Announcements

June 2013

East campus bike path will reopen June 29

The east campus bike path that runs along the north side of the Lied Recreation Center, which was closed in mid-March for flood protection work to Lied, is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, June 29.

Renewable energy lecture series opens July 11

Leading professionals will share their expertise in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency in a new lectures series sponsored by the Iowa Energy Center. Biofuels industry analyst Doug Williams will present the first lecture on July 11 (1-2 p.m., MU Gold Room, reception follows). Participants may attend in person or online; those attending in person are asked to RSVP to Denise Junod, 515-965-7055, by June 28.

Team PrISUm is racing in Texas June 27-29

Iowa State's student solar car race team, Team PrISUm, is competing in the Formula Sun Grand Prix this week on a 3.4 mile Formula 1 track in Austin, Texas. The team passed all seven scrutineering tests and is ready to race. Track laps will be counted on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Follow their progress on the competition site or via Facebook.

Tickets on sale for Aug. 15 "Meet the Coaches" event

Cyclone head coaches and director of athletics Jamie Pollard will headline the 2013 "Meet the Coaches Night" on Aug.15 (5 p.m., Iowa Events Center, Des Moines). All of Iowa State's head coaches plan to attend this meet-and-greet event, which also includes dinner and a program. Tickets are $40, or $300-$400 for a table of eight; online registration is open through Aug. 1.

University closed July 4

University offices will be closed and classes will not be held on Thursday, July 4, to observe the national Independence Day holiday. Iowa State will reopen on Friday, July 5. The faculty-staff newspaper, Inside Iowa State, will not publish on July 4; the next issue is July 11.

Ankeny employee vanpool starts July 15

University Transportation Services (UTS) announces the July 15 start of a vanpool for employees living in Ankeny. UTS also is looking into starting a vanpool in the Marshalltown area. The cost of the service (vehicle depreciation, gas, parking permits, insurance, etc.) is split among the employee riders  -- currently $60 to $90 per month -- and automatically deducted from their paychecks. Primary drivers do not pay any amount for their contributions to the program. The size of the vehicle used varies with the number of employees using the service from a specific community.

UTS also offers employee vanpools in Boone, Story City, Des Moines and Roland. Interested in saving money, enjoying a relaxing commute and having year-round, reliable transportation to work? Employees interested in joining a vanpool or starting a new vanpool should contact UTS, 4-1657.

Register now for EH&S Safety Summit on July 19

Learn how labeling and documentation changes in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard will affect you during Environmental Health and Safety's Safety Summit on Friday, July 19 (7:45-9 a.m., 1230 EH&S Building). Online registration is requested.

Register for professional development classes

ISU's human resource services, in conjunction with Employee and Family Resources, Des Moines, is offering a monthly series of interactive, professional development classes for employees. Register via AccessPlus (in the "Employee" tab, select "HRS Training"). Course descriptions are on the registration site. There is no cost to employees to participate. Upcoming dates and topics are:

  • July 9 (9-11 a.m., MU Gallery): Time Management
  • Aug. 5 (9 a.m.-noon, MU Gallery): Active Listening and Effective Communication
  • Sept. 10 (9-11 a.m., MU Gallery): The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership

Chemistry Stores closed July 4-5

Chemistry Stores in Gilman Hall will be closed Thursday-Friday, July 4-5. Normal business hours will resume on Monday, July 8.

Volunteers will clean College Creek, empty sandbags Saturday

While some volunteers will be cleaning up College Creek Saturday, others will be helping to "deflate" thousands of sandbags that were positioned around campus during the wet spring. The volunteers hope you'll join them for the fifth annual cleanup of the small stream that winds through campus or the emptying and recycling of 10,000 bags of sand. Both events are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but you can come and go as your schedule allows. You'll receive free lunch and refreshments and a chance at door prizes contributed by local businesses. Cleanup supplies, sunscreen and insect repellent will be provided. Creek cleaners should wear closed-toe shoes. Sandbag crews, particularly, are urged to bring their own gloves. Registration isn't required, but it helps with planning. Register online for the event and check in (beginning at 10:30 a.m.) at the Forker Building parking lot. For more information, contact Merry Rankin, 4-5052.
 

Street improvements on Lincoln Way will last six weeks

A city of Ames street improvement project on Lincoln Way (between Hayward and Franklin avenues) will begin June 24 and is expected to take about six weeks. One lane of traffic in each direction will remain open throughout the project, but drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to consider alternate routes. Hayward Avenue will be closed at Lincoln Way during the project to create a traffic crossover space for traffic to return to its normal lanes. Access to Hayward will be from Chamberlain Street.

The work will include asphalt removal and street resurfacing, repairs to curbs and gutters, and upgrades to sidewalk ramps. Phase 1 will close the two south lanes of Lincoln Way for 3-4 weeks, with head-to-head traffic in the north lanes. Phase 2 will close the north lanes for 2-3 weeks, with traffic shifted to the south lanes. 

Volunteer slots still available in State Fair exhibit

Iowa State employees are invited to volunteer at the university's State Fair exhibit in the Varied Industries Building, Aug. 8-18. Shifts are either 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m. or 2:45-9 p.m. daily. Most afternoon shifts and both shifts on Sundays (Aug. 11 and 18) still are available. University Marketing is using an online signup process this summer in which volunteers can select their preferred assignment (rolling posters, applying tattoos or wherever needed) and preferred volunteer partner. A confirmation email with additional details will be sent within one to two days. Contact Jay Snyder, 4-3969, with questions or if you need help with the signup process. June 23 is the last date to use the online signup site.

Wellness talk: Shopping for summer fruits and vegetables

A dietetic intern in the Nutrition Clinic for Employee Wellness will present a free talk, "Summer Fruits and Vegetables: Add Color to Your Cart!" on Thursday, June 20 (11:30 a.m.-noon, 192 Parks Library). All are welcome; no RSVP is necessary.

CELT seeks applicants for PT associate director post

The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching is accepting applications for its 0.5 FTE associate director for scholarship in teaching and learning. The 3-year appointment begins this August. The associate director will provide leadership in developing and furthering scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) initiatives at Iowa State. Tenured ISU faculty are eligible to apply; the preferred application deadline is June 30. A full description of the position is on the ISU Jobs website. 

Hosts sought for Japanese teachers in August

Host families are needed to provide a 4-week homestay for teachers of English from Japan. The teachers will live with their hosts from July 28 to Aug. 24, attending classes on campus on weekdays. A stipend is available. If you have travel or commitments during the host period but would still like to host, flexible arrangements can be made. For more information or to volunteer, contact homestay coordinator Alexandra Johnston in ISU's intensive English and orientation program.

New toolkit guides promo design process

Campus units now have a new resource to help guide them through the design process for promotional items, such as magnets, lanyards and T-shirts. The online toolkit includes examples, options and guidelines for developing giveaways that follow the university's brand standards. The step-by-step method guides users through the process -- based on what purpose the promotional items are intended to serve. The internal trademark use request has also been redesigned to be consistent with the toolkit information and categories. Users can contact the university marketing (4-9624) or trademark licensing (4-4402) offices with additional questions.

HRS adds employee leadership opportunities

In response to high demand, human resource services has expanded its leadership course offerings and extended the registration deadlines. Additional spots are available in both the 12+ Supervisory Leadership and Leadership at Any Level series on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Ruth Appleton (4-3753) or Don Broshar (4-2278) for more information.

FY14 budget is focus of Thursday forum

Dave Biedenbach, assistant vice president for financial planning and budgets, will provide an update on how the university's FY14 budget is taking shape during an open forum June 13 (noon-1 p.m., 2019 Morrill). The forum is hosted by the P&S Council, but is open to the university community.

News Service offers media spokesperson training

News Service provides media spokesperson training for faculty, staff and administrators who regularly serve as expert media sources, as well as those who would like to interact and communicate more effectively with reporters. Sessions may be scheduled for small groups or departments this summer upon request. There's no fee to attend the workshops. Plan on a time commitment of three hours. For details, email or call Annette Hacker at annette@iastate.edu or 4-3720.

CIRAS celebrates 50 years

The Center for Industrial Research and Service is celebrating 50 years of service to Iowa business and industry.  On June 6, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a proclamation  acknowledging CIRAS' role in assisting Iowa industries with a variety of services. CIRAS, a part of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, assists companies with services in engineering, government contracting, management practices, productivity, quality and innovation.

Give College Creek some TLC June 29

Volunteers will give College Creek some TLC Saturday, June 29, during the fifth annual cleanup of the small stream that passes through Iowa State's campus. Volunteers are sought to wade through  sections of the creek and along the creek bank, picking up trash. The cleanup is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but volunteers can come and go as their schedules allow. They will receive free food and water and a chance at door prizes contributed by local businesses. Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and, if desired, bring their own gloves. Cleanup supplies will be provided. Register online for the event and check in (beginning at 10:30 a.m.) at the Forker Building parking lot. The cleanup is a joint effort of Live Green!, Keep Iowa State Beautiful and ISU facilities planning and management. For more information, contact Merry Rankin, 4-5052.

Registration is open for July dance workshop

Registration is open for Kids' Co'Motion, a performance dance workshop for children ages 8-18 that runs weekdays July 8-26 (10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Forker Building and Ames City Auditorium). Participants receive training in modern dance techniques, improvisation and choreography, and the workshop culminates with two performances. Dances are tailored to the abilities of the participants, so students with and without dance experience are welcome. The fee is $200.

Annual research day for postdocs is June 10

The Iowa State Postdoctoral Association will host an annual research day for postdocs on June 10 (9 a.m.-5 p.m., Scheman Building). Postdocs have an opportunity to present their research and interact with peers from other Midwest universities. Registration is free and open to postdocs in all academic disciplines. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. Questions may be directed to Ikenna Nlebedim, 4-5264.

Reminder: Iowa State has an ethics hotline

Iowa State contracts with a third-party hotline vendor, EthicsPoint, to allow anonymous reporting of activities that may involve criminal, noncompliant or unsafe behavior impacting ISU. You may submit a report online or by calling (toll-free) 866-384-4277.

Campus visits scheduled for executive chef candidates

Two finalists for the position of executive chef in ISU Dining will interview on campus. The interviews will include an open forum with the campus community (10:45-11:45 a.m., Mezzanine Room, Union Drive Community Center). Peter Castillo, currently with Great Plains Food Service Consulting, Lenexa, Kan., will be on campus Tuesday, June 11. Gary Johnson, formerly with Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Hershey, Pa., will be on campus Tuesday, June 18.

Online employee wellness program begins June 12

“Living Well ... It’s Up to You,” is an online group coaching program for employees interested in making healthy lifestyle changes. It is led by Sally Barclay, registered dietitian in ISU's Nutrition Clinic for Employee Wellness. Sessions meet online Wednesdays (12:10-12:55 p.m.) for eight weeks, beginning June 12. Cost is $25 but $20 is returned to those that successfully complete at least 80 percent the program. Email Barclay for additional information or to register.

Chemistry Stores closed June 11-12 for inventory

Chemistry Stores in Gilman Hall will be closed for inventory Tuesday-Wednesday, June 11-12. Dry ice and liquid nitrogen will be available both days from 9:30 to 10 a.m. and 12:30 to 1 p.m. Only gas cylinders will be delivered Tuesday and Wednesday, with other regular deliveries resuming on Thursday, June 13.

June 2

State fair volunteer signup goes online

University Marketing has launched an online signup process for state fair volunteers. Shifts at the university's state fair exhibit (8:45 a.m.-3 p.m. or 2:45-9 p.m. daily, Aug. 8-18) are available on a first-come, first-served basis through June 23. Volunteers can sign up for their preferred works shifts using their Net-ID login, and can request assignments (poster rolling/distribution, tattoo application or wherever needed) and shift partners (if coordinated in advance). A confirmation email with additional details will be sent within one to two days. Contact Jay Snyder (4-3969, marketing@iastate.edu) with questions or if you need help with the signup process.