • Board Goals
    • Board Norms
    • Board Policies and Administrative Procedures
    • Board Protocols
    • CCLC Trustee Handbook
    • District Trustee Areas
    • RHCCD Redistricting Process
    • Contact the Board of Trustees
  • Superintendent/President
    • President's Update / Focus on Rio
    • President's Message
    • Past Presidents
  • Administration & Governance
    • College Officials
    • Governance Manual
    • RHC Organizational Chart
  • Vision, Mission, & Values
  • Administrator's Directory
  • Contact Us
About RHC

Rio Hondo College, serving the communities of El Monte, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, and Whittier for over 50 years.

Navigation
  • Annual Report
  • BoardDocs
  • Campus Map
  • HEERF / CARES Act Grants
  • COVID-19 Information
  • Locations / Centers
  • Parking
Site Search
Social Media
  • Twitter icon
  • Facebook icon
  • Instagram icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • YouTube icon
  • TikTok icon
AccessRio login logo




Contact

Rio Hondo College
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601

Phone: (562) 692-0921
Comments? Questions?
Contact Us

© 2013 - 2023 Rio Hondo Community College   |   Non-Discrimination Statement   |   Accessibility Statement
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Back to top arrow