@PimaNews

November 13, 2008

Contents

• College Updates
  • Board of Governors Meeting Update
  • New Employee Orientation Schedule November 2008 to February 2009
  • Paid Educational Leave
  • Greeting Card and 2009 Calendar Available
  • Computer Systems Unavailable 11/28
  • December Computer System Downtime Scheduled
• The Inside Story—Aztec Middle College
• Best Practices—Northwest Campus/YMCA Partnership
• Did You Know?
• Upcoming Events
• Ongoing Events

College Updates

Board of Governors Meeting Update
At is November 12, 2008 meeting, the Board of Governors heard presentations by Kristin Boilini and Michael Racy regarding upcoming changes in the Arizona Legislature.  Additionally, the Board approved Dr. Nicola Richmond as the new Executive Director of Planning and Institutional Research and Ted Roush as the Vice President of Instruction at the Desert Vista Campus.

New Employee Orientation Schedule November 2008 to February 2009
The New Employee Orientation schedule from November 2008 to February 2009 is as follows:

• November 17-18
• December – no orientation
• January 20-21
• February 2-3

As soon as the Board of Governors schedule is published for 2009, additional orientation dates will be announced.  Call the Office of Professional Development at 206-4706 for additional information.

Paid Educational Leave
On July 1, 2008, the Board of Governors approved funding for up to one Paid Educational Leave per year from College reserves which may be used for a full-time regular employee to complete a Bachelor, Master or Doctorate degree from an accredited institution or a certification recognized by the industry or a professional organization.  Funding of educational leave shall not exceed twelve (12) months per fiscal year, in the aggregate.

If you are a full-time regular non-exempt employee and would like to be considered for a paid professional development leave for the 2009 spring semester, please submit a letter of interest to Lynne Wakefield, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, mail code 1180, no later than Monday, December 1, 2008.  Individuals who express an interest in this opportunity by this deadline will be sent the educational leave guidelines and the leave application form for completion prior to consideration.

Greeting Card and 2009 Calendar Available
The holiday season is here and Media Production & Publications is now accepting orders for the College holiday card and the 2009 College calendar.  View the Greeting Card and College Calendar.  The pricing is listed below.  Calendars are in limited quantities.

Calendar – Finished size: 17” x 27”

Holiday Card – Finished size: 5” x 7”

Computer Systems Unavailable 11/28
Due to required electrical maintenance, the District Office Data Center will be shutdown and all online services will be unavailable the Friday after Thanksgiving:

Beginning:       Friday, November 28 at 3:00 a.m.
Until:               Friday, November 28 at 7:00 p.m.

All computer systems will be affected by this outage.  More information is available online.

December Computer System Downtime Scheduled
Due to a required system upgrade, MyPima, student email, and Blackboard/WebCT will be unavailable:

Beginning:       Friday, December 26 at 8:00 a.m.
Until:               Tuesday, December 30 at 10:00 p.m.

During this period, the following services will be unavailable:

• MyPima, including MyPima Course homepages and files
• WebCT and Blackboard Vista
• Student email accounts

Banner will be available during this downtime; however, access to Banner services through MyPima will not be possible. Telephone registration and payment remain available.

The Inside Story—Aztec Middle College
Aztec Middle College began in 1996 to provide an opportunity for students to complete high school while dually enrolled at Pima Community College. 

Students are required to earn two and a half credits at Aztec and enroll in one PCC course each semester. “Aztec Middle College allowed me to finish my high school credits and to get a head start on college and my career,” said 2006 graduate, Andrew Weigel. “Aztec was the perfect choice for me to achieve my goals.”

Aztec Middle College offers small class sizes, workshops, computer assisted learning and individualized academic plans.  Aztec Middle College is located at the West East, Northwest and Desert Vista campuses. Participating school districts are Tucson, Amphitheater, Flowing Wells, Marana, and Sunnyside Unified School Districts.

Best Practices—Northwest Campus/YMCA Partnership
The YMCA and PCC’s Northwest Campus have had a long standing relationship when it comes to fitness and wellness.   Due to their close proximity, PCC students take advantage of various athletic facilities at the YMCA for their recreational and sports science classes.

The most common classes utilized at the YMCA are weight lifting, swimming, ballet and ballroom dancing.  The Northwest Campus may start basketball courses in spring 2009.

Did You Know?
The PCC Foundation established a new scholarship in memory of PCC Police Officer Jeff Yoha.  Contributions can be made online at www.pima.edu/foundation to the Officer Jeff Yoha Memorial Scholarship. Recipients shall be PCC students enrolled in the Administration of Justice program.

For more information, contact the PCC Foundation at 206-4646.

Upcoming Events

• November 14: ACES Annual Breakfast Meeting, The Manning House (450 W. Paseo Redondo), 7:30 to 10:30 am. 
• 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.
• December 9: DMAFB ACES Oktoberfest Barbecue

Ongoing Events

• November 13-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 13-16: 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.
• December 1-7: PCC Music presents a Week of Concerts: Jazz Improv Combos, December 1 at 7:30 pm; Jazz Ensemble - December 2 at 7:30 pm; Wind Ensemble - December 4 at 7:30 pm; Orchestra- December 6 at 3:00 pm; Chorale & College Singers – December 7 at 3:00 pm.  For more information contact Center for the Arts at 206-6986.

@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.