Event in San Francisco
The alumni office is hosting a reception at the Tequila Tasting Room, a private dining room of Tres Agaves, 130 Townsend St. in San Francisco, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 25, from 6-9 p.m. Cost is $15 per person. RSVP to the alumni office at alumni@central.edu by Friday, Jan. 19.
Reception in Merida 
Start making travel arrangements now for a reception for George Ann Huck, retired director of the Merida program, and Armando Baquiero Cardenas ’70, who received an honorary degree in May, at the Central College house in Merida, Yucatan, Sunday, Jan. 28. RSVP to alumni@central.edu.
Toy drive
Central’s Toys for Tots drive for Marion County collected 144 toys.
“Don Juan” nominated by America College Theatre Festival rep 
A Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival representative has nominated Central College’s production of “ Don Juan” for representation in the Region V Costume Parade at the upcoming regional festival in January. There are approximately 70 schools involved with this region’s festival. This displaying of the costumes designed by guest artist Greg Gillette, will be part of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Ames, Iowa.
Geisler Library and Media Center winter break hours
Through Monday, Jan. 15, 2007
Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 20-21, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 22, close at 12 p.m.
Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 25-Jan. 2, closed
Wednesday-Friday, Jan. 3-5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Monday-Friday, Jan. 8-12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 15, resume regular hours
Kuyper Athletic Complex winter break hours
Through Monday, Jan. 15, 2007
Weekday hours except as noted below are:
Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday
The complex will be closed through Tuesday, Dec. 26. It will also be closed Monday-Tuesday, Jan. 1-2.
Bookstore hours
Open Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 20-21 from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Closed Friday-Tuesday, Dec. 22-26
Open Wednesday-Friday, Dec. 27-29 from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Closed Saturday-Monday, Dec. 30-Jan. 1
Open Tuesday-Friday, Jan. 2-5 from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Closed Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 6-7
Open Monday-Friday, Jan. 8-12 from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Central College Auxiliary board members announced 
Central College Auxiliary board members for 2007 are: Marleen Rempe, incoming president; Christine Peery, recording secretary; Susan Miller, annual meeting guest speaker; Diane Wegter, past president; and Lois Allen, treasurer.
Employee Spotlight - Stephen Fyfe
Name: Stephen Fyfe
Department: Mathematics and computer science; athletics
Title: Associate professor of computer science; assistant cross country and track coach
About me: Received a bachelor's degree from Central in 1987; earned a master's and doctorate from Iowa State University; wife Lisa and three children, Rachel, Abby and Rebekah; hobbies include running and coaching his daughters' rec soccer and softball teams as well as Central's cross country and track teams; member of Trinity Reformed Church in Pella.
Evenhouse at AVCA convention
Colleen Evenhouse (dining services) attended the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) convention in Omaha, Neb., Dec. 15-18. She became Coaching Accreditation Program (C AP) Level I certified through USA Volleyball in order to continue to be involved in and coach with the High Performance program in the Iowa Region of USA Volleyball. C AP provides professional preparation and advancement for volleyball coaches of all levels. While in Omaha, she also watched the NCAA Division I women’s volleyball national championships.
Dahlke at leadership
educators’ institute
Bonnie Dahlke (student life) participated in the 2nd annual Leadership Educators’ Institute sponsored by NASPA/ACPA Student Affairs Practitioners Dec. 7-9 in Phoenix, Ariz. Over 350 leadership educators from across the nation participated in the event, which is meant to provide and share leadership development theory and program information for colleges and universities at all levels. The institute provides a unique setting for leadership development planning from which to build a comprehensive program at Central.
Woodward featured in art shows, helped with Ribbon Monument
Tilly Woodward (art) has 11 oil paintings featured in the Holiday Group Show at Olson Larson Gallery, West Des Moines, Iowa. The show runs through Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007. She also has 21 oil paintings featured in a two-person exhibit at Kunstenaar Gallery in Pella through Thursday, Dec. 21.
Woodward conducted a workshop Oct. 11 for sexual assault and rape survivors to assist in the writing and assembling of the Ribbon Monument, an ongoing art project created to promote healing of rape and sexual assault victims. The workshop was conducted in partnership with the Central College chapter of NAMI, student senate, office of intercultural life, counseling and Campus Activities Board.
“The Ribbon Monument,” an artwork created to promote healing for victims of rape and sexual assault, was a backdrop for the Iowa Mosaic Diversity Conference in Ames, Iowa, sponsored by the Friends of Iowa Civil Rights. She was a general session speaker at the conference and presented a workshop titled “Helping Communities Build Tolerance and Compassion through the Arts” Oct. 16.
Oct. 24, Woodward installed the Ribbon Monument as the backdrop for speaker Terri Nichole in Graham Conference Center in partnership with the Campus Activities Board.
Butt and Du Pre present to Pella Reading Circle
Anya Butt (natural science) and Ellie Du Pre (biology) presented on water quality in Iowa in conjunction with Sandra Steingraber’s Living Downstream to the Pella Reading Circle Nov. 17. Jim Zaffiro (political science) presented in October on Sandra Steingraber’s Living Downstream. Cathy Haustein (chemistry) presented in September on Jared Diamond’s Collapse , and Mary Stark (English) presented Dec. 15 on E.O. Wilson’s The Future of Life and Creation as well as Rachel Carson’s The Sense of Wonder. Kim Koza (English) will present in February and Maxine Huffman (professor emerita of English) in March. Reading Circle’s year theme is Treasuring our Natural Resources.
Wilkinson at art partnerships conference; directs play
Ann Wilkinson attended the Alliant Energy Foundation’s Art Partnerships Conference Nov. 8 in Madison, Wis. Over winter break, Wilkinson will direct “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” by Frank McGuinness. The production will serve as the grand opening for the new 4th Street Theatre space in Des Moines.
No news.
Strategic Planning Initiatives
Progress reports on the strategic plan
Information about the progress on implementing the strategic plan was shared at the president’s forum Dec. 14. The following updates were included in the presentation:
Core renewal: Steve Sanchez (academic affairs)
Faculty reviewed the mission and revisited the goals for students. Proposals for new core curriculum were posted on a discussion board Web site and a faculty forum was held to discuss the options. Prior to classes starting in January 2007, an all-day workshop will be held and proposals refined. Faculty will determine the desired outcomes of the core and determine best ways to implement a program. An April vote on a core is planned with hopeful implementation in fall 2008.
Wellness initiative: Jodee Schaben (exercise science) 
The wellness task force worked for the past year and a half on a two-pronged charge to study and recommend ways to infuse wellness into the life of students (first year of work) and into life of employees (second year charge). Their goal is to develop a wellness model and program for faculty and staff by identifying models, conducting audits of current programming, identifying areas for expansion, and developing a job description for a wellness coordinator. Over the next few months, the task force will investigate benchmark programs and conduct an online survey assessing the levels of awareness and participation in current programs around campus.
Transfer initiative: Alicia O’Brien (admission)
The goal for transfer enrollment is to increase to 100 students each semester within three years. As focus on transfer students’ needs are streamlined, the admission office is concentrating this year on developing strategies to accomplish that goal. Focus areas include inquiry acquisition, recruitment, orientations, data analysis and retention strategies. Tactics to improve the inquiry pool include visits to community colleges and college fairs, particularly at DMACC, Indian Hills and Kirkwood, contact Student Support Service programs at community colleges, contact former applicants who applied to Central but chose to go to a community college, and purchase names from Phi Theta Kappa, community college honor society. During second semester, Central will submit surveys of current transfer students, analyze transfer student trends, and explore ways to bring transfers together to build community.
Annual fund goals achievement: Anna Bates (advancement) 
The Central Fund provides flexible resources that enable Central to pursue its mission in helping students discover and reach their highest potential. The ultimate goals for the Central Fund in Phase II of the campaign are to raise $9 million and raise participation rate of giving among alumni to 40 percent. To help accomplish these goals, advancement will send year-end mailings to GOLD (Graduated in Last Decade), add online opportunities in the newsletter to make giving more user friendly, add class reunion giving starting at Homecoming 2007, and review all messaging to include the impact on students. Twenty percent of gifts that come in to the Central Fund are for amounts under $500 and 60 percent of the gifts are under $100.
Cooperating college enrollment in Central’s study abroad: Annique Kiel
(Central College Abroad)
The strategic goal is to design and implement plans that yield enrollment growth of 200 students each semester from cooperating colleges in Central’s study abroad programs over three years. Enrollment for fall 2006 was 100 and spring semester 2007 is 87. To achieve these goals, CCA is recruiting by territories, strengthening relationships with current coop schools, identifying additional schools, and improving the management of the inquiry, communication flow and administrative processes. The new publications and Web presence have proven to be assets.
Enrollment of new first-year students: Carol Williamson (admission) 
The recruitment goals of first-year students include 430 new students, 25 percent from out-of-state (currently 20 percent), aiming for gender balance and maintaining current ACT profile. Admission has identified, through research and past experience, the inquiry pool must include over 19,000 persons to achieve deposits of 430. To build the pool, the office purchased names and increased travel in California, Colorado, Missouri and New York. The communication flow through e-mail and colorful pieces to out-of-state students has increased. There is greater collaboration with the RCA than in the past few years. Travel grants for out-of-state visitors increase likelihood of visits.
Intentional integration of cultural programs: Bonnie Dahlke (student life) 
The cultural affairs committee’s goals are to enrich the educational environment through an integrated cultural affairs program and to integrate curricular and co-curricular programs through intentional collaboration among campus entities. Their charge and direction includes defining the scope of programming, auditing current programs and determining its success. Most of the programming is decentralized. Many schools have a comprehensive planning process, and some have developed ways to incorporate cultural events into curriculum and graduation requirement. Proposals are forthcoming as the group continues its work into the next semester.
Students Doing Interesting Things
Tweeton in commercial
Senior Michael Tweeton ’07 made his commercial debut following an audition arranged as part of the Theatre Department’s class in Acting for the Camera. Catch his performance in Geek Out at http://www.desmoinesmetro.com/do-more/fun-video-clips/index.asp.
Students go caroling 
Six Central College students sang carols to friends of the college in the Pella community Dec. 12-13. Student A Cappella Choir singers were Liza Calisesi '10, Christian Grindberg '08, Karine Grindberg '09 all of Fort Dodge, Jared McCarty '09 of Eddyville, Shannon Regan '07 of Maquoketa and Tim Scarrow '10 of Clive.
Pictured: John and Phyllis Vander Wert, Christian Grindberg, Tim Scarrow, Shannon Regan, Jared McCarty, Liza Calisesi, Karine Grindberg and Barb Butler.
Tim McDonald joined facilities planning and management as grounds and utility worker.
No news.
No news.
Upcoming holidays
The campus will be closed the following days for the holidays:
Friday, Dec. 22 (close at noon);
Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 25-26 and Jan. 1-2.
W-4s
Certain circumstances require the filing of new W-4 forms. If the number of allowances an employee can claim decreases, a new W-4 must be filed within 10 days of the event. Such cases would be: divorce, death of a spouse or fewer dependents. A name change also requires a new W-4. An employee may, but is not required to, file a new W-4 if the number of allowances he or she can claim increases. If you have questions, or wish to request a new W-4 form, please call the payroll office at ext. 5161.
Open Positions
Administrative Staff Openings
Support Staff Openings
Office manager, music department
Administrative assistant for Student Support Services
Staffing coordinator/HR associate
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.
News items should be submitted to Abby Gonzales by noon Friday, Dec. 29.