Healthy volunteers sought for nutrition counseling
Sally Barclay, ISU Nutrition Clinic for Employee Wellness, is seeking volunteers to work with senior-level dietetics students during spring semester. Volunteers cannot have health concerns such as hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol. Volunteers must meet with an assigned student three times during the semester. The student will evaluate your eating habits and help you set specific and reasonable goals to improve your eating patterns. If you'd like to participate, contact Sally Barclay.
Wind turbine completes first month of production
In its first full month of operation, the campus wind turbine provided 9,300 kWhr of renewable energy to the university during January. That's a little more electricity than was used by the Jischke Building during the same month.
Panel: Professional women balance career and family
Professional women will share their stories of handling the pressure of balancing a career and family during a panel discussion, "I Wish Someone Had Told Me That," Feb. 18 (2-3:30 p.m., 368A Heady). The intended audience includes graduate students, post docs and young professionals. Panel members are Jennifer Roback Morse, founder and president of the Ruth Institute, San Marcos, Calif; Kristen Constant, Wilkinson Professor of Interdisciplinary Engineering and chair of ISU's materials science and engineering department; and Alexia Campbell Hoffman, postdoctoral research associate in ISU's biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology department. University Professor in economics Peter Orazem will facilitate the discussion.
Regents meet Feb. 6-7 in West Des Moines
The state Board of Regents will meet Feb. 6-7 at the West Des Moines Sheraton Hotel, 1800 50th St. An agenda for Feb. 6 will be posted Jan. 31 on the board's website. The board will interview candidates for the presidency at the University of Northern Iowa on Feb. 7. UNI president Ben Allen announced in August his plans to retire from the university by July 1.
Reminder: Iowa State has an ethics hotline
Iowa State contracts with a third-party hotline vendor, EthicsPoint, to allow anonymous reporting of activities that may involve criminal, noncompliant or unsafe behavior impacting ISU. You may submit a report online or by calling (toll-free) 866-384-4277.
Ames snow ordinance in effect at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29
The City of Ames Snow Ordinance is expected to go into effect at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. The Snow Ordinance goes into effect when two inches of snow falls on major arterial streets in Ames. 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 remains in effect until the streets are completely plowed from curb to curb, AND it has stopped snowing.
Next Osborn Club lecture is Feb. 11
"Companion Animals as Spontaneous Models for Human Cancers" is the topic Krysta Deitz, ISU Veterinay Clinical Sciences, will present at the next Osborn Club lecture on Feb. 11 (7 p.m., 1420 Molecular Biology). Osborn Club lectures are open to the public.
Tearoom to offer dinner menu
Beginning Jan. 31, dinner service will be available in the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays. Meals are $6.50; call 4-3330 for a reservation. To-go meals and a la carte items also will be available. Menus are located on the tearoom website.
Research assistantships available for fall juniors, seniors
Undergraduate research assistantships encourage outstanding juniors and seniors to pursue graduate study by offering hands-on experience in a formal research setting during the academic year. Applications (both student and faculty/staff) for the 2013-14 year are due March 29 in the Student Employment Center, 0640 Beardshear. Student applicants must be U.S. citizens, complete the FAFSA and be eligible for work-study funding, and maintain a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Preference is given to qualified students and faculty/staff who ask to work together on their respective applications. More information, including guidelines, procedures and forms, is online.
Spring Fulbright brown bag lunch series announced
The Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost is working with the Iowa chapter of the Fulbright Association and others to highlight opportunities available through the Fulbright program. All are invited to attend the following events, which begin at noon in 2030 Morrill. No registration is required.
- Jan. 31: Alexandra Johnston, lecturer and program director, English department, "A Mountain-top Year in Japan: Studying the Education of Japanese 'Returnee' Children"
- Feb. 26: James Raich, professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology, “My Student Fulbright to Malaysia”
- April 3: Roberta Vann, professor emertius; and Joan Chamberlin, senior lecturer, both in the English department, "Stories from the People's Republic of Poland”
Poster sale at MU runs begins Jan. 28
The Student Activities Center is hosting its annual poster sale at the Memorial Union Jan. 28 through Feb. 1 (9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, MU Cardinal Room). There are thousands of posters, from art prints and movies to music and pop culture. Costs range between $8 and $12. Proceeds from the sale support MU art programs.
Financial literacy student group seeks members
CyGold, a student organization dedicated to peer-to-peer financial literacy education, is seeking new members. CyGold presents financial literacy information to various groups around campus, providing valuable information to students on topics such as banking, credit, credit cards, money management and more. If you know a student who is interested in financial literacy, a student who would like to be a part of this group or if you would like more information, please contact the group’s president, Greg Hunt.
Nominations sought for MU awards by Jan. 31
The staff of the Memorial Union is seeking nominations for three annual awards:
- M.J. Riggs Award -- recognizes individuals or organizations whose contributions have impacted a specific area, department, unit or goal of the MU
- Four Seasons Award -- recognizes students, faculty, staff or community members who have gone out of their way to help the MU achieve its goals
- Harold Pride Service Medallion Award -- recognizes a person who has given extensively of him or herself on behalf of the MU
Nomintations for these awards are being accepted through Jan. 31, 2013. Nominations forms are available online.
Share your thoughts on wellness at ISU
Human resource services invites all faculty and staff to attend an open forum on Jan. 24 (noon-1 p.m., MU Cardinal Room) about a campus-wide health and wellness initiative. Representatives from Sibson Consulting, who are assisting HRS with the program's direction, will provide an update on the wellness initiative and also ask for your input. All are invited to attend; feel free to bring your lunch.
Present a poster at the Symposium on Sustainability
Faculty, staff and students are invited to showcase their sustainability initiatives and research projects in poster presentations at the 4th annual Symposium on Sustainability Feb. 25-26 in the Memorial Union. Posters will be displayed during the entiire conference and presentations will be held Feb. 25 (5-8 p.m.) and Feb. 26 (8 a.m.-noon). Attendance during the full exhibit timeframe is encouraged, but not required. The deadline for submitting a poster is Feb. 15. The submission form and other poster presentation details are on the symposium website.
Nominations for Live Green Sustainability Award due Feb. 12
If you know faculty, staff or students who are making an impact on campus sustainability efforts, consider nominating them for the Live Green Awards for Excellence in Sustainability. The awards will be presented at the Symposium on Sustainability, Feb. 25-26 in the Memorial Union. Nomination forms and supporting materials are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 12. The forms and details on the award are on the symposium website.
Carver scholarships available for fall juniors
Roy J. Carver Scholarships (up to 20 annually) are available to ISU students who are beginning their junior year fall semester of the award. Awards average $5,200 and renewal is possible for the senior year. Eligibility requirements include: Iowa resident for at least five consecutive years, full-time enrollment (12 credits or more), cummulative GPA of 2.80 or higher, demonstrated financial need on FAFSA filed prior to March 1, and evidence of significant social and/or economic obstacles. The application includes an essay and two references; the application deadline is April 1. More information is online or in the Office of Student Financial Aid, 0640 Beardshear, phone 294-5627.
Video: What you should know about the flu
Dr. Scott Meyer, Thielen Student Health Center, discusses influenza -- symptoms, prevention and treatment.
Honors program seeks proposals for fall honors seminars
The University Honors Program requests proposals for fall 2013 Honors seminars. These one or two-credit, S/F-graded seminars are offered on a wide variety of topics. Faculty, professional staff and graduate students with teaching experience are invited to propose seminars on topics of current or special interest. The Honors program allocates $500 per seminar to the instructor(s) for professional development. Proposals are due in the Honors program office, Jischke Building, by Feb. 8. More information is online or by contacting faculty director Susan Yager, 4-4372.
Memorial service for former track coach Steve Lynn is Jan. 19
Steve Lynn, a former Big Eight Conference track coach-of-the-year who mentored countless Cyclone student-athletes on and off the track in 14 years as head of the Cyclone program and 16 years as an assistant coach, died Wednesday, Jan. 16, at Mary Greeley Medical Center. Lynn, 61, succumbed to injuries suffered in a fall at his home Jan. 11. Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 18 (5-7:30 p.m.), at the First Evangelical Church of Ames, 2008 24th St. A Celebration of Life service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, also at the church. A Steve Lynn memorial fund has been set up at First National Bank of Ames.
University offices closed Jan. 21
Classes will not be held and university offices are closed Monday, Jan. 21, to observe the national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday honoring the civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968.
Team leaders sought for new student orientation in August
Do you know a student who would make a great leader? Encourage him or her to be a team leader during Destination Iowa State, Aug. 22-24. Each team leader will lead and mentor a group of approximately 15 new students through this new student experience. It's a great opportunity to be part of a team, develop leadership skills and earn up to $250. Applications are due Feb. 8; the application and more information are online. Questions may be directed to Kasie Von Haden, New Student Programs, 4-6660.
ISU alum is among award recipients at opera auditions
Jesse Donner, an alumnus of Iowa State, received the Martha-Ellen Tye Career Development Award of $1,000 at the Iowa District auditions of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Jan. 12 on campus. Donner is continuing his studies at the University of Michigan. From the 21 vocalists who auditioned at this event, two -- including University of Northern Iowa student Rhys Talbot -- advanced to the upper Midwest regional competition, to be held Feb. 2 at the Ordway Center in St. Paul.
W-2s are available in AccessPlus
W-2 wage and tax statements for calendar year 2012 are available in AccessPlus (in the employee tab, see "W-2"). To save university funds, employees are encouraged to print a copy of their electronic document by Jan. 25; those who don't will receive a paper copy in the mail postmarked Jan. 31.
Limited supply of flu vaccine still available
Iowa State employees who have yet to receive a flu shot may still get one, while supplies last. Call the occupational medicine staff at 4-2056 to make an appointment. Shots will be administered in G11 TASF. This season's vaccine reduces the risk of having to go to the doctor for influenza by about 60 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Swim & Gym for youth begins Feb. 5
Swim & Gym is an after-school program for children ages 5-12 years led by undergraduates pursuing a degree in physical education. The program includes team sports, gymnastics, fitness activities, dance, cooperative games, tag games, etc. Older children focus on more complicated concepts involved in the physical activities while younger children focus on the fundamental basics of physical activity. Swimming lessons include instruction for swimming strokes, diving and water safety. The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays Feb. 5-April 18 in the Forker Building. The semester fee is $85 per child. More information, including forms, is online.
Nominations are open for Student Employee of the Year
The Office of Student Financial Aid seeks nominations for ISU's 2013 Student Employee of the Year award. The award recognizes a student's reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism, interpersonal skills and unique contributions to the employer. Nominees must be undergraduate students employed on campus parttime for a minimum of six months between June 1, 2012, and May 31, 2013. Nomination forms are due in 0640 Beardshear by Feb. 15. More information, including the form, is online.
Spring classes begin Jan. 14
Iowa State's spring semester classes begin Monday, Jan. 14. Residence halls will reopen on Thursday, Jan. 10; meal service begins Friday, Jan. 11, at the Union Drive and Maple-Willow-Larch dining centers.
Live Healthy Iowa challenge begins Jan. 28; register now
Registration is open for the 2013 Live Healthy Iowa 10-week wellness challenge, which runs Jan. 28 through April 5. Cost is $15 per team member (teams should be two to 10 members). Visit www.hyvee.com (click on "health" > "live healthy America") for a $5 coupon off the registration fee. Participants will receive a T-shirt, one-year magazine subscription, weekly motivational emails, personal online tracking page, recipes, health information, and chances to win incentives and prizes (including a tropical cruise for two).
Nominate outstanding alumni for awards
The ISU Alumni Association is seeking nominations for six awards that will be presented to outstanding alumni during Homecoming, Nov. 9. Award descriptions and nominations forms are available online. Nominations are due Feb. 1. Contact Julie Larson, 4-8490, with questions.
New scholarship for nontraditional undergraduates
Iowa State recently received funding from the Bernard Osher Foundation to develop an Osher Reentry Scholarship Program. Undergraduate students between ages 25 and 50 years who have experienced a cumulative gap of five years or more in their education may apply to be Osher Scholars. Awards normally are between $1,500 and $2,500. The application deadline is Feb. 1. Details and the application are online.
EAP provider offers personal development classes
Employee and Family Resources, Iowa State's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, is offering several on-campus personal training sessions during January. The courses are:
- Managing Conflict, Jan. 14 (10 a.m.-noon, MU Gold Room); Jan. 23 (10 a.m.-noon, MU Gallery)
- Team Building, Jan. 15 (1-3 p.m., MU Gold Room); Jan. 17 (10 a.m.-noon, MU Gold Room)
- Integrating Work and Family, Jan. 28 (10-11 a.m., MU Gallery); Jan. 30 (1-2 p.m., MU Gallery)
- Diversity, Jan. 28 (2-3 p.m., MU Gallery)
- Communication, Jan. 29 (10 a.m.-noon, MU Gold Room); Jan. 30 (1-3 p.m., MU Gold Room)
To register for a course, log on to AccessPlus, select the "Employee" tab and click on "HRS Training." Contact Ruth Appleton, 4-3753, with questions.
Graduate College seeks faculty ambassadors
The Graduate College is seeking help from ISU faculty for a new program that will help increase under-represented minority graduate student recruiting. The college invites faculty to apply to be ambassadors to selected regional liberal arts colleges and universities, and national minority-serving institutions. Ambassadors will increase the network of relationships between ISU and the partner colleges. Deadline to apply is Feb. 15. More information, including a list of partner colleges, and an application are available online.
New equal opportunity director on the job Feb. 4
Robinette Kelley will become Iowa State's director of equal opportunity on Feb. 4. She comes to Iowa State from the State University of New York, Buffalo, where she served as assistant director in the equity, diversity and inclusion office. At Iowa State, Kelley will lead and manage all aspects of equal opportunity and affirmative action programs, from ensuring university compliance with laws and regulations to investigating and resolving complaints.
WSJ chart ranks ISU administrative expenses on lean side
Iowa State 's administrative expenses are on the lean end of the scale in a recent Wall Street Journal chart that ranks administrative expenses at 72 public universities with high research activity. In its Jan. 2 edition, the WSJ calculated how much of the education-related expenses per student at each university went for administrative costs. Iowa State's administrative spending amounted to 5 percent — good enough for a 7th place finish among universities' with administrative percentages that ranged from 2 to 17 percent.
Memorial events for Chuck Benn are Jan. 5
A memorial service for former Iowa State photographer Charles (Chuck) Benn will be held Saturday, Jan. 5 (1 p.m., Collegiate Methodist Church, 2622 Lincoln Way), with fellowship immediately following the service. There also will be a celebration of his life that day (4-7 p.m., Gateway Hotel); all are invited. Benn died Dec. 23 at the age of 94. He worked as a photographer at Iowa State for more than 55 years, first with the ISU Agricultural Extension Service and later with the veterinary biomedical communications department. Memorials may be sent to Collegiate Methodist Church or United Way of Central Iowa.
Expect truck traffic on south half of Bissell Road
Structural steel materials are being delivered to the biorenewables complex construction site for the ag and biosystems engineering building. Delivery trucks are entering the site on the west side and exiting to Bissell Road, where they'll head south to Union Drive. This route will be used until the steel for the facility is set (estimated through February).
Weather-related updates
Check the "weather updates" page for information on closings, postponements and delays due to the winter storm.
University holidays: Dec. 24 and 25, Jan. 1
University offices will be closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1, 2013, to observe the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Information on extended partial shutdown.
New leadership in Kuali training
Magann Orth, a systems support specialist in information technology services, will become the new learning and development specialist for Iowa State's Kuali Project. Orth succeeds Linda Morgan.
DNA facility to expand next-gen sequencing capabilities
Iowa State’s DNA facility soon will install new instrumentation that will reduce the cost of some next-generation sequencing applications and the turnaround time for order processing. A new Illumina MiSeq system, funded by the office of biotechnology, will allow small genomes to be processed faster and more economically. An Illumina HiSeq2500 sequencer upgrade, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Disease Center, will allow one-day processing of smaller orders containing only one or two samples.
Flu shot mini-clinics planned for Dec. 20-21
Occupational medicine staff will hold two flu shot mini-clinics Dec. 20 (1-3 p.m.) and Dec. 21 (9-11 a.m.) in G11 TASF for ISU employees who have yet to receive a flu vaccination. Employees may stop by anytime during the clinics; no appointment is necessary. After Dec. 21, call 4-2056 to make an appointment. Supplies are limited.
"Inside" takes a break
Inside Update and Inside Iowa State will publish on Dec. 20, and then will take a two-week break; the first edition of 2013 will be published Jan. 10. If you need to communicate information to faculty and staff before winter break, contact the "Inside" staff by 10 a.m. Dec. 19.
P&S Council open forum is Jan. 3
Karen Petersen, a certified financial planner, will present "More Than Money" at the next Professional and Scientific Council open forum Jan. 3 (noon-1 p.m., MU Campanile Room). All are invited to attend. Feel free to bring your own lunch.
Spring tutoring in reading available for 1-12 graders
Iowa State's Fred Duffelmeyer Reading Improvement Clinic offers one-on-one tutoring in reading, writing and spelling for children in grades 1-12. Sessions are conducted by graduate students in reading under the guidance of literacy education faculty. Spring session dates are Feb.5-April 18 (5:15-6:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday, Lagomarcino Hall). The enrollment fee is $100 per child; scholarships are available. To request an application, contact Marissa Vermeer, 4-3954.
Online employee wellness support group begins in January
Are you serious about taking some steps forward on your wellness journey in 2013? Do you feel like you need a bit of structure and support to do so? Consider joining “Living Well ... It’s Up to You,” an online group coaching program led by Sally Barclay, registered dietitian in ISU's Nutrition Clinic for Employee Wellness. Sessions meet online Wednesdays (12:10-12:55 p.m.) for 10 weeks beginning Jan. 9. Cost is $30 but $25 is returned to those that successfully complete the program. Email Barclay for additional information or to register.
Reminder: Mixed paper, phonebook collection is next week
Iowa State's annual phonebook recycling effort will be combined with the second mixed paper recycling of 2012. Campus services teams will collect both Dec. 19-21 at buildings that submit an online request by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12. Paper and phonebooks should be gathered in cardboard boxes – to a size and weight one person could lift – and stacked at building loading areas late in the day on Dec. 18. Questions about the collection may be directed to ISU recycling coordinator Sue Mallas, 4-0692.
Ash tree removal resumes next week
Beginning Monday, Dec. 17, crews will remove Ash trees along University Boulevard, Osborn Drive, WOI Road, Center Drive (Iowa State Center) and Stange Road and adjacent to parking lots north of Pammel Drive and the General Services Building. This work represents the third year in facilities planning and management's multi-phased project to remove Ash trees prior to the arrival in central Iowa of the Emerald Ash Borer. Crews also will be removing Ash trees and dead or dying trees in campus residential communities. Replacement trees will be planted in the spring.
Former faculty member Patrick Gouran has died
Patrick Gouran, professor emeritus of theater, died Dec. 2. He was 72. No funeral service is planned, but a celebration of his life will be scheduled at a later date. Memorials may be sent to the Animal Rescue League. Obituary.
Enjoy a carillon holiday concert over lunch Dec. 7
Tune in online (or step outside) to enjoy a holiday carillon webcast tomorrow (Dec. 7) at 11:50 a.m. Carillon students will perform a holiday concert, including a special rendition of "12 Days of Christmas" performed by three players.