Rio Hondo Community College District

Vision Statement
Rio Hondo College aspires to be an evolving community-focused institution that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as a means to achieve personal, professional, and educational goals in a caring and rigorous environment.
(Board Approved 5/12/21)

Mission Statement
Río Hondo College is an educational and community partner committed to advancing social justice and equity as an anti-racist institution that collectively invests in all students’ academic and career pathways that lead to attainment of degree, certificate, transfer, and lifelong-learning goals. (Board Approved 7/08/20)

Values Statement
As a teaching/learning community, we come together and strive to meet the needs, aspirations, and goals of our changing student population and communities. Since what we value forms the core of who and what we are, the college community–trustees, faculty and staff–recognizes the importance of openly and candidly expressing the college’s values. Rio Hondo College values the following (Board Approved 05/12/21):

1. 1. 1. 1. Quality Teaching and Learning: a dynamic, student-centered learning environment that embraces equity-minded principles,
         2. Student Access and Success: a welcoming and inclusive environment that provides our community with the knowledge, wisdom, and skills that facilitate upward social and economic mobility,
         3. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: a commitment to advancing educational justice, equity, and opportunity,
         4. Integrity and Fiscal Responsibility:  a College engaged in ethical practices and responsible use of resources for the optimum benefit of its students, community, and staff.

Code of Ethics

Ethical persons are those who abide by principles and exemplify virtues as understood within a given moral framework. Many believe that virtue is intrinsically rewarding. At the very least, that one be perceived as ethical is instrumental in establishing credibility and trust. The employees of Rio Hondo Community College District are committed to providing a high quality learning environment to help our students successfully achieve their educational goals and objectives. Accordingly, they have interests in, and commitment to, ethical behavior.

To support this commitment, college employees adhere to standards of ethical and professional behavior related to their duties, and have responsibilities to the institution and to individuals they serve. Although one can not “legislate morality” in the sense of mandating virtuous intentions, we can, and do, establish general expectations of conduct.

There are many sources of inspiration and guidance. All employees of Rio Hondo College are subject to official College policies and procedures, applicable regulatory agency requirements, local, state, and federal laws, and professional standards (when applicable). This includes policies such as the Rio Hondo College Policy on Sexual Harassment (BP 3430), its Policy on Nondiscrimination (BP 3410), and its Policy on Academic Freedom (BP 4030).

In addition, the Board of Trustees is subject to its own Code of Ethics (BP 2715), and most of our employees are members of professional organizations with their own established codes of ethics, such as the CTA, CSEA, and ACCCA. Employees are encouraged to consult their own organizations, when applicable, for further guidance. As constituents of Rio Hondo College, students are likewise encouraged to maintain high Standards of Conduct (BP 5500).

As a further demonstration of commitment to high ethical standards, employees of Rio Hondo College aspire to be guided by the following values statements. They are intended as guidelines and aspirations, to be used for educational rather than enforcement purposes, with our own conscience as the first and most salient means of evaluation.

1. • This College values open communication, honesty, and truthfulness, and aspires to an “open door” philosophy.
   • This Colleges values open inquiry, and honors academic freedom.
   • This College strives to protect human dignity and individual freedom.
   • This College values clear roles and responsibilities, teamwork, and cooperation (as outlined in AB1725), and therefore aspires to develop a climate of trust and mutual support.
   • This College is committed to providing excellent educational opportunities to the community, and the instructional faculty seeks to evaluate students by honest appraisal of student performance against faculty standards.