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.

Tailgater at Wartburg
Saturday, Nov. 5, join the Central College family at a tailgater prior to the Central vs. Wartburg football game from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. Menu includes chili, vegetable beef soup, bread, dessert and drinks. Cost is $6 per person and is payable at the door. RSVP to the alumni office by Monday, Oct. 31, by e-mailing alumni@central.edu.

Reception in Ottumwa
All Central alumni, parents, friends and guests are welcome at a reception at Hotel Ottumwa, 107 E. Second St. in Ottumwa, Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 6-8 p.m. Featured speaker Cheri Doane ’98, director of community-based learning, will share about Central’s Ottumwa outreach program. Hors d’oeuvres are free and a cash bar is available. RSVP to the alumni office by Friday, Oct. 28. Call ext. 5154 or e-mail alumni@central.edu.

Blood screening for faculty and staff
The annual blood screen days are Tuesday, Nov. 8, and Thursday, Nov. 17, from 6:30-9 a.m. in the Maytag Student Center. Registration information will be placed in your October direct deposit check envelope. Call the Health Service at ext. 5227 from 7 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. with any questions. 

Flu immunization update
At this point in time health service has not been able to purchase any flu serum. We are on a list and will be notified after Tuesday, Oct. 25, if any flu serum will be available for us to purchase. Currently, the flu serum is only being used for those who are in the high risk category. We suggest if you are in the high risk category that you check with your clinic and get your flu shot soon if available. Call the health service at ext. 5227 from 7 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. with any questions.

Education faculty hosted IACTE meeting
Education Department faculty Darrell Druvenga, Phil George, Paula Lee, Joy Prothero and Esther Streed attended the IACTE fall meeting and conference hosted by Central College Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Sessions included Teacher Quality Enhancement and Developing and Refining Assessment Systems.

Lanz has wedding invitations featured
Tamara Lanz’s (student life) wedding invitation design and accompanying article will be featured in the handcrafted arts publication Somerset Wedding 2 set for release in February 2006.

Westphal at Iowa World Language meeting
Pat Westphal (modern languages) represented the modern language department at the annual meeting of the Iowa World Language Association Oct. 7-8 in Dubuque. She staffed a Central College booth in the exhibit area as well as presented a session about facilitating high school language students’ transition into college classes.

Webber helps with Elderhostel
Phil Webber (modern languages) helped launch Elderhostel organized by Diane Van Wyngarden (academic affairs), which was themed Iowa’s Utopian Societies. He had just returned from the annual meeting of the Communal Studies Association and gave an overview of communal and utopian experiment communities in Iowa and throughout the United States.

Huffman receives award
Don Huffman (professor emeritus of biology) has been selected to receive the West Lake Friendship Award from Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China. The award includes a gold medal along with a certificate from Zhejiang Province officials. Maxine Huffman (professor emerita of English) received the same award in 1999.

No news.

We extend our sympathy to Sheilaand Keith Pothoven (IT services) in the passing of Sheila’s sister Lori Bruxvoort on Oct. 4. Lori dedicated 20 years of service to Central College as an employee in the controller’s office.

We extend our sympathy to Dave (advancement) and Ardie (president’s office) Sutphen in the passing of Dave’s mother Evelyn Sutphen on Oct. 5. Evelyn, 89, was from Bell Mead, N.J.

Bret Grier joined the athletics department as assistant women’s basketball coach.

Banquet for AQIP
The campus is invited to celebrate the completion of our three AQIP Action Projects as well as the AQIP Systems Portfolio for reaccreditation on Thursday, Oct. 27, 5-7 p.m. in Graham Banquet Hall. Representatives from each team will share their progress and hors d’oeuvres will be served.  Please RSVP by Monday, Oct. 24, to Liz VandeKieft vandekieftl@central.edu.

 
Students and staff on fall break trip
A group of 34 students along with campus ministries staff members Joe Brummel, Abbie Hinz and Matt Ploeger, traveled to Madisonville, La., during fall break to help repair hurricane-damaged areas. The group spent the break at North Cross Methodist Church and worked for three days on uninsured houses assisting with roofing, clearing away fallen trees and rubble and removing moldy drywall and insulation as well as other tasks.

Nickels to New Orleans
Central’s Nickels to New Orleans campaign totaled $1,968.50 for the American Red Cross to help in relief efforts of the damage of Hurricane Katrina.

Drug-free workplace training is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in Maytag/van Emmerik. You are invited to learn more about how a drug-free workplace can benefit the college. The training will include what constitutes reasonable suspicion of drug and/or alcohol abuse, observable behaviors that may indicate drug and/or alcohol problems, the referral of employees who abuse alcohol and/or other drugs to the Employee Assistance Program and more. Please RSVP to Betty Buitenwerf at ext. 5156 or email buitenwerfb@central.edu if you plan to attend.

Crisis Intervention Services (CIS), formerly Turning Point, wants Central College employees to be aware of their mission and services. The mission of CIS is to provide support, resources and hope for a better future to persons affected by domestic abuse, sexual assault and other crises. All services are free and confidential and include a 24-hour crisis line 641-673-5499 or 800-270-1620, support groups, information and referrals, emergency shelter, economic advocacy, criminal and legal advocacy and transportation.

Annual Professional Development Fall Retreat will be held Thursday, Oct. 27, from 10-11:30 a.m. Please reserve this date on your calendars. You should have received an invitation in the mail that details the program and events. If not, please contact the HR office at ext. 7681.

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.

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.