Alumni news

Alumni events in Des Moines, Pella and Kansas City will be held in March and April. Visit http://www.central.edu/alumni/events.html for more information.

The Alumni Advisory Council will be on campus Friday-Saturday, March 24-25.

Mark your calendars for Homecoming/Family Weekend 2006! Dates are Friday, Sept. 29 – Sunday, Oct. 1.

Annual health fair
The annual campus-wide health fair Springfest 2006 will be Thursday, April 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Maytag Student Center. There will be 31 health-related stations, including blood screening tests, cholesterol and blood glucose checks, blood pressure tests, sight and hearing tests and free massages. The cost for diagnostic profile with complete blood count is $25, and will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; cost for prostate Specific Antigen is $21 and all other stations are free. Register for free door prizes; top door prizes include two iPod Nanos. Sponsored by the Health Service and the Central College Wellness Committee.

A Cappella Choir presents Rock-A-Pella
Rock-A-Pella, an A Cappella Choir extravaganza, will be held Saturday, April 8. The evening starts with a variety show at Douwstra Auditorium at 7 p.m., which is followed by more festivities at Graham Conference Center including a live auction and a silent auction, food and fun. A Cappella Choir members will auction services such as singing telegrams, babysitting and more.

Strategic Planning Communication
Strategic Planning is underway! The goal for planning is improvement. Through thoughtful preparation for planning, careful analysis of where Central “is” and determining what Central can “become,” we can prioritize goals and develop strategies to achieve them.

In preparation for discussions, the mission and goals have been refined and affirmed. We have done a careful internal analysis and have looked at the environment of higher education in the Midwest and specifically Iowa.

The next step is to address the following:

From the vantage point of 2009-10, describe Central College.

What fundamental beliefs are prized by Central College as a whole and the programs it provides? What values are held dear?

What is Central currently doing well that needs to continue?

What are the important issues facing Central College at this time in its history?

What should Central College strive to do during the next three years in an effort to improve, to change and to develop?

What long-term goals are important to the college, and what must we do now to be able to accomplish the larger goals into the future?

Throughout the next month, strategic planning conversations will invite the college community to think carefully and strategically about Central’s future. Together we can plan an inspiring future and elevate Central to an even better college, which will appeal to students and their parents as they plan their futures. Groups and committees will develop prioritized goals for sharing and for potential addition into the strategic plan.

Library and Media Center spring break hours
Geisler Library and Media Center will be open the following hours during spring break, Saturday-Sunday, March 11-19.

Saturday-Sunday, March 11-12, closed

Monday-Friday, March 13-17, open 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday, March 18, closed

Sunday, March 19, open at 5 p.m.

Regular hours resume Monday, March 20

Kuyper Athletic Complex spring break hours
Kuyper Athletic Complex will be closed to the public during spring break starting at 6 p.m. Friday, March 10, until 6 a.m. Monday, March 20.

Spring break hours for bookstore
Saturday, March 11, closed

Monday, March 13-Friday, March 17, open 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Saturday, March 18, closed

Monday, March 20, normal hours resume

Diehl attends TRIO day with students
Matt Diehl (Student Support Services), Heather Gragg ’09, Lindsay Schumacher ’09 and James Lumley ’08 attended TRIO Day at the state capitol Feb. 28. The day was an opportunity to learn ways students can become involved in the government and advocate for programs. Students were given the opportunity to interact with state legislators.

Performers at “Bach to Blues”
Mark Babcock’91 (music), current dean of the Central Iowa American Guild of Organists (AGO), Davis Folkerts’60 (music), past dean of Central Iowa AGO, and Kris De Wild’90 (music) performed in a “Bach to Blues” organ recital March 5 at Faith Lutheran Church in Clive, Iowa. The event was hosted and organized by the Central Iowa AGO and Beverley Duffy ’02.

Sodd and Hudson present at theatre conference
Mary Jo Sodd (theatre) and Kandace Hudson’06 presented at a directing and acting symposium panel at the Mid-America Theatre Conference in Chicago, Ill. The panel was titled “Mentoring the Student Director.” Sodd and Hudson represented the undergraduate model within this panel. This was Hudson’s debut within a panel at an academic conference.

ROWELS success
Renee Sedlacek ’05 (Americorps VISTA) collaborated with the Iowa State extension office to bring the ROWELS poverty simulation to campus March 8. There were 166 participants between the two simulations representing 21 majors, nine staff, eight faculty and three community partners. Thanks to the Public Projects Group, Student Senate, Campus Life Committee and the psychology, sociology and education departments for funding.

At COOL conference
Cheri Doane (community-based learning), Renee Sedlacek ’05 (Americorps VISTA), Kelsey Kaska ’06, Bethany Gullion ’07 and April Feldman ’08 traveled to the national Campus Outreach Opportunity League conference. This was Central’s third year attending the conference, and this year, the PLACES program won the Building Bridges award.

Fyfe, Johnson and Franks at computer science symposium
Stephen Fyfe, Mark Johnson and Robert Franks (all computer science) attended the 37th annual SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education in Houston, Texas, March 1-4. Johnson and Franks served as reviewers for papers submitted to the proceedings of the conference. They also serve as reviewers for the proceeding of the 11th annual conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, which will be held at the University of Bologna, Italy, in June.

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Student Wellness Program is selected as a new short-term
AQIP Action Project
A project designed by the Wellness Task Force has been selected as one of Central’s new short-term action projects. It joins the “Valuing People and Connecting Communities” action project begun last fall. This latest action project, under the co-leadership of Jodee Schaben (athletics), James Shriver (chemistry) and Marge Zondevan (health services), is designed to develop a comprehensive wellness program for students. Other members of the team are Jake Anderson (athletics), Betty Buitenwerf (human resources), Bonnie Dahlke (student life), Ryan DeVriendt ’07, Phil George (education), Mark Howard (food service), Michelle Kellar (student life), Dave Pavlat (exercise science), Eric Reed (athletics), Marilyn Vrban (academic affairs) and Maria Weiler ’08.

The initial focus of the project will be on students. To frame a study of current programming, the team has proposed a seven-point wellness model which looks at the following wellness dimensions: physical, emotional, occupational, intellectual, environmental, social and spiritual. Once student programming is in place, the team will recommend when and how to move forward with wellness programming for the larger campus community.

The full project proposal can be accessed at aqip.org under the “Action Projects” menu.

Babcock and students at festival
Mark Babcock’91 (music) took 23 student vocalists to the Collegiate Women’s Festival Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Clive, Iowa, March 26. Students participated with other singers from Drake and Simpson in a large festival choir in addition to solo performances. Babcock also traveled with the Central College A Cappella Choir to Pleasantville High School Feb. 21 to perform as the guest collegiate choir for the “Pride of Iowa Conference Vocal Festival 2006.” This high school festival included the top select vocal students from 12 Central Iowa schools.

Word study job fair
Mark your calendars for the work study job fair at the Maytag Student Center Thursday, March 23, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Students and supervisors will be asked to make work study selections for 2006-07 at this time. Students are encouraged to attend and interview for work study jobs. This is the most efficient way for students and supervisors to make their selections for work study assignments.

Good Friday
All general offices will be closed Friday, April 14. There may be exceptions based on the need to cover ongoing services. In those cases, select personnel may be required to work which will be arranged by your immediate supervisor. 

Student summer applications
Applications are now available in the HR office. They are not outside the door, so please ask for a green application. Students must be enrolled in classes at high school or any college for the fall in order to be eligible for summer employment. 

Staff professional development retreat
An informative session on identity theft will be presented by Susan Kerr Tuesday, March 28, in Graham Banquet Room from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Kerr is a consumer protection investigator for the State of Iowa Attorney General’s office. 

Harassment training
If you were unable to attend one of the scheduled harassment trainings, please pick up the video from the Human Resources office. You will receive handouts when you check out the video.

Flex spending
Please submit any flex spending claims for 2005 to Marsh Tax Saver. The reimbursement forms are available on the internal Web site or in the HR office. You have until March 31, 2006, to submit your 2005 incurred medical/dental/dependent care expenses to Marsh Tax Saver. Medical/dental/dependent care expenses incurred in 2006 should be submitted to FlexAmerica. The reimbursement claim form can be located via the following link:  http://www.central.edu/humanresources/forms.html.

Open positions

Administrative Staff Openings

Manager of Central Market

Dean of Student Life

Director of Intercultural Life

Director of Development

Director of Paris Study Program

Support Staff Openings

Day Custodian

Night Custodian

Catering Events Coordinator

Catering Chef Coordinator

Please click on the position that interests you to see a detailed description. If you would like to download an application, click here or visit the college Web site at www.central.edu for more information.

Central College is strongly committed to creating a diverse community. In furtherance of that commitment, the college encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds, under represented groups, and/or those who have had experience working with and/or interacting with individuals from diverse populations to apply. Central College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates.