The Associated Student Body of American River College discussed and gave feedback on ways to resolve issues with HomeBase during its Feb. 11 meeting.

The board also was joined by two students of the Los Rios community trying to get sponsorship for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges Disability Services and Programs for students’ community resolution. 

Angela Velarde-Burch, the ASB  senate legislative analyst, led a discussion brought from the Student Success Council about HomeBase. The discussion opened with a series of questions hoping to gain feedback to bring back to the other members of the council. 

“I wasn’t placed into one [HomeBase] right away. I ended up having a meeting with my counselor and my academic counselor and I was only placed thereafter,” Velarde-Burch said. “She had to put in a request to do that.”

Velarde-Burch says that the example she gave was in the opposite direction they were heading and their goal is to be a hub for students. 

Dominique Jacqueline, an ASB member, shared her experience with HomeBase and how it affected her. 

“I kind of wasn’t sure what the HomeBase was, I saw it on my canvas in the top corner and I never knew what it was for,” Jacqueline said. “I just get announcements for things that are happening, but I haven’t had the time to use it.” 

Velarde Burch elaborated on the purpose of HomeBase, explaining it is based on your major and it is a way for you to network, gain support, meet with peer mentors and share an experience with others under your same major. 

Next, ASB moved on to the next item under new business. 

Olivia Garcia-Godos Martinez and Ruby Chaves, two students who attend Los Rios community colleges, had the goal to gain sponsorship within their resolution to support students with disabilities. 

Their College Individual Education Plan document advocates for community colleges to create individualized education plans for students. The plan works for both college and high school students that can be rolled over and adjusted to fit the students’ experiences. 

The SSCCC requires people who are creating resolutions to seek sponsorship from the student senate and student government. 

Chaves and Garcia-Godos Martinez explained they only needed one sponsorship, which they received from Sierra College, but would like others and that their due date was Feb. 13. 

Brett Sawyer, ASB advisor, provided guidance to students because the deadline is so short for them to make a decision. 

“Typically I advise boards to have a week to review a resolution and prepare for it. It gives them time to do their own homework and research because I believe this is the first time the board is seeing this,” Sawyer said. 

 The board ultimately agreed to move the resolution to unfinished business so they can take time and do research.