Announcements

April 2014

Research faculty, staff input sought at forums

Sarah Nusser, vice president for research, is seeking campus input and suggestions for improving research support. Researchers and staff are invited to provide feedback and share ideas at two open forums -- April 30 (8:30-10 a.m., MU Campanile Room) and May 7 (3-4:30 p.m., MU Pioneer Room). The first set of these open forum meetings for research faculty and staff will focus on pre- and post-award processes. Feedback also can be submitted with an online survey, beginning April 30.

Twenty One Pilots tickets go on sale May 2

Tickets for an Oct. 5 concert in the MU Great Hall by the indie/electronic/hip-hop duo Twenty One Pilots go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 2, via Midwestix. Tickets are $30 ($20 with ISU student ID), plus service fees. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Twenty One Pilots recently performed at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards and on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Registration is open for College of Design summer youth workshops

The College of Design announces a series of summer workshops for middle and high school students. The one-day "Explore Design!" workshops ($25 each, June 3, 10 and 17) and 2.5-day "Design Innovation" workshops ($75 each, June 4-6, 11-13, 18-20) are open to students entering 6th grade through spring HS graduates. Fees cover snacks, meals and materials. Workshop details and registration are on the college's youth programs website; registration closes the Friday prior to the start of each workshop.

Design Condensed, a residential camp for students entering 10th grade through HS graduates, gives students a one-week college-like experience. Campers choose between two tracks: digital media and design or environment and spaces. The camp meets Sunday afternoon, June 22-Saturday morning, June 28; cost is $535. Registration deadline is May 30.

CAMTech announces call for research proposals

The National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center, the Center for Arthropod Management Technologies (CAMTech), announces a call for proposals for research projects to begin Jan. 1, 2015. Proposals should be for pre-competitive research related to arthropod or nematode management. The use of agriculturally relevant organisms is encouraged. Proposals should be submitted by May 30.  More information is available online.

Art Mart rescheduled for May 9-10

Art Mart, the annual art sale at the Memorial Union originally scheduled for April 11-12, will be held Friday, May 9 (noon-6 p.m.) and Saturday, May 10 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.), in the MU Trophy Tavern (west side of the food court commons). Items include blown glass vessels and ornaments, pottery, Venetian glass jewelry, beaded and sterling silver jewelry, fabric bags and framed campus photos. Most items sell for $5-20; proceeds support the host clubs and organizations and the local artists.

Enjoy a free movie at Jack Trice Stadium May 17

The Jr. Cyclone Club is sponsoring "Movie Night at Jack Trice Stadium" on May 17 (7 p.m., gates open at 6 p.m.). The movie is Frozen and the event is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, the movie will move to Hilton Coliseum. Families may sit on the field (blankets only, no chairs) or in the bleachers on the east side of the stadium. Handicap-accessible seating also will be available. Limited concessions at reduced prices will be for sale. More information is online. 

Nominations sought for 2015 Women Impacting ISU calendar

The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics is seeking applications for the 2015 Women Impacting ISU calendar. The calendar honors women currently employed or enrolled at Iowa State. Anyone, whether affiliated with the university or not, may nominate a current student, faculty or staff member. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 30. Additional information is online. 

Free admission to Reiman Gardens on National Public Gardens Day

Enjoy free admission and free educational programs all day at Reiman Gardens on Friday, May 9, in observance of National Public Gardens Day. Other central Iowa gardens participating in the promotion are the Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden and Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden in Des Moines, Brenton Arboretum in Dallas Center, and the Iowa Arboretum in Madrid. Print an admission coupon at the Better Homes and Gardens website.

Regents approve faculty P&T requests

Meeting April 24 in Council Bluffs, the state Board of Regents gave final approval to faculty promotions, including tenure, at the three regent universities. Iowa State's request included 76 faculty members. The changes take effect in August for the 2014-15 academic year.

Veishea open forum is April 25

The Veishea task force is holding its first open forum Friday, April 25 (2-4 p.m., MU Great Hall). Members of the public and ISU community are invited to share feedback, moderated by Government of the Student Body president Hillary Kletscher. A live webcast and comment submission form will be available.

Upcoming employee assistance program (EAP) webinars, workshops

  • Workshop: Compassion Fatigue, April 28 (1-3 p.m., MU Gallery), understand compassion fatigue stress and how to cope and maintain professional and personal effectiveness
  • Webinar: EAP Employee Orientation, May 7 (8:30-9 a.m. or 12:30-1 p.m.), learn about the EAP services available to you and your family
  • Workshop: Active Listening and Communication, May 8 (8:30-10:30 a.m., MU Gallery), identify the barriers to effective communication, explore personal communication styles and learn five key principles to more effective interaction
  • Webinar: EAP Supervisor Orientation, May 15 (1-2 p.m.), discover the tools necessary for crisis response and management consultation and referrals

For more information, contact Employee and Family Resources at 515-244-6090.

Alumni association is updating its directory

The ISU Alumni Association, working with Publishing Concepts Inc. (PCI) of Dallas, will begin the process of collecting data updates for the 2015 ISU Alumni Directory, beginning April 25. All living Iowa State alumni will be included in the directory and receive an invitation to update their biographical information, either by phone or online. The last directory project  was in 2010. Alumni wishing to not have some or all of their information published in the directory may make this request through either the alumni association office or PCI. Questions about the directory project may be directed to Scott Dahl, 294-9529, director of membership and marketing for the alumni association.

The directory will be released in early 2015 in hard-bound, soft-bound and USB drive editions. The online alumni directory will continue to be available to alumni association members.

IT staff discover unauthorized access to servers

Information technology staff have discovered a breach affecting five departmental servers on campus. An extensive analysis has revealed the compromised servers contained Social Security numbers of 29,780 students enrolled at Iowa State between 1995 and 2012. Officials don't believe the files were accessed. However the university is notifying individuals whose personal info may have been exposed and offering free, expert help in indentity protection.  For details, see the Server Breach FAQ.

Spring University Honors poster presentation is April 30

The University Honors Program invites the campus community to attend the spring 2014 poster presentation and reception on April 30 (3-5 p.m., MU Great Hall). The event will feature Honors projects and the spring and summer 2014 Honors graduates. The graduates and other Honors students will be present to answer questions and speak with individuals interested in their projects.

Ten will share "what matters to me" on April 23

Iowa State's student-run multicultural magazine Uhuru will host "What Matters to Me and Why" on Wednesday, April 23 (8 p.m., MU Great Hall). Ten individuals from the Iowa State community will present on life experiences, lessons learned and values solidified. Each was invited to speak for about five minutes about anything that fits her or his definition of "what matters to me." A time for audience Q&A will follow their talks.

Workspace hosts April 26 craft supplies swap

The Workspace, located in the east basement of the Memorial Union, is hosting a craft swap on Saturday, April 26 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Sunday, April 27 (1-4 p.m.). Find leftover craft supplies -- beads, sewing notions, paper, retro sewing patterns, etc -- and bring unused items from your own stash to swap. The Workspace also will have select art supplies priced to sell.

Rugby club is headed to national Sweet 16

Iowa State's men's rugby club, coached by Leopold Center staff member Malcom Robertson, has qualified for the Sweet 16 round of the Division 1-AA national championship sanctioned by USA Rugby. The team faces Bowling Green University in an April 26 contest in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Center awards FY15 humanities research grants

The Center for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities has awarded research grants to 11 tenured and tenure-track faculty in the arts and humanities for FY2015. The grants are for research and creative activity with outcomes in humanistic scholarship, design and creative artistic production. 

Fly-In Pancake Breakfast is April 26 at Ames airport

Fly in or drive to the Iowa State Flying Cyclones Club's annual Fly-In Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 26 (7-11 a.m., 2508 Airport Dr.) Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for children. In addition to breakfast served by club members, there will be aviation- and technology-related displays and airplane rides (for an additional fee). All are welcome.

Center announces 2014-15 Stephens season

On Tuesday night, the Iowa State Center announced the shows in the 2014-15 Performing Arts Series at Stephens Auditorium. Multi-show packages, including a five-show Broadway package, are on sale now; single-show tickets will go on sale this summer.

Memorial Union awards ceremony is April 25

The university community is invited to the Memorial Union's annual awards ceremony on Friday, April 25 (2-4 p.m., MU Gallery, includes reception). The Service Award and Board of Directors' Certificate of Service, M.J. Riggs Award and Four Seasons Award recognize and honor  individuals who make the MU a great place for students, staff and the ISU community.

ISU servers patched for Heartbleed Bug

ISU information technology experts identified and patched university servers that were susceptible to the Heartbleed Bug shortly after the April 7 announcement of the latest Internet security risk. The IT experts offer advice on protecting personal information as Heartbleed cleanup continues around the world.

April 18 hearing on campus precedes regents' meeting

If you'd like to comment on any items scheduled for discussion at the state Board of Regents April 23-24 meeting at the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, you have several options:

  • Attend one of six public hearings held at the regents institutions and board office April 17-18. Iowa State's hearing is April 18 (4-5 p.m.), Memorial Union Oak Room). All public hearings will be video recorded and posted to the regents' hearings website. Transparency officer Shirley Knipfel will preside at the meeting.
  • Provide written comments to regents transparency officer Sheila Doyle Koppin, sdoyle@iastate.edu.

Meeting materials and an agenda for the April meeting will be posted to the regents homepage by April 15.

Take Back the Night rally is April 24

As part of Iowa State's Sexual Assault Awareness Month observance, the annual "Take Back the Night" rally and march will be held Thursday, April 24 (6 p.m. rally, MU west terrace, march follows). Assistant dean of students and director of judicial affairs Michelle Boettcher will give the keynote at the rally. Other events will be held throughout the week.

Memorial service for James McKean is April 22

Visitation for University Professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine James McKean is Monday, April 21 (4-6 p.m., St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 2900 Hoover Ave.). A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, also at St. Cecilia. McKean died unexpectedly on April 10 at the age of 67 years.

College programs fifth in the world

Iowa State University has been ranked fifth in the world among universities in the area of agriculture and forestry. The rankings come from the British organization Quacquarelli Symonds' world university rankings.

Tribute to former faculty member Bill Kunerth is April 16

The Greenlee School will bestow its Champion of the First Amendment Award posthumously on former faculty member Bill Kunerth during an April 16 tribute (3-4:30 p.m., MU Great Hall). Kunerth, who taught in the Greenlee School for more than 30 years, died Dec. 9. The event is part of First Amendment Days on campus this week.

Greenlee School holds First Amendment Day events

The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication is honoring the First Amendment with several events planned for April 14-17. A full schedule of activities, including lectures, a panel discussion, and a one-woman theatrical performance, is available online. 

Celebrate Earth Month at the April 25 "Trashion" Show

Students in the AESHM 222 Creative Thinking and Problem-solving course are partnering with Ames' Aveda salon to raise awareness about pollution, waste, excessive consumption, littering and their effects on the environment during a "Trashion" Show planned for April 25 (7 p.m., Serenity Couture Salon, North Grand Mall, 2801 Grand Ave.). During the show, students will model their designs, offering solutions to the environmental problems. The event includes a spa day giveaway, silent auction and prizes. Proceeds benefit the Audubon Society to support clean water conservation in Iowa's lakes. Tickets are $10 ($40 for the VIP package) and available at the salon. 

April 10 rural sociology lecture is canceled

Due to a family emergency, the April 10 George Beal Distinguished Lecture in Rural Sociology has been canceled. Claude Fischer, a sociologist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, will present his lecture, "Rural Life, Rural Iowa and the Making of the American Character," in the fall.

Reserve materials for summer and fall semesters now

Instructors who wish to place required materials on reserve at Parks Library for summer or fall semesters should submit requests now. Forms are available online. 

Agronomy's annual Staniforth lecture is April 15

The agronomy department's 25th annual David W. Staniforth Memorial Lecture will be held Tuesday, April 15 (4:10-5 p.m., 1131 National Swine and Research Information Center). All are welcome. David Ervin, Institute for Sustainable Solutions at Portland State University, will present "Herbicide Resistance: Will Voluntary Measures Work or is Regulation Inevitable?" The Staniforth lecture is the only endowed lecture series dedicated to topics related to weeds.

Faculty conference RSVPs due April 11

The deadline to register for the April 22 Spring Faculty Conference (7:30 a.m.-2 p.m., MU Great Hall) is noon on Friday, April 11. The conference, "Online Learning at ISU," will feature a review of online learning initiatives and three town hall meetings. Guest speakers include Chuck Dziuban, director of the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness and the University of Central Florida; and Paul Marca, executive director of the Center for Professional Development at Stanford University. Registration is free; email Sherri Angstrom to RSVP. More information, including the conference schedule, is available on the Faculty Senate website.

Reminder: P&S conference registration due April 11

There's still time to register (by April 11) for the Professional and Scientific Council's 2014 professional development conference, "Continuing the Voyage," on April 17 (8 a.m.-4 p.m., Scheman). Cost is $75.

Memorial reception for Lucy Crom is May 17

A memorial reception honoring Lucy Crom,  a longtime admissions and registrar employee who retired from her ISU post in 1988, will be held in the Reiman Gardens Speer Room Saturday, May 17 (10 a.m.-noon). A private burial service will follow. Crom died Jan. 31 in Geneva, Ill.

Employee wellness: "Mindful Eating and Gentle Yoga"

Employees are invited to attend a session on "Mindful Eating and Gentle Yoga" on April 16 (noon, 192 Parks Library). Learn strategies for mindfulness in your daily eating habits, and try out gentle chair yoga. Wear comfortable clothes suited for movement. No RSVP required. 

ISU joins Kuali group developing student info systems

Iowa State University recently joined the Kuali Student community to help develop the next generation of student information systems that provide anytime anywhere access to important academic and student services.  ISU joins seven other institutions working on Kuali Student. Watch for details on ISU's Kuali website.

Open house for all employed students is April 16

As part of National Student Employment Week, the office of student financial aid is hosting an open house on April 16 (7:30-11:30 a.m., ground floor, Beardshear Hall). All students who have a job, whether on- or off-campus, are invited to enjoy a free "breakfast on the go" and sign up for door prizes. Congratulations to ISU 2014 Student Employee of the Year Michael Erickson-Solberg and Students of Distinction Logan Jewett, Diana Loutsch and Samantha McGinnis. Campus employers are asked to encourage their student workers to attend.

April 15 is "Purple Up" day

Gov. Terry  Branstad signed a proclamation to make April 15 “Purple Up” day in Iowa to show appreciation to military children. All Iowans are invited to wear purple to show their support. ISU Extension and Outreach has resources for military families online, including links to a publication series from Purdue Extension that helps various audiences assist and support members of the military and their families. A national collaborative extension website also offers resources, as does Iowa State's Veterans Center in the Memorial Union.

Reminder: Sheldon Avenue section to close on Monday

Drivers are reminded that the section of Sheldon Avenue between Lincoln Way to just south of the West Street intersection will close Monday, April 7, for total replacement of the road. This phase is anticipated to take about six weeks, depending on weather. Future phases will work north to the Hyland Avenue intersection this summer. As part of this project, the outside westbound lane of Lincoln Way at Sheldon will close for utility work for 3-4 days, also beginning April 7.

Next Osborn Club lecture is April 14

Michael Dahlstrom, assistant professor, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communcation, will present "The Science of Communicating Science to the Public" at the next Osborn Club lecture on April 14 (7 p.m., Hach Hall atrium). Lectures are free and open to the public following the club dinner. 

Book store reading features Derek Anderson

The University Book Store will host a story time with Ames native and award-winning book illustrator Derek Anderson on Saturday, April 5 (10:30 a.m., inside the bookstore, Memorial Union). Anderson's latest collaboration is Hot Rod Hamster, written by Cynthia Lord.

ISU Day at the Capitol is April 10

Iowa State is hosting its second annual ISU Day at the Capitol on April 10 (10 a.m.-1 p.m., Iowa Capitol Building, first floor rotunda). ISU faculty, staff and students will participate in more than 20 exhibits representing the university's seven colleges and various departments and units. The event will showcase the many ways Iowa State serves the state of Iowa, through academics, community outreach, research, innovations and job creation. Lawmakers also will have an opportunity to interact with ISU experts and learn more about the ways in which the university impacts the daily lives of Iowans. Take a look at last year's event

Ombuds office has new location in Physics Hall

Effective April 2, the university's ombuds office moved to a new location in Physics Hall, room 37, to create additional room for student lab space. The move puts the ombuds office in the southwest corner of the building. Ombuds officer Elaine Newell expressed her gratitude for the new space and the LAS college's "sensitivity to the needs of office visitors for a discrete location." The mission of the office is to serve as a confidential, impartial resource that assists faculty, staff and graduate/professional/post-doctoral students in managing conflict without the need for formal grievance processes or litigation. Appointments are encouraged; drop-in visitors are welcome on Wednesdays, noon-1 p.m.

Canned food drive scheduled for Veishea week

The Food Insecurity Action Team at Iowa State is holding a food can drive throughout Veishea week (April 7-12), to help replenish the shelves at The Shop, a student-led food pantry for students. FIAT will have collection boxes throughout the week at these locations: 15 Curtiss, 2312 Food Sciences and 220 MacKay.