Riverside City College Promise Program Summer Experience Welcomes 1,423 Students and Delivers Strong Start for Fall Semester
Riverside City College (RCC) proudly welcomed 1,423 incoming Promise Program students this July during the Promise Program Summer Experience, a month-long initiative developed by the Promise Program and Title V Grant teams, to make significant, measurable impact on first-year student success. The program was intentionally designed to foster liberatory outcomes, including strengthening students’ academic self-concept, cultivating racial and leadership identities, and encouraging civic engagement. Through academic preparation, personal development, and social and community building, the Promise Summer Experience powerfully demonstrates RCC’s values in action.
The Promise Summer Experience hosted four-day sessions from July 7th to 31st. Each session brought together the Promise Program team, Title V Grant team, the Welcome Center, engagement center staff, student workers, counselors, educational resource advisors, faculty, and administrators to ensure students began their RCC journey with confidence, connection, and purpose.
A powerful enhancement of the Summer Experience was the Counseling Educational Pathway Presentations, facilitated by eight counselors, seven educational resource advisors, and several department faculty. Over four weeks, the teams delivered 10 presentations each week—40 total sessions—providing essential information on topics like general education, major and transfer requirements, program maps and course selection, and connecting with counselors and educational resource advisors.
Tuesday attendance for these presentations included:
- Week 1 (July 8): 343 students
- Week 2 (July 15): 358 students
- Week 3 (July 22): 376 students
- Week 4 (July 29): 346 students
In addition to presentations, group registration sessions were held each Tuesday to help students secure full-time course loads before the semester began. Each 75-minute session featured 10 counselors and two Welcome Center representatives assisting students with schedule building, course selection and enrollment.
Number of students registered during each session:
- Week 1: 91
- Week 2: 120
- Week 3: 136
- Week 4: 147
Program Highlights
Each four-day session included:
- Day 1 – Welcome and Orientation: Success team introductions, Promise Program overview, and team-building activities
- Day 2 – Engagement and Enrollment Support: Student peer mentor panels, scavenger hunts, counseling and educational pathway overviews, and registration support
- Day 3 – Academic and Resource Exploration: Career workshops, resource fairs, and faculty-led demonstration classes
- Day 4 – Financial Readiness and Commitment: FAFSA/CADAA and financial literacy sessions, campus tours, reflection activities, and parent orientations
A Strong Start for Student Success
By the conclusion of the Summer Experience, students were enrolled in full-time classes and had built connections with peers, mentors, and staff dedicated to supporting them throughout their first year.
“The Promise Program Summer Experience is more than an orientation—it is a launchpad for student success,” said Sharon Walker, Director, Academic Support. “Our students leave with the knowledge, resources and confidence to navigate college, and most importantly, they know they have a dedicated support network standing beside them from day one.”
“Introducing students to their educational and career pathways early is key to helping them make informed choices,” said Courtney Carter, Career Center coordinator/Guided Pathways coordinator and CTE counselor. “By showing them the connection between their courses, career goals and the resources available, we set them up for long-term success inside and outside the classroom.”
The program reflects RCC’s core values: preparedness, belonging, opportunity and commitment, ensuring every Promise student begins their academic career equipped with the tools and support needed to thrive.
Riverside City College’s Promise Program is a holistic, equity-centered initiative that provides tuition-free education and a network of peers, mentors, and staff who will help students successfully navigate higher education.