Los Angeles, Calif.
Tuesday, March 20, alumni, parents, friends and guests are invited to Cedar Creek Inn for hors d’oeuvres, desserts, drinks and conversation from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost is $15 per person. Cash bar is available. RSVP to ext. 5154 or e-mail alumni@central.edu.
Flying Pans concert March 20
The Flying Pans will perform a post-tour concert Tuesday, March 20, in Douwstra Auditorium at 8 p.m.
National Advisory Council
Central’s National Advisory Council will meet Friday-Saturday, March 23-24, on campus.
A Cappella Choir and Chamber Singers
The Central College A Cappella Choir and Chamber Singers are performing on the Fine Arts Series at First Congregational Church in Waterloo Sunday, March 25, at 4 p.m.
In addition, the Chamber Singers will perform at 11a.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church in West Des Moines Sunday, March 25.
Campus-wide health fair
Springfest 2007, the campus-wide health fair, will be Thursday, March 29, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Maytag Student Center. Register for free door prizes including four iPod shuffles. There will be 30 health-related stations.
Tests include:
Blood screening with a 10-hour fast recommended for best results. Drink 4-5 glasses of water the morning of the screening.
Bone density for $22 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Diagnostic profile with complete blood count for $25 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Prostate Specific Antigen for $21 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Free stations:
Blood pressure screening;
Body composition testing;
Central Campus Ministries;
Central Counseling Services;
Central First Responders;
Crisis Intervention—domestic abuse, sexual assault;
Crossroads;
Dental hygiene;
Des Moines Marathon;
Diehl Chiropractic;
Employee Assistance Program;
Everybodies Massage Therapy;
Iowa Dermatology, dermascan;
John Stoddard Cancer Center ;
MADD;
Nutrition services;
Organ donation;
Pella Community Ambulance;
Pella Health and Fitness;
Pella Pine Rest;
Pella Pregnancy Care Center ;
Physical fitness profiles by Central Exercise Science;
Red Rock Chiropractic;
Respiratory care, sleep disorders
Shaklee Distributor;
Smoking prevention;
Spiritual services, living wills;
Stroke detection plus;
Substance awareness, fatal vision glasses;
Wellness profiles, blood glucose, cholesterol test;
Women’s health issues;
Work Systems Rehab and Fitness.
Alumni Advisory Council 
Central’s Alumni Advisory Council will meet on campus Friday-Saturday, March 30-31.
Kuyper Athletic Complex closed for spring break
The Kuyper Athletic Complex will be closed over spring break. The facility will close at 6 p.m. Friday, March 9, and re-open at 6 a.m. on Monday, March 19.
Zeta Kappa Lambda award to Roe
President David Roe received an award from the Zeta Kappa Lambda Educational Foundation Inc.’s Champions of Change, a scholarship program created by the Zeta Kappa Lambda fraternity in Des Moines. Roe was recognized for commitment, hard work and dedication to the scholarship program at the annual Black and Gold Ball Feb. 17. The award states, “For carrying the torch and lighting the path to a more diverse Iowa, you truly are a Champion of Change.”
Zeta Kappa Lambda is a chapter of the national fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha. Its mission is to give mutual benefit for professionals and academicians, to support the social needs of young African Americans and to aid others in the African-American community. Every year the fraternity awards a scholarship to diverse students from the greater Des Moines area attending any accredited university.
Central College will match any scholarships awarded by the fraternity up to costs of full tuition. Roe also will work with the ZKL Educational Foundation to administer the Champions of Change Scholarship and Internship Program.
Brandyn Woodard (intercultural life), Carol Williamson(admission), Steve Sanchez (academic affairs) and Linda Laine (communication studies) attended the ball on Central’s behalf.
Employee Spotlight - Andrew Green
Name: Andrew Green
Department: Political science
Title: Assistant professor of political science; director of the pre-law program
About me: Graduated from Wartburg in 1999; earned a master's and doctorate from University of California-Riverside in 2003 and 2005, respectively; married to Amber for almost four years; enjoys almost all outdoor activities, traveling and home-improvement projects; would like to learn more about woodworking.
Breckenridge performed at Salisbury House
Feb. 16, Carol lei Breckenridge (music) played a harpsichord program of Bach and Rutter at the Salisbury House in Des Moines.
Four attend LGBT conference
Cheri Doane (community-based learning), Peggy Fitch (psychology), Kelsey Kaska (AmeriCorps VISTA), Linda Laine (communication studies) and Brandyn Woodard (intercultural life) attended the Governor’s Conference on LGBT Youth Feb. 22 at Drake University in Des Moines. Students who attended included: Terri Carroll ’09, Kendra Gale ’09, Lauren Malone ’10, Molly Pim ’09 and Jessica Reutzel ’09.
Weber at two conferences, presented at MathFest
Wendy Weber (mathematics) recently attended two conferences hosted by the Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Feb. 22, Weber and seven prospective 7-12 mathematics teachers Kendi Beyer ’08, Greg Kapusinski ’07, Tami Kreykes ’08, Thad Nelson ’07, Caitlin O’Connor ’10, Katherine Roloff ’08, Christa Stocks ’08 participated in the Conference Pre-Session for New and Prospective Mathematics Teachers. Issues discussed included Using USA Today in the Classroom, Dealing with Homework Overload, Beginning the School Year and Engaging Enrichment Activities. On Feb. 23, Weber and three prospective mathematics teachers Tami Kreykes ’08, Thad Nelson ’07 and Missy Meyer ’08 attended the main conference “Math + Reading = Understanding — An Equation for Success.”
Weber presented Aug. 10 at the Mathematical Association of America’s MathFest in Knoxville, Tenn. The talk, “Mathematical Questions from the Classroom,” described the design of a one semester hour course to help pre-service teachers learn how to handle mathematical questions that arise in the classroom. Questions were explored from the middle school level, introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, functions, probability and calculus. Some questions expand pre-service teachers’ knowledge of mathematics, while others help them identify and correct typical student mistakes.
Three at Datatel conference
Paul Thomassen, Keith Pothoven and Dan Rouw (IT services) will attend the Datatel Users Grop conference in Washington, D.C., March 10-14. Rouw is presenting a session titled The Admissions ELF, which will cover how to import online applications and prospective student data Tuesday, March 13. Over 200 sessions and around 2,000 people are expected at the conference.
Three play with Baroque Orchestra
Anne Petrie (music), Mark Hartman (music) and Terri Crumley (admission/music) performed with the Baroque Orchestra of Iowa Feb. 17-18 at Central College and Grinnell College.
Webber presents for Humanities Iowa
Phil Webber (modern languages) has begun another cycle of appearances for Humanities Iowa as a member of that group’s Speakers Bureau and as leader of sponsored library discussions. His spring schedule includes presentations in locations ranging from Oskaloosa, where he spoke Feb. 26, to the Iowa City area. Topics focus on ethnicity in Iowa and more generally on ethnicity in contemporary literature.
Zaffiro presents paper
Jim Zaffiro (political science/environmental studies) presented a paper at the International Studies Association’s 48th annual convention in Chicago, Ill., March 2. The paper was titled “Teaching the 9-11 Generation: Bringing War, Society and Campus Culture into the International Relations Classroom.”
Student Learning and Development Council (SLDC)
Summary report of meeting activity (Jan.11 – March 1)
The SLDC continues to monitor implementation of the Strategic Plan. The Academic Strategic Plan, as a primary component of the institutional Strategic Plan, was reviewed and then approved by the faculty March 1. In addition, the council has:
- initiated discussion of potential changes in the NCAA’s Division III, which could have far-reaching implications for our curricular and co-curricular programs; a forum for faculty on this issue has been scheduled for late March;
- begun to inventory and assess the various formal and informal programs designed to support student success; council members hope to share a better understand of the programs and, as necessary, more intentionally focus them as well as improve communication about the programs with students, parents, faculty and staff ;
- continued deliberation of the issue of condom availability on campus and is collaborating with the David Roe and the Enrollment, Finance and Resources Council in that effort ;
- reviewed early data from the recent faculty and staff wellness survey in anticipation of the Wellness Task Force’s full report and recommendations.
And, as always, council members and consultants regularly present updates from the departments and constituents they represent. This communication mechanism remains an exceedingly valuable component of the council’s work towards administrative transparency throughout campus.
Submitted by Steve Sanchez (academic affairs)
Strategic Planning Initiatives
AQIP report back
The AQIP quality check-up report has been received in the president’s office. It will be reviewed with care and action taken where necessary. There are no surprises as it is consistent with the feedback given previously, and most of the areas highlighted have been merged with the strategic planning goals. The feedback will be available for review by all Central employees and will be posted on Content Collection.
The Strategic Plan is unfolding very productively. Major initiatives are being driven by a large variety of faculty and staff. The faculty recently passed the 2007-08 Academic Strategic Plan continuing the strong drive for core renewal and assessment. Reports from various working groups with established goals within the strategic plan will be given publicly Thursday, April 12, at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in Cox Snow Recital Hall. The December reports were highly informative regarding plans of each group, and the April reports will focus on accomplishments. The entire campus is encouraged to come and hear the reports and celebrate successes.
In an effort to improve the quality and range of assessments of student learning outcomes, both in and out of the classroom, the Student Assessment Coordinating Council was developed. They are planning a balanced and wide range of student assessments that will give evidence of student progress toward achieving the goals for students. The emerging plan is to develop a 10-year cycle of assessments so that both longitudinal and cross sectional results might be available. This group consists of Chad Ray, chair of assessment committee; JoNes VanHecke, dean of student life; Deb Bruxvoort, director of academic computing; Lyn Isaacson, AQIP coordinator; and Vivian Rippentrop,assistant vice president for institutional planning. Please address any questions to any member of the group.
Students Doing Interesting Things
Biaotto and Haustein published
The honors project Andi Biaotto ’06 and Catherine Haustein (chemistry) worked on last year titled “Effects of Physical Activity on Bone Composition in Free Range and Non-Active Chicken Bones” has been accepted for publication in the June issue of the American Journal of Undergraduate Research.
Students to leadership conference
Seven students attended the University of Iowa Student Leadership Conference Feb. 17. Students participated in workshops focusing on personal development, interpersonal skills and group leadership, while networking with leaders from other Iowa colleges and universities. The group included Rama Musharbash ’07, Lindsay Ahlgren ’08, Melissa Stewart ’08, Melissa Dentlinger ’09, Austin Munoz ’09, Kayla Schipper ’10 and Stacey Kracht ’10. Bonnie Dahlke (student life) accompanied the group.
Students make the most of the snow
Andrea Kapusinski ’07, Travis Gibbons ’07, Steve Poole ’07, Kelsey Zlab ’07, Heather Goemaat ’07 and Ben Goemaat ’07 built snowmen around the Pella square early Feb. 25.
Two nominated for scholarship competition
Based on their performances in “Kindertransport,” Rachel Wiese ’10 and Hannah Brammer ’10 were nominated for the Irene Ryan scholarship competition, which will take place at the next Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Omaha, Neb., Jan. 20-28, 2008. The nominations were made by an outside respondent for KCACTF who attended a performance of the play.
Stacey Van Der Molen joined dining services as catering events coordinator.
Luanne Bates joined facilities planning and management as a custodian.
No news.
No news.
Professional development March 29
A professional development opportunity will be Thursday, March 29, from 10-11:30 a.m. All staff are invited for refreshments and to hear Deadra Staton give a motivational presentation titled “Don’t Shoot Skinny Rabbits.” The retreat will be in the Graham Banquet Room.
2007 holiday schedule
Friday, April 6, Good Friday
Monday, May 28, Memorial Day
Wednesday, July 4, Independence Day
Monday, Sept. 3, Labor Day
Thursday-Friday, Nov. 22-23, Thanksgiving
Monday-Friday, Dec. 24-28, Christmas
Open Positions
To review open positions and download an application click here or visit the college Web site at www.central.edu and select job seekers on the home page drop-down menu 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.
News items should be submitted to Abby Gonzales by noon Friday, March 16.