News from the Front: Dr. Mary Kay Kickels weekly newletter to PVCC employees
 
Campus News  |  Faculty & Staff News  |  Student News
 
In This Issue … November 2, 2006
Maricopa County Library property learning sessions set for November 15 and 16 …  Student e-mail listserv to launchParking/roadway project underwayUnited Way Online Auction features great holiday gifts ... Pumas take season honors
 
Campus News
 
Maricopa County Library property learning sessions to be held
The College Leadership Council (CLC) will hold All-Employee Learning Sessions on Potential Uses of the Maricopa County Library Property from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, November 15, and from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, November 16 at the County Library. Shuttles from the college to the library will be announced for these dates. As officially announced on March 22, the George L. Campbell Branch of the Maricopa County Library District – located immediately south of PVCC – is available for purchase. The Board of Directors of the Library District has asked PVCC if we would be interested in purchasing the building to expand our campus. We would like to hear your thoughts and creative ideas concerning its potential uses. Please RSVP to Alexis Thielke by Monday, November 13, as a light lunch will be provided.

Fire Department Operations praised for helping community during Week of Service
Paul Sunder, PVCC Fire Science Program Coordinator, participated with 52 instructors, students and volunteers from the Fire Operations Academy at PVCC and Phoenix College in the Smoke Alarm Awareness Walk October 28. The event was held in conjunction with PVCC’s Week of Service and national Make A Difference Day. Teams consisting of a student, a Phoenix Fire Department representative and a Spanish speaker canvassed homes in the Palomino area to educate residents in fire prevention and life safety, and to install smoke detectors in homes. PVCC’s team of volunteers was praised for its service by city of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and Phoenix Fire Chief Bob Kahn.

Dr. Paula Vaughn and Diane Wrightman of Service Learning organized a successful Week of Service for our students. On October 26, 20 local nonprofit organizations were represented at the Community Connections Fair. Students made cards to send to U.S. troops overseas and served meals at St. Vincent de Paul. We are proud of our students’ altruism.

Student e-mail listserv to launch
I am pleased to announce that in early November we will be launching a new way to communicate more efficiently with our students through e-mail. Our new Student E-mail Listserv – PVStudentAnnc – will be used for communication of official college business, services and activities. The Institutional Advancement office will moderate this “announcement-only” listserv; students will have the option to self-subscribe to or to “opt-out” of the list. Watch for more information from the IA Office soon.

The Web Development Committee has approved minor revisions to the PVCC Web site home page – notably the inclusion of current news and event items from our databases. Watch for a launch next week. A special thank you to all who participated in the development of these e-communication improvements for our campus community.

Parking/Roadway improvement project underway
The second phase of a multiple part parking/roadway improvement project is on schedule for completion by the end of December. The project is intended to add 246 parking spaces on the east/southeast portion of the campus, provide an enclosure for grounds storage, add a pedestrian walkway link south of M and E Buildings, connect the internal loop roadway, and provide for two-way traffic around the campus. Phase I was completed in May 2006 and included the development of a portion of the new parking immediately south of the Center for Performing Arts as a surface for PVCC’s 2006 commencement. The project will improve traffic flow patterns and circulation; complete the fire lane around the campus; provide access and a total of 318 new parking spaces adjacent to the two newest buildings on campus; improve disabled access to all buildings; add security cameras and emergency phones; and allow pedestrian access to the campus core from the parking perimeter. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for mid-December.

Modular Building “L” construction in progress
We are pleased that our new modular building is also right on schedule. Completion of the building is expected for the end of November in time for occupancy spring 2007.  Furniture, fixtures and equipment have been ordered; delivery and installation are expected to take place over the holiday break. The 4,462-square-foot building includes a general purpose classroom and skills lab for Nursing, EMT, Fire Science and other emerging allied health courses, as well as academic and administrative offices and support staff space for athletics, nursing, fire science, and facilities services. A patio and walkways around the building also are part of the project. Additional walkways leading to the Fitness Center are being incorporated into the parking/roadway improvement project. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for mid-December.

Art exhibit opens to SRO crowd
Rumors of Unruh opened to a standing-room-only audience in the Center for the Performing Arts Lobby Gallery October 30. The exhibition of mixed media on paper works by adjunct faculty member Josie M. Taglienti – presented by the PVCC Visual Arts Department – featured a poetry reading by Humanities faculty member Dr. Gene Rister and music by Dr. Christopher Scinto, Division Chair, Fine & Performing Arts. It was a special opportunity to celebrate the artistic talents of our faculty and to hear the many words of praise about our performing artists. Congratulations to these faculty members for their contributions to the arts. The exhibit runs through November 19.

United Way Online Auction features great holiday gifts
There are some spectacular items up for bid in PVCC’s Valley of the Sun United Way Online Auction. Gifts perfect for the holiday season include dinner for two at the Orange Tree Golf Resort, a J.W. Marriott Resort Spa package, a baseball signed by Arizona Diamondback Eric Byrnes, a Phoenix Coyotes player jersey signed by Ed Jovanowski and a Sony video camera. Don’t wait too long to snap up these wonderful items, as the auction ends at 5 p.m. Friday, November 10.

Maricopa New Leaders welcomed with reception
We were pleased to recognize two new Maricopa leaders, Dr. Velvie Green, Glendale Community College president, and Dr. Anna Solley, Phoenix College president, with a reception October 19 in the Center for the Performing Arts Gallery. Drs. Green and Solley were very complimentary of faculty and staff who have warmly welcomed them to their new positions.

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Faculty & Staff News
 
American Council of Development Education Association honors Dr. Jane McGrath
Dr. Jane McGrath has returned to campus, filling in for Dr. Sally Rings. I am pleased to tell you that Dr. McGrath was recently selected as a 2006 Fellow of the American Council of Developmental Education Association. This distinguished fellowship is conferred upon professionals who have made a lasting contribution to the field through research, publications, service and leadership. Jane is the author of Prentice-Hall publications Basic Skills and Strategies for College Reading: A Text with Thematic Reader, Building Strategies for College Reading: A Text with Thematic Reader and Strategies for Critical Reading.

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Student News
 
Pumas take season honors
The Lady Pumas are the co-ACCAC champions and are the second-place finishers in the NJCAA 2006 Region I Women’s Soccer Championship. Despite this setback, the Pumas have had a banner year, setting their all-time win record of 14, as well as smashing individual records. Lady Pumas Coach Kacey Bingham – in her rookie year at PVCC – was named ACCAC Coach of the Year, while Jo Radcliffe, Sam Smith and Shelby Snyder made the First Team All-ACCAC squad. Dani Guest was a Second Team selection, and Holly Garcia and Sara Olson were Honorable Mention.

Best of luck to both the Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country teams, who will compete in the NJCAA National Championships Saturday in El Paso, Texas. Congratulations to our student athletes and coaches for a tremendous season! We are very proud of your accomplishments.


Continuing the conversation ...
I look forward to our next Coffee Conversation from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, November 8, in the KSC Gallery.  You are most welcome to stop and visit, and share your news and views.

Cordially,

Mary Kay
President

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Do you have an interesting program, or outstanding accomplishment or student to highlight?
If so, e-mail the News Desk at news@pvmail.maricopa.edu.

A publication of the Paradise Valley Community College Office of the President
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