Squeezing in a job hunt between classes

CALS career fair

As a followup to the fall career fair, about 110 employers registered to participate in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' Ag Career Day Spring Feb. 1 in the Memorial Union. (Pictured) A recruiting team from Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) visits with students. This is the fifth year the college has offered a spring event. CALS director of career services Mike Gaul called the event a "great second-chance event for both students and employers." The colleges of Business, Human Sciences and Liberal Arts and Sciences will hold their joint spring career fair Feb. 8 (noon-6 p.m.) at Hilton Coliseum. Photo by Bob Elbert.


Leath to meet with appropriations subcommittee

President Steven Leath will present Iowa State’s case for an appropriations increase to the Iowa Legislature's joint education appropriations budget subcommittee Feb. 8 at the State Capitol. Gov. Terry Branstad is recommending $20 million in new funding for the state Board of Regents, but there’s no indication what portion would be allocated to Iowa State.
 
Also scheduled to meet with the committee are: the presidents of the universities of Iowa and Northern Iowa; the superintendents of Iowa’s two special schools; and the president and president pro tem of the Board of Regents.
 
“I look forward to meeting with the committee, which is an important first step in the appropriations process for FY13. It’s a time to talk not only about the next budget year, but also to note the accomplishments of Iowa State and our contributions to the state of Iowa,” President Leath said.
 
In addition to the education appropriations subcommittee, other funding for Iowa State projects is directed by committees on economic development, agriculture and infrastructure.
 
State appropriations represent about 19 percent of Iowa State’s total $1.1 billion FY12 budget.


Regents will meet on campus Monday-Tuesday

A stand-alone bachelor's degree in athletic training and a bond sale to finance the Cyclone football program's new building are among Iowa State items on the agenda when the state Board of Regents meets Feb. 6-7 in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The meeting is open to the public and live audio streaming of all public portions of the meeting is available on the regents website. Committee meetings are scheduled Monday from 2 to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday from 8:30 to 9 a.m. The full board meeting begins at approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Athletic training major

Since the early 1980s, Iowa State has offered athletic training as an option in a more general bachelor's degree (in physical education, health and human performance, or kinesiology and health, depending on the era). The accreditor of athletic training programs, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, has mandated that all programs must be stand-alone degree programs to maintain accreditation, beginning with the 2014-15 academic year. Iowa State's program has been accredited since 2001. Graduation from an accredited program is a prerequisite to taking the test for certification by the National Athletic Trainers Association.

The additional costs associated with a proposed stand-alone program, an estimated $140,000 initially, would be covered by the kinesiology department (75 percent) and the athletics department (25 percent).

If approved, the change would take effect immediately and students graduating this spring will receive a bachelor of science degree in athletic training.

How we rank

According to data in an annual human resources report to the state Board of Regents this month, Iowa State faculty salaries rank ninth among their colleagues at peer universities.

Athletic facility revenue bond sale

Iowa State hopes to sell up to $26.5 million in athletic facilities revenue bonds to serve two purposes: finance construction of the football training facility, an estimated $20.6 million project; and refund in advance about $3.8 million in bonds sold in 2003 to partially finance the athletics department's Bergstrom practice facility. Lower interest rates now would save the athletics department an estimated $300,000 in interest.

Work on the football training facility began in late summer; the team hopes to use it this August.

In other regents action:

  • Iowa State will seek to increase the project budget for phase 1 of the Curtiss Hall renovation (up about $1.1 million) to $13.1 million. The addition (covered with university funds) would add 125 more window replacements and central AC to about 5,400 square feet, eliminating all remaining window air conditioners in the building. Phase 1 includes the Student Services Mall and Harl Commons on the ground level, window replacement and a building-wide sprinkler system.
  • Co-director of ISU learning communities Doug Gruenewald will give a presentation to the full board.
  • Iver Anderson, senior metallurgist with the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, adjunct professor of materials science and inventor of a lead-free solder, will give a presentation to the board's economic development committee (Monday afternoon).

ISU faculty salaries rank ninth among peer group

Among the data in the regent universities' annual human resources report to the state Board of Regents this month is faculty salary rankings. The chart below reflects data shared through the AAU Data Exchange.

 

AAU public and private institutions: Average instructional faculty salaries

Iowa State's peer group, Fall 2010

School   Average salary
(in dollars)
  Salary rank
(1-61)
  Professor Assoc. professor Asst. professor
Illinois 133,509 84,821 80,316 36
Ohio State 131,548 87,673 79,445 37
Cal-Davis 123,781 84,708 78,734 44
Minnesota 123,223 85,065 78,532 45
Purdue 122,077 84,835 77,395 47
Michigan State 125,217 87,010 69,102 48
Texas A&M 118,926 81,897 73,664 52
Wisconsin 113,784 87,276 74,930 53
Iowa State 114,293 82,278 73,651 56
Arizona 117,487 80,572 68,380 57
N.C. State* 116,100 83,900 7,044 --

*Not an AAU member
Source: AAU Data Exchange


Webinars: Convenient retirement planning

If you think you don’t have enough time to attend one of the many retirement seminars human resource services (HRS) offers each semester, think again.

In addition to face-to-face seminars with TIAA-CREF representatives, Iowa State offers three types of retirement webinars, giving you an opportunity to learn general retirement terms or get a start on long-range financial planning in front of your computer at work, at home or wherever it suits you.

Webinars … three ways

HRS, in conjunction with TIAA-CREF, records its lunch-hour or late-afternoon seminars and rebroadcasts them as webinars for about two weeks following the face-to-face meetings. Ann Doty, retirement information specialist, sends the webinar link via email to certain employee groups based on the topic.  These webinars are not interactive. A list of upcoming retirement seminars is available on the HRS website.

For an interactive alternative, HRS and TIAA-CREF also conduct live retirement webinars. These webinars require advance registration and computer and telephone access.  The audio portion of the webinar is available over the telephone, which also lets participants ask questions. Online participants also may submit their questions electronically. Three live webinars, all from noon to 1 p.m., are planned for spring semester:

TIAA-CREF also offers prerecorded webinars online. Topics cover information for new employees just beginning to save for retirement, strategies for mid-career employees, options for those nearing retirement and more. These webinars address general topics and do not talk specifically about Iowa State's retirement options.

Attention IPERS participants

Doty said all employees, including those with IPERS, can participate in the TIAA-CREF seminars and webinars. While there are no seminars tailored specifically for IPERS participants, an IPERS representative is on campus each month to discuss personal retirement plans with participants. To make an appointment, call (800) 622-3849. Upcoming dates (8 a.m.- 5 p.m., 3558 Memorial Union) are:

  • Feb. 16
  • March 5
  • April 4
  • May 4
  • June 5

 

Webinar pros and cons

The biggest advantage retirement webinars offer employees is convenience, according to Doty. You can choose to view a webinar at your desk while eating lunch or in the evening at home with your spouse or a friend. It also is easy to share the webinar's link with friends or family at a distance.

Doty recommends that employees watch the webinars to become familiar with the retirement jargon.

"Financial planners have a language all their own," Doty said. "Webinars allow you to get familiar with terms so that personal appointments can be spent discussing your financial future, not learning the terminology."

Doty recognizes webinars may not be for everyone.

"Not everyone is comfortable in front of, or has access to, a computer," Doty said. "We're trying to reach out in a variety of ways."

And, seminars offer something most webinars can't -- immediate answers.

"The seminars offer an opportunity to ask personal questions right on the spot," Doty said. "That doesn't happen in a webinar, most of the time."

Appointments still important

Doty says whether an employee prefers to view webinars or attend seminars, both should be preparation for a personal appointment with her, a TIAA-CREF representative or other financial planner.

"I recommend people talk to me or someone else at least 10 years before they plan to retire," Doty said. "Very often, people wait until a year or so before retirement to talk to a financial adviser, but by then there is little time available to save more if needed or to make other needed changes."

Doty said TIAA-CREF representatives suggest employees meet with a financial planner every three years or after a significant life change, such as a marriage, divorce, birth of a child, etc.

"When it comes to investments, a long-term plan will get you to your dreams," Doty said. 


Hundreds of campus visitors expected for LGBT conference

Iowa State and Ames are accustomed to serving as the destination for large-group conventions and gatherings during the summer months. But an estimated 1,500 visitors are expected for a three-day conference to be held Feb. 10-12 on campus.

Call for volunteers

Faculty and staff are encouraged to get involved as volunteers. Duties range from assisting with welcome areas, to directing traffic flow and serving as ushers at lectures. Interested individuals can contact Brad Freihoefer (4-5433) or Chris Fowler (4-4154) for more information. A short training session is required.

The 2012 Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC) returns to ISU, where the inaugural event was held in 1993. Iowa State also served as the host institution in 2004. Conference registration opens at 2 p.m. Friday. The closing ceremony is at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

"Expect a lot of energy to come to campus," said Brad Freihoefer, program coordinator for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student services in the Dean of Students office. "It's a Midwest conference, but registration is coming in from everywhere."

"The Butterfly Effect: Evolution to Revolution" is this year's theme for the student-run event.The planning committee -- a core group of 20 or so ISU students -- defined four LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, ally) "pillars" for participants to focus on, including:

  • History
  • Identity
  • Individual intersections
  • Socially just transformation and action

Freihoefer said conference participants primarily will be college students, and a few advisers. The Memorial Union, Stephens Auditorium and Carver Hall will be used for conference activities, which include keynote lectures, breakout sessions and entertainment. The schedule of events is limited to registered participants only. 

"Our conference is unique from the others on the east and west coasts. It's the largest student-run LGBTAQIA college conference in the country," Freihoefer said. "You're going to see a lot of rainbows and banners in the MU. There will be a lot of pride."


<i>Varieties</i> begins 2012 run this weekend

varieties2011

Students wait to perform in Varieties 2011's The Cricket is the Ticket mini-musical. Submitted photo.

 

Varieties, Iowa State's annual ramped-up version of a student talent show, opens this weekend with semifinal performances Feb. 3 and 4 (6 and 9 p.m. both nights, Memorial Union Great Hall). Each show will feature student-produced mini musicals, alternating with shorter "vignette" acts that showcase student talents such as singing, dancing, stand-up comedy or juggling.

This weekend's performances are judged and three each – musical and vignette – will move on to the finals, or Sweepstakes performances in two weeks. Sweepstakes shows begin at 6 and 9 p.m. Feb. 24 and 8 p.m. Feb. 25, also in the MU Great Hall. Awards will be presented at the conclusion of the final show.

"Music in Motion" is the 81st production of Varieties, sponsored by the Student Union Board. The seven student-produced mini-musicals are: Medieval Mayhem, Little League Legends, Not Another Teen Musical, A Picture's Worth 1,000 Words, Caught in a Pickle, Not So New to the Zoo, and Tweet: The Musical. Each is 15-20 minutes long.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Maintenance Shop box office (11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday). Semifinals tickets are $10 (students $8); Sweepstakes tickets are $12 (students $10). Tickets also can be purchased over the phone at 515-294-8349; a $1 fee will be added. There also is a $1 day-of-show increase for all ticket purchases.