Announcements
Survey to gauge child care needs of employees with elementary-age children
University human resources is conducting a survey of employees with children in kindergarten through sixth grade to gauge what child care needs they anticipate in the coming school year. If there is a large enough need, the university will explore options to provide access to child care via a third-party provider in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those services would be paid for by the families of the children enrolled. The survey was sent Aug. 7 to all faculty, staff and graduate students who have dependents in that age range on an ISU benefit plan. Parents who have children that age who didn't receive the survey can request a link from child care and family services by emailing ccfamily@iastate.edu. Responses are due by 4 p.m. Aug. 14.
We want to hear your making-the-best-of-it anecdotes
In the daunting process of preparing for fall, what's made work and life a bit more manageable? What's brightened your day? Inside Iowa State is looking for some personal and light-hearted examples of how faculty and staff are making the best of it, ways they've adapted to ease the transition to "new normal." Send a short anecdote or photo to inside@iastate.edu, and it could be included in an upcoming edition.
Employees needed to support check-in and testing at Lied Rec Center
Submit requests via Canvas for fall course reserves
Instructors who wish to place required materials on reserve for the fall semester should submit requests now. Place requests for articles, chapters, books, DVDs or streaming video via Canvas by following the library's guides for creating a Canvas course shell, enabling course reserves, requesting items, and using the module. Email questions related to reserve materials, their copyright, or how to use them in Canvas to ereserve@iastate.edu.
UHR provides guidance on a flexible workplace for employees
University human resources (UHR) has provided more guidance regarding a flexible workplace for employees who may need time to deal with personal challenges druing the pandemic. The guidelines stress good communication between employees and supervisors. It provides recommendations for employees requesting such arrangements and what supervisors should consider before approving them. UHR will send a survey out this week to employees with students in kindergarten through sixth grade to help learn what care needs are anticipated during the school year. The Family Friday webinar series also continues Aug. 7, focusing on remote work and families. The webinar is from 10-11 a.m. with a live discussion for those who register.
First Ivy College of Business course earns QM certification
David Cantor, professor in supply chain management, teaches the fifth course to successfully complete a Quality Matters certified course review, for SCM 563 (Purchasing and Supply Management). The Quality Matters program recognizes excellence in online course design. The course is the first Ivy College of Business course to be certified. (2020 QM certified courses in higher education).
Diversity and inclusion office releases podcast series
As a follow-up to a campus conversation June 17 -- a panel and Q&A session on how white action and accountability can combat anti-blackness and systems-based racism -- the diversity and inclusion office is releasing a podcast series in the lead-up to the fall semester. The first three episodes are available now, including "Race and Racism," How To Be an Anti-Racist" and "Intension vs. Impact." New episodes will come out Aug. 7 and Aug. 14.
Rec services to reopen Beyer Hall, Lied Rec Center
Beyer Hall and Lied Rec Center will reopen with the start of fall classes. Under its fall reopening plan, recreation services will open both facilities -- closed since mid-March -- beginning Aug. 17, though some amenities will remain unavailable. State Gym, which reopened in June, will expand its hours starting Aug. 17. The reopening plan also calls for some intramural students sports this fall and a return to in-person fitness classes. Virtual fitness classes still will be offered, and in-person classes will have limited capacity and may be held in nontraditional spaces, include outdoors east of Lied Rec Center.
Library reopens for limited hours, resumes regular hours Aug. 17
Parks Library reopened with limited hours Aug. 3. The library will resume normal business hours on Aug. 17, the first day of fall classes. Special collections and university archives, which remain closed from Aug. 3-16, will reopen with limited hours beginning Aug. 17.
Volunteers clean sections of College Creek
The 2020 College Creek cleanup on June 27, organized by the Live Green initiative, implemented physical distancing to ensure staff and volunteer safety. Twenty-nine volunteers provided nearly 70 hours of volunteer service and retrieved more than 400 pounds of trash from College Creek on campus and in campustown. 2020 College Creek photo gallery.
Fall student hiring is open in Workday
Last year, with the implementation of Workday, hiring student employees -- both regular hourly and work-study eligible -- moved online. Hiring has opened for fall semester, with work-study eligible hires now approved in Workday. Departments that want to check work-study eligibility of fall employees can do so in Workday External Student. If the student is a new hire, use this hiring job aid in CyBox. If the student is a returning employee, the employer needs to complete a "data change" process in Workday; slides 3-4 of this job aid will assist them.
Students seeking work on-campus are encouraged to use the online student job board provided by the student employment office. It's also the encouraged and common place for departments to advertise part-time student employee positions, at no cost to departments. More information, including instructions on posting open positions, is on the student job board website.
UHR service center reopens to walk-ins Aug. 10
The university human resources (UHR) service center (3810 Beardshear) will reopen for walk-in transactions Aug. 10, though appointments still are encouraged. The center's regular hours will be 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m., but it will open at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesdays. Through Aug. 7, the service center is open by appointment only from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. To help limit in-person interactions, UHR also is working with HR delivery teams and local departments to encourage new employees to complete Form I-9 paperwork via Workday.
Tuition reimbursement policy change gets a temporary tweak
In response to feedback from employees, senior leaders have approved a temporary modification to changes in the university's tuition reimbursement program for merit and professional and scientific (P&S) employees. Program participants who, in the last year, took courses for credit at universities and colleges other than Iowa State may apply for tuition reimbursement for courses at those schools for two more semesters: fall 2020 and spring 2021. This extension does not apply to employees who are taking their first course at another university this fall or next spring.
The extension is intended to give past participants more time to identify other financial resources if they opt to continue in their current academic programs. University human resources also will contact those individuals for assistance with next steps.
Announced last month as part of plans to address the fiscal year 2021 budget shortfall, the tuition reimbursement program will be limited to Iowa State courses (up to four credits per semester at general ISU rates), beginning this fall. The application period for fall semester tuition reimbursement runs through Friday, Aug. 14.
Watch for move-in congestion Aug. 3-16
Students living in the residence halls and campus apartments this year will be moving in Aug. 3-16. The department of residence suggests that faculty and staff avoid areas where move-in congestion may occur, including Union Drive and Beach Road.
Iowa singer/songwriters to perform on Stephens Auditorium lawn
The Goldfinch Room will feature Iowa singer/songwriters in four Tuesday night performances on the Stephens Auditorium north lawn over the next month. The lawn will open at 6 p.m. for each performance, with the music from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $5, and no advance sales are available. The schedule is as follows:
- July 28 J. Jeffrey Messerole
- Aug. 4 Ryne Doughty
- Aug. 11 David G. Smith
- Aug. 18 Fred Love
Physically distanced seating areas for up to four people will be designated on the lawn. Attendees can bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Beer, wine, soda and water will be available for sale at an outdoor bar area, and The Traveling Pig food truck will offer food. Outside food and nonalcoholic beverages may be brought to the event.
Face coverings will be required when entering and exiting the event as well as when moving to and from restrooms inside Stephens Auditorium or to purchase food or drinks. Face coverings will not be required inside designated seating areas.
