Next STEM collaboration coffee is March 6
All are invited to attend the March 6 (9-10 a.m., N047 Lagomarcino) STEM coffee hosted by the Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education. The topic is "Establishing Successful Project Evaluation for NFS-funded Programs," presented by Mack Shelley, professor of statistics and political science, and Mari Kemis, assistant director of the Research Institute for Studies in Education. Please RSVP to Stacy Renfro.
Glen Campbell tour stops at Stephens April 15
Tickets for an April 15 concert by Grammy Award-winner Glen Campbell go on sale at noon Feb. 27 through Ticketmaster. Campbell's "Goodbye Tour" band includes three of his children. The singer announced last year he has Alzheimer's disease. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $45 and $65.
Officials anticipate snow ordinance will go into effect at 10 p.m. Feb. 23
Based on the weather forecast, the City of Ames Snow Ordinance will likely go into effect at 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. Vehicles parked on snow routes (marked by red and white signs) must be moved or they will be ticketed and towed. Vehicles should be moved to off-street parking or to streets that aren't snow routes. To assist in plowing efforts, all Ames residents are asked to remove parked vehicles from residential streets. However, only those on snow routes are required to move vehicles. The snow ordinance goes into effect when 2 inches of snow has fallen on major city streets and remains in effect until streets are completely plowed and it has stopped snowing.
Register now for grant search workshops
Faculty, staff and graduate students interested in finding grant funds are invited to register for a hands-on workshop, "Secrets to Targeting the Right Funding Source for Your Grant Proposal." ISU librariarians Rebecca Jackson and Sarah Passonneau will lead two workshop sessions (3-4:30 p.m., March 8 and April 24) at Parks Library. Registration is free; use AccessPlus to reserve a spot. Contact Jody Kalvik for more information.
Learn about Feng shui at workshop
ISU's student Lion's Club will sponsor a workshop on the ancient Chinese art of Feng shui on Feb. 27 (6-7:30 p.m., MU Oak Room). Certified Feng shui practitioner and club adviser Susan Radke will demonstrate how to enhance the flow of energy (ch'i) in your space, promoting increased focus, concentration and creativity. A major portion of the fee ($9 ISU students, $27 all others) will support Iowa KidSight. Questions may be directed to Radke, 4-6050.
Achieving success in NSF's "Broader Impacts" requirement
ISU's Strengthening the Professoriate effort will host a lunch workshop March 6 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., MU Gallery) on writing grant proposals that address the question of benefits to society beyond the research impact. Faculty members who have written successful proposals, particularly in the area of broader impacts, will share their experiences. Lunch is provided; RSVPs are requested to Megan Heitmann, 4-8061.
Registration open for spring women's leadership conference
The Iowa Network for Women in Higher Education (IOWAWHE) will hold its third annual spring leadership conference at Iowa State on Friday, April 27 (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Reiman Gardens). This year's theme is "Journey to Leadership." Cost is $30. All women interested in leadership in higher education are invited to attend. Conference details and registration information are available online.
Beware: Hackers using more sophisticated scams
IT Services is warning campus email users that official-looking emails from the "Solution Center" are malicious "Spearphishing" attempts to obtain logins and passwords. ITS never will ask for personal account information and the suspicious emails should be deleted.
Feb. 29 lecturer discusses eating disorders
Shannon Cutts, founder of MentorCONNECT, will present "Beauty Undressed" Feb. 29 (7 p.m., MU Great Hall) as part of Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Cutts, who battled anorexia and bulimia for 15 years, will talk about how to put "beauty" into perspective, and how mentoring can help those stuggling with eating disorders. This lecture is free and open to the public.
Leath will present CYtation Awards at Feb. 28 open forum
President Leath will address employees and present the fall 2011 CYtation Awards at the Professional and Scientific Council open forum Feb. 28 (noon-1 p.m., MU Gallery). A list of award winners is available online. All are invited to attend; feel free to bring your lunch.
Judges sought for State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa
The State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa and FFA Agriscience Fair will be held March 30-31 at the Iowa State Center. Individuals with a major, background or degree in science, engineering or technology are sought to serve as volunteer judges. About 350 judges are needed for the middle school exhibits and 100 are needed to evaluate high school exhibits and encourage students to become better researchers. Register online. Questions may be directed to Vicki Speake, 4-5738.
Half-day ComETS symposium is March 22
The third ComETS Symposium March 22 (noon-5 p.m., MU Sun Room) will feature a keynote talk by George Saltsman, executive director of Abilene Christian University's teaching and learning center. Since 2009, ACU has distributed iPhones to freshmen and built mobile-enabled services to enhance student learning and student life. The symposium also will include:
- a panel discussion on eTexts and ePublishing systems
- 10-minute mini-presentations from ISU faculty and staff on technology innovations (submit your proposal here)
- a student panel on mobile computing.
Online registration is requested.
Nominate students for volunteer award
The Student Activities Center, partnering with the Volunteer Center of Story County, seeks nominations for outstanding volunteers in Story County who are under the age of 25 years. Individuals or groups in these ages/categories will be honored: elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and community. Nominations for a 2012 Story County Youth Volunteer Award are due March 23; recipients will be honored at an April 24 reception in the MU Sun Room. The nomination form may be downloaded from the Volunteer Center's website. Questions may be directed to Jennifer Nissen in the Student Activities Center, 4-4354.
MBA informational lunch is Feb. 28
Learn more about the MBA program in the College of Business during an informational lunch Feb. 28 (noon-1 p.m., 1360 Gerdin). Lunch is provided; bring your questions. Register online. For more information, contact Jenny Reitano, 4-7819.
Registration open for library workshops, seminar
Faculty, staff and graduate students are invited to register for an upcoming seminar and a pair of workshops at the ISU Library. The Feb. 22 seminar (10-11 a.m.) , "Finding Industry Standards at ISU: An Introduction," will provide basics on the creation and approval of standards. Participants also will learn how to search and locate them in the library. "Get X-Cited About Cited Reference Searching" will be the topic of two hands-on workshops, Feb. 22 (3-4:30 p.m.) and Feb. 28 (9:30-11 a.m.). The workshops will cover all disciplines, but focus on the subject areas of participants. Registration is free; use AccessPlus to reserve your spot. Contact Lorrie Pellack for more information.
Two wellness events planned for Feb. 15
Faculty and staff have two opportunities on Feb. 15 to enhance their health through employee wellness programs:
- "Steps to a Healthier You," (noon-1 p.m., MU Room 3505). Activities include interactive desk exercise demo, tutorial of MyPlate, and helpful breathing and focusing techniques. Informational handouts and healthy snacks also will be available. Come and go as you please.
- "CYcling," (6-6:50 p.m., Cycling Room 2185, State Gym). This is a free cycling glass (no access pass required) at the new State Gym. Registration is limited to 19 participants. RSVP to voakinde@iastate.edu.
Faculty, student applications for undergrad research program due March 30
Faculty and students who are interested in participating in Iowa State's undergraduate research assistantship program in 2012-13 should submit an application by March 30. The program is intended to promote graduate study by giving outstanding students hands-on experience in a formal reserach environment. Students must be juniors or seniors next fall with a GPA of at least 3.25. Students and faculty are encouraged to seek out those with similar interests for possible matches. Details, including application procedures and forms, are online. Questions may be directed to Julie Arnold, Office of Student Financial Aid, 4-0103.
Register now for girls' career conference
"Taking the Road Less Traveled: A Career Conference for Girls," sponsored by ISU's Program for Women in Science and Engineering (PWSE), is now accepting registrations for its three spring conferences:
- April 12, high school (grades 9-12)
- April 19, middle school (grades 6-8)
- April 26, middle school (grades 6-8)
The conference's goal is to expose girls in grades 6-12 to career paths within science, technology, engineering and math. Conference information, including registration forms, a registration checklist and suggested pre- and post-conference activities, are available online. Contact Carol Heaverlo, 4-5883, or Katie Gibson, 4-5319, with questions.
Student scholarship deadlines are approaching
The Office of Student Financial Aid is accepting applications for three Iowa State scholarships for 2012-13:
• ISU Community Service Scholarship, March 1 deadline. Recipients are selected for their service in Ames or Story County while enrolled at Iowa State.
• ISU Working Scholars Award, March 1 deadline. Sophomore recipients from an Iowa high school are selected for academic achievement, financial need and motivation/willingness to help themselves through college with minimum debt.
• Roy J. Carver Scholarship, April 1 deadline. F-T junior recipients from an Iowa high school are selected for academic achievement, financial need and extenuating circumstances that present challenges to obtaining a degree.
Faculty and advisers are asked to share this information with students who qualify to apply.
Prominent writers to keynote annual Wildness Symposium
Readings, craft talks and panel discussions highlight the Feb. 26-27 Symposium on Wildness, Wilderness & the Creative Imagination. This year's festival, set in the Memorial Union, has an "outliers" theme. It will feature keynote readings and craft discussions by four prominent writers and celebrate the work of ISU graduate students and faculty. The event reaches across disciplines and is open, free of charge, to people from the Ames and university community. Visit the symposium site for more information.
Reminder: Nominations for university awards are due Feb. 20
Nominations for university awards are due in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost by Feb. 20. About 40 awards are available in faculty and staff categories. Units will be notified around May 1 of award decisions, and recipients will be honored at the September university convocation.
These liaisons can answer questions about specific awards:
- Dawn Bratsch-Prince: Distinguished Professor, University Professor, Regents Faculty, and Departmental Leadership awards
- David Holger: Teaching, graduate, international and advising awards
- Mary Holz-Clause: Extension/Professional Practice awards
- Chitra Rajan: Research, economic development and intellectual property awards
- Emily Olson: P&S awards
- John Anderson: Regents Staff Award
Next STEM brown bag seminar is Feb. 22
The Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering (CESMEE) is hosting a brown bag seminar for all faculty, staff and students Feb. 22 (noon-1 p.m., N047 Lagomarcino). Craig Ogilvie, professor of physics and assistant dean of the Graduate College, will speak about "Together Energizing Student Science: A Howard Hughes Medical Institute Report." Feel free to bring your lunch. RSVPs are requested to Stacy Renfro.
Applicants sought for ADVANCE faculty fellowship
Associate provost Dawn Bratsch-Prince is accepting applications through Feb. 22 for an ADVANCE faculty fellowship (quarter time, 9 months for two years beginning in August, renewable for a third year). The program is open to tenured full professors employed at least 2 years at Iowa State; those in a STEM field, including social, behavioral and economic sciences, are preferred. The fellow will continue to develop the university's programs and materials for recruiting, retaining and advancing women faculty and faculty of color. More information (PDF), including application requirements and form, is online. Questions may be directed to Bratsch-Prince, 4-6410.
Singing Valentine fund-raiser benefits student organization
The Iowa State Singers will be taking orders for singing valentines on Feb. 8-10 (10 a.m.-noon and 1-2 p.m.) at a booth outside the Memorial Union's west student office space. For $10, a quartet of Iowa State Singers will "deliver" Valentine songs to locations in Ames, or sing them live nationwide by phone. Deliveries will be made Monday, Feb. 13, or Tuesday, Feb. 14.
U.S. bank failures is topic of Feb. 13 Osborn Club lecture
Valentina Salotti, assistant professor of finance, will discuss failed U.S. banks since 2008 and what acquiring banks gain from the failed institutions during this month's Osborn Club lecture, Feb. 13 (7 p.m., 1420 Molecular Biology). The lecture portion of the monthly gathering is free and open to the public.
Snow ordinance in effect at 8 a.m. Feb. 4; move cars from snow routes
Based on the weather forecast, the City of Ames Snow Ordinance will likely go into effect at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. Vehicles parked along snow routes (marked by red and white signs) must be moved or they will be ticketed and towed. Vehicles should be moved to off-street parking or to streets that are not designated snow routes. To assist in plowing efforts, all Ames residents are asked to remove parked vehicles from residential streets. However, only those on snow routes are required to move them. The snow ordinance goes into effect when 2 inches of snow has fallen on city streets. It remains in effect until the streets are completely plowed from curb to curb, and it has stopped snowing.
Wind energy production in January sets a record
Iowa State received 2.23 million kilowatt hours of wind energy in January from the NextEra Energy Resources farm in northeast Story County. That equates to 14 percent of the university's electrical usage for the month, eclipsing the previous one-month record of 11.6 percent set last April. Some scheduled upgrades to the electrical transmission system in the area were completed in late December, and the wind farm was released to full production on Jan. 5. During January, the wind farm ran at an average of 50 percent capacity, which is within the predicted performance for the month. The university's goal is to receive 10 percent of its electricity annually from the wind farm.
Kick off your spring with ISCORE
Registration is open for the 13th annual Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE), to be held March 2 (8 a.m.-5 p.m., Memorial Union). ISCORE is a comprehensive forum on issues of race and ethnicity at Iowa State and beyond. Students, staff and faculty will provide concurrent sessions, and Nana Osei-Kofi, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies, will provide the morning address. The keynote presentation will be from Ames resident and social justice educator Grace Amemiya.
Tax assistance program begins Feb. 14
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program will be available for taxpayers with household incomes of less that $50,000 from Feb. 14 through April 12. The service is provided by trained ISU accounting students. Online appointment scheduling begins Feb. 1. Appointments will be held Feb. 14 through April 12 in 2148 Gerdin during the following days and times:
- Tuesdays, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m.
- Thursdays, 6-8 p.m.
Assistance will not be available during spring break, March 12-16.
Volunteers sought to assist dietetics students
Senior-level dietetics students are seeking employees interested in nutrition counseling. Students will meet with volunteers three times during spring semester to evaluate and improve their eating habits. Volunteers cannot have certain health concerns, such as hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol. Contact Sally Barclay if you are interested in volunteering.
Former ISU VP Wayne Moore dies
Former ISU vice president Wayne Moore, 92, died Jan. 29 at the Green Hills Health Care Facility in Ames. A visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 2 (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.) at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames. A private burial service will follow on Friday, Feb. 3. A celebration of Wayne's life and his contributions to Ames and Iowa State University will be held in April. Moore held the position of Iowa State vice president for business and finance for 18 years and then served as vice president for planning and development for another 5 years. Memorials may be directed to ISU Foundation Research Park and Wesley Hospice Care. Send online condolences to Grandon Funeral.
Spring career fair is Feb. 8
The colleges of Business, Human Sciences, and Liberal Arts and Sciences will hold their joint spring career fair Feb. 8 (noon-6 p.m., Hilton). It is open to the public. More than 100 companies have registered and are looking to fill internships, co-ops and full-time positions. Students should bring their ISU ID to the fair to receive a professionally printed name tag. Current ISU students also may register on ISU's Career Management Service site for the lunch being held prior to the fair at Johnny's in Hilton.
Research participants sought for online investment simulation
Participants (24 years and older, with investment activity in the last five years) are sought for a 1-hour online simulation that involves completing an investment decision-making exercise and answering questions about your experience with investments and financial statements. Simulations will be held Feb. 7 and 8 (5:15 p.m., 2148 Gerdin); register for a session online. Each person who completes the simulation will be compensated $25.
Tearoom adds Tuesday, Thursday evening meals
Beginning Jan. 26, the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom, 23 MacKay, will serve an evening meal (5:30-6:30 p.m.) on Tuesdays and Thursdays during spring semester. Reservations are required; call 4-3330. The menu and price ($6.50) are the same as that served at the noon seating. Tearoom To-Go, the Tearoom's carry-out option, also is available during Tearoom evening hours. It includes drinks, small items and sides, such as wraps, sandwiches, soups, pasta and fruit salads, and baked items. All food items are prepared on site by HRI 380 students.
Media spokesperson training
News Service provides media spokesperson training for faculty, staff and administrators who regularly serve as expert media sources, as well as those who would like to interact and communicate more effectively with reporters. Sessions are being offered Feb. 15 (afternoon) and Feb. 28 (morning). There's no fee to attend the workshops, but space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Plan on a time commitment of 3 hours. Sessions for several members of a department or unit also may be arranged upon request. If you have questions or are interested in attending one of the February sessions, e-mail annette@iastate.edu.
Ethics hotline reminder
Iowa State contracts with a third-party hotline vendor, EthicsPoint, to allow anonymous reporting of activities that may involve criminal, unethical, noncompliant or unsafe behavior impacting ISU. You may submit a report online or by calling (toll-free) 866-384-4277.
Civic Center discounts available to university community
Discounts are available to Iowa State students, faculty and staff for many Civic Center of Greater Des Moines productions, including the Willis Broadway Series, Temple Theater Series, Live at the Temple, and Dance Series. Go to www.civiccenter.org/group_sales/e-tickets.php and enter the pass code "ISU" for a list of available productions. Select the show you want to attend, click "find tickets," and enter special offer code "BEST." Tickets will be e-mailed to you.
Annual key audit under way
The university's 2012 key audit begins Jan. 23, when individual key holders will receive an email about the keys in their possession. Department key coordinators will have access to their department information beginning Feb. 6. The staff in building access services will complete the audit and have it available for department deans, chairs and administrative officers by April 15.
Ames snow ordinance in effect at 1 p.m. Friday
The City of Ames Snow Ordinance will go into effect at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20. Vehicles parked along snow routes (marked by red, white and blue signs) must be moved or they will be ticketed and towed. Vehicles should be moved to off-street parking or to streets that are not designated snow routes. To assist in plowing efforts, all Ames residents are asked to remove parked vehicles from residential streets. However, only those on snow routes are required to move them. The snow ordinance remains in effect until the streets are completely plowed from curb to curb, AND it has stopped snowing.
Panel discussion will look at impact of women's studies on women's lives
A conversation about the history and impact of women's studies will take place Jan. 26 (3:30-5 p.m., MU Gallery). Panelists include faculty members Cornelia Flora, Madeleine Henry, Kathy Hickok and Brenda Daly; and program alumnae including Lisa Ossian. They'll explore what is unique about women's studies and how the discipline has affected women's lives. All are welcome; refreshments will be served. This is part of a series this year recognizing the 35th anniversary of Iowa State's women's studies program.
University launches proof of concept initiative
A proof of concept initiative, launching this month at Iowa State, provides resources for innovative research and helps facilitate and accelerate the transfer of the university's innovative research to the marketplace. A common application process will streamline evaluation for funding from several sources. Awards typically will range from $10,000 to $100,000, and projects must be complete within six to 12 months. Collaborators are: the ISU Research Park, Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, ISU Research Foundation and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development. More information about the process, including the application form, is online at the ISU industry relations website.
Employee wellness presentation focuses on super foods
"Super Foods -- Enhance Your Eating" is the topic of an employee wellness presentation open to all faculty and staff on Jan. 26 (10-11 a.m., 192 Parks Library). Sally Barclay, clinician in food science and human nutrition, will lead a discussion about the most nutrient-dense foods with antioxidants and how to incorporate them into your daily diet. No preregistration is required.
Register now for March 24 Veishea Service Day/Stash the Trash
Help clean up the Iowa State campus and Ames community during the annual Veishea Service Day/Stash the Trash on March 24 (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., meet at the Reiman Gardens parking lot). Volunteers may work alone, with a group or an organization. Volunteers will receive free lunch and free admission to Reiman Gardens. Trash bags and gloves will be provided. If you're interested in participating, register online.
Controller's department seeks internal candidates for accounting manager position
The controller's department seeks qualified candidates for an accounting manager position in the sponsored programs accounting (SPA) office. This is an internal search open to current faculty, P&S (continuous or term) or permanent merit employees. Additional information about this vacancy (ID 120040) is available on the employment opportunities website.
University Honors Program seeks fall seminar proposals
The University Honors Program invites proposals for Honors seminars for fall semester from experienced instructors at any level. Proposals are due Feb. 8. Honors seminars, offered on a satisfactory/fail basis, are small (up to 17 students) one- or two-credit courses that give Honors students an opportunity to examine topics of special or current interest in an active learning environment. The Honors program will allocate $500 to seminar instructors to be used for professional development. More information, including the proposal form, is online. Questions may be directed to Honors faculty director Susan Yager, 4-4372.
Luncheon discussion looks at outcomes of ISU ADVANCE
Women faculty in the STEM fields are invited to a luncheon discussion Jan. 24 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., MU Campanile Room) to reflect on how things at Iowa State have changed since the inception of the ADVANCE program six years ago. This free event is hosted by the ISU ADVANCE program and the office of the executive vice president and provost. RSVPs for lunch are requested by noon Jan. 19.
Student Employee of the Year nominations due Feb. 10
Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 10 for the 2012 ISU Student Employee of the Year award. The award recognizes a student's reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism, interpersonal skills and unique contribution to his or her employer. Nominees must be undergraduates employed on campus part-time for a minimum of six months between June 1, 2011, and May 31, 2012 (anticipated). The nomination guidelines and application are online; for more information, contact Julie Arnold in the Office of Student Financial Aid, 4-0103.
CESMEE hosts Jan. 24 STEM brown bag seminar
The Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education (CESMEE) is hosting a free STEM (science, technology, mathematics, engineering) brown bag seminar Jan. 24 (noon-1 p.m., N047 Lagomarcino) with Carol Heaverlo, outreach program coordinator for the Program for Women in Science and Engineering. Her talk, "STEM Development: Factors That Influence 6th-12th Grade Girls' Interest and Confidence in Science and Mathematics," will feature the results of a comprehensive assessment of the Taking the Road Less Traveled Career Conference program. All faculty, students and staff are welcome to attend, and to bring their lunch. Please RSVP to Tracie Miller.
Study Abroad Fair is Jan. 26
The Study Abroad Center will host the Study Abroad Fair Jan. 26 (11 a.m.-2 p.m., MU Great Hall). Representatives of programs from around the world will answer questions and share opportunities with students. Contact the Study Abroad Center, 4-6792, with questions.
CPR, AED and first aid training offered
Environmental Health and Safety will hold a day-long training session Jan. 26 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 1230 Environmental Health and Safety Service Building) for those who wish to be certified in CPR, first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED). Cost is $55 per person. Send payment by Jan. 19 to EH&S, 2809 Daley Dr., or fax intramural to 4-9357. Cancellations must occur by 48 hours prior to the training or the registration fee will not be refunded. Register online at the EH&S Learning Center.