Announcements
July 2023
Thank you, creek cleanup volunteers
Twenty volunteers provided more than 50 hours of service and removed 500 pounds of trash from campus sections of College Creek during the 14th cleanup event July 15. Among the items retrieved from the creek or creek bank were office chairs, outdoor furniture, a bicycle, picnic table, tires, metal posts and many bottles, cans, disposable cups, plates, eating utensils and plastic shopping bags. Photo gallery.
Regents meet Aug. 2 to approve budgets
Approving operating budgets for the fiscal year that began July 1 is the main item on the agenda when the state Board of Regents meets Wednesday, Aug. 2, at its Urbandale office. No other Iowa State University items are on the short agenda.
City-university rummage sale runs July 28-Aug. 5
The annual Rummage Rampage at the Ames Intermodal Facility, 129 Hayward Ave., is an opportunity for local residents to donate household items with a still-useful life for a community-benefitting sale. It coincides each summer with apartment leases ending on July 31. Nearly 50 area non-profit organizations that provide the volunteer labor share proceeds from the sale. A list of accepted items (and not accepted items) is online. New this year: Payment is accepted via Venmo or cash; no credit cards or checks. Key dates for 2023 are:
- Friday, July 28, noon-6 p.m., drop-off only
- Saturday, July 29, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., sale and drop-off
- Sunday, July 30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., sale and drop-off
- Monday-Friday, July 31-Aug. 4, noon-6 p.m., sale and drop-off
- Saturday, Aug. 5, 8 a.m.-noon, half-price sale only (no drop-offs)
Rec services offers group swimming lessons
Recreation services will offer youth and adult group swimming lessons at State Gym this fall. Youth swimming lessons for faculty, staff and student members' dependents (ages 5-12 years) are two 30-minute classes/week for four weeks. Prices vary based on membership status. Adult swimming lessons for members feature two 40-minute classes/week for four weeks; the additional cost is $53. Sign-up begins Aug. 1 at 10 a.m.
National speaker highlights CELT's teaching symposium
The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching's half-day teaching symposium on Aug. 15 covers effective teaching practices and student support resources available at Iowa State, especially for new faculty and staff with a teaching role. For the first time, the opening session is open to all faculty and staff and features faculty developer and national speaker Todd Zakrajsek (8:30-10 a.m., Lee Liu Auditorium, Howe Hall). Zakrajsek's talk, "The Power of Connections," will be followed by a presentation and panel discussion led by dean of students Sharron Evans. Register online for the free event.
CYstarters Demo Day is Aug. 1
Celebrate the student entrepreneurs who participated in Iowa State's 11-week summer accelerator program, CYstarters, at CYstarters Demo Day, Tuesday, Aug. 1 (3-6:30 p.m., ISU Research Park Core Facility, 1805 Collaboration Place). Students will give presentations on the businesses they've been building, and a networking reception will conclude this free event. Register online.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas tickets on sale July 28
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, July 28, for a Dec. 19 Christmas show (7:30 p.m., Stephens Auditorium) by Mannheim Steamroller. The show will feature Christmas hits from the group's holiday albums and multimedia effects. Tickets, $56, $72 and $92, are available at the Stephens Auditorium ticket office and through Ticketmaster.
MU's art rental open house is Aug. 1-3
The Memorial Union is hosting an Art-for-Rent open house Aug. 1-3 in the MU Art Gallery on the ground level. Hours are Tuesday (3-6 p.m.), Wednesday (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Thursday (10 a.m.-1 p.m.). The art rental collection features about 275 framed posters, prints and paintings available to rent for a half or full year. Rentals typically range from $10 to $25 per year. Selections may be viewed at the open house and patrons may take rented pieces with them that day. An affiliation with Iowa State isn't required to participate. Proceeds from art rentals support art programs at the Memorial Union.
Fringe benefits rate confirmed for new fiscal year
The university submitted and has received from the federal Department of Health and Human Services approved fringe benefit rates for the fiscal year that started July 1. The rates are applied to the base salaries of employees annually to recalculate total compensation. A breakdown of the approved rates is online.
FY24 Approved fringe benefit rates
|
Employee group |
Current rate |
Previous rate |
|
Faculty |
28% |
26.5% |
|
Graduate assistants |
13.9% |
10.7% |
|
Post docs |
31.1% |
32.9% |
|
Merit (salary & hourly) |
48.9% |
47.9% |
|
Senior staff/Leadership |
16.4% |
15.6% |
|
Contract, P&S |
37.5% |
35.6% |
|
Students |
1.8% |
0.6% |
|
Miscellaneous/Non-student |
6.6% |
1.8% |
|
Americorp |
7.4% |
8.1% |
|
Miscellaneous |
7.6% |
1.8% |
SHOP pantry seeks summer faculty, staff volunteers
There are daily (weekday) opportunities this summer for faculty and staff to volunteer an hour or more at the SHOP campus food pantry in Beyer Hall (enter the southwest doors and follow the signs). Consider signing up for a shift so it can remain open to students in need. The food pantry also can use empty egg cartons, cut in half, if possible. Drop them off during open hours. Questions can be sent to shop_exec@iastate.edu.
SHOP leaders have started an "on call" volunteer list for instances where additional help is needed to unload and stock a delivery or fill in for a shift. Email shop_exec@iastate.edu to be added to the on-call list.
Consider FedEx, U.S. Postal Service until UPS contract is resolved
The postal and parcel services (PPS) team encourages the campus community to, at least temporarily, use a package delivery service other than UPS for outgoing shipments. The courier's contract with the union covering its 340,000 employees expires Monday, July 31. In June, members voted to strike as early as Aug. 1 if there isn't a new contract by then.
PPS manager Bob Tott warned that packages leaving campus via UPS in the next week could be delayed or even stored in a distribution center if there's a workers strike before packages reach their destination. He also encouraged the campus community to, for the next few weeks, ask their product suppliers to use a courier not at risk of interrupted service. FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service are options.
It's the final week to see current museum exhibitions
Beginning Monday, July 24, university museums' Brunnier, Christian Petersen and Farm House museums will close temporarily so staff can install the fall exhibitions. The museums will reopen Monday, Aug. 21. The musuems office in the Scheman Building, Art on Campus collection and Anderson Sculpture Garden, south of Morrill Hall, remain open during those four weeks. Museum hours.
Iowa State joins network focused on first-gen student success
Iowa State is a new member of the First Scholars Network, coordinated by the Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the Suder Foundation. Members of the network (more than 350 so far) apply and must demonstrate their commitment to improving experiences and success for first-generation college students. During a four-phased process, the center provides training, data and expertise for network members and an outlet for sharing research, media conversations and online learning to scale and sustain the work of serving first-gen students. More information will be shared this fall about Iowa State's participation in the network.
Tickets on sale for Stephens show with the Long Island medium
Acclaimed medium Theresa Caputo will appear at Stephens Auditorium on Saturday, Oct. 14 (7:30 p.m.). Theresa will share personal stories about her life and provide comfort to audience members through healing messages from their deceased loved ones. Tickets, $48.75-$98.75 plus fees, go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, July 21, at Ticketmaster or the Stephens Auditorium ticket office. Purchasing a ticket does not guarantee a reading.
Ames increases cost to charge EVs
Electric vehicle (EV) charging rates at city-owned public chargers increased by 2.6 cents per kWh on July 1. The EV charger installed last summer at the Ames Intermodal Facility, 129 Hayward Ave., is a Level 2 charger capable of charging two vehicles at once. As of July 1, the charging rate is now 12.6 cents per kWh. The Intermodal charger is one of eight public EV charging locations in Ames. Transportation Services also has two chargers, capable of charging four vehicles at a time, open to the public during the day for $1.25 per hour. Those stations charge university-owned EVs in the evening and overnight.
Cyclone volleyball seeks game helpers for home matches
Iowa State's volleyball program seeks game helpers for home matches during the upcoming fall season. Children in grades 4-8 are invited to assist with duties such as retrieving volleyballs during warmups and games, spot-mopping the court during timeouts and giving the ball to the server during matches. For more information or to submit your name, contact Marty Miller, 515-450-8283.
Celebration of life for Cal Lewis is July 22
The family of former architecture professor and department chair (2000-10) Calvin Lewis will hold a celebration of life in memory of both Cal and his wife, Diane, who died earlier this year, on Saturday, July 22 (5-8 p.m., Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave.). Cal was a faculty member when he passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 24, 2018. Members of the ISU community are invited to the gathering. Hors d'oeurves and the couple's favorite Italian dessert will be served; "dressy casual" attire is appropriate. An RSVP is requested by July 14, if possible. At the time of his death, the family established the Calvin Lewis Memorial Fund at the ISU Foundation, 2505 University Blvd., Ames 50010. Obituaries.
Order your ISU calendars for the academic year
Produced by the ISU Alumni Association, the 2023-24 Iowa State University wall calendar features the photography of Matt Van Winkle and Christopher Gannon and is filled with striking photos of campus. ISU units can order calendars online with a P-card or Worktag/DD#. One P-card or worktag/DD# must be used to receive any bulk discounts. Calendar pricing:
- 1-19 units: $15 each
- 20-29 units: $13
- 30+ units: $11
Second mental health response training scheduled for July 21
Due to strong interst, Student Counseling Services has added a second RESPOND training day for employees on Friday, July 21 (8 a.m.-4 p.m., campus location TBD). The course provides a basic overview of symptoms often associated with mental health problems and an action plan that empowers faculty, staff, administrators, and graduate and undergraduate students who work in student-assistance roles to offer effective support and useful referrals to students or colleagues. The training is offered through Student Counseling Services in partnership with ISU WellBeing and student wellness. There is no cost to employees to complete the training, but registration is limited to 45 people. Breakfast and lunch are provided, and the day includes a one-hour lunch and two 15-minute breaks.
Goldfinch Room restarts summer series
The Goldfinch Room announces its first Goldfinch on the Lawn concert of 2023 with singers/songwriters Danny Grause and Monica Austin on Tuesday, July 18 (7 p.m., outside the southeast corner of Stephens Auditorium, bring your own lawn chairs or blankets). The Ames-based Grause earned Song of the Year for "Man On A Mountain" at the Midwest Country Music Awards earlier this year. Austin is a country music artist from Muscatine and was named Entertainer of the Year at this year's Midwest Country Music Awards. Tickets are $10 at the door or $7 in advance online. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, including The Sandwich Stop food truck operated by the three Savage brothers, ISU alumni. No outside alcohol is permitted in the area.
Workday uses Google Maps to calculate employee travel
On July 1, Workday began using Google Maps to automatically calculate the mileage for employees' travel reimbursements. The new feature simplifies the process for submitting an expense report. Information on using this feature is available in a knowledge-based article and video tutorial in the finance and planning service portal.
Learn@ISU will shut down on Aug. 1
Learn@ISU will end operations on Tuesday, Aug. 1, with the transition of employee learning to Workday Learning. Departments and units are encouraged to review their training materials and replace references to Learn@ISU with Workday Learning.
Employees who want to print a transcript of their completed training in Learn@ISU before the shutdown can:
- Go to Learn@ISU.
- Click on My Menu, followed by My Reports.
- From the reports menu, choose Transcript of all Completed Training.
- Click on the printer icon in the upper left underneath the Home button.
Learn@ISU originally was scheduled to cease operations on Sept. 30, but the date shifted to ensure a successful shutdown as ISU's contract with the vendor concludes. Workday Learning launched in January and now features more than 500 ISU-developed courses from multiple units, along with more than 9,200 LinkedIn Learning courses.
Newest hub in Workday contains expense tasks
University employees managing business expenses in Workday have access to a new Expenses hub, as of July 1. Accessed in Workday's left menu, the application consolidates expense items in one location for convenience and efficiency.
In the new hub, expense items that need attention -- for example, "spend authorizations to submit" or "transactions to expense" -- are listed on "cards" that contain links for quick action. And in centralized sections of the Expenses hub, employees can create new expense reports and spend authorizations, review existing expense reports and transactions, and examine payment elections. Also available in the hub are frequently requested links to resources such as university travel policies, allowable and unallowable travel expenses, and a foreign currency converter. More information on using the Expenses hub, including a four-minute, how-to video, is online.
