Check the web campus calendar for additions to a brimming Music Department schedule of recitals and programs. And, watch for details to come about a Sunday, March 11 (and maybe more) appearance by Fifth House Ensemble, a versatile chamber music ensemble of Chicago-based musicians.

 

Want to vacate? We have a form for that! Here is the link on our Human Resources web pages to our new Vacation/Holiday Request Form for employees classified as “staff.”  Available accrued paid time off is reported on our paycheck stubs, by the way. So, we fill out the form, attach a copy of our most-recent paycheck stub to verify we qualify for the time off, and submit them to our supervisor. Attach completed wellness card if seeking that day.

 

This is what happens when we impress Lilly Endowment with our donor-giving rates: the maximum possible in the 1.5-to-1 match, or, say it slowly and deliciously – 2 million, 700 thousand, 600 and 84 dollars. Our students and the College are rich in so many ways because of our relationship with the Endowment. Thanks to them … and thanks to all who provided the “1” to qualify for the match! “So many donors have gone into this match … it’s just unimaginable,” noted President Switzer, who did finally let go of the check so it could start working its magic on our mission.

 

We’ve made the president’s honor roll. Manchester is among 460 colleges of all sizes nationwide on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The new recognition is intended to increase awareness of the contributions college students are making in their local communities and across the country.

 

We hate to see him go, but want to celebrate Brice Bedke’s 11 years of dedication to the College, including as head athletic trainer. Brice leaves to become product manager for the knee division of Biomet Corp. in Warsaw. The PERC open house on Dec. 12 will include tribute to Brice.

 

Another sob story … Kelly Thompson (registrar’s office) will expand her career at the Center for Life Learning and Leadership on the Marion campus of Indiana Wesleyan University, where she also will work on a bachelor’s degree. And, we might note, cut her commute time almost in half. This from Registrar Lila: “Kelly has been in the Registrar’s Office for four years and has made many valuable contributions to our efforts to provide quality service – we will miss her.” Time’s short to say goodbye: Kelly’s last day is this Friday.

 

Our crèche display goes up this week in the lobby of Wine Recital Hall. The Nativity sets come from all over the world, in sizes large and teeny. Thanks to Dave Friermood (physical plant), Rachel Richey (Campus Store) and Lisa Gregory (alumni) for their display efforts!

 

 

 

Bet this graphic looks familiar … it’s how spammers are filling up our Outlook queues. We’re getting up to 30,000 additional spam messages daily with this latest challenge. Because the content arrives in a graphic, our word-trained spam filter is having a devil of a time blocking it. Just label it spam and delete quickly. ITS is working on it, but realistically, it’s bigger than all of us at the moment.

 

Congratulations to Tim Ogden, who will take the chair of the Department of Accounting and Business on Jan. 1. Jan Fahs has led the department for the past eight years, and now will focus on the accounting program – recruiting, promoting the new 150-hour program, mentoring, and, of course, teaching. Sounds like a great plan to ensure the department’s flagship sails forth strongly!

 

Lana Groombridge sees the possibilities in Melanie DeGrandchamp, who has received the 2006 Realizing the Dream award of the Indiana Educational Facilities Authority (and Lilly Endowment) for outstanding first-generation college students. Lana (exercise/sport science), who nominated the sophomore, predicts she will make a fine teacher, too. Melanie and her favorite high school teacher each received $1,000. Notice how we made Lana look taller than her tall student?

 

Speaking of HR forms. Just about everything available is on our Human Resources website. Here are a few of the topics: Flex enrollment and claims forms, health and dental forms, prescription mail order forms, leave request forms, payroll deduction forms, direct deposit forms, hiring and employee data forms, tuition remission ...

 

The RSVP deadline approaches for staff members planning to attend the traditional holiday Tall Oaks luncheon at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 13. The deadline to RSVP with Allison Keating is this Friday, Dec. 8. Why not do it now, or call x5432.

 

Six of our young brains are in the national undergraduate Putman Competition, taking on the likes of MIT and Harvard, etc. The math/physics/computer science students practiced bi-weekly all semester and spent six hours last Saturday solving 12 “very non-trivial problems,” says Jim Brumbaugh-Smith (mathematics). Results in March. Here’s the lot: Aaditiya (Soni) Bhatia, Sampriya Chandra, Georgi Chunev, Tapash Deb, Pete Dobberstein and Adam Pyle. A few of the contest problems are posted outside SC 141.

 

Manchester stepped up in late October for the professional growth event of the General Board of the Church of the Brethren at its Elgin, Ill., offices. Pastor Jim Chinworth coordinated the worship, with help of student Sarah Hall. Giving presentations:

Tim McElwee (peace studies) – “Peace Studies: Biblical Roots and Academic Pedigree”

Jack Gochenaur, (financial affairs/treasurer) – “Engaging and Effective Board Service”

Jo Switzer – “Leadership: The Synergy of Collaboration”

 

Shopping for fair trade gifts? Here are some websites to consider for clothing, coffee, jewelry, toys, etc.: Fair Trade Federation, Ten Thousand Villages, Global Exchange, the Church of the Brethren's A Greater Gift, and of course, One World Handcrafts in downtown North Manchester.

 

Human Resources

 

Faculty and staff openings: Assistant Professor of English, Administrative Assistant to the Registrar, Campus Store Assistant Manager, Assistant Director of Student Financial Services, Accounts Payable Specialist

Go to job descriptions

 

Take me to Spartan Weekly!

MC's weekly update by Doug Shoemaker, sports information director

 

 

Oldies but still goodies from recent MEMOs 

 

Critical deadline alert: Wednesday, Dec. 20 is the absolute last day to enroll for health benefits. Everybody should have received their enrollment packages from HR by now. (If not, contact Crysta Borden, x5288.) Health and dental coverage end Dec. 31 for employees and dependents who do not indicate their plan choices by Dec. 20.

 

We have video! Missed the health benefit meeting? Need a refresher? The very first session was captured for our viewing pleasure. Here’s the link: mms://media/insurance. Handouts for all of the PowerPoint presentation are available from Human Resources – pick them up before viewing the video. Questions? Dale Carpenter, x5393.

 

Tuition exchange programs. Sandy Bendsen and/or Dave McFadden are our contacts if we (or our dependents) want to study at another school for 2007-2008. 11 of us or our spouses or children are at other colleges – Hanover, Evansville, St. Francis, Franklin, Indianapolis and St. Joseph’s. Actually, there are two programs, CIC Tuition Exchange of the Council of Independent Colleges AND Tuition Exchange, a similar program that requires us to balance the number of students we send out with the number of students coming to MC. (Due to imbalance, we are not eligible to send students for 2007-2008.) Tuition covered depends on employee’s service at MC. (We are hosting eight students of parents at McPherson, St. Francis, Defiance, Franklin and Tri-State AND two students through the Tuition Exchange, from Marian and St. Joseph’s.)

 

Don't forget to register for the Trustees Christmas Party. Train rides on the mall, lots and lots of decorations and lights, horse-drawn wagon rides, displays, trees, music, a storyteller, Santa … and food! Food in a progressive celebration that will take us to five stops around the mall. Thank you Trustees!

Saturday, December 16

4 to 7 p.m.

RSVP by Dec. 11 to Terri Jones x5050 or register online

 

Mark your calendars! for the all-staff meetings, when we’ll recognize service, learn what's going on, do a Q&A with President Switzer and chuckle a bit, although not necessarily in that order. All of the 45-minute meetings start promptly at 8 a.m., with coffee and sweets the half-hour beforehand to give us a chance to chat up folks from other parts of campus we rarely see.

                               Wednesday, Jan. 17

                               Thursday, March 22 (spring break)

                               Thursday, June 28

                               Thursday, Oct. 18 (fall break)

 

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