Announcements

March 2024

Outstanding student worker, student supervisor honored

The office of student financial aid honored an outstanding student worker and student employee supervisor for their contributions to campus. From 39 nominations, a selection committee chose student employee of the year Natalie Young, Center for Food Security and Public Heath. The student employee supervisor of the year is Ray Schmidt, recreation services marketing coordinator. Young was honored for her efforts in community service, collaboration and teamwork, leadership, use of technology and innovation, and critical thinking. Schmidt was recognized for his mentoring, professionalism and the leadership provided to student employees.

Barenaked Ladies tickets on sale March 22

The Barenaked Ladies will perform at Stephens Auditorium for the first time on Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 22 (10 a.m.) at the Stephens ticket office or online through Ticketmaster. The rock group is embarking on a U.S. tour this fall with supporting act Toad the Wet Sprocket. 

Friday Walk and Talks for employees resume March 22

The ISU WorkLife team resumes hosting its one-mile campus walks on Friday, March 22, and continuing each Friday through May 24. All are welcome to leave your desk for a while, visit with colleagues and enjoy the fresh air. Walkers meet at 12:10 p.m. in front of Beardshear Hall. Adventure2 participants can earn 15 points each week.

Application deadline is May 1 for term faculty development funds

The office of the senior vice president and provost has funds to support professional development of term faculty, particularly faculty with limited professional development support. Awards up to $1,000 help faculty attend a conference, workshop or training (virtual or in-person). Guidelines are online, and the application (online) is due May 1 for conferences or workshops between July 1 and Dec. 31. Recipients will be notified within three weeks. Abstracts for conference presentations need not have been accepted at the time an application is submitted.

College help rooms open March 18 for course registration

The six undergraduate colleges will staff local help rooms for students and staff, primarily during the window that course registration for fall semester is occurring in Workday for the first time. Help rooms are available for walk-ins and virtual live support March 18-April 26. Service schedules will be updated for each week. Registration for fall semester begins March 26 and continues through April 24. The campus community is reminded that 2024 summer term is the final time registration will occur in AccessPlus.

Applications available for Innovation Acceleration Fund grants

The Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations is accepting applications for FY25 Innovation Acceleration Fund grants designed to expand the commercialization of ISU technology. The funds support the development of ISU innovations with commercial potential and help more Iowa State technology reach the marketplace for new or existing Iowa companies. The application deadline is May 24. Selected applicants will participate in a required review panel on June 4 (8 a.m.-noon, ISU Research Park Core Facility, 1805 Collaboration Pl.). Before beginning the application process, applicants are encouraged to contact ISU Startup Factory director Peter Hong, 296-6429, to discuss their idea and potential fit for this funding opportunity.

Goldfinch Room show is March 24

The Iowa Songwriter Showcase at Stephens Auditorium's Goldfinch Room is Sunday, March 24 with a 5 p.m. concert by Heath Church. The Kansas City singer’s music is described as dreamy acoustic-indie. Tickets for a table of four ($40) or general admission ($15) are available online or at the door. Doors open 45 minutes before the show.

SBDC's Shimkat is featured at March 22 lunch club

The Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship's March installment of the Innovation Lunch Club will feature Lisa Shimkat, state director for America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Iowa. She'll illustrate how SBDC Iowa explores partnerships with rural connectors and economic developers to propel innovation and serve lowa's business owners. The lunch is Friday, March 22 (11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., training room, ISU Economic Development Core Facility, 1805 Collaboration Pl.). Campus partners are welcome to this free event; RSVP to sdreyer@iastate.edu.

Fulbright virtual info session is March 27

Join Keegan Scott, outreach and recruitment officer, Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, for an information session on Wednesday, March 27 (noon-1 p.m., via Zoom). Register to receive the link. Learn more about award opportunities and the application and selection processes, and get answers to your questions. The Fulbright U.S Scholar Program offers over 400 awards in more than 135 countries for U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects around the world. The application window for the 2025-26 competition is open now and closes in September. Iowa State has many Fulbright alumni and was named a top producer of Fulbright scholars for 2022-23.

Open houses scheduled for new recording, livestream studio in Parks Library

Studio 2B in the lower level of Parks Library is a space to record and livestream professional-quality videos with the click of a button. Faculty, staff and students can use it to capture lectures for online offerings, give research presentations, provide grant updates, create open educational resources and more. The studio includes a teleprompter, lights, height-adjustable table and state-of-the-art glass Lightboard, which allows users to overlay writing on their slides while simultaneously appearing on the screen with content. Studio 2B is open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday (8 p.m. close on Fridays) and additional weekend hours. Hours align with tech lending hours so tech support is always close at hand. Drop by to check out the tech and enjoy refreshments during a Friday open house: March 15, 22 and 29 (11 a.m.-2 p.m.). Review the full studio specs and book today

P&S councilor nomination window extended through March 15

Nominations will be accepted online through Friday, March 15, for candidates for the Professional and Scientific (P&S) Council. This spring, terms for 20 of the council's 44 seats expire across the four representative divisions:

  • Academic affairs: 13 vacancies
  • Student affairs: 3
  • Operations and finance: 2
  • President: 2

Any P&S employee who would like to serve on the council may seek a vacant seat in their division by completing the online nomination form. P&S employees also may nominate a colleague for service on the council using the same form. In either instance, the submitter provides information about the employee's qualifications or experience that would make them an effective council member and advocate for P&S staff. The online election will be held later this month and elected council members will be seated at the group's May 16 meeting.

Work resumes March 11 on CYTown lots

Infrastructure and pavement work will resume during spring break on the future CYTown parking lots and development corridor at the Iowa State Center. Crews will return to the site on Monday, March 11. Commuter lots on the east side of the property won't be impacted. Originally, March 18 was the targeted spring start date for this project.

Is that a spring in your step?

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10. Remember to set any manual clocks ahead one hour and plan to lose an hour of sleep. But enjoy daylight into the early evening . . .

Alert eligible fall juniors to Carver scholarship

Twenty Roy J. Carver Scholarships are available to Iowa State students or transfer students who will start their junior year fall semester, and who demonstrate great potential and promise, work hard to make ends meet, or are faced with debilitating circumstances in their lives. Awards average $6,000 and will be considered for renewal for the senior year. Eligibility information is online; the application deadline is April 1; the application includes an essay and two references. Questions may be directed to ISU's scholarship office, 515-294-5625. 

John Kasich will present Manatt-Phelps lecture March 27

On March 27, John Kasich -- two-term former Ohio governor (2011-19), two-time presidential candidate (2000, 2016), four-time New York Times best-selling book author and contributor for MSNBC and NBC News -- will visit Iowa State to present the 2024 Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science. Kasich's presentation, "Socially Responsible Innovation," will begin at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall.  All are welcome to attend.

Organic farming pioneer to present Shivvers Lecture on March 18

Researcher, educator and author John Reganold will present the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture's 2024 Shivvers Lecture on Monday, March 18 (7:30 p.m., 2226 Bessey). He is the Regents Professor of Soil Science and Agroecology at the Washington State University, where he developed its long-time organic and sustainable agriculture major and its Organic Farming Certificate program.

Registration open for campus digital scholarship symposium

University Library's digital scholarship and initiatives department and the Center for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities are cohosting the inaugural Digital Scholarship Symposium on Wednesday, April 10 (10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.). Faculty, staff and students interested in learning more about digital scholarship are encouraged to attend. It will be held in The Catalyst, the dedicated digital research and learning space in Parks Library, and feature experts who share creative examples of developing digital literacy skills in the classroom and using digital methods to open research to a wider audience. Registration closes Monday, April 10.

Staff, faculty volunteers sought at food pantry during spring break

With many students away from Ames March 11-15 for spring break, the SHOP food pantry, 1306 Beyer Hall, seeks faculty and staff volunteers next week to remain open during the break for students in need. Volunteers may select their shifts on this SignUp Genius site (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday).

YWCA honors Women of Achievement awardees on March 28

The YWCA Ames at ISU will honor the 12 recipients of its 2024 Women of Achievement Award during a ceremony Thursday, March 28 (6-8 p.m., Reiman Gardens). Tickets are $35 (two for $60) and can purchased from the YWCA office, C1102A Knapp-Storms, 808 Hayward Ave., or at the door.