Announcements
Legislature scheduled to resume June 3
The 2020 Iowa Legislative session, suspended March 16 about two-thirds into its planned 100 days, resumes Wednesday, June 3. Before then and at the request of the governor and legislative leaders, Iowa's Revenue Estimating Conference is meeting Friday, May 29, to set new numbers lawmakers will use to rebuild their state budget. The three-member panel last met March 12, a few days within Iowa State's decision to (at that time temporarily) move spring semester instruction online.
The last bill passed in March before legislators headed home extended state appropriations at the current level (FY20) for two months into the new fiscal year, or through July and August.
Fall reminders to faculty from the bookstore
The ISU Book Store shares these reminders with faculty and academic departments for fall semester:
- Bookstore staff need required and recommended textbooks, supplies, courseware and subscription adoptions to secure materials for students ahead of the August class start date. These materials will be published in the student book list in AccessPlus for students to review when they enroll in the course. Upon receiving your teaching assignment, submit your selections to your department coordinator or contact Carl Arbuckle, course materials buyer, carabuc@iastate.edu.
- Faculty and departments also are asked to share your student PPE requirements for the classroom/laboratory with the ISU Book Store. These materials also will be listed in the student book list on AccessPlus, and students will be able to purchase them at the bookstore. Contact assistant director Heather Dean, hdean@iastate.edu, to discuss details.
- Faculty interested in requiring that digital course materials for fall semester be distributed to students directly through Canvas with the Immediate Access program need to contact John Wierson, digital course materials buyer, jwwiers@iastate.edu, by July 1.
ISU Book Store will reopen June 1
The ISU Book Store is planning to safely reopen to the public on Monday, June 1, with store hours of 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Visitors must enter the store from the south (Lincoln Way) entrance to the Memorial Union. The parking ramp will be open, however, the only access to the building will be on the Lincoln Way side. As always, customers will receive one hour of free ramp parking with any purchase.
Reiman Gardens shares plan to reopen
Reiman Gardens will reopen to the public Monday, June 8, with restrictions in place due to the ongoing pandemic and several upgrade projects underway in the gardens. Hours will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Buildings will be closed, including the conservatory complex, Mahlstede Building and Hunziker House, so entry will occur at the east outdoor gate (opposite stadium lot S-2).
Vet Med alumna with CDC post will present public health webinar May 28
The College of Veterinary Medicine is hosting a series of free webinars for the public, via Zoom, on Thursdays during May. On May 28 (2 p.m.), Vet Med alumna Renee Funk will present "Public Health Response to COVID-19." Dr. Funk is the associate director for emergency management at the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is co-leading the environmental health team for the COVID-19 response at the CDC/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Sign up at the registration link.
'Processing COVID-19' grant proposals due May 30
The Center for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities is sponsoring a one-time grant program (up to 30 awards of $250) to support projects that create a local record of the experience of a global pandemic as it was happening. There is no format that projects must adhere to, and any medium or form of expression is acceptable. The one expectation is that the outcomes of individual projects can be shared with the campus community. The center is collaborating with the library's special collections and university archives department to archive these products in ISU's digital repository. Proposals are due May 30.
Monetary gifts sought for university's annual food drive for United Way
The university community's annual Live United food drive is taking place virtually through May 28. Monetary contributions will benefit 13 food pantries in Story County and ensure children and families have food during the summer months. ISU faculty, staff, students and friends can support the effort two ways:
- Donate via the United Way of Story County website. Select "LIVE UNITED food drive" in the drop-down menu and type "Iowa State University" as the employer.
- Mail checks, payable to United Way of Story County, to the United Way of Story County, 316 Clark Ave., Ames 50010. Write "ISU Live United Food Drive" in the memo line.
Questions may be directed to Iowa State's Live United food drive cochairs, Haley Cook or Tara Fisher.
Spring Cyclone tour goes online May 20
Initially planned as a six-day, 12-stop tour across the state, the athletics department's annual Cyclone Tailgate Tour will move online Wednesday, May 20 (5-7 p.m.), to protect staff, coaches and fans. The live broadcast of this family-friendly event is free and available for all Cyclone fans on cyclones.com, the department's Facebook and Twitter pages (@CycloneATH) and Mediacom's Cyclones.tv channel. Fans can RSVP for a chance to win prizes during the show and submit questions in advance.
NASA EPSCoR collaboration meeting delayed to late fall
Research faculty interested in NASA collaborations leading to future proposals through the NASA EPSCoR program are invited to a technical interchange meeting this fall at NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. The Iowa NASA EPSCoR program will support travel to the meeting. The original date of Aug. 10 has been rescheduled with a tentative timeframe of November-December. Applications are due Sept. 1. Questions may be emailed to nasaepscor@iastate.edu.
Applications due June 1 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 faculty without access to professional development support from their departments. Awards up to $500 help faculty participate in a virtual or in-person conference, workshop or training. Guidelines are online and applications (online) are due June 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.
Key audits and returns suspended through May 31
Key access audits and requirements to return keys are suspended for the next two months, Steven Ray, manager of building security services for facilities planning and management, announced March 30. Employees still can complete key audits during this time, but deadlines are suspended through May 31 to alleviate any concerns caused by issues with staff or students being off-campus.
Out-of-pocket telemedicine costs waived through June 16
Under ISU employee health insurance plans, out-of-pocket costs will be waived for telemedicine services for 90 days, effective March 16. The temporary elimination of copayment and co-insurance for virtual doctor visits, such as those available through Doctor on Demand, will be in place through June 16 to help avoid spreading COVID-19.
