Student Announcements
January 2021
'Speed dating' event gives quick overview of support programs
Students quickly can learn more about Writing and Media Center, Academic Success Center and the University Library in a virtual "speed dating" event Feb. 10. Match friendly faces to each of these support services as representatives share tips for making the most of their programming and announce special events to be held this semester. Each presentation will last no more than five minutes, in speed-dating fashion. Attendees will have a chance to ask questions before a special Valentine’s Day edition of ISU trivia. The winner will receive a $10 gift card to Chocolaterie Stam, a downtown Ames chocolate shop and coffee bar. Everyone who creates a semester action plan and shares a part of it will be eligible to pick up a Valentine’s Day goodie bag full of school supplies and sweets from the Writing and Media Center’s Carver 208 location beginning Feb. 11. See the "speed dating" website to learn about the programs and set up a "date" with a writing consultant, academic tutor or coach, or research librarian.
Executive order rescinds restrictions on diversity training
An executive order by President Joe Biden rescinded a prior order by former President Donald Trump that would have restricted some training and instruction related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Trump order, issued Sept. 22, would have limited the content of some university training programs. An Oct. 20 memo detailed the anticipated effects of the order. A Jan. 25 memo to faculty and staff from university counsel Michael Norton and vice president for diversity and inclusion Reginald Stewart outlined impact the Biden order on diversity training -- and several other executive orders -- will have on Iowa State, including orders combatting discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, preserving the DACA program and ending travel bans from certain countries. Biden issued the orders outlined in the Jan. 25 memo on Jan. 20, his first day in office.
Cyclone Cinema shares its spring titles
Cyclone Cinema, the free campus movie series hosted by the Student Union Board, opens this week with four showings of the science fiction/action thriller, "Tenet." Nightly showings (Thursday-Sunday) begin at 7 p.m. in 101 Carver, and Sunday screenings feature open captions. Face coverings are required and the auditorium seats are zip-tied closed to preserve a 50% capacity. 2020 and 2021 films will be screened weekly through April 25.
Student entrepreneurs sought for college pitch off in February
The Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, in conjunction with ISU's seven colleges, will host its annual College-by-College Pitch Off Feb. 10-22 (all in 3231 Student Innovation Center; requests for virtual will be allowed). Registration is open to 25 students in each college. Students deliver a 90-second pitch about an idea or business they are working on to a panel of judges for cash prizes totaling $22,500. The top two in each of two categories (new idea and existing business) from each college event will advance to the Innovation Pitch Competition Feb. 25 (4-6 p.m.). Questions may be directed to Diana Wright at the Pappajohn Center, 296-8246.
Register now for P&S Council professional development event
Registration is open for the 2021 Professional and Scientific Council Professional Development Experience. This year's conference, "Cultivate Your Adventure: Growing Through Change," will be held virtually Feb. 25 via Hopin, an online events platform. Keynote speaker Renée Smith will share how to make work more human, and P&S employees will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue sessions on various topics. Participants will have the opportunity to engage further with Smith during a human workplace gathering experiential learning opportunity to be held March 10, 11 and 12. Registration is $25 for the one-day experience on Feb. 25 and an additional $15 for the human workplace gathering sessions. Visit the conference website to register before the Feb. 22 deadline or get more information about the agenda.
National recycling competition kicks off Jan. 31
Iowa State once again will participate in a national recycling contest against other university and college campuses this semester. The Campus Race to Zero Waste Competition is an eight-week event (Jan. 31-March 27), formerly called RecycleMania, in which campuses will compete in a variety of categories to reduce waste and advance recycling efforts.
"While the competition is stiff with hundreds of schools participating, we hope to leverage on this year's competition to actively engage all campus stakeholders to support our recycling and waste reduction efforts," said Ayodeji Oluwalana, recycling and special events coordinator.
Iowa State will participate in the following categories:
- Per capita recycling
- Diversion
- Electronics waste
- Game day, a one-day competition reporting the recyclables, food waste and trash for a single basketball game
- One building challenge (General Services Building)
Maps highlight available study spots
Select classrooms and many common areas are serving as study spaces during spring semester. No reservations are needed. Occupant capacities and hours will be posted on classrooms; common spaces are available during regular building hours. Physical distancing and face covering requirements must be observed. A PDF that includes maps, locations and hours is available online.
Goldfinch live music series resumes Feb. 6
Bondurant singer/songwriter Marc Bailey performs on the Stephens Auditorium stage Feb. 6 (7 p.m.) as part of the center's Goldfinch Room series for local musicians. The larger stage will allow guests to maintain a distance of 10 feet between groups. Masks are required except when eating or drinking. Tables for up to 4 people are available for $40. Livestream links are $10 (single stream) and $20 (group stream). Purchase a table or livestream online.
New tutorial videos explain your classroom technology
Information technology services (ITS) has created two video tutorials, 3-4 minutes in length, for faculty and instructors about using audiovisual technology in general university (GU) classrooms. The videos are captioned and available on ITS' YouTube Channel and imbedded in its knowledge base articles. From a technology perspective, Iowa State has two kinds of classrooms:
- Level 1 (about one-fourth of GU classrooms). Equipment includes a pan/tilt/zoom camera and microphone, lecture capture recorded to Panopto in the Cloud, and USB/USB-C and HDMI cables for integrating with the instructor's videoconferencing or recording software. Some also have an in-classroom recording option that only requires a flash drive. YouTube video. Knowledge base article.
- Level 2 (about three-fourths of GU classrooms). Equipment includes a web camera, boundary microphone and USB/USB-C cable for connecting to instructor's device. YouTube video. Knowledge base article.
Not sure how your classroom is equipped? Review this GU classroom list.
Eight slides: Campus efforts to manage the pandemic
COVID-19 data from the fall semester, captured in eight slides, tell a story of the tremendous effort to manage the pandemic on campus through testing, case management and contact tracing.
Place Valentine fudge orders by Jan. 29
The Food Science Club is accepting preorders online through Jan. 29 of its Valentine fudge. Available flavors are chocolate, peanut butter, cookies and cream, chocolate mint and Cyclone (chocolate fudge with M&Ms, peanuts and mini marshmallows). Two sizes are available: a half pound ($6) and a pound ($10). Orders will be available for pick up Feb. 10-11 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) in 206 MacKay.
ISU Creamery has afternoon hours spring semester
The ISU Creamery, 2953 Food Sciences, opens for spring semester Monday, Jan. 25, with new hours: Noon-4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. At the shop, you may purchase classic and college ice cream flavors by the scoop or in 32-ounce cartons; payment is by cash or credit/debit card. Metered parking is available at the east parking deck on Wallace Road. Enter the building at the Wallace Road entrance and follow the signs to the creamery. In addition, 8-ounce cartons of the eight college flavors are sold for $5.50 at Sparks café on the fourth floor of the Student Innovation Center (weekdays 9 a.m-5 p.m.).
Free face coverings available Jan. 22, 25
Free I-State branded face coverings will be distributed to students Jan. 22 and 25 at two central locations: 130A Parks Library and 3630 Memorial Union. They also will be available at college offices throughout the semester -- 102 Catt, 1200 Gerdin, 131 MacKay, 2270 Veterinary Medicine, 1300 Marston, 19 Curtiss, 1137 Pearson and 134 Design. Residence hall desks also will distribute face coverings. Two per student will be available. These are the same style of adjustable face coverings that were distributed to students at the start of fall semester.
Pipette calibration offered on campus Feb. 1-5
Chemistry stores is hosting a pipette calibration service Feb. 1-5. Quality service and calibration for all major brands and makes of pipettes will be provided by a dedicated, factory-trained technician. The service includes cleaning, lubrication and calibration of pipettes. Prices are:
- $40, single channel/repeater pipette
- $105, multichannel pipette
Prices don't include any parts that may need replacing. Pipettes can be dropped off at the chemistry stores office, 1351 Gilman, on or after Jan. 27. When calibration is complete, owners will be contacted to pick up their pipettes. Questions may be directed to John Burright, 294-0200.
Jan. 15: University is open, online classes meet as scheduled
The university remains open today, Friday, Jan. 15. Employees should coordinate with their supervisors to work remotely if possible, and be cautious when determining whether it's safe to travel to campus. Those unable to get safely to work should contact their supervisors or department offices. All winter session classes are online and will meet as scheduled.
Study abroad hiatus extended through Aug. 1
Iowa State won't offer any study abroad programs with travel between May 2 and Aug. 1, senior vice president and provost Jonathan Wickert announced this week. Since last March, Iowa State has been observing a rolling 30-day ban on international travel for students implemented by the state Board of Regents and still in effect. University and board leaders will monitor the global pandemic situation and provide an update when decisions are made about study abroad programs scheduled after Aug. 1.
CyThx recognizes those who make others feel valued
Now in its third year, CyThx gave Iowa Staters a chance to thank the faculty, staff and graduate teaching assistants who make them feel like a valued member of the ISU community. The initiative is a partnership of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, ISU Learning Communities, Multicultural Student Affairs, Student Government and the Graduate and Professional Student Senate. The 2020 version drew 227 submissions, honoring recipients from 102 university units -- some of them multiples times. Each message was shared with the recipient and the recipient's unit leader. Go to the CyThx website to see the recipients and the messages that submitters chose to make public.
COVID-19 vaccines are focus of Jan. 15 town hall
The university community is invited to a town hall Friday, Jan. 15 (2-3 p.m. via Webex) that will focus on COVID-19 vaccines. A panel will address questions about availability and distribution of vaccines on campus and in the Ames community. Panelists are Erin Baldwin, associate vice president for student health and wellness; Kristen Obbink, COVID-19 public health coordinator; David Verhoeven, assistant professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine; and Dan Fulton, McFarland Clinic infectious disease specialist. The town hall will be recorded and made available on the COVID-19 Updates and Resources website.