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News Link –Oct. 8, 2009
VP for Academic Affairs to Hold Forums on Department Chair Model
The following sessions have been scheduled with Vice President for Academic Affairs Beth Pitonzo to collect feedback and have dialogue regarding the new Department Chair model. The last two scheduled sessions are:
Today, October 8 3 p.m. Main Campus, Max Salazar Hall, Rm. 203
Friday, October 9 10 a.m. Workforce Training Center High Bay
Consider Donating to CNM’s Leading the Way Campaign
The CNM Foundation has officially kicked off this year’s “Leading the Way” employee giving campaign. Leading the Way gives employees the opportunity to make a donation to the charity of their choice, local or national, or to a CNM program or scholarship through the CNM Foundation. The donation, 100 percent of which goes directly to the charity of choice and not to administrative costs, can be payroll deducted and spread evenly across a year of paychecks. If you already donate to an organization on your own, you have the opportunity to do it through Leading the Way. Your donation is tax deductible. With a minimum donation of $1 per pay period, or $24 for the year, you will receive a free camping chair. For the upcoming week, there will be sign-up tables at the following times and locations:
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Thursday, Oct. 8 |
9:00am-11:00am |
JS 2nd Floor |
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Monday, Oct. 12 |
1:00pm-3:00pm |
SSC Food Court |
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Wednesday, Oct. 14 |
9:00am-11:00am |
Westside Campus Rotunda |
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Thursday, Oct. 15 |
1:00pm-3:00pm |
MS Breeze Way |
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Friday, October 16 |
9:00am-11:00am |
Montoya Campus Food Court |
For the complete sign-up table schedule, click here. For more info, call the Foundation at Ext. 4685.
Cookie Gram Campaign Also Under Way
In conjunction with the Leading the Way campaign, the Leading the Way team is also organizing the popular “Cookie Gram” campaign. You can purchase a half-dozen cookies for $5 or a dozen cookies for $10 and have them delivered to one of your favorite co-workers. Funds from the cookies will go to the Rust Opportunity Assistance Fund, which provides emergency assistance to students in need. For more info, call Ext. 4530.
CNM Minute Takes a Look Back at Hispanic Heritage Day
If you were unable to attend CNM’s Hispanic Heritage Day event last week, take a look back at the event through the lens of the CNM Minute by clicking here.
Open/Switch Enrollment Period for Benefits Under Way – Changes Effective January 2010
Open enrollment for vision and dental insurance and switching enrollment for medical and dental insurance is under way. To submit changes please contact your Human Resources Technician to schedule an appointment. The last day to enroll or switch enrollment for the 2010 plan year is October 30. The effective date for these changes will be January 1, 2010. If you have questions regarding benefits, contact Human Resources at Ext. 4600.
CNM’s Cafeteria Plan Can Save You Money on Taxes effective January 2010
By joining CNM’s Cafeteria Plan (Flexible Spending Account), you can guarantee tax savings for yourself, and therefore put more money into your own pocket. Your payroll taxes are calculated at about 25 percent of your pay. When you put some of your salary into the Cafeteria Plan, that 25 percent goes back to your pocket instead of to taxes like federal and state taxes, Medicare, and Social Security. How much would you save?
If you defer this amount: Your pocket receives approximately this:
$2,500 $625
$2,000 $500
$1,500 $375
$1,000 $250
$500 $125
- You can be reimbursed for expenses that aren’t covered by your health plan, along with other out-of pocket expenses like co-pays, prescription costs, and over-the counter medications.
- If you have children in day care, you can pay for day care expenses this way and save lots of money in taxes.
- Deductions for this plan are taken from your paycheck before taxes are taken out and deposited into an account for you. Then you submit receipts for these expenses. The plan reimburses twice each month.
Since 2009, a local firm, The Cafeteria Plan Company, was hired by CNM to administer the plan and will continue to do so for year 2010. To learn more or to enroll please attend one of the briefings scheduled for Friday, October 9, 2009. Identical briefings are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at Main Campus, S Building Room 10. Duration of meeting is approximately one hour. Note that the deadline for enrollment is close of business on Friday, October 30, 2009. Enrollment forms will need to be faxed to Human Resources at Ext. 4710. Forms will be provided with a later communication. If you have questions, contact The Cafeteria Plan Company at 505-822-9300 and ask for Dionne Wright. You may also contact Ms. Wright via email at dwright@rsabq.com.
Remember, Don’t Take the Bait – October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month
October is designated as National Cyber Security Awareness Month to bring attention to the importance of protecting yourself, your family and your organization from online crime. All the members of the CNM community are encouraged to learn more about cyber security and put that knowledge into practice in their homes and at CNM. To learn more about how to avoid getting hooked by fraudulent online activities, please click here.
Flu Hotline, Web Page Available to Monitor Flu Developments and Provide Information
With the flu season at hand, CNM has enacted a Flu Hotline at 224-3FLU (3358) that will provide information for those who might feel ill. It will also help the college monitor any potential outbreaks of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) and it will enable CNM to provide updates in the event that there are large numbers of students or employees absent. There is also a CNM web page, where you can access a variety of information, including frequently asked questions and links to the CDC and New Mexico Department of Health sites.
Volunteers Needed for CNM Hot Air Balloon Chase Crew
CNM Governing Board member Blair Kaufman will once again fly his hot air balloon with the CNM banner during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta from Oct. 3-11. Dean of Students Rudy Garcia will again serve as the crew chief and is inviting employees to volunteer to become part of the chase crew. Crews are needed for the entire fiesta. Only five crew members per day will be allowed to participate due to limited space in the chase vehicle. Crews must be available from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. Employees must take leave for work time missed. Crew members must also be able to ride in the back of the chase vehicle (truck) and have the ability to assist in launching and landing the balloon safely. Only CNM employees can participate due to liability and space issues. If you’re interested, contact the Dean of Students Office at Ext. 4342.
Student Success Workshops Set for Fall Term
CNM is offering several student success workshops for the fall term. These workshops are available to all CNM students, faculty and staff. Space is limited. To RSVP or for more info, call the TRiO office at 224-4375 or e-mail wsmoker@cnm.edu. The workshops are:
Friday, October 9 Financial Aid and Scholarships 9:00-10:30 SB 132
Friday, October 30 Money and Budget Management 10:00 to 11:30 SSC Cafeteria
Friday, Nov 13 Student to Student Q & A 10-11:30 SSC 102
Friday, Nov. 20 Career Exploration 1:30-3:00 SSC 203
WTC Offering Social Networking and Spanish Language Accelerator Training
WTC’s Social Networking for Business and Professionals will encompass the use of social networking for business purposes, focusing on social networking philosophies, tools and activities for business or professional gains. The class will be held on Oct. 20 and Oct. 22 from 3-7 p.m. The WTC is also holding a Language Academy/Language Accelerator-Spanish course on Oct. 26 and Nov. 16 from 5-8 p.m. For more info, call the WTC at Ext. 5200 or view their course offerings by clicking here.
Donate Blood to Save a Life While Contributing to the CNM Foundation
United Way Blood Drives will be held at all CNM campuses next week. Donate blood to save a life and raise money for the CNM Foundation. For every blood donation United Blood Services of New Mexico will make a donation to the CNM Foundation. Here are the dates, locations, times and the contact person for each campus:
Oct. 8 – WTC – 9 a.m. to noon – Evelyn Dow-Simpson, Ext. 5217
Oct. 8 – Westside – 1p.m. to 4 p.m. – Christopher Cavazos, Ext. 5315
Oct. 9 – South Valley – 9 a.m. to noon – Julie Avitia, Ext. 5010
To make an appointment, call 843-6227 Ext.257. Walk-ins are welcome.
Need to Know Your Current Budget Status?
Budget status reports are now available for everyone to obtain through the Argos report writer. You can now access your current budget status in real time, or your budget status as of a particular month, or even for past years. The Office of Planning, Budget and Institutional Research is offering a one-hour training session on how to print your budget status reports in Argos. Anyone may attend, but we encourage those responsible for obtaining budget information for your department to sign up as soon as possible. Please contact Jessica Forbes at ext 3450 or jforbes@cnm.edu. The next training will be held on Oct. 21 from 2-3 p.m. in S-21 on Main Campus.
Insurance Provider, NMPSIA, Seeks Your Input in Advance of Special Legislative Session Regarding Possible Changes to Benefits
In advance of a special session of the New Mexico Legislature in October, CNM’s insurance provider – New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority – is asking for your input about possible benefit changes in the future due to the State of New Mexico’s budget deficit. Please click on the following link to complete a brief NMPSIA survey:
www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ec58TYF97huXwl96or_2fQug_3d_3d.
Seasonal Flu Shots Available from Student Health Center
Students, staff and faculty can get a traditional seasonal flu shot at the Student Health Center for a cost of $12. The Student Health Center is located on Main Campus in the Student Services Center, Room 206. The site is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The flu shots will be made available at the South Valley Campus on Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dates will also be scheduled for Montoya and Westside campuses. The H1N1 vaccine is not yet available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Nominate a Colleague for Employee Excellence Awards
The employee Excellence Award recognizes employees for exceptional contributions to the CNM community. Although CNM has numerous outstanding staff and faculty, this award honors employees who have demonstrated excellence on the job. To nominate an employee or for more info, click the link: http://www.cnm.edu/facstaff/aqip/excellence.php. The deadline to submit a candidate is Oct. 9.
Learn How to Better Serve CNM’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community
Organizational Learning is offering a workshop titled “Serving CNM’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community” on Oct. 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Jeannette Stromberg Hall, Room 202. CNM faculty and staff can attend for free. The workshop will teach CNM employees quality customer service skills applicable to deaf and hard of hearing students and employees. Attendees will learn basic sign language skills, communication techniques and cultural considerations. To register or for more information, visit https://share.cnm.edu/SiteDirectory/ol/Default.htm.
Calendar
Save the Date for School to World Event
The annual School to World event will be held on Feb. 27, 2010, at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Mark your calendars if you plan to participate. For more info, call Ext. 4673.
News Link is a weekly e-newsletter provided by the Marketing and Communications Office for CNM faculty and staff. To submit an item for inclusion, please e-mail theMarketing and Communications Office. Please include “News Link” in the subject line of the e-mail. The deadline for News Link is 3 p.m. Wednesdays.
