Ottumwa event rescheduled to Aug. 8
Central College alumni, parents and friends are invited to Lunch in the Park with food and entertainment at Ottumwa’s Central Park Friday, Aug. 8, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost is $6 and payable to the vendor at the park. RSVP to the alumni office by Wednesday, Aug. 6, by calling Lynne Petty (advancement) at ext. 5154 or e-mail alumni@central.edu.
GOLD at Summerset Winery Aug. 10
Join Central College GOLD (graduates of the last decade) for an afternoon of music and wine tasting at the Summerset Winery, 15101 Fairfax, in Indianola, Sunday, Aug. 10, from 3-6 p.m. Gabriel Espinosa (music) and Ashanti will perform. Cost of admission is $3 per person or $10 per car, payable at the gate. Every customer who pays admission will receive a $1 off ticket to use toward the purchase of a bottle of wine, soda pop or water. The band performs outdoors, so a lawn chair or blanket is recommended. RSVP to the alumni office by Wednesday, Aug. 6. Call Lynne Petty (advancement) at ext. 5154 or e-mail alumni@central.edu.
Alumni soccer scrimmages Aug. 23
The Central College women’s soccer and men’s soccer teams will have alumni soccer scrimmages Saturday, Aug. 23.
Women players should contact head coach Colin Kuchy (athletics) at kuchyc@central.edu for more information.
All men’s soccer alumni are invited to play and stay for a social gathering after the game.
Move in day Aug. 23
Volunteers are needed to welcome incoming freshmen and transfer students to campus on move in day Saturday, Aug. 23. Shifts are available at Scholte, Graham and Gaass/Pietenpol Halls from 8-9:30 a.m.; 9:30-11 a.m. and 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. To volunteer, contact Mary Vande Hoef (alumni) at vandehoefm@central.edu.
Legacy Lunch in Graham Conference Center Aug. 23
The annual Legacy Lunch, honoring incoming freshmen and transfer students whose parents and/or grandparents attended Central College, is in the Graham Conference Center, Saturday, Aug. 23, at 11:30 a.m. RSVP to the alumni office by Monday, Aug. 18, by e-mailing alumni@central.edu.
Meet the Coaches ice cream social Sept. 2
The Central Club sponsors Meet the Coaches and a free ice cream social in the Graham Conference Center, Tuesday, Sept. 2. Ice cream is served at 6:30 p.m. and coaches will speak at 7 p.m. If you are not a member of the Central Club, you may join that evening.
NAC meets Sept. 5-6
The National Advisory Council meets on campus, Friday-Saturday, Sept. 5-6.
All things Web
Do you ever wonder what is happening on the Central College Web site? Take a look at the Central College Web marketing blog. The blog will be used to facilitate communication with the campus about the marketing efforts on the www.central.edu Web site. You can bookmark the site: http://blogs.central.edu/marketingWeb or you can visit the “Central College Web marketing blog” on the infoCentral tab on myCentral.
Wireless campus
Central College will launch a new state-of-the-art Wi-Fi wireless network campuswide ready for use in late August when classes resume.
Previously, Central provided wireless networking to approximately 20 percent of campus, mainly in the classrooms and common areas. The new system, which has been under construction since February, will cover 100 percent of campus buildings as well as many outdoor areas.
Only a handful of colleges and universities in Iowa provides 100 percent Wi-Fi coverage, and of those institutions, Central is the only one that does so with the latest and fastest version of Wi-Fi 11n, which is up to three times faster than the previous version Central was using.
Central’s partners in this project were Cisco Systems and Alexander Open Systems. The project is being led by staff members of Central’s information technology services department, and costs upwards of $600,000.
Scholte Hall update
Scholte Hall’s $7 million renovation project is in the final stages and is expected to be completed in time for the fall session.
The project includes a complete mechanical and electrical overhaul of the facility with the addition of air-conditioning, a fire sprinkler system and a complete addressable fire alarm system. Scholte Hall will be fully ADA compliant following the renovation. Rooms in the north and south wings are getting a makeover, which includes carpet over the existing vinyl tile floors, new lighting, additional electrical outlets, new furniture and paint. All bathrooms will get an overhaul with new vanities with storage cubbies, sheet vinyl flooring and new water conservation toilets.
Along with updates to existing rooms, the project features a new computer lounge, study lounge, informal lounge with a full kitchen, exercise area and offices for the hall director and resident assistant.
Quick facts:
- Over 54 miles of wire have been pulled in the building, not including data/telephone wires.
- Over 21,000 feet of piping has been installed.
- Approximately 675 holes have been drilled to install the new MEP and sprinkler systems.
- 100 workers were mobilized on site within two days.
- At peak, there were approximately 175 workers on site.
- Workers have worked 6 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Auxiliary luncheon
David and Betsy Roe (president’s office) hosted a luncheon honoring the Central College Auxiliary July 29. The auxiliary provided financial and social support to the college since 1904. It sold cookbooks, Dutch treats and more at Tulip Time and during bazaars and other sales, cooked meals and birthday cakes and done much more to raise money for the college.
The group has contributed more than $300,000 to the college over the years for annual scholarships and a variety of projects including construction projects across campus, microscopes for the biology department, furniture for Pietenpol Hall, an organ for Douwstra Chapel in the 1940s and a piano for the Maytag Student Center. Auxiliary funds contributed to the campus carillon, band uniforms, hymnbooks for the chapel, computers for Maytag, a grill and meat slicer for Central Market, the Grand Central Station patio and most recently new technology for van Emmerik Studio.
This special group truly made a difference in the life of Central College. Sadly, the auxiliary voted to disband due to declining membership. However, its legacy will live on through the tangible gifts it has given the college and the scholarships it has provided.
Central College and Pella Community Schools partner to promote “green” practices
The Marion County Community Foundation awarded $1,500 to Central College to promote a partnership with Pella Community Schools to purchase recycling bins for the 2008-09 school year. The recycling containers will be placed in various locations in district school buildings.
Last year, Pella Community Schools formed a “green” team made up of teachers, students and facilities staff, who will lead the schools as they move to become more environmentally friendly. The team has grown to include representatives from community partners including Central College.
Central College receives $100,000 from Carver trust
Central College received a gift from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust in the amount of $100,000, which is designated for the new education and psychology building on campus. The money will be targeted toward the community-based learning office suite. The funds from the trust will support the construction and equipping of the suite of four offices and a conference room.
The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust is the largest private philanthropic foundation in Iowa with assets of more than $340 million and annual grant distributions of over $16 million. It was created through the will of Roy J. Carver, a Muscatine industrialist and philanthropist, who died in 1981.
Central has received past support from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust toward Central's science program and Geisler Library. The euqipment purchased with prior grant money has been used extensively by Central students and has made graduates competitive in the workplace and provided students with important tools to succeed in graduate school.
Geisler Library and media center summer hours
Summer hours for Geisler Library and the media center are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed evenings, weekends and holidays.
Summer hours for KAC
Summer hours for Kuyper Athletic Complex are Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. It will be closed Saturday-Sunday. Summer hours go through Friday, Aug. 22.
Employee Spotlight - Mark Johnson
Name: Mark Johnson
Department: Mathematics and computer science
Title: Denekas Endowed Chair in Science and Humanities professor of computer science and mathematics
About me: Bachelor's degree in mathematics from St. Olaf College; doctorate in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; currently interested in 3D computer graphics; enjoys listening to music (jazz, string quartets, TV stars who can't sing), reading (translations by Pevear and Volokhonsky, Richard Powers, August Wilson, and learning the ways of his dog and two cats.
Wilkinson and Sodd at ARTS forum
Ann Wilkinson and Mary Jo Sodd (both theatre) attended the National ARTS Forum Series by the MetLife Foundation titled “Cultural Leadership: New Frameworks for the Changing Face of America.” The author and cultural analyst Patricia Martin presented and afterwards Wilkinson and Sodd participated in breakout groups to discuss methods of reaching out to the RenGen generation in Iowa. The meeting was at the State Historical Building in Des Moines.
Sodd on Iowa Arts Council panel
In April 2008, Mary Jo Sodd (theatre) was a participant within the Iowa Arts Council Major Grant Advisory Panel. The panel met at the Historical Building in Des Moines.
Benedict and students on radio show
Russ Benedict (biology) and biology majors Alyssa Brobst ’11, Curtis Brobst ’09, Anna Abney ’09 and Sarah Benedict ’08 were accompanied by Rick Frederickson of Iowa Public Radio on a bat-catching expedition for a two-part radio show.
The show “Indiana Bats” is posted on Iowa Public Radio’s Web site in the Radio Field Trips section, www.iowapublicradio.org.
Goodman and Weber teach math during Upward Bound
Russ Goodman and Wendy Weber (both mathematics) taught a “Mathematics of Voting” unit to Central’s Upward Bound Math and Science students. The students learned of various techniques for determining the winner of an election. The students then created their own elections and analyzed the results.
Oyen attends Web conference
Jacob Oyen (marketing and media relations) attended the eduWeb conference in Atlantic City, N.J., in July. The conference featured a keynote presentation by Mark Greenfield from the University of Buffalo titled “It’s the end of the Web as we know it redux.” The closing keynote, delivered by Karine Joly of www.collegewebeditor.com and www.higheredexperts.com, highlighted social media and its role in developing an online community to aide recruitment efforts.
Two at joint meeting
Pat Joachim Kitzman and Karen Eilers (both Career Center) attended the joint meeting of the College Career Professionals (CCPI ) of Iowa and the Iowa Association of Internships and Co-operative Education (IAICE ) at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, July 10-11.
Karen was elected as secretary of IAICE, and Pat was re-elected to the position of membership chair of CCPI.
Strategic Planning Initiatives
No news.
Students Doing Interesting Things
No news.
Coming
Sarah Lunsford, administrative assistant for intercultural life
George Clark, counselor in student life
Mary Grieger, assistant to the manager of study abroad
Mary Linde, administrative assistant to the registrar
Jill Wyckoff, assistant director of student activities
Ashley Weets, residence hall director of Scholte Hall
Kaleena Schmidt, residence hall director of Graham Hall
Going
Janet Sharp, dining services
Mary Roozeboom, facilities management
Mark Doll, facilities management
Luanne Bates, facilities management
No news.
Condolences go to Ann Fischer (Career Center) whose mother-in-law Catherine Fischer passed away.
Sally Baar (modern languages and EAM) and Sue Drey (info booth) would like to thank everyone for their thoughtfulness and prayers in the passing of their father Arthur McGilvra.
Congratulations to Mona Roozeboom (business and finance) on the birth of a new granddaughter. Brynn Camille Roozeboom was born July 28, weighing 8 lbs. 2 oz. and was 20.5 inches long.
Open Positions
To review general 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, Aug. 29.