Dance, dance, dance
As part of the recent effort to increase student/faculty/community interactions, we are pleased to announce the return of social dancing at Central College. Beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, and hopefully continuing every Sunday this year, Pete Zani (biology) and Monica Sáles (Music Connection) will teach introduction to swing dancing in Graham Conference Center Ballroom. No experience or partner necessary.

Learn East-Coast Swing, Foxtrot, Charleston and more. There will be an open dance immediately following the lesson from 8-10 p.m. So dust off the dancing shoes, break out the zoot suit and get ready for some Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and of course, Satchmo. For more information, contact Pete at zani@central.edu.

Tailgater at Simpson Saturday, Oct. 1
Come join the alumni office at Memorial Park in Indianola, two blocks northwest of the stadium, for a tailgater, Saturday, Oct.1, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Head coach Jeff McMartin ’90 will make an early appearance and let us in on game day details. Game time is 1 p.m. Cost for the cookout is $6 per person and payable at the door. RSVP to the alumni office by Monday, Sept. 26. Call toll free (800) 447-0287 or e-mail alumni@central.edu.

Directions: From Highway 92, turn north on G Street until you reach Euclid. Memorial Park is at intersection of G and Euclid. Parking for the game is available southeast of the shelter house in the swimming pool parking lot.

Homecoming, Friday-Sunday, Oct. 7-9
http://www.central.edu/alumni/homecomingsch.html

Fourth annual Central Service Day
In conjunction with National Make a Difference Day, Central will hold its fourth annual Central Service Day Saturday, Oct. 22, in four locations including Des Moines, Pella, Washington, D.C., and Dallas, Texas. Be an honorary member of the Benedict Bat and Shrew Crew and clean up a section of Hwy. 163 in Pella from 8 a.m.-noon. Help Creative Visions in Des Moines paint, clean and prepare for the weekly community meal from 9 a.m.-noon. For more information, go to www.central.edu/alumni.

Literacy Army
Once again this year, employees of the college are invited to spend 30 minutes to an hour per week reading to students as part of the Literacy Army program. Central employees are allowed up to 26 hours per fiscal year for community volunteer time. For more information about volunteering, contact Mindi Kacmarynski at kacmarynskim@central.edu.

Admission Web site ranked in top 10
Central College’s Web site is ranked seventh in the Midwest region and eighth in the liberal arts institution category according to the seventh annual Enrollment Power Index (EPI). Central is the only Iowa school ranked in those categories. EPI is a research-based analysis that rates how well the functionality and design of college and university Web sites provide information to potential students. EPI is done by the National Research Center for College and University Admissions, the leading organization connecting young people and their families with colleges and universities across the country. More than 3,000 postsecondary institutions’ admission Web sites were rated on a 100-point scale. For more information, go to www.nrccua.org.

Sabbatical leave applications
Sabbatical leave applications for the 2006-07 academic year are due to the office of academic affairs no later than Wednesday, Nov. 2. Information about sabbaticals is found in chapter nine, pages 1-3, of the Faculty Handbook. Eligible faculty who are interested in applying for sabbatical leave are reminded they must consult with both the department chair and the provost prior to submitting the application. Forms are available by contacting Marilyn at ext. 5175 or vrbanm@central.edu. Nominations should be sent to Robert Franks, chair of the personnel committee at franksr@central.edu or campus box 024.

Pre-tenure and tenure promotion nominations
The personnel committee is soliciting nominations from faculty for candidates for tenure, tenure and promotion, or non-tenured promotions. Faculty should review the criteria and process for tenure and promotion in the Faculty Handbook prior to submitting a nomination. Information regarding tenure and promotion is found in chapters six and seven of the Faculty Handbook. Persons making nominations should make sure to discuss your nomination with the person being considered before submitting it. Nominations should be sent to Robert Franks, chair of the personnel committee at franksr@central.edu or campus box 024, and are due no later than Saturday, Oct. 1. Nominations for post-tenure promotions will be solicited at a later date.

Faculty meeting dates
The policy committee set the following dates for faculty meetings for the 2005-06 academic year. All faculty meetings will be held Thursdays in the Vermeer Science Center, Room 180, at 11 a.m. Sept. 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 17, Dec. 8, Feb. 2 and 23, March 23 and April 20.

Several attend conference
Several attended a conference about “Islam in America: Finding Common Ground” at Drake University in Des Moines Sept. 10. Those attending included Lisa Rock’87; students Hanaa Bouchikhi ’09, Nasra Al-Habsi ’08, Moksheda Thapa ’09, Shaima Muhammad ’07; staff members Cheri Doane (academic affairs) and Carlyn Wei (international education); and faculty Pat Westphal (modern languages), Peggy Fitch (psychology), Maria Carla Chiarella (psychology) and Linda Laine (communication studies).

Barb Bowzer (business and finance) is now the chief financial officer.

Paul Naour (academic affairs) has been named provost of Central College.

Vivian Rippentrop (academic affairs) has been named assistant vice president.

No news.

Jessica Klyn joined the office of international education as program adviser.

Annique Kiel joined the office of international education as assistant director.

Stephanie Anderson joined the athletics department as assistant softball coach.

Mary Phifer joined the athletics department as assistant dance team coach.

Victoria Schmidt joined the athletics department as cheerleading coach.

No report.

 
Nickels to New Orleans
Central’s Nickels for New Orleans raised $1,951.35 for the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief efforts including $430 raised by Stauffer residents who cashed in around 2,200 cans. Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound high school students are still collecting money in their high schools toward our Nickels to New Orleans campaign. An update will be announced in October on the grand total.

Winter holiday schedule
The campus will be closed Thursday-Tuesday, Dec. 22-27. Offices will be open Wednesday-Friday, Dec. 28-30, and again be closed Saturday-Monday, Dec. 31-Jan. 2, 2006.

Staff Christmas banquet is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15. Please reserve this date on your calendars.

Reminder to support staff
September is the month you will receive two paychecks: Sept. 2 and 30. Except in special circumstances, no insurance premiums will be deducted from the Sept. 30 paycheck. If you have questions, please call extension 5161.

Reminder to staff
If your marital status has changed or if there has been a death in your family, you may need to change your life insurance beneficiary information. This can be completed in the HR office. To change your beneficiaries for your TIAA/CREF account, you will need to call TIAA/CREF or go to their Web site at www.tiaa-cref.org.

Professional Activities

Tuition Exchange
Central College has been a member of the Tuition Exchange (TE) program since 1991-92. The TE program provides the opportunity for eligible dependents of faculty and staff to receive undergraduate scholarships at one of the participating member institutions. A list of over 570 colleges and universities that participate in the TE program can be found on the TE Web page www.tuitionexchange.org. Applications for new and returning dependents for the TE program must be submitted to human resources by Tuesday, Nov. 1, for the 2006-07 academic year. The form to submit for tuition exchange can be found on the HR Web site at www.central.edu/humanresources. In addition to the application form, you will also need to submit a copy of your 2004 tax return showing verification of dependent status. TE eligibility is limited to full-time employees and may be limited based on point criteria established by the college in 2004.

Tuition Reduction
Tuition Reduction benefits are available for spouses and dependent children commencing in the academic period following two years of continuous employment for a full-time employee, or 3,328 accumulated hours for other than full-time employment, or if you are an employee of the college, you receive this benefit immediately upon employment. Minority-time employees (<1,000 hours or less than .50 FTE) are eligible only for tuition reduction benefits for child dependents as stated in the most recent policy (April 2005). Temporary employees are not eligible for this benefit. The form to submit for tuition reduction can be found on the HR Web site at www.central.edu/humanresources. Please submit this form for new and returning students to human resources by Tuesday, Nov. 1, for the 2006-07 academic year. In addition to the application form, you will also need to submit a copy of your 2004 tax return showing verification of dependent status.

Please click on the following link to see the Tuition Reduction/Tuition Exchange policy online
http://www.central.edu/humanresources/handbooks.html

Open Positions

To apply for the above administrative positions, please send a completed Central College application, cover letter, resume and the names and contact information for three professional references to: Human Resources Office, Central College, Campus Box 6000, 812 University St., Pella, IA 50219 or by e-mail to employment@central.edu. Visit the college Web site for an application and additional information regarding the position at www.central.edu/humanresources.

If interested in any of the above support staff positions, please send a completed Central College application to: Human Resources Office, Central College, Campus Box 6000, 812 University St., Pella, IA 50219 or by e-mail to employment@central.edu. Visit the college Web site for an application and additional information regarding the position at www.central.edu/humanresources.

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 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.