@PimaNews

November 5, 2008

Contents

• College Updates
  • Upcoming Enhancements to College’s Tax Deferred Annuity (TDA) 403(b) Program
  • Contributions to United Way and Desert Vista Endowment
  • Computer Systems Unavailable November 28
  • Aztec Press Offers Classified Ads
• The Inside Story—PCC Interior Design Program
• Best Practices—PCC Honors Program
• Did You Know?
• Upcoming Events
• Ongoing Events

College Updates

Upcoming Enhancement to College’s Tax Deferred Annuity (TDA) 403(b) Program
In order to meet new Internal Revenue Service regulations affecting employers offering 403(b) supplemental retirement plans, the Pima Community College Board of Governors approved a new 403(b) Plan. The Plan binds three authorized companies, Fidelity Investments, AIG Retirement, and TIAA-CREF, to strict plan administration and compliance standards, appropriate fund management measures and retirement saving education programs.  In order to effectively accomplish the Plan's objectives and meet IRS requirements effective January 1, 2009, salary deferrals will only be directed to these three companies. 

The College is scheduling informative 403(b) presentations of interest to both current and new plan participants.  Please plan to attend one of these meetings and speak with one of the plan representatives.

AIG Retirement – George Maytorena 520-312-2843 george.maytorena@aigretirement.com or Ann Zlamal 800-892-5558 x88306 ann.zlamal@aigretirement.com

Fidelity Investments – Damond Peterson 866-588-2612 Damond.J.Peterson@fmr.com

TIAA-CREF – Leslie Jackson 866-548-3705 x7701 ljackson@tiaa-cref.org

Contributions to United Way and Desert Vista Endowment
Did you know that you can donate to the United Way AND give to the Desert Vista Endowment at the same time? You can direct your United Way donation to the DV Endowment.  Seventy-five percent of your gift will go directly to the DV endowment and 25% to the United Way. It is a great way to give to two worthy organizations at the same time! You must also complete a United Way Pledge Form in hard copy or on line at www.pima.edu/unitedway.  To designate the endowment, write in “PCC Foundation – Desert Vista Endowment” at the bottom of the form.

Computer Systems Unavailable November 28
Due to a required upgrade to College computer systems and electrical maintenance, the District Office Data Center will be shutdown and all online services will be unavailable as follows:

Beginning:       Friday, November 28 at 3:00 am
Until:               Friday, November 28 at 7:00 pm

During this period, the services affected include, but are not limited to:

• I-Net Network (campus to campus network)
• Internet
• MyPima and web site services
• WebCT/Blackboard Vista
• Online registration
• Financial aid status
• Online admissions
• Posting/viewing grades and transcripts
• Online class schedules and course descriptions
• Online fee payments
• Telephone registration and payment

This maintenance is part of ongoing activity to continue improving the stability and reliability of services.  College staff will be working as quickly as possible to perform the needed updates.

Aztec Press Offers Classified Ads
The Aztec Press, the College's student newspaper, is now running classified ads.  Rate information is available.  Contact the Aztec Press at 206-6901 for more information.

The Inside Story—PCC Interior Design Program
Pima Community College’s interior design students have been given an opportunity to apply their designing skills in a real world setting.

PCC’s Interior Design program is partnering with The Executive Inn, located at 333 W. Drachman, on a design project. The Executive Inn is planning on renovations in the near future and is giving the students an opportunity to take the designs through a conceptual stage.  It is possible that the students will work with design professionals to implement the reconstruction.

The partnership program was initiated due to PCC’s involvement with the Oracle Area Revitalization Project and the Ward III Office. “This is a great project for the students and the hotel,” says Jason Brown, Executive Assistant to the Campus President. “It’s a real win-win situation.”

Best Practices—PCC Honors Program
Pima Community College’s Honors Program is open to students in all programs, from academic to technical and occupational fields.  Students are admitted to the Honors Program upon completion of the Honors Colloquium (HON 101) course with a C or better.  To enroll in HON 101, students must score 90 or above on both the reading and writing College assessment test or have completed at least 12 credits in courses numbered 100 or above with an accumulated GPA of 3.5 or better.

The Honors Program provides a more in-depth study of topics and offers leadership and community service opportunities.  Honors Program students may make special arrangements to complete Honors-level work or independent study in a variety of courses.   

An Honors Program Certificate of Completion is awarded upon completion of 15 Honors credit hours, including the Honors Colloquium course, and an overall GPA of 3.5.

Did You Know?
During 2007-2008, the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona made it possible for:

• 40,744 families to received age-appropriate books when they visited their medical clinic and learned tips for reading to their child.
• 8,617 youth participated in after-school programs
• 14,606 families received supportive benefits that contribute towards family financial stability
• 5,407 low-income working families used no-fee tax preparation services
• 32,425 seniors received assistance and support to enable them to lead active and independent lives
• 5,130 unpaid, informal caregivers of the elderly received education and assistance to enable them to balance work, family and caregiver responsibilities

United Way appreciates your generous contributions.

Upcoming Events

• November 6: PTK sponsored lecture, “The Geography of Bliss” by Eric Weiner, Northwest Campus, Room A-207, 6:30 pm
• November 7: Green Valley Community Learning Center ACES Oktoberfest Barbecue
• November 7: Professional development opportunity at the Desert Vista Campus, Ocotillo Room, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.  Staff members who attended the 23^rd Annual Hispanic Women’s Conference will conduct round table discussions on: Coping with Institutional Changes, Community Activism, Balancing Family and Work, First Generation Success, Learning about PCC Resources for Educational Goals.  RSVP to Susan Rivera at 206-5086.
• November 8: Northwest Fest: Celebrating 5 Years of Success, featuring Olympians Kerri Strug and Lacey Nymeyer, Northwest Campus, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
• November 10: Web Registration for continuing students for Spring 2009 begins
• November 11: Veterans Day Holiday
• November 12: Lecture Under the Stars features 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the East Campus Observatory Ramada.  The presentation “Rock Stars and the L & T Dwarfs,” is by Father Christopher J. Corbally, S.J., Vice Director of the Vatican Observatory Research Group in Tucson and Director of the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, Mt. Graham International Observatory. 
• November 12: “Write a Will (or Trust) Part II,” offered by the PCC Foundation and the YMCA Foundation of Tucson, Downtown Campus Amethyst Room, 3:00 to 5:00 pm.  Call the PCC Foundation office at 206-4646 for more information.
• November 13: DMAFB Education Center ACES Oktoberfest Barbecue
• November 14: ACES Annual Breakfast Meeting, The Manning House (450 W. Paseo Redondo), 7:30 to 10:30 am.  RSVP to Linda Cordier by November 5.
• November 17: Spring 2009 in person registration for all students begins
• November 21-22: PCC Performing Arts Department presents opera scenes from Englebert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel.”  West Campus Proscenium Theatre, Friday and Saturday at 2:00pm and 7:00pm.  Call Center for Arts at 206-6986 for more information.
• November 27-28: Thanksgiving Holiday
• December 1: Spring 2009 in person registration for new students begins
• December 4: PTK sponsored lecture, “Archaeological Evidence for the Origins of Affluence,” presented by Dr. Michael Galaty, Northwest Campus, A207, 6:30 pm
• December 7: Fundraising opportunity for Desert Vista Endowment by participating in the Tucson Marathon.  Contact Brian Miller at 206-5076 if you are interested in running a full or half marathon or the marathon relay.

Ongoing Events

• November 5-December 5: PCC Louis Bernal Gallery presents paintings by nationally recognized artist, Jim Waid.  Mr.Waid will give a public lecture on November 20 at 7:00 pm at the Recital Hall.  Contact Center for the Arts Gallery at 206-6942 for gallery hours and more information.
• November 5-16: PCC Theatre Arts presents Steve Martin’s “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” directed by Mickey Nugent.  Contact the Center for the Arts at 206-6986 for more information.
• November 21-22: PCC Opera, West Campus Proscenium Theatre, 7:00 pm on November 21 and 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm on November 22.  Call Center for the Arts at 206-6986 for more information.

@PimaNews is an electronic newsletter for employees of Pima Community College.  It is published by the Pima Community College Public Information Office.  @PimaNews is published weekly during the semester and bi-weekly during the summer.  Back issues are available at www.pima.edu/pimanews/index.shtml.  Please send announcements and news items to pimanews@pima.edu.