@PimaNews

November 19, 2008

Contents

• College Updates
  • Draft Board Policy for Review
  • Recognizing Drug and Alcohol Abuse Presentation
  • UA Football Special Offer – This Saturday!
  • Reminder—Campus Meetings on PCC’s Enhanced Tax Deferred Annuity (TDA) 403(b) Program
  • Help Reduce Waste at PCC
  • Reminder--Computer Systems Unavailable November and December
• The Inside Story—PCC Student Massage Clinic
• Best Practices—PCC Child Development Centers
• Did You Know?
• Upcoming Events
• Ongoing Events

College Updates

Draft Board Policy for Review
A draft of Board Policy BP-3501: Admissions has been posted to the College website for review and public comment.  It will remain on the web for 21 days.

Recognizing Drug and Alcohol Abuse Presentation
The Drug-free Workplace Act of 1988 requires that the College maintains a drug and alcohol free workplace.  Detecting and preventing drug and alcohol abuse during working hours is important in maintaining a safe work environment. As College leaders (Administrators, Directors and Managers) who may be sought out for answers on this sensitive topic, participation in this presentation is required by policy.  All other employees are welcome to attend. 

The new College policy and SPG-4006/AA provides guidelines on procedures and processes. The presentation offers problem solving and decision making strategies using case studies and includes an overview of drugs and behavioral indications of abuse.  Sessions have been planned throughout the College.  Please register in ED for the date and location most convenient for your schedule. 

UA Football Special Offer – This Saturday!
The University of Arizona is offering significantly discounted tickets for the UA vs. Oregon State University game this Saturday, November 22.  Kickoff is at 5:00 pm in Arizona Stadium.

Declaring Saturday as Pima Community College day, the UA Athletic Department is offering $22 reserved seat tickets to PCC students, staff and faculty.  The seats are in Section 206 reserved for Pima Community College.  See the flyer for details on how to order tickets.

Reminder—Campus Meetings on PCC’s Enhanced 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 next informative 403(b) presentations are Friday, November 21.  Please plan to attend one of the meetings below and speak with one of the vendor representatives.

• 9:30 – 11:30 am  - West Campus, Cholla Room – AG01
• 2:00 – 4:00 pm - East Campus, Student Center Bldg, Community Room

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 Petersen 866-588-2612 Damond.J.Petersen@fmr.com

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

Another informational meeting will be scheduled during the first week of December.  One-on-one meetings with the vendors will be scheduled throughout December.  Please check future editions of @PimaNews for updates.  For additional information, call the Employee Service Center at 206-4945.

Help Reduce Waste at PCC   
Special events create an incredible amount of trash; ending up in the landfill rather than being recycled into new products. In order to reduce waste and increase resource conservation, Pima Community College is expanding its recycling and waste reduction programs.

For each special event that serves beverages in bottles and cans (plastic bottles, glass bottles, aluminum cans) recycling centers can be ordered.  It has been proven that when recycling bins are available, more people choose to recycle.

By recycling at special events we can significantly reduce waste which saves energy and resources while reducing pollution. For recycling services and questions please contact Judi Gard in Facilities at 206-2766.

Reminder--Computer Systems Unavailable November and December
Due to required electrical maintenance, the District Office Data Center will be shutdown and all online services will be unavailable the Friday after Thanksgiving, November 28, from 3:00 am to 7:00 pm.  All computer systems will be affected by this outage.

Due to a required system upgrade, MyPima, student email, and Blackboard/WebCT will be unavailable from Friday December 26 at 8:00 am to Tuesday, December 30, at 10:00 pm.  Other services that will be unavailable are Banner, access to Banner through MyPima, and telephone registration and payment. 

If you work with students, please inform them that services will be unavailable.

The Inside Story—PCC Student Massage Clinic
The PCC Student Massage Clinic provides students pursuing a Certificate or Associate of Applied Science degree in Massage Therapy with the opportunity to practice the skills they learn in the classroom.  The PCC Student Massage Clinic is open for specified times during the fall and spring semesters.

PCC student therapists will provide Swedish Massage for Relaxation through December 19, 2008.  Appointments are available on Friday at 2:20 and 3:30 pm.  The cost of a 50-minute massage session is $10 for PCC employees and $20 for others.  You must pre-pay for your massage at any PCC cashier’s office and bring the receipt to the PCC Student Massage clinic at the Northwest Campus, Building A, Room 212.

Call 206-2062 for an appointment and indicate your first and second choice appointment times. 

Best Practices—PCC Child Development Centers
Pima Community College students, employees and the general public can enroll their toddlers and preschool children in well-equipped child development centers on three campuses: Desert Vista, Downtown and West. Children participate in a well-rounded program that includes activities and snacks.

The centers have provided convenient, high quality childcare since 1999 under a license from the Arizona Department of Health Services.  In addition, the centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

“The Child Development Centers were established so parents can attend college and not have to worry about child care,” Program Coordinator Teddi Schnurr said. “We provide a full curriculum that helps children in science, math, reading, cognitive and physical learning.”

Currently the Child Development Center is holding several family events and a Fall Festival for kids and parents.

Did You Know?
If you missed Pima Community College’s October 23 presentation on “Echoes of the Desert Rails: Railroads in Southern Arizona,” the program will air on November 26 and December 3 at 6:00 pm on Cox Digital Channel 121 and Comcast Channel 97.  The lecture features Bill Kalt, author of Tucson Was a Railroad Town, and Richard Dick, a railroad historian.

This lecture is part of the College’s “Discovering Southern Arizona” series.

Upcoming Events

• 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
• December 22: Winter Intersession begins
• December 24 (noon): Christmas holiday through January 1

Ongoing Events

• November 19-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 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.