@PimaNews

August 13, 2009

Contents

• College Updates
  • Board of Governors Meeting Update
  • In Memoriam: Tony Ashbacher
  • All College Day is Aug. 21
  • Training: Library Databases
• Benefits
• Accreditation Update
• College Plan: Technology Training
• Best Practices: New Online College Catalog
• Upcoming Events

College Updates

Board of Governor Meeting Update
At the August 12 Board of Governor meeting, the Board approved short-term training programs for dislocated workers and adults transitioning into new careers. The programs offer Certificates for Direct Employment and meet Workforce Investment Act criteria. The certificates to be offered are:

• Welding
• Production Machinist
• Entry-Level Photovoltaic Installer
• Advanced Photovoltaic Installer
• HVAC Retrofit

The programs develop and enhance effective educational and business partnerships that increase learning opportunities for students. No additional requests for funding are associated with the programs.

Additionally, the Board approved a change in the exempt, non-exempt and administrative work week from 37.5 to 40 hours a week. Beginning the week of September 12, 2009, the College’s new core business hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The change in official college operating hours better aligns College costs with projected revenues. The 6.7 percent increase in the work week will allow the College to eliminate 7 percent of vacant positions. In partial recognition of the increase in work hours, the Board is adjusting base salary scales of non-exempt, exempt and administrative staff by 4.0 percent.

In Memoriam: Tony Ashbacher
We are very saddened to announce the passing of Tony Ashbacher.  Tony was a long time employee of Pima Community College, serving for many years as the Master Scheduler at East Campus. 

He will be remembered for the generosity of his spirit, for his compassion toward others, and for the courage, strength, and grace he showed even when faced with pain and adversity.  He was a friend and a colleague who was admired and respected. 

All College Day is Aug. 21
Friday is the deadline for registering for All College Day 2009. You can register online here.

The annual event is Friday, Aug. 21, in the West Campus Gymnasium. This year’s theme is “Overcoming Challenges.” Review this year’s agenda at www.pima.edu/allcollegeday.

Training: Library Databases
In preparation for the upcoming academic year, the use of the College Library databases for research and video collections will be demonstrated with two ED workshops.  To register, log into MyPima, click the @work tab and log into ED.

1. How to use Films on Demand and American History in Video in Instruction
Films on Demand and American History in Video are streaming video collections (databases) accessible through PCC libraries.  This workshop demonstrates how these services can be used in the traditional and virtual classroom environment; how to search for videos by keyword, subject, correlation, and textbook and integrate video and video segments into lectures and presentations.

2. Overview of PCC Library databases 
This workshop is a hands-on introduction to the use of these databases in the traditional and virtual classroom.   The organization of databases on the PCC library website and within MyPima; common attributes, timesaving features, accessing and retrieving content, and creating instructional materials are introduced and explored. 

Benefits

CIGNA’s annual Dependent Verification process began on Aug. 1. CIGNA is sending letters to members with dependent children currently reflected as full-time students between ages 19 and 25. CIGNA is asking for a copy of the current semester official class schedule, clearly indicating the following elements:

• 12 total credit hours (9 for graduate students)
• School name
• Student name
• Semester

Or a signed statement from the Registrar or Dean of Students verifying full-time student status and clearly indicating the above four elements.

Accreditation Update

Reaccreditation activities continue to develop.  Phase 3 of the professional development workshops are in the planning stage and will cover information on the HLC team visit (September 2010); more information on scheduling will be announced soon.  Workshop homework will include reading the preliminary draft of the Self Study Report. 

Members of the Technology and Design Subcommittee will be visiting the campuses before the end of July 2010 to survey campus Evidence Rooms. 

The College webpage for Reaccreditation Activities will continue to expand.  A link to the page is located on the right hand side of the Pima College homepage, just below the MyPima login link.

College Plan: Technology Training

As part of the 2008-2011 College Plan, the College is striving to improve technology training for staff and faculty (strategy 6.1).  Multiple workshops have been held at the College’s six campuses to promote and model creative use of classroom technology -- training employees on Blackboard/Vista, Wimba, MyPima, Smartboard, TurnItIn.Com and HTML.

The Board of Governors heard a status report on the 2008-2011 College Plan during last night’s meeting. The report covered 13 strategies and the activities completed in support of them. The status report will be posted on the College website.

Best Practices: New Online College Catalog

Pima has gone green with its new online College Catalog, saving trees and money. The catalog is accessible to students and employees through on- and off-campus computers, putting course and degree information at your fingertips anytime and anywhere.

The 2009-2010 Catalog can be found at www.pima.edu/catalog. You can view, search or download the complete College Catalog.  Or use the Bookmarks feature to quickly find the sections that you need.

The Programs and Courses sections of earlier catalogs are available online in MyPima.

Upcoming Events

• Aug. 15: Los Descedientes del Presidio host Tucson Birthday Celebration Gala at 6 p.m., Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park. The event will honor Henry “Hank” Oyama and benefit the Pima Community College Foundation. For more information, visit www.tucsonsbirthday.org
• Aug. 20: Faculty Accountability begins
• Aug. 21: All College Day
• Aug. 26: Fall Semester begins
• Aug. 28: Applying to Eller College of Management Workshop, 1 p.m. at the Downtown Campus
• Sept. 2: Provost Let’s Chat, Desert Vista Campus Cafeteria from noon to 1 p.m.
• Sept. 7: Labor Day Holiday (College closed)
• Sept. 16: Provost Let’s Chat, Community Campus Cafe from noon to 1 p.m.
• Sept. 16: United Way Day of Caring
• Sept. 23: Provost Let’s Chat, East Campus Cafeteria from noon to 1 p.m.
• Sept. 23-Oct. 4: PCC Theatre Arts presents Ramona Quimby, West Campus Proscenium Theatre. For information and tickets, call 206-6986
• Nov. 4-15: PCC Theatre Arts presents See How They Run, West Campus Black Box Theatre. For information and tickets, call 206-6986

@PimaNews is an electronic newsletter for employees of Pima Community College.  It is published by the Pima Community College Marketing and Public Information Office.  @PimaNews is published weekly during the semester and every other week during the summer.  Back issues are available at pima.edu/pimanews. Please send announcements and news items to pimanews@pima.edu by Monday at noon.