@PimaNews

October 22, 2009

Contents

• College Updates
  • Computer Systems Unavailable
  • Student Services Centers Open House, Nov. 2
  • Basic Computer Skills Workshops
  • Reminder: Exempt Step Progression Plans
• Accreditation Update
• Inside Story: Women’s Soccer
• Pima People
• Upcoming Events

College Updates

Computer Systems Unavailable  
    Beginning: Friday, October 30 at 10 p.m.
    Until:  Saturday, October 31 at 6 a.m.

Due to a required systems upgrade the following services will be unavailable during the above times:

• Banner
• Banner Web (or Self Service)
• MyPima
• Blackboard Vista
• MyDegreePlan
• Web Content Management System
• Schedule of Classes
• Workflow
• Pima Reports

We regret the inconvenience.  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.

Student Services Centers Open House, Nov. 2
The PCC community is invited to the dedication of the new Student Services Centers. Open House events will be held simultaneously at the six campuses on Nov. 2, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served and tours will be offered. The dedication of the centers represents the culmination of the redesign of Student Services as laid out in PCC’s 2008-2011 College Plan.

At the new Centers, students will be able to access:

• Admissions/Registration
• Financial Aid
• Counseling/Advising
• Testing/Assessments

The new Student Services Centers are dedicated to serving and empowering students. The centralized Student Services Center model delivers services in a holistic, efficient and seamless manner, allowing students to take full advantage of the support available to them. Students learn self-efficacy as Pima Community College staff teaches them to navigate the College support system for themselves.

Basic Computer Skills Workshops for Students
PCC is offering free workshops for students who want to improve their basic computer skills. Faculty and staff are encouraged to refer students who would benefit from the workshops. Students should RSVP, although walk-ins will be accommodated if space is available.

The workshop schedule and registration information can be found here.

Reminder: Exempt Step Progression Plans
The deadline for Classified Exempt Staff to submit the initial step progression plan is October 31, 2009.  Please refer to the Exempt Personnel Policy Statement, Appendix E for more details. The plan and form are at: Step Progression Plans. You may bank one approved step plan per policy.

Accreditation Update

The Writing and Editing Team received feedback on the preliminary draft of the Accreditation Self-Study from the Self-Study Steering Committee and Subcommittees.  A new draft is being prepared for further review.

Additionally, the planning and set up of the Evidence Rooms across the College has begun. The Evidence Rooms will house information that supports the Self-Study at each Campus and the District Office.

Inside Story: Women’s Soccer

The women’s and men’s soccer teams are likely to go far in the playoffs this year, with both teams ranked nationally (women, No. 9; men, No. 15).

The women’s team, under head coach Kendra Veliz, is 15-1 in the ACCAC. Veliz says the key factors behind the team’s success this year are the players’ resiliency and work ethic.

The men’s team, under head coach David Cosgrove, is 14-3-1 in the ACCAC. He says he is pleasantly surprised at the character his young team has shown.

“I put it mostly on our kids this year,” he says. “They’ve trained very hard and been disciplined.”

Either or both the men’s and women’s teams could host part of the NJCAA Region I playoffs, the week of Oct. 26.

The Aztecs close out the regular season on the road this week. The NJCAA National Championships for both teams are Nov. 19-22. 

Pima People

• Todd Holthaus, Women’s Basketball Coach, was recently selected by the Arizona Daily Star as a 40 Under 40 honoree.
• Dr. Mark Nelson, Chair of Performing Arts at the West Campus, had an article “A Music Sequencing Class Option” published by the Arizona Music News Fall 2009 issue (Vol. 54, Number 1).
• Grace English, Media Specialist in Media Production & Publications at the District Office is a featured artist in the 2010 SAWG (Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild) Calendar. Proceeds from the calendar sales are used to enhance scholarship opportunities for aspiring young artists. You may contact Grace for more information and purchases.

Upcoming Events

• Oct. 22: PCC Chorale and College Singers in concert, 7:30 p.m., West Campus, CFA Proscenium Theatre. For information and tickets, call 206-6986
• Oct. 22: PCC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society hosts panel discussion on the region’s agrarian past and current community garden efforts, Desert Vista Campus, Octotillo Room, 6:30 p.m.
• Oct. 23: “Galileo Galilei’s Astronomical Telescope: A Special Lecture Under the Stars Program,” East Campus observatory, 6:30 - 10 p.m.
• Oct. 26-Dec. 4: Waking Dreams: Prints, Paintings, Photography - recent works by Laurie Blakeslee, Christina McNearney and Melanie Yazzi, Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery, West Campus. Gallery Talk, Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m. and Reception, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. For information call 206-6942
• Oct. 27: Yamaha Performing Artist Jason Ham, CFA Recital Hall, West Campus, at 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 28: Reading and book-signing by Laila Halaby, author of Once in a Promised Land, NW Campus A207, 1 - 2 p.m.
• Oct. 29: Tucson Visiting Artist Consortium lecture by Melanie Yazzie, CFA Recital Hall, West Campus at 7 p.m.
• Oct. 29 - Nov. 9: Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild Calendar Show Retrospective, UA Bookstore, including work from PCC staff Grace English
• Oct. 31: 12th Annual Safe Halloween, East Campus, noon - 4 p.m.
• Nov. 4-15: PCC Theatre Arts presents See How They Run, West Campus Black Box Theatre. For information and tickets, call 206-6986
• Nov. 20: Senior Anti-Crime Workshop, Desert Vista Campus Rooms C-106, C-107, C-108, 8 a.m. - noon. Register here
• Nov. 20-21: PCC Performing Arts department presents Opera and Musical Theatre Scenes, CFA Proscenium Theatre, West Campus, Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. For information call 206-6986 or visit www.pima.edu/cfa

@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 www.pima.edu/pimanews. Please send announcements and news items to pimanews@pima.edu by Monday at noon.