Announcements
FAFSA priority filing date extended for 2021-22 applicants
In response to the challenges COVID-19 has created for students and their families, ISU's office of student financial aid has extended the priority date for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to Dec. 20. Students who apply by Dec. 20 will be considered for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and ISU Grant programs, in addition to the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Student Loans. Students who submit the FAFSA after Dec. 20 are considered only for the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Student Loans.
As a result, the deadline for incoming freshmen to complete the OneApp scholarship application form for scholarships awarded by the office of student financial aid has been extended to Dec. 28. Individual colleges and departments may have a different date. Prospective students should review the deadlines on the office of student financial aid website. The OneApp deadline for continuing students remains unchanged.
CCE seeking writers interested in accountability group
The Center for Communication Excellence is conducting a survey to gauge interest in forming a writing accountability group over winter break. The group would meet from late November to mid-January. Writing accountability groups have traditionally been used among faculty and advanced academic writers to create productive writing habits and accountability measures to prompt progression towards self-declared writing goals over a specified period of time. Depending on participation and success, the center may extend the groups after winter break.
Applications for 3-Minute Thesis contest due Dec. 3
The Three-Minute Thesis competition sponsored by the Graduate College will kick off in December. The contest is open to graduate students and offers an opportunity for them to explain their research quickly in language appropriate for a general audience. Competitors are allowed one presentation slide but no other resources or props. The contest will be held via video submissions. Applications are due Dec. 3. Video submissions will be due Dec. 21, and winners will be announced Jan. 25. The winner is awarded a $500 scholarship.
Signage available for buildings with limited access
The university will be open and operational between the fall and spring semesters, but some buildings may be locked or have limited access. Building supervisors can order and post a specially developed Cyclones Care self-adhesive sign for exterior doors. Departments and units also should make sure websites and voicemail messages reflect operational changes.
Central receiving will offer limited package delivery to campus during Thanksgiving break
ISU central receiving will be closed Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, but will be open and accept inbound package deliveries on Friday, Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 27, 30 and Dec. 1) of the extended Thanksgiving break. However, delivery to campus will be limited for those three days: All next-day, time sensitive and perishable packages will be delivered to campus the same day. All ground, standard and non-time sensitive packages will be securely held at central receiving and delivered to campus starting Wednesday, Dec. 2. As a reminder, central receiving staff deliver packages to central delivery points in each campus building. Questions about package delivery during the Thanksgiving holiday break or your building's central delivery point may be directed to manager Todd Wilson, 515-294-1804, or your building supervisor. Package recipients may view their central receiving package status online.
Postal and parcel will close for Thanksgiving weekend
ISU postal and parcel will be closed over the extended Thanksgiving weekend, so there will be no processing of outbound mail or parcels Nov. 26-Dec. 1. The office will receive packages and mail from the U.S. Postal Service on Friday, Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 27 and 30, Dec. 1), and staff will deliver these items to campus buildings on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
ISU Creamery announces curbside pickup dates over break
The ISU Creamery will continue its weekday retail hours (11 a.m.-3 p.m., 2953 Food Sciences) through Tuesday, Nov. 24, and then will close until Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. It will offer curbside pickup for quart cartons Dec. 16 and Jan. 6 (3:30-5 p.m., orders due at noon the day before). Details are online.
Purchase tickets for gardens' holiday light show
Reiman Gardens is hosting an outdoor walk-through holiday light show, Winter Wonderscape, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings Dec. 3-Jan. 2, 2021 (5-10 p.m.). There won't be a show Dec. 25. Tickets should be purchased online in advance for a specific day, with daily attendance capped for safety. Tickets are $10 (members $8, children 2-12 years $5, children under 2 years free).
New fan plan at November competitions
Amid rising COVID-19 positivity rates, athletics director Jamie Pollard announced Nov. 17 that attendance at the Nov. 21 home football game and both November men's and women's home basketball games will be limited to just the families and guests of student-athletes and program staff. "We feel it is in the best interest of our state, community and university for the Iowa State athletics department to be a leader in limiting social gatherings during these times," Pollard wrote in an update to Cyclone fans.
Response to concerns about social media post
University leaders have responded to demands made by a group of faculty, staff and students voicing their concerns about a student organization's post-Election Day social media post. Additionally, the Nov. 16 response was posted to Iowa State's Campus Climate website. Previously, university leaders addressed the issue with the student organization and informed its leaders about conduct that would violate university policy and the Student Code of Conduct.
Wanted: More yellow buckets for glass recycling
The office of sustainability is requesting additional donations of empty 5-gallon yellow buckets from Tidy Cats cat litter -- with red or blue hinged lids intact, rinsed out and dry. Following a successful July 2012 pilot, Iowa State's glass recycling project uses the buckets for discarded laboratory glass such as pipettes, slides and petri dishes. They're also used for the residence halls' recycling program. The end goal is to keep glass out of the garbage stream to prevent mechanical damage at both the city's resource recovery plant and power plant. There are two drop-off sites during business hours:
- 108 General Services Building (director of sustainability Merry Rankin's office)
- Environmental Health and Safety Services Building, front desk
ISCORE proposals due Dec. 1
The Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE) is accepting proposals on race and ethnicity from faculty, staff and students through Dec. 1. The 2021 ISCORE event will be held virtually March 4-5, with a preconference for faculty and staff March 3. Proposals should include a title, 200-word abstract and 1-2 learning outcomes. Students are asked to include the name of a faculty or staff member familiar with their presentation plans.
Map highlights indoor spaces set aside for studying
Select classrooms and many common areas are serving as study spaces during fall semester. No reservations are needed. Occupant capacities and hours will be posted on classrooms; common spaces are available during regular building hours. Physical distancing and face covering requirements must be observed. A PDF that includes maps, locations and hours is available online.
APLU recognizes Iowa State for innovation
An effort to ramp up production of face shields when the COVID-19 pandemic hit is one example of Iowa State’s innovation and discovery that the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities recognized with its 2020 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Innovation award. The award also recognized the opportunities for innovation and collaboration through the new Student Innovation Center and the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as support for startups from the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations.
Applications due Dec. 15 for term faculty professional development grants
The office of the senior vice president and provost has funds to support professional development of term faculty, particularly those with limited professional development support. Awards of up to $500 help faculty participate in a virtual or in-person conference, workshop or training. Guidelines are online, and the application (also online) is due Dec. 15 for conferences or workshops between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2021. Recipients will be notified within three weeks. Abstracts for conference presentations need not have been accepted at the time an application is submitted.
Library hours unchanged for prep and finals weeks; prep week events set
The library will remain open normal semester business hours Nov. 16-25. The library partnered with Student Health and Wellness for a series of carefully considered, physically distanced activities during prep week. Experts will lead simple relaxation techniques to help students decompress each day of prep week.
Submit library reserve requests now for winter, spring courses
Instructors wanting to place required materials on reserve at Parks Library for winter and spring courses should submit requests now via Canvas. Information and instructions are on the library's website.
Gardens host online holiday plant sale Nov. 21-29
Reiman Gardens' holiday plant sale, featuring a wide selection of poinsettias and 24-inch wreaths, will be held online Nov. 21-29. An in-person sale and online order pickup will be held Dec. 2-4 (10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, Garden Room). Cash and credit cards will be accepted at the in-person sale.
New required syllabus statement on free expression
Iowa State has adopted a new required syllabus statement to affirm the university's commitment to free expression. The statement, available on the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching website (and below), was developed in consultation with the Faculty Senate executive board and is to be used verbatim for all Iowa State University courses beginning with the upcoming winter session.
Iowa State University supports and upholds the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech and the principle of academic freedom in order to foster a learning environment where open inquiry and the vigorous debate of a diversity of ideas are encouraged. Students will not be penalized for the content or viewpoints of their speech as long as student expression in a class context is germane to the subject matter of the class and conveyed in an appropriate manner.
SHOP has employee volunteer opportunities during prep, finals week and winter break
The student leadership team for the Students Helping Our Peers (SHOP) food pantry, 1306 Beyer, is asking ISU employees to volunteer their time to help keep the SHOP open during November, December and January. Sign up in one-hour increments using the appropriate online form below; volunteering details will be emailed to you. Two schedules are available:
- Prep and Finals weeks, Nov. 16-25: Tuesdays and Friday (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) and Wednesdays (4-7 p.m.)
- Winter break, Nov. 30-Jan. 22, 2021: Tuesdays and Fridays (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
If you are unable to volunteer at this time but are interested in helping in the future, provide us your contact information to be put on a short list for other opportunities.
'Jagged Little Pill' concert tickets on sale Nov. 16
The Broadway cast of the Tony Award-nominated musical "Jagged Little Pill" is reuniting for a live one-hour concert, featuring selections from the show, Sunday, Dec. 13 (7 p.m. CST), to support performance venues around the country. Tickets for access to the livestream are $27 through Nov. 22 ($33 after) and go on sale to the public at 9 a.m. Nov. 16. A portion of each ticket sold on the Iowa State Center's link supports Stephens Auditorium operations. Information on options for watching the performance are shared in a FAQ on the website.
Public comments invited for draft policy on renaming property
A public comment period continues through Nov. 23 for a draft policy on considering the removal of names from university property. The draft is available in the policy library.
FAQ details how executive order will impact diversity programming
Scheduled training and instruction related to diversity, equity and inclusion -- principles Iowa State remains committed to uphold -- should continue as planned while university leaders implement a plan to comply with a federal executive order restricting the use and promotion of certain ideas in diversity programming and workplace training.
President Wendy Wintersteen, vice president for diversity and inclusion Reginald Stewart and university counsel Michael Norton released an FAQ on the issue in an Oct. 20 message to faculty and staff. The order by President Donald Trump bars recipients of federal grants from using federal funding to promote concepts identified in the order as "divisive" and bars federal contractors from using the concepts in workplace training programs. See the FAQ for a list of the concepts identified in the executive order as divisive, potential "red-flag" terms, recommendations for adjusting descriptions of diversity programs and more information about how the order may impact the university.
