Show College Creek some love
Volunteers will show College Creek some love Saturday, June 28, during the sixth annual cleanup of the small stream that passes through Iowa State's campus. Volunteers are sought to wade through sections of the creek and along the creek bank, picking up trash. The cleanup is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but volunteers can come and go as their schedules allow. They will receive free food and water and a chance at door prizes contributed by local businesses. Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and, if desired, bring their own gloves. Cleanup supplies will be provided. Register online for the event and check in (beginning at 10:30 a.m.) at the Forker Building parking lot. The cleanup is a joint effort of Iowa State's Live Green!, Keep Iowa State Beautiful and ISU facilities planning and management. For more information, contact Merry Rankin, 4-5052.
Tickets for fall Wiggles concert go on sale June 20
Tickets for an Oct. 12 performance at Stephens Auditorium by Australia's children entertainment group, The Wiggles, go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, June 20, at all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets are $20-$49, plus fees. Show time is 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Volunteers sought for state fair exhibit
University Marketing seeks volunteers to help roll athletics posters and apply Iowa State temporary tattoos at the university's state fair exhibit Aug. 7-17. There are two shifts each day, 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m., and 2:45-9 p.m. Employees who have received their supervisor's approval may sign up online by midnight on July 2. Questions may be directed to Laura Bittner in the University Marketing office, 4-3969.
Business plan competition deadline extended to June 20
The submission deadline for the John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan competition for businesses less than four years old has been extended one week, to June 20. A total of $50,000 will be awarded to the top three business plans ($25,000-$15,000-$10,000). The competition is sponsored by the Pappajohn entrepreneurial centers at Iowa's three public universities, Drake University and North Iowa Area Community College.
Applicants sought for faculty fellows program
Applications for the 2014-16 faculty fellows program in the office of the senior vice president and provost are due June 30. These two-year, half-time administrative appointments are open to full professors who have been at ISU a minimum of five years. This year's priorities are: supporting department chairs and supporting an inclusive culture. Fellows will develop and implement faculty projects related to the priorities. The application and additional information are available online. Contact associate provost Dawn Bratsch-Prince, 4-6410, with questions.
Jerrod Niemann concert tickets go on sale Friday
Tickets for an Aug. 27 outdoor concert by country music artist Jerrod Niemann, with guest performer Craig Campbell, go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, June 13, through Ticketmaster. The concert, to be held in the renovated Harvester Plaza at the Iowa State Center, is in conjunction with the 2014 Farm Progress Show Aug. 26-28 east of Boone. Tickets (general admission, lawn seating) are $25 plus fees.
Problem solvers bring world conference to campus this week
The Future Problem Solving program's 40th annual international conference will bring about 2,500 visitors to campus Thursday-Sunday, June 12-15. Students in grades 4-12 will compete in three components: global issues problem solving, community problem solving and scenario writing, all around the topics of civic/cultural issues, education, the environment, health, and human services. In addition to the United States, countries represented include Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Guests will begin arriving mid-day Wednesday, with the opening ceremony scheduled for Thursday (7:45- 9 p.m., Hilton). Competitions and presentations will take place Friday and Saturday (all day, Forker, Carver, Pearson, Scheman and Hilton), with award presentations scheduled for Saturday (6:45-8:45 p.m.) and Sunday (8:45-11 a.m.), both in Hilton. Visitors will live in the Richardson Court, Martin, Helser and Friley residence halls. Participants will depart Sunday afternoon. The group will hold its 2015 international conference in Ames as well.
Chemistry Stores closed June 17-19
Chemistry Stores in Gilman Hall will close for inventorying Tuesday, June 17, through Thursday, June 19. It will reopen at 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 20. During the closure, dry ice and liquid nitrogen will be available twice a day, at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Chemistry Stores staff will make no deliveries these three days, except for special-order gas cylinders, which will be delivered only to specified locations.
The cut-off for sales invoiced in fiscal year 2014 will be noon on Monday, June 30. Orders placed that afternoon will be invoiced and delivered Tuesday in the new fiscal year.
Registrar's staff consolidate in one building
The tuition and fees assessment and special registrations functions of the Office of the Registrar relocated to 10 Enrollment Services Center on June 5. Those staff members previously worked in 0460 Beardshear. The Registrar's communications unit relocated from room 10 to 210 Enrollment Services Center. Phone numbers for all staff remain the same.
Sweeney Hall remains closed
Sweeney Hall remains closed to the public until further notice. Although the May 30 fire was limited to the roof of the west section of the building, roof repairs and a thorough cleaning of the building’s interior must be completed before the building is re-opened to the public. Chemical and Biological Engineering faculty and staff should report as usual.
For questions or requests for building access, call 294-7642.
President's annual address is Sept. 12
President Steven Leath will present his annual address to the university community on Friday, Sept. 12 (8-9 a.m., MU Great Hall). Refreshments will be available prior to his talk, which will begin at 8:15 a.m. It will conclude with a time for questions. All are invited.
Registration is open for August teaching seminar, orientation
Registration is open for these Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching events in August:
- University Teaching Seminar, for all new faculty and teaching assistants, Aug. 19 (8 a.m.-4 p.m., Memorial Union)
- New Faculty Orientation, for all new faculty -- tenured, tenure-eligible and non-tenure eligible -- hired since September 2013, Aug. 20 (7:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Scheman Building)
Additional information, including registration, is online.
Council's June 10 open forum features budget update
Dave Biedenbach, assistant vice president for financial planning and budgets, will provide an update on the development of the university's FY15 budget on Tuesday, June 10 (2-3 p.m., ballroom, ISU Alumni Center). This is the P&S Council's monthly open forum; all members of the university community are welcome. Those who can't attend in person may watch online (log in as a guest).
'VISIONS' project is focus of June 8 lecture
Photographer Jim Heemstra and VISIONS editor Carole Gieseke will talk about their two-year, cross-country project during a lecture at the Brunnier Art Museum on Sunday, June 8 (2-3 p.m., 295 Scheman). The pair traveled to all 50 states and the District of Columbia to capture the stories and images of ISU alumni. The portraits are featured in a Brunnier exhibit through Aug. 9. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Art abandonment project is June 7 in The Workspace
On Saturday, June 7 (1-4 p.m.), The Workspace will host an art abandonment event. Participants will create something for the joy of making it, and then leave it for an unsuspecting person to find – at the coffee shop, on a park bench or anywhere a stranger might stumble upon it. The Workspace will provide the supplies and demonstrate some techniques to get you started. Special tags will be available to attach to the artwork that explains the project to their finders. All skill levels are welcome; the cost is $5 per person and preregistration is not necessary.
After Hours at Reiman Gardens is June 6
The three-piece band The El Dorados will provide danceable music during After Hours at Reiman Gardens Friday, June 6 (4:30-7 p.m.). The event includes a cash bar of beers and wines from Olde Main Brewing Co. and complimentary snacks. Admission is $8 ($4 for members and ISU students). All who attend must be at least 21. The gardens' conservatory, butterfly wing and gift shop will remain open during the event.
Training session for youth program staff is June 11
The offices of risk management, university counsel, extension and outreach and conference planning/management will hold a training session on June 11 (9-11 a.m., 3150 Beardshear) that targets departmental/unit employees who plan and supervise youth programs and administrative assistants who complete administrative tasks for youth programs. The training will provide the most current information on pre-collegiate and youth-related policies, procedures and forms that need to be completed to successfully conduct youth programs at Iowa State. Those planning to attend are asked to send an email to the office of risk management.
Welch-Lincoln Way traffic lights out June 1
Traffic signals at the corner of Welch Avenue and Lincoln Way will be out Sunday, June 1, beginning at 1 p.m. A four-way stop will be set up at the intersection. Work at the Kingland construction site in the area necessitates the outage.
Sheldon-West intersection to close June 2 for reconstruction
The intersection of Sheldon Avenue and West Street/Union Drive on the west side of campus will close Monday morning, June 2, for an estimated three weeks. The intersection is one in a four-stage City of Ames project to remove and replace Sheldon Avenue north of Lincoln Way this summer. Minor storm and sanitary sewer work will be done at the intersection as part of this phase. Drivers are asked to heed any temporary parking restrictions in this area.
The new paving on Sheldon (Lincoln Way to just south of the West Street intersection) will reopen to local traffic only on June 2.
State Avenue section is closed for two weeks
Following approval from the Ames City Council Tuesday evening, a section of State Avenue (both directions) closed at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, for two weeks. The section, from north of the bridge over U.S. Highway 30 to just south of Mortensen Road, is managed by Iowa State. Originally scheduled for repair, the road's condition was much worse than anticipated and the university opted to completely reconstruct that section of the street. During the closure, no vehicle access will be allowed. The closure will not affect the Mortensen Road intersection.
Workspace offers June book club
Read and discuss Tom and David Kelley’s book, Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All, in a fun, conversational enviroment, the MU Workspace's summer book club. On Monday, June 2 (7 p.m., The Workspace, east basement of MU), meet others in the group. Workspace coordinator Letitia Kenemer will share some creativity exercises you can do on your own. The second meeting, on Monday, June 23, will be a discussion of the book. Creative Confidence develops the reader's understanding of how creativity can be exercised and strengthened. The fee is $5. Participants also provide their own copy of the book. Questions may be directed to Kenemer, 4-0971.
Hispanic and Latino/a affinity group seeks representatives
Colegas Creating Community, a member organization of the Faculty and Staff Affinity Council, is seeking volunteers to serve as staff and faculty representatives. Colegas supports the career progression and development of Hispanic and Latino/a faculty and staff, as well as their families' integration into the Ames community. If you would like to serve, nominate someone to serve or receive more information, contact associate professor of Spanish Elisa Rizo or assistant professor of chemistry Javier Vela.
University museums closed May 24-26
The Brunnier Art Museum in the Scheman Building, Christian Petersen Art Museum in Morrill Hall and the Farm House Museum will be closed Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26.
Art critique is May 28 at the MU
The Workspace in the Memorial Union is hosting an art critique on Wednesday, May 28 (7 p.m., Gallery Room). Artists of all skill levels are invited to bring up to three pieces of work in any media. Share your artwork in a comfortable atmosphere and get feedback and ideas from other artists. This event is free and no preregistration is necessary. Questions may be directed to Letitia Kenemer, 294-0971.
You're invited: Community picnic is May 23
Special Olympics Iowa is hosting a community picnic on Friday, May 23, to celebrate the summer games' 30th year at Iowa State. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Iowa State Center courtyard, south of the Scheman Building. Lunch will be provided by Hickory Park and a short program will begin at 12:30 p.m. Admission is free, but RSVPs are requested by email (crichey@soiowa.org) or phone (515-986-5520).
Registration is open for annual 'pork chop' golf event
Golf registration is open for the annual Lauren Christian Pork Chop Open, an 18-hole best ball tournament to benefit an endowed scholarship fund named for the former animal science professor. This year's event will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, at ISU's Veenker golf course. Registration is $85 ($340 for a four-person team) and includes golf, lunch and beverages. Registration closes June 11 or when a field of 32 teams is reached.
May 30 hearing on campus precedes next regents' meeting
If you'd like to comment on any items scheduled for discussion at the state Board of Regents meeting June 4-5 at Iowa State, you have several options:
- Attend one of six public hearings held at the regents institutions and board office May 29-30. Iowa State's hearing is May 30 (noon-1 p.m., Memorial Union Oak Room). All public hearings will be video recorded and posted to the regents' hearings website. Transparency officer Shirley Knipfel will preside at the meeting.
- Provide written comments to regents transparency officer Sheila Doyle Koppin, sdoyle@iastate.edu.
Meeting materials and an agenda for the June meeting will be posted to the regents homepage by May 27.
Deadline extended for pre/post-award services survey
The Office of the Vice President for Research is extending the open survey period for comments and suggestions about pre- and post-award services through May 21. To record your comments, go to https://www.survey.cssm.iastate.edu/snapwebhost/surveylogin.asp?k=139871312624. The office will use comments from this survery and the recent open forums in discussing future directions for supporting sponsored funding at Iowa State.
Two leadership development series will start in September
To assist with leadership development at ISU, University Human Resources provides two opportunities for employees to enhance their leadership and supervisory potential. Registration has begun for fall offerings of :
- 12+ Supervisory Leadership series, which starts Sept. 17: Open to all supervisors, but designed especially for first-time or soon-to-be supervisors (12+ 3-hour sessions)
- Leadership at Any Level, which starts Sept. 11: Open to all ISU employees (five 2-hour sessions)
Questions may be directed to Adan Murillo, 4-8917; or Don Broshar, 4-2278.
Awards reception is May 30
The ISU Alumni Association will hold its annual Inspiration Awards reception on May 30 in the Brunnier Art Museum, Scheman. Following a 5:30 p.m. reception, retiring members of the associations board of directors and recipients of the 2014 Faculty-Staff Inspiration Award will be honored. An appetizer and dessert reception will follow the program. The Faculty-Staff Inspiration Award has been presented annually since 2012 as a way for former students to recognize current or former faculty or staff members who had a significant influence in their lives. RSVPs, online or by phone (4-6525) are requested by May 19; all alumni and friends are welcome.
Two sororities will join ISU Greek community
The ISU Greek community is welcoming two sororities to campus. Alpha Phi International Fraternity's Zeta Delta chapter will return to Iowa State this fall. The chapter had been at ISU from 1977 until 1998, when membership declined. Delta Gamma International Fraternity will establish its chapter by fall 2016. Both organizations are part of the National Panhellenic Conference and will join the 15 chapters that make up ISU's Collegiate Panhellenic Council. More information is available online.
Bike to Work events begin May 10
The Ames Bike Coalition, in partnership with Healthiest Ames and local businesses, has planned several community events for Bike to Work Week, May 10-16 in Ames. Events include free breakfast, group rides and entertainment; bike helmets are required for admission.
Teams to provide updates on presidential research initiative
It's been nearly a year since seven research teams received presidential awards to pursue projects of ground-breaking potential. In a one hour-presentation, hosted by President Steven Leath on May 9, the teams will provide brief updates on their progress. The presentation will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Oak Room. The grants are part of the Presidential Initiative for Interdisciplinary Research, a program launched by Leath to support research efforts that could lead to major advances, discoveries and technologies.
Names of deceased faculty, staff may be submitted for Memorial Day ceremony
The ISU Retirees Association will hold its annual Memorial Day Ceremony to remember retired and current faculty, staff or their spouses who died in the last year. The ceremony will be held Monday, May 26 (9 a.m., Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center). Names of staff, faculty or their spouses/partners who died this last year may be submitted to Jerilyn Logue, 515-294-3192. All are welcome at the ceremony. Family members/friends are invited to speak briefly (2-3 minutes) at the ceremony about their loved one or colleague. If individuals are not available to speak, comments may be submitted and will be placed in a notebook and on the association's website.
Feedback sought on research processes
Sarah Nusser, vice president for research, is seeking campus input and suggestions for improving research support, including pre- and post-award processes. Researchers and staff are invited to provide feedback and share ideas at a May 7 open forum (3-4:30 p.m., MU Pioneer Room). Feedback also can be submitted with an online survey.
Child lab school has preschool openings
The ISU Child Development Laboratory School, Palmer Building, has several full-time openings in its preschool classrooms for children who turn 4 before Sept. 15. More information and the application are available online.
Registration is open for College of Design summer youth workshops
The College of Design announces a series of summer workshops for middle and high school students. The one-day "Explore Design!" workshops ($25 each, June 3, 10 and 17) and 2.5-day "Design Innovation" workshops ($75 each, June 4-6, 11-13, 18-20) are open to students entering 6th grade through spring HS graduates. Fees cover snacks, meals and materials. Workshop details and registration are on the college's youth programs website; registration closes the Friday prior to the start of each workshop.
Design Condensed, a residential camp for students entering 10th grade through HS graduates, gives students a one-week college-like experience. Campers choose between two tracks: digital media and design or environment and spaces. The camp meets Sunday afternoon, June 22-Saturday morning, June 28; cost is $535. Registration deadline is May 30.
CAMTech announces call for research proposals
The National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center, the Center for Arthropod Management Technologies (CAMTech), announces a call for proposals for research projects to begin Jan. 1, 2015. Proposals should be for pre-competitive research related to arthropod or nematode management. The use of agriculturally relevant organisms is encouraged. Proposals should be submitted by May 30. More information is available online.
Art Mart rescheduled for May 9-10
Art Mart, the annual art sale at the Memorial Union originally scheduled for April 11-12, will be held Friday, May 9 (noon-6 p.m.) and Saturday, May 10 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.), in the MU Trophy Tavern (west side of the food court commons). Items include blown glass vessels and ornaments, pottery, Venetian glass jewelry, beaded and sterling silver jewelry, fabric bags and framed campus photos. Most items sell for $5-20; proceeds support the host clubs and organizations and the local artists.
Enjoy a free movie at Jack Trice Stadium May 17
The Jr. Cyclone Club is sponsoring "Movie Night at Jack Trice Stadium" on May 17 (7 p.m., gates open at 6 p.m.). The movie is Frozen and the event is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, the movie will move to Hilton Coliseum. Families may sit on the field (blankets only, no chairs) or in the bleachers on the east side of the stadium. Handicap-accessible seating also will be available. Limited concessions at reduced prices will be for sale. More information is online.
Nominations sought for 2015 Women Impacting ISU calendar
The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics is seeking applications for the 2015 Women Impacting ISU calendar. The calendar honors women currently employed or enrolled at Iowa State. Anyone, whether affiliated with the university or not, may nominate a current student, faculty or staff member. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 30. Additional information is online.
Free admission to Reiman Gardens on National Public Gardens Day
Enjoy free admission and free educational programs all day at Reiman Gardens on Friday, May 9, in observance of National Public Gardens Day. Other central Iowa gardens participating in the promotion are the Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden and Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden in Des Moines, Brenton Arboretum in Dallas Center, and the Iowa Arboretum in Madrid. Print an admission coupon at the Better Homes and Gardens website.
Regents approve faculty P&T requests
Meeting April 24 in Council Bluffs, the state Board of Regents gave final approval to faculty promotions, including tenure, at the three regent universities. Iowa State's request included 76 faculty members. The changes take effect in August for the 2014-15 academic year.
Veishea open forum is April 25
The Veishea task force is holding its first open forum Friday, April 25 (2-4 p.m., MU Great Hall). Members of the public and ISU community are invited to share feedback, moderated by Government of the Student Body president Hillary Kletscher. A live webcast and comment submission form will be available.
Research faculty, staff input sought at forums
Sarah Nusser, vice president for research, is seeking campus input and suggestions for improving research support. Researchers and staff are invited to provide feedback and share ideas at two open forums -- April 30 (8:30-10 a.m., MU Campanile Room) and May 7 (3-4:30 p.m., MU Pioneer Room). The first set of these open forum meetings for research faculty and staff will focus on pre- and post-award processes. Feedback also can be submitted with an online survey, beginning April 30.
Upcoming employee assistance program (EAP) webinars, workshops
- Workshop: Compassion Fatigue, April 28 (1-3 p.m., MU Gallery), understand compassion fatigue stress and how to cope and maintain professional and personal effectiveness
- Webinar: EAP Employee Orientation, May 7 (8:30-9 a.m. or 12:30-1 p.m.), learn about the EAP services available to you and your family
- Workshop: Active Listening and Communication, May 8 (8:30-10:30 a.m., MU Gallery), identify the barriers to effective communication, explore personal communication styles and learn five key principles to more effective interaction
- Webinar: EAP Supervisor Orientation, May 15 (1-2 p.m.), discover the tools necessary for crisis response and management consultation and referrals
For more information, contact Employee and Family Resources at 515-244-6090.
Alumni association is updating its directory
The ISU Alumni Association, working with Publishing Concepts Inc. (PCI) of Dallas, will begin the process of collecting data updates for the 2015 ISU Alumni Directory, beginning April 25. All living Iowa State alumni will be included in the directory and receive an invitation to update their biographical information, either by phone or online. The last directory project was in 2010. Alumni wishing to not have some or all of their information published in the directory may make this request through either the alumni association office or PCI. Questions about the directory project may be directed to Scott Dahl, 294-9529, director of membership and marketing for the alumni association.
The directory will be released in early 2015 in hard-bound, soft-bound and USB drive editions. The online alumni directory will continue to be available to alumni association members.
IT staff discover unauthorized access to servers
Information technology staff have discovered a breach affecting five departmental servers on campus. An extensive analysis has revealed the compromised servers contained Social Security numbers of 29,780 students enrolled at Iowa State between 1995 and 2012. Officials don't believe the files were accessed. However the university is notifying individuals whose personal info may have been exposed and offering free, expert help in indentity protection. For details, see the Server Breach FAQ.
Spring University Honors poster presentation is April 30
The University Honors Program invites the campus community to attend the spring 2014 poster presentation and reception on April 30 (3-5 p.m., MU Great Hall). The event will feature Honors projects and the spring and summer 2014 Honors graduates. The graduates and other Honors students will be present to answer questions and speak with individuals interested in their projects.
Ten will share "what matters to me" on April 23
Iowa State's student-run multicultural magazine Uhuru will host "What Matters to Me and Why" on Wednesday, April 23 (8 p.m., MU Great Hall). Ten individuals from the Iowa State community will present on life experiences, lessons learned and values solidified. Each was invited to speak for about five minutes about anything that fits her or his definition of "what matters to me." A time for audience Q&A will follow their talks.