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@PimaNews

April 23, 2020

Contents

  • A Note to @PimaNews Readers
  • College Updates
    • Student and Employee Notices Cover Coronavirus Impacts on College
    • Self-report Suspected COVID-19 Exposure, Confirmed Cases
    • College to Celebrate Class of 2020 with Virtual Graduation May 21
    • Chancellor's Virtual All College Meeting May 6
    • Benefits Open Enrollment Ends May 8
    • Donate to Student Success Initiatives
    • Undergraduate Student Research Symposium Proceedings Online May 8
    • RISE UP Women’s Empowerment Conference on Zoom May 8
    • EGTS Annual Summit to be Held Virtually April 28
    • Donate Annual or Sick Leave to Pool
    • Employees Encouraged to Complete Online College-Directed Training
  • Students First
  • Employee Wellness
    • Biometric Wellness Screenings Under Way
    • Employee Wellness Resources and Program Info
    • Sign Up for Employee Wellness Virtual Workshops
    • Pima Healthy Rewards

 

A Note to @PimaNews Readers

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, until further notice, @PimaNews will focus on recent COVID-19-related policy and procedure changes most affecting employees. These will be revised and updated as the situation warrants.

College Updates

Student and Employee Notices Cover Coronavirus Impacts on College
College leadership is committed to communicate with you early and often during this uncertain time. However, sometimes all of that information and details can be overwhelming. Here’s a synopsis of where to find information, in case you missed something.

For the most current information for Pima employees and students, go to pima.edu/covid19, which also has a Student Notices page. Also, regularly check your College email.

The latest information and employee notices at pima.edu/covid19 includes:

  • April 17: Human Resources update
  • April 17: Chancellor update: Technology funding, College budget, and steps toward returning

For health-related info visit:

Self-report Suspected COVID-19 Exposure, Confirmed Cases
Pima employees, guests and contractors, and students must self-report suspected COVID-19 exposure and confirmed cases to Pima’s new online COVID-19 self-reporting portal or

College to Celebrate Class of 2020 with Virtual Graduation May 21
Even though the College has cancelled in-person graduation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show must go on – online.

Virtual graduation 2020 is 7 p.m., May 21 across online platforms. Details are being finalized. The ceremony will feature inspiring pre-recorded messages from Pima Chancellor Lee D. Lambert, administrators, academic deans, instructors and staff. Plus, a student speaker will share a message to classmates.

All graduation candidates are encouraged to share photos and videos of themselves and/or short messages to their classmates. They can post to social media using #pimagrad20 or email pcc-tvstream@pima.edu. These will be part of the online festivities. Keepsake caps and gowns are available for purchase from Pima’s bookstore (herff.ly/pimacc) as well as other Class of 2020 gifts (pimashop.com).

If you have questions about online accessibility or need help with it, as soon as you can before May 21, email ADRhelp@pima.edu.

Chancellor's Virtual All College Meeting May 6
The Chancellor’s Virtual All College Meeting will be 3 to 4:30 p.m., May 6. Details still are being worked out.

During the meeting, he and College leadership will share important information affecting employees and the College. Topics to be discussed include COVID-19 impact on students and employees, planning for return to worksites, strategic planning, College budget and, workforce. The meeting also will offer an opportunity for those attending to ask questions.

Benefits Open Enrollment Ends May 8
Open enrollment for the 2020-2021 benefits plan year is under way and ends at 5 p.m., May 8. You cannot make changes to your benefit plan outside of open enrollment unless you have a qualifying life event.

For this year’s enrollment period, Pima employees who want to keep your current coverage without any changes, you do not need to take action. However, medical waivers, along with proof of other coverage, and enrollment in flexible spending accounts must be resubmitted every year during open enrollment.

More on open enrollment:

  • Online enrollment fillable paper forms information on navigating through your benefits is available on the College Intranet, Employee Service Center page, Open Enrollment.
  • A benefits overview PowerPoint, including details on BlueCross BlueShield Arizona medical plan options, soon will be posted.
  • Schedule a 15-minute appointment with a benefits advisor: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., through May 8. You will be sent a Google hangouts link that includes a number to call.
  • If you have questions, contact the ESC Benefits Team, esc@pima.edu.

Donate to Student Success Initiatives
The Pima Community College Foundation continues to accept online donations for Student Success Initiatives, including the Student Emergency Fund. More than 1,500 students have applied to access emergency funds and more applications are expected.

Undergraduate Student Research Symposium Proceedings Online May 8
Pima’s 11th Annual Arizona Undergraduate Research Symposium will be online-only this year, giving undergraduate students from across Arizona the opportunity to present original research.

International award-winning writer, poet, activist and Pima Honors graduate Primrose Dzenga is this year’s keynote speaker.

The proceedings, including pre-recorded video presentations, poster presentation and papers, will be available online starting May 8. Details to come.

Dzenga, an Arizona State University honors student majoring in Global Studies and Creative Writing, is working to improve the lives of women and their families living in rural, low-income communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. She will discuss her Machikichori Citrus Reforestation Project, a citrus orchard she established in her native Zimbabwe. Her ongoing study of community agriculture and this project are partially funded through the support of a Barrett Global Explorers Grant.

The noncompetitive symposium is sponsored by Pima Student Life.

Student presenters are encouraged to register by April 27 at http://bit.ly/2020AZSymposium

RISE UP Women’s Empowerment Conference on Zoom May 8
Pima’s Student Life, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices, as well as its Center for International Education and Global Engagement are presenting the free, public RISE UP Women’s Empowerment Conference from 1 to 4 p.m., May 8 via Zoom

This belated celebration of Women’s History Month will feature guest speakers and sessions by Pima students, staff and faculty.

Register: http://bit.ly/RISEUPpcc2020; Zoom link and conference materials provided via email after registration.

EGTS Annual Summit to Be Held Virtually April 28
The 5th Annual Ethnic, Gender & Transborder Studies Summit, “Healing Community in Coronatimes: Education, Migration, and Identity,” is virtual this year. It will take place 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (new end time), April 28. The keynote speaker is Bamby Salcedo, transgender and migrant rights scholar and activist, and president of TransLatin@ Coalition. Register to attend at tinyurl.com/2020EGTSVirtualSummit.The flier has more event details. Tell students that the scholarship contest deadline has been extended to April 30.

Follow the instructions below to request (register) staff professional development hours for the event:

For questions or assistance, contact Organizational Effectiveness and Development, opd@pima.edu. To request a reasonable accommodation to participate in training, email to ADRhelp@pima.edu.

Donate Annual or Sick Leave to Pool
Consider helping your colleagues by donating your excess sick or annual leave to the College’s Donated Leave Bank. Donation limits apply. Your donations will help support Pima employees who are out due to an FMLA-qualifying reason. Donations will be anonymous and cannot be returned to the donor. Only the period of medical and parental FMLA that is supported by medical certification is eligible for donated leave. Email completed donation forms to Employee Service Center, ESC@pima.edu, where you also can email questions.

Employees Encouraged to Complete Online College-Directed Training
While in-person services are suspended at the College, employees are encouraged to finish their online College-Directed Training. Those who complete their trainings each month are entered into a drawing for gift cards provided by the Pima Community College Foundation. A winner will be selected each month through June 30. Go to MyCareerCenter on MyPima to check your “(PCC Online) College-Directed Training” transcript to see what courses, if any, you still must take.

Students First

College Transitions to New Scholarships Matching System
The College is transitioning to a new scholarships matching system to make it easier for students to find and apply for scholarships relevant to their life situation.

The first phase of Scholarship Universe is available now to all Pima students with an active MyPima Account. They can access the “external” scholarship matching database, a single source for thousands of vetted external scholarships that uses the student’s academic profile and general application answers to match them to opportunities.

The conversion to Scholarship Universe will be completed by June. The flier has more details.

Employee Wellness

Biometric Wellness Screenings Under Way
Make your appointment with LabCorp to complete your biometric screenings, which are required for eligible employees to earn rewards points. You must print out your voucher and take it with you to your appointment. If you do not have printing capability, contact pcc-wellness@pima.edu for more information. Visit LabCorp’s website to learn about protocols it has put in place to ensure patient safety.

If you do not wish to visit a LabCorp location, you can order an at-home Biometric Screening kit. At-home kits will require you to measure your own waist circumference, height and weight. If you do not have that capability at home, you may use last year’s circumference, height and weight to complete your screening.

Employee Wellness Resources and Program Info
Visit the Employee Wellness Intranet page for free resources and tools. Employees are also encouraged to visit the Employee Wellness website for additional resources, news and information. You also can keep current on the latest wellness news.

Sign Up for Employee Wellness Virtual Workshops
A few dates remain for Employee Wellness virtual workshops. Links to attend workshops will be emailed before each class. Sign up online and use the links below to view each flier (ignore location details).

Pima Healthy Rewards
College employees enrolled in one of Pima’s healthcare plans may receive a $260 or $500 credit toward their 2020-2021 medical premium or a contribution to their Health Savings Account (HSA) by participating in wellness activities. The Rewards Program uses the Pima Healthy Rewards Tracking Sheet. Activities must be completed by May 29. Not all wellness-related activities count for points. Employees are responsible for recording and verifying that activities qualify for points.

 

@PimaNews is an electronic newsletter for employee news of Pima Community College. It is published by the Pima Community College Marketing office. @PimaNews is published Thursdays, except when the College is closed, during the semester and every other week during the summer. Please send announcements and news items – 75 words or fewer ─ to pimanews@pima.edu by noon on Monday. Back issues are available on the @PimaNews Web page. The newsletter also accepts submissions about Pima employee accomplishments.

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