Announcements
March 2023
Memorial service for Steve Caryl is April 1
Steve Caryl, a vehicle technician at transportation services for more than 13 years, died unexpectedly on Friday, March 24, at his home in Colo. He was 58 years old. A visitation will be held Saturday, April 1 (noon-3 p.m.), at Mason-Lindhart Funeral & Cremation Service, 612 S. Second Ave., Humboldt, followed at 3 p.m. by a short tribute from his family. Desserts will be served at the VFW in Dakota City. Obituary.
EH&S training for employees moves to Workday Learning on April 1
The safety training courses offered by environmental health and safety (EH&S) for university employees will be active in Workday Learning on April 1. From that date, anyone who receives a paycheck from the university -- including faculty, staff and student employees -- will complete EH&S trainings in Workday Learning, not Learn@ISU. Students will continue to use Canvas to complete their EH&S safety trainings. More information is available on the EH&S website.
Procedures set for using recording classrooms
The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching's (CELT) media production team has a new website that provides faculty with information about recording classrooms, available services and how to request a room. Iowa State has five media recording classrooms, two in Curtiss Hall and three in Howe Hall, scheduled by media production staff. In addition to these classrooms, a small number of general university classrooms are equipped to record if there is demand. According to the CELT media classroom usage policy, there are three (3) one-month windows for submitting requests:
- Fall term: April 1-May 1
- Spring term: Sept. 1-Oct. 1
- Summer session: Feb. 1-March 1
Media production manager Andrew Sevcik said the windows provide time for his staff to schedule classes in the rooms and for CELT to communicate with the room scheduling team. Production staff will take requests outside of the windows when needed. For additional information, visit the media production website or email celt-help@iastate.edu.
Shivvers lecture focuses on the power of mini forests
Alumna Hannah Lewis, author of "Mini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Rewild the World," will give the 2023 Shivvers Memorial Lecture on Thursday, April 6 (5:30 p.m., 3580 Memorial Union). Her book promotes an international, "doable" movement to restore biodiversity by transforming empty lots, backyards and degraded land into mini forests. This ISU lectures program event is co-hosted by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. It's free and the public is welcome. The Shivvers lectures focus on issues of sustainability, agriculture and the food system.
Webinar on strategic plan submission process is April 4
Senior advisor to the president Sophia Magill will lead a one-hour webinar Tuesday, April 4 (3 p.m., via Webex), for faculty and staff interested in learning more about the inaugural RFP process for the university's nine-year strategic plan. The proposal process opened March 9, and faculty and staff are invited to submit proposals by April 28 for projects that align with one or more of the strategic plan's aspirational statements. Proposals can be submitted through the website and should demonstrate how they will advance one or more components of Iowa State's mission.
Next Workday Student readiness workshop is April 5
Faculty and staff are invited to an online workshop highlighting the student records components of Workday Student. Iowa State project team members will lead a two-part workshop on Wednesday, April 5, via Webex. Register on the WorkCyte website to attend one or both parts:
- 2:10-3 p.m., Class registration
- 3:10-4 p.m., Grading and academic standing
Who knew financial literacy packed the fun?
April is Financial Literacy Month in the U.S., first recognized by Congress in 2004. Faculty and staff are asked to encourage students to participate in a lineup of fun April events on campus organized by the team from the office of student financial success. A few examples:
- Paint a Piggy Bank: Saving Strategies and the Importance of Having an Emergency Fund, April 6 (4 p.m., MU Oak Room), attendees decorate and take home a mini piggy bank while learning about the importance of and tips for saving
- A Humorous Guide to Financial Success, April 19 (6 p.m., 2630 MU), with comedic financial speaker and author Colin Ryan, an ISU lecture series event
- CashCab, April 26 (11 a.m.-2 p.m., central campus), staff in the office of student financial success will provide golf cart rides and prizes to students who answer financial literacy trivia questions
Reminder: Council election ends March 31
Professional and Scientific employees are encouraged to vote in the 2023 election for membership on the P&S Council. There are vacancies to fill in all four representation areas: academic affairs, student affairs, operations and finance and president's division. Short candidate biographies provide insight to the candidates. The election website closes at 11:59 p.m. Friday, March 31; check your inbox for a March 27 email that links you to your ballot.
Call for proposals for fall conference on peace building and social change
On Sept. 15-17, the history department and the Sustainable Peace faculty learning community will host the annual conference of the Peace and Justice Studies Association, a professional association for scholars in the field of peace and conflict studies. Faculty, students and staff are invited to propose papers that engage with questions of peace in a variety of ways. Submissions will be accepted in a range of formats including individually submitted papers; films, creative works or art presentations; roundtable discussions; interactive workshops; or panels (3-4 papers or presenters linked thematically). More information, including the submission form, is online. Questions may be directed to history department chair Simon Cordery, 294-7266.
Annual Hertz lecture on emerging ag issues is April 11
Animal science alumnus Tim Glenn, who serves as executive vice president of the seed business unit at Corteva Agriscience, will deliver the 2023 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture on Tuesday, April 11 (7 p.m., 127 Curtiss). His talk, "Industry Perspectives and Emerging Trends in the Global Agriculture," is free and open to the public.
Campus drive for canned food, hygiene supplies runs through April 14
The student organization Campus Service Council is accepting donations for a food drive for SHOP, the campus student food pantry; and a hygiene supply drive to benefit SHOP and Ames' Bridge Home. A list of suggested items for each drive is on the council's website. Donation boxes will be available in six campus locations through Friday, April 14:
- Lobby in Carver, Curtiss, Kildee, Lagomarcino and MacKay halls
- Memorial Union main lounge
Cat litter buckets needed for glass disposal in labs
Staff in environmental health and safety (EH&S) and facilities planning and management repurpose empty Tidy Cats® litter buckets (35-pound size) to collect glass in laboratories across campus, and more buckets are needed for the waste and recycling program. To donate empty buckets, email ehs_envprog@iastate.edu to coordinate a pickup, or bring buckets to the EH&S Services Building on the north side of campus.
Sign up now for service activities on April 15
The Campus Service Council is cosponsoring a spring service day on campus and around Ames on Saturday, April 15 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.). Registration is open to volunteer your time in one-hour increments for both indoor and outdoor projects.
'State Day' virtual program is archived
The ISU Alumni Association celebrated Iowa State's 165th Founders Day on March 22 with a virtual "State Day" program (archived online, 42 minutes in length). Alumni and friends who joined from around the globe learned about the innovative work happening at the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, stepped inside the historic Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom and saw how students are making an impact on campus and in the community.
Stuart Smith path closes March 27 for several weeks
The shared use path through Stuart Smith Park east of University Boulevard and adjacent to the Iowa State Center, will close Monday, March 27, likely through the end of April. The closure facilitates sewer work across University Boulevard as part of infrastructure upgrades for the CYTown development at the center. The impacted section of the path starts just south of the pedestrian bridge and continues to South Fourth Street. In addition, the pedestrian path along the west side of University Boulevard will be closed all summer for this project. The preferred detour is posted.
Dogs on leashes welcome at Reiman Gardens Tuesdays in April
Every Tuesday (4:30-7:30 p.m.) in April, visitors to Reiman Gardens are welcome to bring their dogs to enjoy the gardens' outdoor areas. During these Rovers at Reiman events, dogs must remain on hard surfaces or turf and aren't allowed in flower beds or other posted areas. Dogs also must be current on vaccinations and remain leashed at all times (non-retractable leashes are required). Dogs and owners will be given a colored ribbon (red, yellow or green) to attach to collars that reflects a dog's comfort level with interacting with other dogs or humans. The fee is $5 per dog; dog owners pay the usual gardens admission (free for members and ISU students) and must sign a liability waiver.
Award recipients: Student employee, supervisor of the year
Last week, the office of student financial aid honored outstanding student workers for their contributions to campus, as demonstrated in five categories: community service, diversity and inclusion, leadership, technology and innovation, and critical thinking. From 47 nominations, a selection committee chose these students (listed with their employing unit):
- Student Employee of the Year: Jamie Hefley, biomedical sciences
- Student Employees of Distinction: Hannah Uhrich, human development and family studies; Alexias Townsend, ISU dining; Jack Stevenson, recreation services
In partnership with university human resources, the student financial aid team also selected an inaugural Student Employee Supervisor of the Year this spring. Selection reflects mentoring, professionalism and leadership provided to hourly student employees. Nearly 30 individuals were nominated, and these supervisors were selected:
- Student Employee Supervisor of the Year: Linda DeSchane, ITS Solution Center, who oversees nearly 40 hourly student employees
- Student Employee Supervisor of the Year finalist: Raquel Espin Palazon, genetics, development and cell biology
The two winners received a prize for their achievement, and their nominations will be forwarded for additional consideration at the regional level.
Veenker golf course opens March 24
Iowa State's Veenker Memorial Golf Course and driving range on North Stange Road will open for the season on Friday, March 24. ISU students, faculty and staff receive discounts on season passes. Additionally, Mondays and Thursdays are designated "ISU student days" year-round, with daily green fee discounts available. More information is online or call 515-294-6727.
Ivy College of Business online MBA available this fall
The Ivy College of Business announced last week that its part-time professional MBA program will be available fully online this fall. Students in the program can choose to take courses online or in a hybrid format with one class/week in person at the college's Capital Square location in downtown Des Moines. Registration is open. To learn more, contact assistant director of graduate recruitment Kim Putz.
Provost office has professional development funds for term faculty
The office of the senior vice president and provost provides funds -- up to $1,000 -- to support the professional development of term faculty; applications from faculty with limited professional development support particularly are encouraged. Faculty who want to participate in a virtual or in-person professional development activity, such as training, workshops or conferences, are encouraged to review the guidelines, including submission directions and application form. Applications are due May 1 for conferences/workshops/training taking place between July 1 and Dec. 31. Awards will be competitively allocated, and recipients will be notified within three weeks of the deadline. Abstracts for conference presentations need not have been accepted by the time of a request for funds.
Reminder: Third Workday Student awareness survey closes Friday
As part of the phased rollout of Workday Student and Receivables during 2023 and 2024, employees are encouraged take Awareness Survey #3 so the project team can provide campus with the right resources during the transition. The 5-10 minute survey in Qualtrics is open through Friday, March 24. Survey results will serve as a barometer of employee knowledge and awareness to better shape training and communication in the near future. The more employees who complete the survey, the more data will be available for ensuring a successful transition. Please direct questions to workcyte_feedback@iastate.edu. Workday Student will replace legacy systems such as ADIN and AccessPlus.
Global Gala is March 24
The Global Gala celebrates all cultures and promotes the diversity at the university. Student organizations showcase their cultural heritage through music, dance and fashion. The gala is free and open to the public on Friday, March 24 (7 p.m., MU Great Hall). Doors open at 6 p.m. and light refreshments, including a sampling of foods from different cultures, will be served.
Who knew financial literacy packed the fun?
April is Financial Literacy Month, and the office of student financial success is hosting events for ISU students all month, including:
- Paint a Piggy Bank: Saving Strategies and the Importance of Having an Emergency Fund, April 6 (4 p.m., MU Oak Room), attendees decorate and take home their own mini piggy bank while learning about the importance of and tips for saving
- A Humorous Guide to Financial Success, April 19 (6 p.m., 2630 MU), ISU lecture series event with comedic financial speaker and author Colin Ryan
- CashCab, April 26 (11 a.m.-2 p.m., central campus), staff in the office of student financial success will provide golf cart rides around campus and prizes to students who answer financial literacy trivia questions
A complete list of events and registration details is online. Contact the office of student financial success at financialsuccess@iastate.edu for any questions regarding Financial Literacy Month events.
Celebrate State Day March 22 on central campus
SALC, the Student Alumni Leadership Council, will host a State Day celebration for students on central campus Wednesday, March 22 (noon-3 p.m.), that features free lunch, desserts, inflatables, a dunk tank and Cyclone swag. The Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm was established on March 22, 1858.
Webinar for supervisors of student workers
The Student Employment Center, in partnership with ISU Extension and Outreach, invites supervisors of student workers to a webniar presented by Brenda Allen on March 28 (10:30 a.m.). Allen will offer guidance on providing meaningful feedback, strategies for approaching difficult conversations in the workplace, a review of the campuswide calendar and creative ways to celebrate and thank your student employees during National Student Employment Week. Register online.
Be weather ready this spring
March 27-31 is Severe Weather Awareness Week, and the department of environmental health and safety (EH&S) reminds the campus community that severe weather can happen at any time. Read the severe weather safety tips from EH&S to learn more and plan for hazardous weather conditions.
Inside won't publish during spring break
Inside Iowa State will take a one-week hiatus during spring break week. The next edition will post Thursday, March 23. The submission deadline is noon Wednesday, March 22.
Hourly updates provided until network restored
There are currently internet outage issues on the Iowa State network impacting the ability to access some services from on campus such as Okta (your Sign On dashboard). Information Technology Services is working with vendors and service providers to resolve the issue.
Please follow the university's Status Hub for updates. Updates will be posted to Status Hub hourly until internet connectivity has been restored.
Virtual 'State Day' is March 22
On Wednesday, March 22 (7 p.m.), the ISU Alumni Association will host its sixth virtual State Day, a celebration of Iowa State's Founders Day. Register online to participate. During the event, the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship will be recognized as the 2023 recipient of the association's Impact Award, which recognizes individuals, businesses, organizations or units whose programs or accomplishments brought broad recognition to the university in the prior year.
Language and communication justice series continues March 29
Faculty, staff and students are invited to a virtual panel event, Rewriting, Reclaiming and Reorienting in Digital Spaces, on Wednesday, March 29 (4-5:15 p.m., via Webex). Artists and designers Ashlee Bird, Joseph Erb and Casey Koyczan each will share their work advocating for Indigenous language justice through technology and design, followed by a Q&A with attendees. Register to receive the link. The discussion is part of the 2022-23 Series on Language and Communication Justice, hosted by the Academic Success Center and writing and communication consultations.
Math workshop for middle school girls is April 1
Female and non-binary middle school students and their teachers, both men and women, are the intended audience for Sonia Kovalevsky Math Day, Saturday, April 1 (10 a.m.-2 p.m., 2155 Marston). SK Day is designed to increase middle school girls' interest in mathematics, assist them in the transition between middle school and high school mathematics, and encourage them to pursue careers in STEM disciplines. Hosted by the math department, the workshop is free and lunch is provided. Registration is requested by March 10.
Unable to complete her education in her native Russia, Kovalevsky (1850-91) had to emigrate to Germany to attend a university that accepted female students. She was the first woman in Europe to obtain a doctoral degree in mathematics.
Learn to swim this spring
Recreation services is offering swim lessons for adults and the children (ages 5-12 years) of Iowa State faculty, staff and students this spring, March 28-April 30. Adult sessions meet Tuesdays and Thursdays; youth lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays. Lessons are 30 minutes. The price varies based on rec services membership. Course level descriptions and registration details are online.
ISU therapy dog turns 12 on Wednesday
ISU police department therapy dog Zosia will celebrate her 12th birthday on Wednesday, March 8 from 3-4 p.m. All are welcome to join outside of Parks Library and enjoy cookies, balloons and a goodie bag.
WorkFlex application window is March 6-31
The employee application window for WorkFlex arrangements beginning on May 15 opens Monday, March 6, and closes Friday, March 31. The supervisor decision window is April 3-28. View information about the process and WorkFlex application windows on the WorkLife website. Learn about WorkFlex program options on the website and find directions to submit a request on the ISU Service Portal.
Jump start funds available for low-cost course infrastructure
Proposals are due March 31 for projects to develop a sustainable infrastructure to support low-cost and no-cost course materials for students, one of the nine Jump Start initiatives in the university's strategic plan. A second round of funding will address course content. Criteria and guidelines for submission are online.
Arts and events
"The Crucible" and "John Proctor is the Villain," will run in tandem during two weekends, April 18-28, at Fisher Theater.
