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PCC names Lambert new chancellor

PCC Chancellor Lee Lambert

Compiled from a PCC press release

Pima Community College has hired Lee D. Lambert as chancellor.

At a special meeting on May 17, the PCC governing board voted unanimously to enter into a three-year contract with Lambert.

Since 2006, Lambert has been president of Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, Wash.

“I am honored and pleased to be selected as chancellor. Pima Community College is a place committed to student access and success,” Lambert said. “Together I will work with any and all groups to advance the mission of the college.”

Lambert’s contract will start on July 1. His annual base pay will be $290,000.

Before being named president at Shoreline, Lambert served as the Seattle-area institution’s vice president for human resources and legal affairs.

He earned a law degree from Seattle University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash.

Lambert’s selection followed a fact-finding trip to Shoreline by a six-member PCC team.

Team members shared observations and insights with the board and the community during the May 17 meeting.

They were unanimous in their support of Lambert as “the right person to lead us to a brighter tomorrow,” according to board member Sylvia Lee.

“I had hoped I would find reasons to say no,” Lee said. Instead, “I found numerous reasons to say yes.”

Lee was one of several team members who noted that Lambert led Shoreline out of a fiscal crisis brought on by Washington state legislature budget cuts.

Partnerships with area industries have rejuvenated many of the school’s programs, such as Machine Tool Technology and Automotive Technology, Lee said.

The team found Lambert to be a leader of integrity who has made Shoreline a place of “collegiality, vision and respect,” said Terra Benson, PCC director of admissions and registrar.

“He’s a CEO, not a micromanager,” said PCC Foundation member Norm Rebenstorf.

He called Lambert’s managerial style clear, strategic and inclusive, and said Lambert expects his administrators to have “eight or nine irons in the fire, always properly heated.”

Rebenstorf, who also served on the independent citizens’ search committee that initially vetted numerous chancellor candidates, praised Lambert’s inclusive leadership style and hands-on approach to management.

“He will take this college to another level,” Rebenstorf said.

History instructor Kimlisa Salazar Duchicela noted that Shoreline was a welcoming and diverse institution with a multicultural center, a women’s center and “academic vibrancy.”

Shoreline is “a place where one wanted to be,” she said. “I believe strongly an institution reflects its leadership.”

Like Lee, Salazar Duchicela said she “looked under every rock, crevice and azalea … but couldn’t find the [red] flags I was looking for” to disqualify Lambert.

West Campus President Lou Albert described Lambert as a man of high integrity who keeps “the big picture in mind.”

“I am confident he can make the college one of the best in the country,” Albert said. “We all need to rally around this man.”

Lambert was one of four finalists selected by an independent citizens’ Search Advisory Committee. He was identified as the leading candidate on May 10.

He visited PCC on April 29-30 to take part in employee and public forums, visit the college’s six campuses, and meet administrators, the PCC Foundation and the governing board.

Lambert is the sixth person since 1992 to occupy the position of PCC chancellor, including two who served on an interim basis. Before 1992, PCC was led by presidents.

Zelema Harris has served as interim chancellor since April 16. Her last day at PCC will be June 30.

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By ANDREW PAXTON

Pima Community College’s governing board has named a front-runner for taking over the chancellor position on a permanent basis, despite calls from many groups to halt or postpone the search.

The Board of Governors expressed interest during a special May 10 governing board meeting in having Lee Lambert, current president of Shoreline Community College, take over as Pima’s leader .

During the meeting, board chair Brenda Even said Lambert was “the candidate that seemed to rise to the top,” according to a statement released by the college.

Lambert toured the college campuses in late April, where he met students, faculty and board members and answered questions regarding how he would successfully lead Pima through probation.

At the May 10 meeting, the board voted unanimously to send a team of board members and administrators to Shoreline, Wash., to conduct a site visit at Lambert’s current college.

The team visited the Seattle-area college May 13-14 and interviewed students, administrators, trustees and faculty, and conducted a tour of the campus.

Lambert has held the top position at Shoreline CC since 2006. He has previous experience dealing with sexual harassment issues, which some feel could prove invaluable following the wake of former chancellor Roy Flores.

Flores retired in June 2012 after multiple allegations of sexual harassment against him came to light, and Pima has been searching for his replacement ever since.

Many groups, including Faculty Senate, Staff Council and several others, believe the same board members that hired Flores and failed to provide oversight should not be the ones to appoint a new leader.

“The faculty has voted no-confidence in this board. They shouldn’t be the ones hiring the new chancellor,” Faculty Senate president Joe Labuda said following an April board meeting.

Pima’s handling of the sexual harassment allegations and lack of board oversight are among the reasons the college is now on probation, according to a report from the Higher Learning Commission, Pima’s accrediting body.

Flores’ interim replacement, Suzanne Miles, resigned after criticism from the HLC, including claims she was not truthful with a team sent to investigate the sexual harassment claims and other issues reported at the college.

Following Miles’ resignation, Pima hired Zelema Harris, a retired St. Louis Community College chancellor, to head the college on an interim basis, while continuing the search for a permanent replacement. Harris’s contract runs through June 30, with a possibility to extend to Aug. 23.

The college now seems poised to appoint Lee to fill the position. The board held an executive session on May 15 to discuss contract negotiations with Lambert, according to an agenda posted on Pima’s website.

A board meeting is scheduled for May 17 at 11 a.m. to “select a successful finalist for chancellor position.” Lambert has been the only finalist named by the college.

However, not everyone involved in the chancellor search believes Lambert should take over PCC.

A group of representatives from Pima’s faculty, staff and administrators released a statement expressing a lack of faith in any of the candidates for the position.

“We do not wish to have a full-time chancellor who has lesser credentials than the current interim chancellor,” the statement said, referring to Harris.

Unlike Harris, Lambert does not have experience handling large multi-campus institutions such as Pima, nor does he have experience dealing accreditation issues. But Harris has said she has no desire to stay at Pima beyond August.

“While we regret this situation and appreciate the good-faith participation of these candidates in this process, we cannot recommend a candidate,” the statement concluded.

Much of the feedback from faculty, staff and administrators for Lambert was positive, with many citing “success working at previous institutions with major challenges” as one of his leading strengths, according to survey results posted online.

But not everyone agreed.

Some felt that Lambert’s lack of experience with large institutions or an elected board, a failure to grasp the severity Pima’s probation, and a “ sizable ego” were reasons why he should not be the one to lead the college.

Students, community hold rally to support Pima

Demonstrators march down Broadway Boulevard in a show of support for Pima Community College. Aztec Press photo.

By ANDREW PAXTON

More than 150 students, faculty, staff and members of the community held a solidarity rally and then marched to show support for Pima Community College and a desire for change.

The rally began at 5:30 p.m. at Burns Park on May 8, the same day as a scheduled Board of Governors’ meeting.

The rally was a response to Pima being placed on probation by the Higher Learning Commission, the college’s accrediting body, after a team of investigators discovered a “culture of fear” and numerous other institutional failings during a visit in January.

Organizers detailed to the audience the findings of the HLC report, including that the board failed to act with integrity and demonstrate good leadership during the tenure of former chancellor Roy Flores, who retired amid a sexual harassment scandal involving several women.

Many groups, including organizations representing the faculty, staff and employees of Pima, as well as students and members of the media, including Aztec Press, have asked for members of the board to step down.

The four board members who served during the former chancellor’s tenure, Brenda Even, Scott Stewart, David Longoria and Marty Cortez, have also faced resolutions of no confidence from many of the same groups following the release of the HLC’s findings.

The only board member who has not faced calls for resignation or votes of no confidence is Sylvia Lee, who was elected to the board last year after retiring as a campus president from Pima. Lee was one of the first to call for resignations from other members of the board.

Speakers at the rally included student leader Joe McGrath, local businessman Cort Chalfant and Joe Labuda, president of the faculty senate.

“This board has been much more stubborn than we ever thought,” said Labuda. “I guess it has a lot to do with all the mistakes they made, they’re still counting them,” he said.

“Regardless of the board, we have a culture to change, we have policies and procedures to change, and a lot of things that are affecting a lot of people in our community that we need to change,” McGrath told the crowd.

“Pima deserves a functional Board of Governors, and the greater Tucson community demands it,” Chalfant said.

Labuda also stated there have been attempts to intimidate faculty and staff for speaking out.

“The hell with that,” Labuda said.

“We have First Amendment rights. This isn’t a political issue. This has to do with our school, and those people need to go. There is one reason why we are on probation, and it’s those four people over there,” he said, referring to the Flores-era board members.

At the conclusion of the rally, the group began marching, making their way to PCC’s district office, where a Board of Governors’ meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m.

The group chanted “One, two, three, four, time for B-O-G to go,” and “What do we want? Change. When do we want it? Now.” Many of the marchers held signs asking the board members to resign and demanding improvements for the college.

Once at the district office, many of the demonstrators proceeded inside to the meeting and prepared to address the board during public comments.

However, members of the board began the meeting by speaking directly to the audience about many of the concerns that led to hundreds attending the meeting.

“I am confident that Pima will successfully address these issues and we will get off the probationary status,” Even, governing board chairperson, told the assembly.

Even also acknowledged that many in the crowd were in attendance to see if any board members planned on resigning.

“I don’t plan to resign,” she said after apologizing for any role she may have played in the HLC placing Pima on probation.

She also expressed desire to work with everyone to rebuild trust and move forward through the probationary period together with faculty, students and the community.

Next to address the audience was Longoria, who said he felt “compelled” to speak after the issues were raised at previous board meetings.

“Let me say first, unequivocally, that I have no intention of resigning my post,” Longoria said.

“I am more resolved than ever to remain, work with the HLC, and help take the necessary and recommended measures for a corrective course of action that leads to the removal of probation.”

Cortez was the next to speak to the gathering and was the only one of the four who left open the possibility of resigning.

“At this point, I would like to continue to serve Pima,” Cortez said. “Resigning is always an option, I think, for any elected official, in any point in time.”

She went on to apologize and take responsibility for her “lack of oversight which contributed to tremendous hurt to many.” Cortez also “pledged to ensure nothing like this happens again,” on her watch.

Stewart was the last of the four embattled board members to speak, and began his dialogue much like Longoria.

“I, too, will not be resigning,” he said. He also apologized for whatever role he may have played in Pima being placed on probation.

Lee then addressed her fellow board members, and suggested that Even step down as chairperson, calling her tenure in the position a “lightening rod.” She suggested that Cortez take over as chairperson.

During public comments, many members of the audience rejected the apologies from most of the board members and reiterated their demands for resignation.

“Mr. Longoria, the tone of your message, your body language, and the message itself, from my perspective, is arrogant,” Chalfant said. “Dr. Even, your apology was one of the most hollow apologies I have ever heard, it was disingenuous, and I reject it,” he said.

However, Chalfant believed Cortez was honest and sincere during her comments.

“Ms. Cortez, I know you hurt inside. Thank you for your apology. I accept it,” Chalfant said. But he did not rescind his demand that they resign.

“Each of the four of you really do need to step down for the good of the college.”

“You do not represent us, you are not representing us, and you have not represented us,” McGrath added. “That’s why we are asking you to step down.”

McGrath told the board he has no intention of going anywhere either, and would do whatever it takes to remove them from power, including initiating a recall election. He told them about the hardships he faced growing up and put his current challenge in perspective.

“Hard for me was going to the poorest inner-city schools in Phoenix. Signing my life away for four years to the Army was hard. Going to war, not knowing if I would see my family again, that was hard. Getting back in the truck after we had been blown up, that was hard,” he said.

“Getting rid of you will not be hard,” McGrath told the board. “I promise you.”

Interim chancellor upbeat about Pima’s future

Interim Chancellor Zelema Harris

By CHELO GRUBB

Zelema Harris, Pima Community College’s new interim chancellor, is confident Pima will have its probation lifted.

“The people want it, they’re desperate,” Harris said. “They know they have to get off of probation. This college is so entrenched in this community; there is no way we can let it lose its accreditation.

“You’re talking about really major things that will have to occur here, but they’re possible,” Harris said.

Harris, who has been very vocal about her confidence in the college’s future, compared telling the community the college will get off of probation to smokers telling friends and family they’re going to quit.

“You tell everybody,” Harris said. “It’s a declaration and it will drive you to do the right thing.”

Harris received many awards throughout her career, including the Athena Award for Outstanding Business/Professional Woman from the Champaign County Illinois Chamber of Commerce and CEO of the Year from the Association of Community College Trustees.

She got her start in community colleges in the ’70s, when she took an interest in minority students who didn’t fit into a typical university mold.

The opening line of her master’s thesis was, “College, man you must be kidding,” a quote she got from a student.

“These were the students I wanted to serve,” Harris said.

Harris is a firm believer in positive influence. When she started working on helping students with lower ACT scores, she looked at other programs around the country. Many were connected with discouraging terms, including “experimental.”

Harris opted to call her program “Supportive Educational Services,” and dubbed her students urban scholars.

She thinks the same subtle, positive attitude is important to be a successful head of the college.

“Leadership is important on the part of the board, the CEO, everyone, but it is the person in this seat that creates the environment where people can flourish and do well, or they can hide their talents,” Harris said.

The finalists in Pima’s search for a new chancellor have been announced and started making visits to the college, but Harris still intends to be active in Pima’s community.

“The more I know about Pima, the more I can advocate for it,” Harris said. “I need to get out and hear from the people. What are their questions? What are their fears? What do they want this college to become?”

Harris’ contract has her at the college until the new chancellor in place, currently making her final day June 30. Should the college need more time to get a new chancellor to the college, it has the option to extend her contract through Aug. 23.

“It is not my intention to stay beyond that date,” Harris said in a recent email to all Pima employees. “I am here to get the college off to a good start. I am not here to keep the chancellor’s chair warm until a permanent successor is chosen.”

Harris thinks her temporary status gives her a slight advantage.

“I don’t have family here, I don’t have any distractions. All I do is work, and I go home and I work,” Harris said.

“It’s really nice to be focused because if I was entrenched in the community I might not be able to do the kind of work that needs to be done in this short period of time.”

Graduation speaker started college at 16

PCC 2013 graduation speaker Josh Place

By ANDREW PAXTON

When Josh Place, 20, enrolled at Pima Community College, he was only 16 years old. He had been home-schooled his entire life, going to his local high school mostly to participate on the football and track teams.

Four years later, he will be sharing his experiences with his fellow graduates as the commencement speaker, expressing what he has learned from his time in college.

“People, no matter how strange or extravagant they may seem, are all capable of incredible things,” Place said in a preview of the speech provided to Aztec Press.

Most Pima students remember the anxiety and anticipation they felt coming onto campus for the first time. For Place, it was even more intimidating.

“It was a big change,” he said. “Even for most people going from high school to college it’s a big change, but for me it was double.”

However, he wouldn’t alter the way he was educated for a chance to have a typical education at a public high school.

“I don’t see myself being able to dual-enroll at Pima if I hadn’t been home-schooled,” Place said.

He earned a 4.0 GPA his first semester at PCC and decided to keep working hard to maintain his grades. He was finished with his general education credits at the age when most people are finishing high school.

He switched his major three times before finally choosing to pursue an associate of applied science degree in integrated circuit layout design. Place credits an instructor at West Campus with helping him decide.

“He came into my class and explained the integrated circuitry program,” Place said. “I had no previous electronic classes.”

Place now hopes to transform that chance encounter into a career as an integrated layout designer, after four semesters in the program. One other student will complete the program alongside Place.

“There is a huge demand for graduates from the program,” Place said.

Pima is one of a handful of institutions in the country that offers the program, which is a partnership with Texas Instruments.

Place will also receive an associate general studies degree and a drafting advanced certificate, graduating top of his class with a 3.9 GPA.

“Pima has given me everything I need to go to work as soon as I graduate,” he said.

He may have to move to California or Texas for his career, due to larger markets and higher demand.

When Place isn’t in the classroom, he finds plenty of other activities to occupy what little free time he has. Saturdays he works for a small pottery business creating unique bowls and sculptures.

“I’m the only employee,” he said.

His boss builds metal sculptures and Place works the clay, creating a “mixed media” experience.

“We do all kinds of flowers, art stuff, bowls, and lots of other pieces,” Place said.

He also plays guitar at his church, where he was “thrown into” the leadership position.

“I didn’t know anything about guitar and was told I’m going to be leading the guitar, which was definitely a struggle,” he said. “But it gave me a great opportunity to take on a challenge.”

Place was 15 at the time, the youngest member of the group, and said the experience would prove invaluable during his time in college.

“It taught me how to deal with people, especially since I am usually always the youngest person in my class at Pima, and for some reason people want to compete with me.”

Place also owns a classic Ford Mustang that he would like to fix up, though he admits he hasn’t had much time to work on it recently with all his other commitments.

All of his experiences have led to the once-in-a-lifetime chance to be Pima’s commencement speaker.

“I am so lucky and grateful for all the opportunities Pima has given me,” Place said.

Experts offer opinions, advice on Pima’s future

By ANDREW PAXTON

Pima Community College brought in two experts to explain to students, faculty and staff exactly what probation means for the college, and what steps should be taken in the future.

The college held a series of forums May 2-3 to share insights with the community

Speakers were Karen Solomon, a vice president with the Higher Learning Commission, which is Pima’s accrediting body, and Cecilia Lopez, a retired associate chancellor for accreditation in Chicago.

The forums concluded with a governing board meeting that featured the two specialists sharing information directly with the college’s elected leaders.

The meeting began with an introduction from Mary Ann Martinez Sanchez, vice provost and accreditation liaison officer for PCC.

“This is an introduction and review for us as a college in terms of accreditation criteria, probation, timelines we are facing, and information from experts who have dealt with colleges in live circumstances,” Sanchez said.

Solomon started her presentation by introducing herself and explaining the role of the HLC and why colleges apply to be accredited members.

“This is a membership organization,” Solomon said of the HLC. “We are not a federal entity.

Our membership is the group that actually makes decisions, takes on excess policy, builds the criteria for accreditation and reviews the institutions.”

The HLC is also the organization that placed Pima on probation, following the recommendation from a review team that visited the college to investigate accusations including sexual harassment by the former chancellor, a hostile work environment, improper changes of the college’s mission statement and failings by the governing board.

After providing background information, Solomon explained the timeline Pima should follow to remove sanctions and maintain accreditation.

The college must file a monitoring report to the HLC by Aug. 1. Interim Chancellor Zelema Harris has assigned the provost’s office, led by Jerry Migler, to prepare Pima’s response to being placed on probation.

In July 2014, a self-study report is due for a comprehensive evaluation. The college must submit a report identifying how Pima meets the criteria for accreditation and provide supporting evidence.

Pima “must also submit a report identifying the issues of concern which put the college on probation, and how they have been resolved,” Solomon said.

In September of that year, the HLC will send a team to conduct a comprehensive evaluation. The team will review both the college’s monitoring report and self-study report, plus visit the different campuses and interview administrators, faculty and students to collect information.

The team will write a recommendation to be submitted to another set of reviewers, known as the Institutional Action Council, Solomon explained.

The IAC will then conduct a hearing, where representatives from Pima will have the opportunity to travel to Chicago to explain in person how the college has progressed.

The IAC hearing will be held in December 2014 or January 2015.

Solomon also explained that the college would have an opportunity to submit additional reports after each evaluation by the HLC.

“Your institution will not be done evolving in July 2014,” Solomon told the board. “Many changes will continue to take place. You have the opportunity to keep inserting those changes into the record all the way up until the time the board meets,” she said.

At the end of February 2015, the HLC board will review the recommendations from the team that visits Pima and the IAC committee and make a determination on next steps for Pima.

“In a best case scenario, (Pima) would then be removed from probation,” Solomon said. Ongoing monitoring may still be required if the HLC has lingering concerns, even if probation is lifted.

The board could also decide that PCC has made some progress, but still needs to be on some sort of sanction. The HLC could then decide to place Pima on Notice or Show-Cause.

If placed on Notice, Pima must address specific areas identified by the HLC and continue being monitored and evaluated for those explicit concerns, but would not be subject to further comprehensive review.

If the college does not make the changes needed, it may be placed on Show-Cause. Solomon explained that this is the “last step” before having accreditation withdrawn by HLC, but offers the college one last chance to show they should not have accreditation removed.

The HLC board could also decide to remove the college’s accreditation immediately following their meeting.

“There are a wide range of potential outcomes here. It depends on where (Pima) is and how it evolves between now and February 2015,” Solomon said.

Solomon detailed the criteria that directly related to Pima’s governing board, and some of the expectations of the HLC for the college’s leaders.

She then turned the presentation over to Lopez, the retired accreditation expert, who explained how important collecting evidence will be when reporting to the HLC.

Lopez related a personal experience involving diversity, and how her former college confronted the issues it was facing. Conversations were initiated in every class to get students and faculty involved in the process.

“If you expose students to what you want them to learn, they will,” Lopez said. “We have the evidence for it.”

Added Solomon, “We expect our institutions to provide information and be transparent with information being provided to the student body and constituents.”

Lopez began her final statement with a simple question to the board: “Can Pima address the issues, and will it?”

She suggested that the probation period Pima is under can be viewed as an opportunity to grow and become more effective in the future.

Lopez said that trust, respect and hope need to be reintroduced at the college.

“Such a change clearly is not going to happen overnight, and it will not happen easily, but it can happen,” she said.

She urged everyone involved with the college to “collaborate, communicate, and cooperate” with respect about their different opinions, and listen to each other to move forward.

“There are thousands of current and future students who are depending on you,” Lopez said. “I would suggest that failure simply is not an option. It is not an option for your students. It is not an option for this community.”

Chancellor search finalists announced

By CHELO GRUBB

Pima Community College is accepting input from community members invested in the selection of the college’s new chancellor.

The college will be considering comments on “chancellor feedback forms.” The forms, which can be found on Pima’s website, ask commenters to identify their their perceptions of the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses.

Pima’s search committee, made up of representatives from the college board, faculty and members of the community, has named four finalists for the position. The finalists’ visits to the college have already begun.

The board is expected to select a new chancellor in May, despite community concern that the college’s accreditor won’t lift Pima’s probation if the current controversial board members select him or her (See related story Page 1).

The chancellor search tab on Pima’s website has information about the four finalists, the consultant that helped pick the finalists and the timeline for the new chancellor to be in place.

Terrence Burgess

Terrence Burgess, president since 2001 at San Diego City College, is retiring there after more than 30 years in the California higher education system.

Since 1995, Burgess has served on nine teams that evaluated colleges’ compliance with accreditation standards.

Lee Lambert

Lee Lambert has been the president of Shoreline Community College since 2006. He is a lawyer who spent several years working with human resources and overseeing detection and prevention of sexual harassment.

This experience contrasts with Pima’s recent troubles, as sexual harassment claims against the former chancellor were among the factors that led to PCC being put on probation.

Greg Smith

Greg Smith, who has a Ph.D. in experimental social psychology from the University of Denver, is currently an accreditation reviewer.

Previously, Smith was an administrator at the Community College of Denver.

Elñora Webb

Elñora Webb earned a Ph.D. in education from the University of California-Berkeley. She has been the president of Laney College for three years. The college was placed on probation from 2010-11 due to issues that occurred before Webb took over.

However, a less serious “warning” sanction was imposed on the college in 2011 and 2012 due to inadequate assessment of financial decisions. Webb has said the problem has been fixed and the sanction should be lifted soon.

Longtime pals retiring

PCC instructors Anthony “Tony” Pitucco and Stu Barr.

By CELESTE ORENDAIN

Two great friends who have each taught at Pima Community College for more than 35 years will both retire this month.

West Campus physics instructor Anthony “Tony” Pitucco and humanities instructor Stu Barr say it is time to move on, though they will continue to teach part-time.

“You’ve got to grow, everyone has to grow,” Pitucco said.

Pitucco started at PCC in 1971 as a temporary teaching assistant. He was hired full time in 1973 as a physics laboratory technician, and became a full-time instructor in 1978.

Barr started at Pima as a student, and was inspired to become a teacher after taking a class with Pitucco. Barr was hired as an adjunct instructor in 1978 and became full time in 1987.

Both have served as department chairs, and were active in numerous committees and programs.

The two longtime friends share similar beliefs, including a preference for teaching without technology.

“Professor means to know,” Barr said. “I don’t teach as a machine.”

They also prefer face-to-face interaction with students. Pitucco called online classes “impersonal.”

During their years as instructors, Pitucco and Barr attended conferences together and spent 10 years taking students to Europe.

They socialized off the job, as well, and weren’t above playing practical jokes.

On a trip to Canada, the two became separated while waiting in line to cross the border. Barr reached the immigration official first, and was asked whether he taught science.

His reply: “No, the guy in the back teaches science, and he has a monkey in his suitcase.”

When Pitucco approached the official, she asked about his monkey.

“What monkey?” asked an understandably confused Pitucco. When he saw Barr laughing, he added, “Oh, did you listen to that guy?”

Barr also resorted to trickery to convince Pitucco to teach a philosophy class. After Pitucco repeatedly declined, Barr used computer scheduling to assign him anyway.

When the two met to drink coffee, Barr asked Pitucco why he was there instead of teaching his class.

“I don’t have any class,” Pittuco said. When he checked his schedule, he was surprised to learn he not only had a philosophy class but that enrollment was full.

He worried he wasn’t prepared, with no syllabus and no textbook, but Barr convinced him to give it a try. Pittuco has continued to teach philosophy ever since.

Both instructors say they will miss their students.

“We see a lot of our students go on to earn their doctorates,” Pitucco said.

The two plan to donate all of their textbooks to the physics lab, but it’s doubtful anyone will want their office furnishings.

“We got all of our furniture from the halls. It was stuff the college was going to throw away,” Barr said with a laugh. “That is how we built our bookshelves and our entire offices.”

Avoid skin cancer with prevention, early detection

By JORGE ENCINAS

With summer fast approaching, prevention and early detection become key in the fight against skin cancer.

Experts offer four key suggestions: avoid the most light-intensive hours of the day, apply sunscreen, cover up and don’t use indoor tanning beds.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Treatments cost Americans $1.7 billion every year.

Lisa Quale, health educator at the Skin Cancer Institute in Tucson, said many cases of skin cancer can be avoided.

“Most are caused by ultraviolet exposure from the sun and are generally seen as preventable,” she said during a phone interview.

“The best way to prevent excessive exposure is to avoid outdoor activity between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,” Quale said. “Definitely try to get things done early in the morning or late in the afternoon.”

“Use a sunscreen with 30 SPF or higher,” she added. Read the label to confirm that it is broad spectrum, meaning it protects from both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should also have one of the following ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or avobenzone.

In addition, check the Environmental Protection Agency’s daily UV index before heading outdoors.

“Five and under is low to moderate,” Quale said. “Six and above is high, and you really want to be covering up.”

Tucson reached an extreme UV index rating of 11 on April 21, resulting in a UV alert.

The sun is not the only source of UV exposure. Indoor tanning booths that use UV lights also concern health officials.

“Just one indoor UV tanning session increases users’ chances of developing melanoma by 20 percent,” according to a press release from the Skin Cancer Foundation. “Each additional session during the same year boosts the risk almost another 2 percent.”

Experts also warn that damaging UV rays are still present even when there’s no direct sunlight.

“People get UV exposure on a cloudy day because they don’t feel it and don’t think about it,” Quale said.

There are three common types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas are considered highly curable, while melanoma is far more dangerous.

Experts recommend that people pay attention to their skin. Conduct regular self-examinations to keep track of any changes in appearance.

Problems to note include asymmetrical abnormalities, changing borders, varying color in one spot and a mole diameter larger than a pencil eraser.

“Do a check once a month,” Quale said. “If you never look at your skin, you’ll never know what’s different.”

Dispensers provide free sun screen

As part of an ongoing Protect Your Skin program, Tucson venues have partnered with the University of Arizona Cancer Center to provide free sunscreen via dispensers.

Local venues participating include:

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

• Biosphere 2
• Pima Air and Space Museum
• Reid Park Zoo
• Saguaro National Park
• Tohono Chul Park
• Tucson Botanical Gardens
• Tucson Jewish Community Center
• Tucson Presidio Trust for Historical Preservation

Details: click here.

FYI

There are three types of UV rays:

• UVA – Most common at Earth’s surface and can reach beyond the top layer of human skin.
• UVB – Absorbed by the ozone layer and not as common as UVA, but still present on surface.
• UVC – Very dangerous, but absorbed by the ozone layer and do not reach the surface.

Other ingredients to look for in sunscreen:

• Cinoxate
• Ecamsule
• Menthyl anthranilate
• Octyl methoxycinnamate
• Octyl salicylate
• Oxybenzone
• Sulisobenzone

PIMA NEWS

West Campus hires student life coordinator

Grace Fama has been hired as the West Campus student life coordinator at Pima Community College.

Fama, who previously worked at PCC as an academic advisor, holds a master’s degree in student affairs administration and a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“I am really excited about my new position,” Fama said. “I have worked in student involvement and leadership development at other colleges, and this kind of work is my passion.”

Her work in advising gave her an opportunity to learn more about the student experience at Pima, Fama said, adding, “I’m thrilled to be able to work with student leaders at West.”

Fama said she is looking for new ways to use new tools that are available to simplify processes and connect with more students.

Cierra Nealy, the West Campus student government secretary and a student life intern, looks forward to working with Fama.

“I think she is really nice and can have a great impact on the student body,” Nealy said. “She can help strengthen us in stability.”

-By Celeste Orendain

East Campus student life coordinator retires

East Campus student life coordinator Constance Strickland retired March 7 after a career of 35 years at Pima Community College.

Strickland started as a clerical services specialist at East Campus in 1978. Her duties expanded as student activities coordinator in 1997.

In 2001, Strickland reached beyond Pima to students in the K-12 curriculum as an acting coordinator.

This spring, she initiated a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at East Campus in January and coordinated with the student government for a leadership conference in February.

East Campus has not appointed a new student life coordinator.

-By Cole Potwardowski

Campus Coverage

Desert Vista Campus

Compiled by Nellie Silva

Shoe memorial

Desert Vista Campus students have installed a public art exhibition of shoes placed in a tree to commemorate significant people in their lives.

In the Tree of Soles Project, students in adjunct faculty member Elizabeth Burke’s ART 105 class placed shoes at the northwest corner of campus on April 17. The display will continue through May 12.

For more information, call 206-4500.

Downtown Campus

Compiled by Sheila Templeton

Audubon lecture

Charles van Riper of the Tucson Audubon Society will present a lecture, “Living With Nature,” on May 13 at 7 p.m. in the Amethyst Room.

The free lecture will focus on the challenges migratory birds face during their travels, and what is being done to assist them.

For more details, call 209-1812 or visit tucsonaudubon.org/news-events.

East Campus

Compiled by Cole Potwardowski

Newbie orientation

East Campus will host a new student orientation on May 7 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the lower computer commons.

Eligible students must complete a college admission application and the reading, writing and math assessments.

The campus will hold three additional orientations this month: one on May 10 and two on May 17.

Northwest Campus

Compiled by Paloma Mello

Summer movies

Northwest Campus student life and the YMCA will sponsor outdoor movies at the campus second level this summer. The movies are free and open to the public.

“The Tangled” will play June 28, while “Wreck it Ralph” will show July 12. Both showings are from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

For details, call 206-2131 or email studentlifenwc@pima.edu.

West Campus

Compiled by Celeste Orendain

Stress relief

West Campus will host stress relief activities during finals week May 9-14.

Relaxing activities including yoga, Just Dance movement and arts and crafts by Ben’s Bell’ will be held in the student life office and in the cafeteria area at various times.

For more information, contact the student life office at 206-6762.

Aztec Calendar: May 2-15

CAMPUS EVENTS

May 2: PCC Wind Ensemble. 7:30 p.m. West Campus CFA Proscenium Theatre. Tickets: $6. Box office: 206-6986.

May 3: Spring fashion show featuring student fashion designs. 7 p.m. West Campus CFA Proscenium Theatre. $5 suggested donation. Details: 206-6986.

May 5: PCC Chorale & College Singers. 3 p.m. West Campus CFA Proscenium Theatre. Tickets: $6. Box office: 206-6986.

May 9: Poetry reading by West Campus poetry students. 7 p.m. CFA Recital Hall. Free copy of “Anklam Road Review” and refreshments.

May 10-11: Dance Fusion II. Friday: 7:30 p.m., Saturday: 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m. West Campus CFA Proscenium Theatre. Tickets: $10. Box office: 206-6986.

May 12: PCC Orchestra. 3 p.m. West Campus CFA Proscenium Theatre. Tickets: $6. Box office: 206-6986.

May 13-14: Digital video and film screening. 7 p.m. West Campus CFA Proscenium Theatre. Free.

May 15: SandScript 2013 unveiling ceremony. 7 p.m. West Campus Amethyst Room. Details: jcochran1@pima.edu

May 16: Graduation ceremony. 7 p.m. Tucson Convention Center Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. Free admission. Parking $5. Details: pima.edu/events/graduation or 206-4500.

TUCSON EVENTS

May 3-5: Thirty-ninth Annual Rodders Day Show. Casino Del Sol Resort. Recurring daily.  Details tucsonstreetrodassociation.com.

May 4-5: Tucson Folk Festival. El Presidio Park. Saturday noon-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Free admission. Details: tkma.org.

May 5: Cinco De Mayo Fiesta at the Fort and Tortilla Festival. Presidio San Agustin del Tucson. 10 a.m-3 p.m. Free admission. Details: 791-4865.

May 11: National Train Day at Southern Arizona Transportation Museum. Historic Train Depot. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. Details: 623-2223.

May 12: “Tucson’s Best” Showcase-Indie Rock Addition at The Rialto Theater. The Rialto Theater. Doors open at 6 p.m. $10 advance, $12 day of. Details 740-1000.

May 12: Mother’s Day at Tohono Chul. Tohono Chul. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission for mothers and grandmothers. Details 742-6455.

May 12: Celebration of Saturn. Kitt Peak National Observatory. 4:30-9 p.m. $45 adults, $25 ages 6-16. Details and registration 318-8726.

May 18: The British Invasion. Pima Air and Space Museum. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $15.50 ages 13 and up, discounts available. Details  574-0462.

May 18: FC Tucson vs. SoCal Seahorses. Kino Sports Complex. 7:30 p.m. Prices and details 800-609-3414.

May 24-27: Spacefest V. JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa. $20 general admission each day, $50 for four day pass. Times and details 792-3500.

May 24-July 12: Summer Safari Nights at Reid Park Zoo. Reid Park Zoo. Fridays 5-8 p.m. Details 881-4753.

May 26-September 1: Science Sundays at Children’s Museum Tucson. Children’s Museum Tucson. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. recurring every Sunday. $2 admission. Details 792-9985.

PIMA HOME SPORTS

May 5-10:  Women’s tennis @ NJCAA National Championships, Reffkin Tennis Center, TBA

LIVE MUSIC

May 1: Machine Gun Kelly, at The Rialto. 7 p.m. doors/ 8 p.m. show time. All ages. $20 gen. admission adv./$22 gen. admission day of show.

May 4: KFMA Day: The Killers, Cake, Bad Religion, Minus The Bear, Black Veil Brides, Middle Class Rut, and Dead Sara, at Kino Stadium 2500 E. Ajo Way. Gates open at noon. All ages. $39 + service fee. Tickets: kfma.com.

May 11: The Millionaires, at The Rock, 136 N Park. 6 p.m. show time. All ages. $12.

May 18: Primus, at The Rialto. 7 p.m. doors/ 8 p.m. show time. All ages. $39 gen. admission adv./ $41 gen. admission day of show. $41 day of show.

May 20: Big Boi (Shoes for Running 2013 World Tour) Special Guest Killer Mike, at The Rialto. 7 p.m. doors/ 8 p.m. show time. All ages. $25 gen. admission adv./ $28 gen. admission day of show.

May 23: LL Cool J, at the AVA amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Road. 8 p.m. show time. $35-$85.

May 28: Lamb Of God with Decapitated Terror. Where? 6:30 p.m. doors/ 7:45 p.m. show time. All ages. $29 gen. admission adv./ $31 gen. admission day of show.

June 7: Alice Cooper with Marilyn Manson, at The AVA amphitheater. 7 p.m. show time. $35-$75.

July 26: The Maine, at The Rock. 7 p.m. show time. All ages.

July 27: Authority Zero with Ballyhoo, at The Rock. 6:30 p.m. show time. All ages. $15.

MOVIE OPENINGS

Theater releases:

May 3:

“Iron Man 3”

May 10:

“The Great Gatsby”

May 17:

“Star Trek Into Darkness”

“Erased”

“The English Teacher”

DVD/Blue-ray releases:

 May 7:

“Jack Reacher”

“Safe Haven”

“Mama”

 May 14:

“Texas Chainsaw 3D ”

“Cloud Atlas”

VIDEO GAME RELEASES

May 2:

“The Denpa Men 2: Beyond the Waves” (3DS)

 “Might and Magic Heroes VI: Shades of Darkness” (PC)

May 6:

 “Residue” (PC)

May 9:

“Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move” (3DS)

May 10:

 “Ballpoint Universe” (PC)

May 14:

“Metro: Last Light” (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

May 16:

 “Mega Man 5” (3DS)

May 21:

 “LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes” (Wii U)

 “Resident Evil Revelations” (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

 “Sniper Elite V2” (Wii U)

May 24:

 “Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D” (3DS)

May 28:

 “Fuse” (Xbox 360, PS3)

 “Grid 2” (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

June 4:

 “Remember Me” (Xbox 360, PS3)

June 11:

 “Dark” (Xbox 360, PC)

June 14:

 “The Last of Us” (PS3)

June 25:

 “Deadpool” (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

College expanding security warning systems

By ANDREW PAXTON

Pima Community College is continuing to expand security systems in the wake of assaults that have taken place on or near Downtown Campus.

Keith McIntosh, vice chancellor for information technology, explained the security systems in place and others being explored during an April 25 governing board meeting.

McIntosh said existing systems need to be expanded or updated.

The college’s voiceover IP phone system was never intended to be used as an emergency communication system, he noted.

“I think it’s important for you guys to understand that of 2,700 phones, we can only really maximize and reach 900 on a paging zone,” he said.

McIntosh said his team is exploring the costs of upgrading the system so all phones could be utilized during a campus emergency.

The team is also exploring use of email, social media and text messages to notify students, faculty and staff of situations.

“My suggestion would be to have a multi-modal type of communication, meaning that we don’t put all our eggs in one basket,” McIntosh said.

Pima expanded its email notification system following a January assault at Downtown Campus. Only students and employees associated with Downtown Campus were notified about that incident.

College-wide bulletins were issued after additional assaults at Downtown Campus on March 17 and April 23.

David Bea, executive vice chancellor for administration and finance, also detailed the need to expand notification systems.

“Email actually takes a long time to get a message out to all students,” he said. “The advantage of a text message is that you can immediately send a message out.”

Pima is also exploring a plan to change door locks to allow faculty to secure their classrooms during an emergency. Bea expects implementation to begin by July.

The administrators told the board they expect the paging system and text notification system to be in place within three to six months. More advanced training and system implementation will require nine months “to do it right.”

“I think it’s a function of a new era of communicating, and we just need to learn how to do it,” Bea said. “I don’t foresee that’s a problem whatsoever.”

Convocation selects student speakers

Pima Community College has chosen three students to speak during its annual diversity celebration for graduates.

The Multicultural Convocation will take place May 9 from 6-9 p.m.at West Campus.

The program will begin at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium, then move to the Palm Courtyard at 7 p.m.

The three student speakers are:

Sarha H. Beltran: Volunteer writing tutor at Desert Vista Campus and volunteer student aide at the West Campus Academic Computer Commons. Beltran was born in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico.

Patricia E. Mares: Volunteer for Tucson Medical Center pediatrics, Grace Community Church GO outreach center for refugees, Safe Kids USA and Girls on the Run. Her family is Yaqui, and from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. She is applying for membership in the local Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

Lauren M. Dautrich: Disney College Program intern and regular participant in the Pima Writer’s Workshop.

The speakers were chosen from more than a dozen applicants. The evaluation was based on applications, interviews and recitations of their draft speeches.

The Multicultural Convocation includes international and multicultural themed entertainment, food and beverages. It is open to all PCC graduates in an academic year.

-By Paloma Mello

Faculty, staff receive 1-3% pay increases

By ANDREW PAXTON

Pima Community College’s faculty, staff and non-executive administrators will receive a raise for the 2013-14 fiscal year, following a vote by the college’s governing board.

The board approved the raises by a 4-1 vote at their April 19 special meeting, after hearing several options from David Bea, Pima’s vice chancellor for financial administration.

The vote had originally been planned for the board’s April 10 meeting. The members unanimously voted to postpone their decision so they could further study the costs and benefits of the proposed increases.

The raises include a 1 percent increase for non-executive administrators, a 2 percent increase for exempt staff and a 3 percent increase for faculty and non-exempt staff.

Pima’s 12 executive administrators will not receive a salary increase. However, they will receive a 0.5 percent pay supplement to offset increases in retirement costs.

The board’s decision not to raise executive salaries comes on the heels of another vote, which changed the structure of senior administrator’s contracts from two years to one year.

During their April 10 meeting, the board voted 4-1 to restructure the contracts after receiving a recommendation from then-interim chancellor Suzanne Miles.

“No other community college in Arizona has multi-year contracts for these types of executive administrators outside of the highest ranking executive administrator in their organization,” Miles wrote.

Summertime rains cats and dogs

By CORYNN MARSH

During each school year, thousands of students move out of their parents’ houses into their own.

Some students decide to adopt a pet while living on their own, but can’t bring the animal with them when they return to their parents’ home during the summer. Others just can’t care for their pets anymore, and give them to an animal shelter.

The Southern Arizona Humane Society, located at 5311 E. Speedway Blvd., calls summer the busiest time of year for pet abandonment.

“We get slammed with abandoned puppies and kittens every day,” employee Sara Gromley said. “Summer is a very good time if you’re ready to open your heart to accept a puppy or kitten into your home.”

The Humane Society Summer uses the summer months to inform the public about spaying and neutering animals so populations don’t get out of hand.

“Summer is the breeding season,” Gromley said. “We get tons of newborns.”

View the Society’s website at hssaz.org for a variety of information, ranging from summer programs to profiles of pets available for adoption.

The Pima Animal Care Center, located at 4000 N. Silverbell Road, receives an average of 85 animals every day. Sometimes the number tops 100.

The shelter accepts donations online at pimaanimalcare.org to help with feeding and caring for animals waiting to be adopted. The shelter also welcomes volunteers.

The Humane Society and Pima Care Center will co-host Royal Dog Days of Summer events on July 16, Aug. 20 and Sept. 17. Each will take place at Royal Buick GMC Cadillac, 815 W. Auto Mall Drive, between 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The events offer free adoptions to people interested in rescuing a dog, and a host of other activities.