Projects  |  Campus News  |  Faculty & Staff News  |  Student News   In This Issue … November 30, 2007 Chancellor’s message… Fitness Center membership… The Giving Tree… Remember our animal friends… Human Resources… PSA Holiday Luncheon… Special appointment… Retirement… Graduation Days… "Enjoy the City" fund-raiser… GO Bond Capitol Projects update… Training for college safety   Campus News   Chancellor’s message I invite you to listen to Chancellor Rufus Glasper’s new message on teaching, learning, and student success. We can feel very proud that our chancellor’s message prominently features PVCC’s iStart Smart program as an example of a successful initiation for the entire Maricopa County Community College District. To listen to Chancellor Glasper’s message, log onto http://www.maricopa.edu/mctv/Media/ChancellorMessage11.7_512K_Stream.mov Winter Fitness Center membership We encourage all staff, faculty and students to take advantage of the many comprehensive programs offered through our PVCC Fitness Center. Several different levels of membership are available, and Lisa Cvach, our Employee Fitness Specialist will answer any questions you might have. Call her at (602) 787-7270 or log onto http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/fitness. The winter break session will be held from December 14th to January 11th, and is only $10 for employees, so be sure to enroll now. The spring semester fitness session runs from January 12 to May 9 (enrollment deadline is December 21). Remember the words of Marcus Tullius Cicero, “It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor.” The Giving Tree The Student Leadership Council invites all members of our PVCC family to “adopt” another family provided by the Department of Economic Security for the upcoming holiday season. A simple unwrapped gift with card attached could make tremendous difference to a needy and deserving family. Campus organizations already taking part in this heart-warming program include the AWARE Club, Black Student Union, Phi Theta Kappa, Club Ed, MEChA, Admissions & Records, the Library, and the Fitness Center. The Deadline for the SLC Adopt a Family Program is Friday, December 7. For more information, contact the Student Life Center at (602) 787-7240 or email Ryan Martin at ryan.martin@pvmail.maricopa.edu. There is also a need for medium and large size boxes for the Adopt-A-Family presents, so if you have any, please take them to the Student Life Center. Go home realizing that you have made a simple, yet meaningful, difference to someone’s life. Remember our animal friends Patti Kramer, our PBX operator/instructor, and a volunteer for Foothills Animal Rescue, would like to remind us that our animal friends are needy, too. The all-volunteer organization desperately needs donated pet food, kitty litter, pet beds, kitty condos, blankets, area rugs, and much more – including foster homes for abandoned and mistreated animals. Drop off your animal-related donations in the donation barrel, located in KSC right across from the north entrance and next to the security desk. For more information about Foothills Animal Rescue and what you can do to help, contact Patti at (602) 787-7719. We are proud of the contributions, both in time and materials, which PVCC students have made to this worthy cause. Human Resources Laurel Smith reminds us that the go-live date for doing Special Services Contracts (online assignments) online is coming upon us quickly—Jan. 14, 2008.  A training session conducted by District Technology Training for this new online procedure is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2008 from 1-3 p.m. in KSC 208.  I strongly recommend that you attend if you or your department is responsible for creating Special Service Contracts. This is the ONLY session which will be held on our campus. PSA Holiday Luncheon Holiday festivities will officially begin at PVCC with the PSA Holiday Luncheon, Wednesday, December 5, from 11:30-1:30pm. Highlights will include entertainment, prizes, a humorous White Bear (instead of White Elephant) Gift Exchange, and food, food, food.  Cost is $10 for dues-paying PSA members, $11 for all other. To find out more, contact Chris Hunt at (602) 787-6800, or simply RSVP with your payment to Jerice Eckels at (602) 787- 7206. Make checks payable to PVCC PSA. Faculty & Staff News   Special appointment We are pleased to inform you that Rosemary Hooper, Children's Center Director at PVCC  was appointed to serve on a Quality Workgroup advising the Arizona Early Childhood Development & Health Board in the development of a statewide quality rating system for early childhood programs for children birth to 8 years of age. First Things First is the initiative that is being developed in response to the passage of the tobacco tax benefiting early childhood education.  The Workgroup’s recommendations will be provided to the Governor Napolitano’s Office for Children, Youth and Families, School Readiness Board in the spring of 2008. Congratulations to Rosemary for being appointed to such a worthwhile organization. Retirement For those of you who missed it, a retirement party for Alan Tongret was held on Wed., Nov. 28 in the lobby of the CPA.  It was a lovely affair, and the setting was especially appropriate, since Alan was one of the “founding fathers” of our arts center.  He and a number of others were instrumental in the development of the ed specs, design, and functionality of the CPA.  Alan was presented with TWO plaques, one of which will remain permanently on display in the CPA as a tribute to Alan’s accomplishments.  The second, he and his wife will take with them to their new adventure in New York City.  Alan was an important member of our Fine & Performing Arts Division. We wish him best of luck on this new phase of his life. Student News   Graduation Day(s) Fall graduation is upon us, and I would like to personally congratulate the departments that have graduates in Nursing, Fire Science and & EMT. The paramedics graduate on December 11, followed by nursing students on December 12, and fire science students on December 13. The graduation ceremonies take in the CPA. We are very proud of these students and their faculty. Enjoy the City fund-raiser The Student Leadership Council is raising funds by selling the Enjoy the City 2008 book of discounts and coupons for Phoenix-area restaurants, entertainment, and more. For only $15, the “Enjoy the City” book makes a great gift – for yourself or someone else. To purchase one, drop by the Student Life Center or call Ryan at (602) 787-7242.  Projects Update   GO Bond Capital Projects update On Tuesday afternoon, Tony Asti, Senior Budget Analyst from the District Office, presented an overview of PVCC projects from the 2004 General Obligation Bond. To date, approximately $49M of the original allocation of $71.93M bond money has been expended or committed for upcoming projects. Current projects include the campus loop road and parking expansion, the new Life Science Building, the purchase and remodeling of the Q Building (county library), PVCC North, and other major maintenance projects as approved by District Facilities, Planning and Development. Training for college safety Special training for armed campus security officers will be ongoing in December for several days.  Based on recent Arizona state legislation, Maricopa Community Colleges’ new policy will begin in January.   College Safety Chief Scott Meek is also interviewing for two security officers for our campus to replace security officers who left PVCC recently. Cordially, Mary Kay Kickels President Do you have an interesting program, or outstanding accomplishment or student to highlight? If so, e-mail the News Desk at pvcc.news@pvmail.maricopa.edu A publication of the Paradise Valley Community College Office of the President 2007 © Maricopa County Community College District