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@PimaNews

March 14, 2013

Contents

  • College Updates
    • Gabriel Ayala Lecture and Performance at Downtown Campus, March 26
    • Budget Presentations
    • PCC Speakers’ Series Featuring Dr. Jerry Gill, April 2
    • Call for Volunteers ─  Graduation Ceremony 2013
    • Upcoming Title V Workshops for Faculty and Staff
    • Pima for Kids
    • Creative Writing Weekend with Steve Kowit, April 5-7
    • Join the PCC Team to Race for the Cure
    • Truck Driver Training Program Open House, March 22
    • Great Colleges Study
    • Save for Tomorrow ─ Start Today
    • Volunteer to Serve on a Standing Committee, March 22 Deadline
    • Alberding Amble, April 27, Raises Money for Math Award
    • College-wide Spring Door Decorating Contest
    • Athletics Schedule
  • Benefits: Save-the-Date:  Benefits Open Enrollment
  • Pima People
  • Upcoming Events
  • Ongoing Events

College Updates

Gabriel Ayala Lecture and Performance at Downtown Campus, March 26
Internationally acclaimed guitarist Gabriel Ayala will perform and lecture at the Downtown Campus on March 26.

Ayala will perform his original works and talk about “JazzMenco,” his unique fusion of jazz, flamenco, classical guitar and Yoeme musical styles.

Ayala, a Tucson resident and member of the Yaqui people, recently played at the Presidential Inaugural Ball and at the Vatican. He has won numerous awards, including the Native American Music Awards 2011 “Artist of the Year.” Ayala will perform a mix of standard and original music from his large repertoire and will talk about his background and how he has blended many cultural influences.

The event is 10 a.m.-noon in the Campus Center, Amethyst Room.

Budget Presentations
Interim Chancellor Dr. Suzanne Miles and Executive Vice Chancellor Dr. David Bea are hosting a series of budget presentations for employees. The times and dates are as follows:

  •   8:30 a.m. March 21, Maintenance & Security, MS-105
  •   3:30 p.m. March 21, West Campus, Saguaro Room, JG05
  •   3:30 p.m. March 25, Northwest Campus, A207
  •   1:30 p.m. March 26, Community Campus, A109/112
  •   3:30 p.m. March 26, Desert Vista Campus, Ocotillo Room
  •   3:15 p.m. March 27, East Campus, Community Room
  •   3:00 p.m. March 28, Downtown Campus, Amethyst Room
  • 10:00 a.m. March 29, District Office, Community Board Room

PCC Speakers’ Series Featuring Dr. Jerry Gill, April 2
Enjoy a thought-provoking presentation by Dr. Jerry Gill, Humanities faculty, at the last Speakers’ Series scheduled this spring semester. Dr. Gill’s presentation, “Knowing is as Knowing Does,” will examine the basic insights of Michael Polanyi, a Hungarian-British philosopher, on the notion of “tacit knowing.”

Gill has taught at several small colleges around the country over the past 40 years and has been with Pima for more than 10 years, teaching Philosophy, Religious Studies and Humanities.  He received his Ph.D. from Duke University and has published several journal articles and books.

The lecture is set for 6 p.m., April 2, at the PCC District Office, Community Board Room (Building C), 4905 E. Broadway Blvd.

Call for Volunteers ─ Graduation Ceremony 2013
The Graduation Committee needs volunteers to assist students and guests at the 2013 Graduation Ceremony to be held May 16 at the Tucson Convention Center Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. If interested in volunteering, or if you have any questions, please contact Craig Winters.

Upcoming Title V Workshops for Faculty and Staff
Upcoming Title V Workshops , to be held in LB 153 at the Downtown Campus, include:

  • March 22, 9-10:30 a.m.:  “Exploring a MOOC,” a presentation on what MOOCs are and why they are the buzz in higher education today. Includes a tour of “E-learning and Digital Cultures” and a live Google Hangout with other participants from the course.
  • March 29, 10 a.m.-noon: “iPads in the Classroom,” a presentation demonstrating assignments you can use in the classroom with Downtown Campus’ iPad Learning Labs. Includes how to use “Reflector” software to wirelessly connect teacher and student iPads to LCD projectors and HDTVs in 10 Downtown Campus classrooms (or any computer with Reflector software).

Pima for Kids
Pima for Kids will be attending the Summer Camp Festival at Golf n’ Stuff, 6503 E. Tanque Verde, on March 16, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.  Admission is free. Attend with your children and learn about Summer Camps for every budget and interest. Free golf for the first 50 children, drawings for camp gear, demonstrations of magic, live animals and pony rides.  Pima for Kids has redesigned camps and added new topics, materials and teachers.

Creative Writing Weekend with Steve Kowit, April 5-7
Poet Steve Kowit will lead a Creative Writing Weekend Workshop April 5-7 at the Downtown Campus.

This workshop will offer focused, intensive exploration of poetry writing with a variety of activities and lots of hands-on practice. Steve Kowit is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and two Pushcart Prizes. He has been conducting poetry writing workshops for many years.  Current students can enroll through MyPima, and non-students can fill out an online admission form at pima.edu and then enroll in the course.

For more information, contact Josie Milliken, Ph.D., 206-7156, or Brooke Anderson, 206-7350.

Join the PCC Team to Race for the Cure
Join the PCC team to support the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on March 17 at The University of Arizona campus. Proceeds from the event fund local breast cancer programs for education, screening, treatment and national research. To register for the race or for more information, visit the PCC team page.

Campus and district office liaisons are available to answer questions:

  • CC - Aleksandra Knezevic, ext. 4834
  • DO/M&S - Aleksandra Knezevic, ext. 4834
  • DT - Barbara Hartline, ext. 7045
  • DV - Kathleen Marks, ext. 5112
  • EC - Debra Gamble, ext. 7852
  • NW - Mindy Royer, ext. 2127
  • WC - Diane Miller, ext. 6072

Truck Driver Training Program Open House, March 22
Do you know anyone interested in beginning a career in transportation?  Invite them to attend PCC’s Truck Driver Training Program Open House on March 22.

The Open House is geared toward those interested in learning about a career in an industry full of possibilities. The Open House will include a tour of the facility and information on the Truck Driver Training Program, admission requirements and financial assistance options. Visitors also will get a chance to meet our experienced instructors and national and regional trucking couriers. The event is noon -4 p.m., March 22 at the Truck Driving Training Site, 6680 S. Country Club Road. Call 206-2744 to RSVP.

Great Colleges Study
The College is participating in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2013 Great Colleges to Work for Program, a study to recognize higher education institutions with great workplaces.

Invitations to participate will be emailed March 18 to a random sample of the College’s full-time employees and adjunct faculty. 

Results measure strength of organizational competencies that influence an institution’s culture. Responses are sent confidentially to a research firm. The College will not receive information traceable to any individual.

If invited, please complete the survey.  Results are factored into the overall score that determine institutions recognized. Pima should know whether the College is one of those recognized by fall. 

Participation is encouraged; a high response rate ensures accurate results and demonstrates employee commitment.  Thank you for participating.

Save for Tomorrow ─ Start Today
Attend an online webinar hosted by TIAA-CREF at 10 a.m. March 20.

This seminar:

  • Emphasizes the importance of maximizing retirement plan contributions
  • Explores how a sound understanding of asset allocation principles can play a significant role in the management of your individual financial objectives
  • Highlights the advantages of working with TIAA-CREF
  • Offers five principles to help you save for retirement

Register for the seminar here. For webinar audio, call 1-800-851-3758.

TIAA-CREF is one of the College’s supplemental retirement savings plan (403b and 457b) vendors and administrator for the Optional Retirement Plan.

In addition, a representative from TIAA-CREF will be at the Downtown Campus on March 26 and the East Campus on April 10 for one-on-one meetings. Please call 1-800-732-8353 to schedule a session. For questions, call the Employee Service Center, 206-4945. 

Volunteer to Serve on a Standing Committee, March 22 Deadline
All PCC employees – staff, faculty and administrators – interested in serving on a standing committee for the 2013-2014 academic year need to complete the Standing Committee Interest Form to be considered. The deadline is March 22. Volunteers will be notified by email by May 10 regarding new committee assignments.

Please note that this process is the recognized vehicle for employees to indicate their interest and willingness to serve on a standing committee next year. Individuals serving on a standing committee whose terms do not expire until spring 2014 do not need to reapply.

Alberding Amble, April 27, Raises Money for Math Award
Be part of this year’s Alberding Amble 5K and 1-mile Fun Run/Walk on April 27 and help raise money for the Art Alberding Math Scholar Award, presented annually to qualifying Pima Community College students.

The event is at Lincoln Park, 4325 S. Pantano Road, and this year includes the Atterbury Wash Greenway on the routes. The early registration deadline is April 19, but late registration is available on the day of the event. The 5K starts at 8 a.m., the fun run/walk at 9 a.m. Medals will be awarded for the top three men and top three women in each 10-year age bracket.

To register, visit the Pima Community College Foundation web page.

College-wide Spring Door Decorating Contest
Celebrate the arrival of spring by decorating your door! Doors must be decorated by 8 a.m., April 1, and judging will take place on May 10. Categories include:  Most Creative & Inventive, Most Humorous, Most Beautiful and Captures overall theme.

Athletics Schedule
A summary of upcoming sporting events is here. To see schedules for all Aztecs teams, visit the Athletics Calendar or a team’s home page, through its link at www.pima.edu/athletics.

Benefits

Save-the-Date:  Benefits Open Enrollment
The benefits open enrollment period for the 2013-2014 plan year is April 15-April 26. Wellness activities and information fairs will be held as follows:

April 16

  • Maintenance & Security, Room MS105, 8-10:30 a.m.
  • District Office, Community Room, 1:30-4 p.m.

April 17

  • East Campus, Room L101, 9-11:30 a.m.
  • Desert Vista Campus, Ocotillo Room, 1:30-4 p.m.

April 18

  • Community Campus, Room A109-A112, 9-11:30 a.m.
  • Downtown Campus, Atrium, 1:30-4.m.

April 19

  • West Campus, Santa Rita Building Room A138, 9-11:30 a.m.
  • Northwest Campus. Room A207, 1:30 4 p.m.

Chef Barry Infuso will be discussing “Eating for the Health of It” during the Open Enrollment fairs at Maintenance & Security, District Office, East Campus, West Campus and Northwest Campus. Stop by for a taste and learn more about how to maintain a healthy table.  For more information, call the Employee Service Center, 206-4945.

Pima People

  • Seventeen AmeriCorps Members from PCC’s Adult and Family Literacy Program are participating in the seventh annual AmeriCorps Week, a series of events highlighting service to our community.

Upcoming Events*

  • March 22:  PCC Truck Driver Training Program Open House, Truck Driver Training Center, 6680 S. Country Club Rd., free, noon-4 p.m., 206-2744 to RSVP
  • April 2: Speakers’ Series featuring Dr. Jerry Gill, Community Board Room, District Office, free, 6 p.m.
  • April 20:  11th Annual Tucson Japanese Speech Contest, Community Room J-G05, West Campus, free, noon-5 p.m.
  • April 27: Alberding Amble, 5K and 1-mile fun run/walk, Lincoln Park, 4325 S. Pantano Road,  registration on or before April 19 is $15 and $7, respectively; thereafter $20 and $10, respectively, 5K at 8 a.m. and fun run/walk at 9 a.m.

Ongoing Events*

*For more information on CFA performances, visit the Center for the Arts website or email CFA.

@PimaNews is an electronic newsletter for employees of Pima Community College. It is published by Pima Community College Public Information. @PimaNews is published weekly during the semester and every other week during the summer. Back issues are available on the College website. Please send announcements and news items to pimanews@pima.edu by Monday at noon.