@PimaNews
May 7, 2020
Contents
- A Note to @PimaNews Readers
- College Updates
- COVID-19 Updates Web Pages Cover Coronavirus Impacts on College
- Temporary Employee Policies Posted in Handbook
- College Seeks Feedback on May 6 Virtual Meeting
- Benefits Open Enrollment Ends May 8
- Campus and Faculty Resource Centers Available Weekdays
- Virtual Retirement Planning Appointments
- Creating Wonder Student Art Exhibit Online
- Virtual Release Party May 13 for 2019/20 Cababi
- Honors Graduate Is Keynote for Undergraduate Research Symposium May 8
- RISE UP Women’s Empowerment Conference on Zoom May 8
- College to Celebrate Class of 2020 with Virtual Graduation May 21
- Donate Annual or Sick Leave to Pool
- Employees Encouraged to Complete Online College-Directed Training
- Employee Wellness
- Sign Up for New Employee Wellness Virtual Workshops
- May 29 Is Pima Healthy Rewards Deadline
- Biometric Wellness Screenings Under Way
- Employee Wellness Resources and Program Info
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
COVID-19 Updates Web Pages 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. Chancellor Lee Lambert no longer is sending daily updates. Here’s a synopsis of recent information.
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:
- May 5 Chancellor update: CARES act funds, Travel policy
- April 29 Chancellor update: Arizona extension of stay-at-home and Pima plans
For health-related info visit:
- Pima County: pima.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=527452
- Arizona Department of Health Services: azdhs.gov
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov
Temporary Employee Policies Posted in Handbook
Employees can see COVID-19-related temporary policies in the employee handbook. Go to the heading COVID-19: Information & Temporary Policies.
College Seeks Feedback on May 6 Virtual Meeting
The College thanks employees for joining the first Chancellor’s Virtual All College Meeting on May 6, and would like participant’s feedback.
Employees are asked to complete this survey by May 15, 2020. This input will be used to improve future events.
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 forms and 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 is available on the College Intranet, Employee Service Center page, Open Enrollment.
- 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.
Campus and Faculty Resource Centers Available Weekdays
Campus and Faculty Resource Center staff are available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday to assist faculty with support, resources and referrals. Call 520-206-6055 or email wc-frc@pima.edu and staff will respond as soon as possible.
Staff can help with a variety of College-related topics:
- Instruction and services: including deadlines, resources, attendance, etc.
- Technology basics of D2L Tier 1 support, including uploading documents, locating topic resources, copying course components, gradebook, etc.
- Assistance with Google Meet, Google Drive and related applications
Virtual Retirement Planning Appointments
College employees may schedule virtual appointments with AIG/VALIC Retirement Planner Tony Puccio on May 18 or 19. Ask questions about retirement. Open a supplemental retirement account. Or, discuss your financial future. Go online to schedule your time.
Creating Wonder Student Art Exhibit Online
Pima’s Creating Wonder: Student Art 2020, featuring 75 works celebrating outstanding artwork from the academic year, is an online exhibit this year. This is the annual end-of-year student art showcase.
Virtual Release Party May 13 for 2019/20 Cababi
Cababi Art & Literary Magazine, featuring works by Pima employees, is having its Virtual Release Party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., May 13, celebrating the 2019/2020 issue! The party will feature music, readings by writers published in the issue and artists’ discussions of their photographs and visual art. Virtual attendees also will be able to view the issue in “flippable” form on Cababi’s website. To enter the party, go to meet.google.com/aqj-goou-ieh. Imporant note: Please, turn off your microphone and camera. All Pima employees may submit to Cababi.
Honors Graduate Is Keynote for Undergraduate Research Symposium May 8
Pima Honors graduate, and international award-winning writer, poet and activist Primrose Dzenga is the keynote speaker at Pima’s 11th Annual Arizona Undergraduate Research Symposium, which is online-only this year.
The link to the online proceedings, including recorded video and slide presentations, and papers, goes live at 10 a.m., May 8. The noncompetitive symposium is sponsored by Pima Student Life.
Dzenga, an Arizona State University honors student majoring in Global Studies and Creative Writing, 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.
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 RISE UP Women’s Empowerment Conference from 1 to 4 p.m., May 8 via Zoom. This belated celebration of Women’s History Month for Pima students 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.
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, on Facebook @pimacccd and YouTube pimaccvideos. 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.
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.
Employee Wellness
Sign Up for New Employee Wellness Virtual Workshops
Sign up online for new Employee Wellness virtual workshops:
- Banishing Back Pain: Sign up for this four-part series (9-10 a.m., May 12, 19 and 26) to learn techniques to help elevate back pain. Pima Healthy Rewards participating employees can earn two Pima Wellness Activity points.
- Yoga: Sign up for a free yoga session. All classes are appropriate for all levels.
- Building a Healthy Lunchbox: Learn how to build a healthy, low-cost and nutritious lunch. Pima Healthy Rewards participating employees can earn two Pima Wellness Activity points for viewing the entire workshop.
- Little to No Equipment Necessary: Learn exciting and easy exercise options that require little or no equipment. Pima Healthy Rewards participating employees can earn two Pima Wellness Activity points for viewing the entire workshop.
- Health Coaching: Sign up for a 20-minute one-on-one appointment to get advice on nutrition, fitness, stress and disease management, self-care and financial guidance.
May 29 Is Pima Healthy Rewards Deadline
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. Submit your completed form to pcc-wellness@pima.edu by May 29. Not all wellness-related activities count for points. Employees are responsible for recording and verifying that activities qualify for points.
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.
@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.