Richland Community College

Bistro Five Thirty Seven reopens tomorrow (June 9) with their summer menu! Check it out!

Join us in congratulating & wishing farewell to Dr. Isaac Zúñiga as he moves to Chicago to become the next President of Richard J Daley College!

Over the past eight years, Dr. Zúñiga has been a champion for our students and a pillar in our community. In his position as Executive Vice President of Academics and Student Success, he has been focused on safeguarding the academic excellence of our institution while increasing student enrollment and retention. He is the past president of the Illinois Community College Diversity Commission, and he serves on the board of El Concilio, the National Community College Hispanic Council.

His work has led to him being accepted into the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) for the 2024-25 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship. Dr. Z also was a 2025 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Rising Star Executive finalist, and he won the 2024 Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) Lifetime Achievement Award.

In the community, Dr. Zúñiga is the co-founder of CHICO (Centro for Hispanic and Immigrant Opportunities), a nonprofit in Decatur supporting Latino and immigrant families. He also has been Board Chair of the Boys & Girls Club of Decatur and an elected school board member of the Maroa-Forsyth School District #2.

Aside from these achievements, our graduates recognize him as the magnetic personality wishing them well from the day they step on campus to commencement day - where he leads everyone in a unifying chant, “Who are we? R-C-C!”

We’re sad to see Dr. Zúñiga leave Richland, but we are proud to watch as he brings his expertise and innovative energy to the City Colleges of Chicago. Congrats, Dr. Z!

Congratulations to Sheree Zalanka, our Vice President of Financial Services, on being one of four $2,000 scholarship recipients chosen by the Illinois Community College Chief Financial Officers to attend the Community College Business Officers (CCBO) Leadership Academy later this year!

The CCBO Leadership Academy is the only education program designed for community college business officers, led by seasoned professionals from across the nation. The program spans one year, beginning and ending with the CCBO Annual Conferences.

Join us in celebrating Sheree! 👏

We are 2 weeks away from the first Richland Farmers Market of the summer season!! 🌞

Mark your calendar for June 17! Richland Student Farms is bringing together a variety of local vendors to the Michael D Andreas Agriculture Building between 3 PM - 7 PM. Produce, plants, baked goods, soaps, seasonings, and so much more will be available for purchase. Can't wait to see you there!

Hey, students - just like these flowers grown by Richland's Horticulture students, you need resources and support to flourish on your educational journey. One of the easiest resources to access is scholarships. And fun fact - you only need to fill out a single application to apply for Fall 2026 scholarships!

The Fall 2026 Scholarship Application is live now, and the Early Consideration Deadline is Monday, June 15. Fill out your application before that day to get priority consideration for the scholarships that will fund your schooling.

Get started at richland.edu/scholarships

It's time to hit the books for Summer 2026! Classes start today 📖🍉🌞

Students - this is your last chance to apply for our full-tuition Student Ambassador scholarship! Applications are due by June 1.

Through this program, selected Student Ambassadors will represent the College at events, support recruitment and community outreach efforts, and share the Richland experience with donors, prospective students, and community partners.

Ambassadors will enroll in a 1-credit Student Development course each semester, focused on learning about leadership, networking, career readiness, and communication skills. Each student will also be paired with a Richland alumni or community mentor for guidance and career exploration.

Apply before June 1 by going to richland.edu/student-ambassador-program

Today kicked off our two-day Paraprofessional and Substitute Teacher Training - where 51 participants are training to enter classrooms across the community!

This free event was created by Richland’s Education program and funded through the Grow Your Own Teachers Illinois Initiative. Here, they’re learning trauma-informed practices, classroom management, cultural competency, and so much more. Participants receive a completion stipend and financial assistance for their certification fee. They also get to connect with local organizations that are hiring.

We’re thrilled to watch these participants grow!

This summer, join us for monthly Farmers Markets at the Michael D. Andreas Agriculture Building!

Richland Student Farms is holding markets from 3 PM - 7 PM on the 3rd Wednesday of every month this summer:
- June 17
- July 15
- August 19
- September 16

Come out to Richland's campus to shop produce, baked goods, candles, and much more from local vendors! Save the dates on your calendar!