Student Announcements
March 2023
Shivvers lecture focuses on the power of mini forests
Alumna Hannah Lewis, author of "Mini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Rewild the World," will give the 2023 Shivvers Memorial Lecture on Thursday, April 6 (5:30 p.m., 3580 Memorial Union). Her book promotes an international, "doable" movement to restore biodiversity by transforming empty lots, backyards and degraded land into mini forests. This ISU lectures program event is co-hosted by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. It's free and the public is welcome. The Shivvers lectures focus on issues of sustainability, agriculture and the food system.
Call for proposals for fall conference on peace building and social change
On Sept. 15-17, the history department and the Sustainable Peace faculty learning community will host the annual conference of the Peace and Justice Studies Association, a professional association for scholars in the field of peace and conflict studies. Faculty, students and staff are invited to propose papers that engage with questions of peace in a variety of ways. Submissions will be accepted in a range of formats including individually submitted papers; films, creative works or art presentations; roundtable discussions; interactive workshops; or panels (3-4 papers or presenters linked thematically). More information, including the submission form, is online. Questions may be directed to history department chair Simon Cordery, 294-7266.
Annual Hertz lecture on emerging ag issues is April 11
Animal science alumnus Tim Glenn, who serves as executive vice president of the seed business unit at Corteva Agriscience, will deliver the 2023 Carl and Marjory Hertz Lecture on Emerging Issues in Agriculture on Tuesday, April 11 (7 p.m., 127 Curtiss). His talk, "Industry Perspectives and Emerging Trends in the Global Agriculture," is free and open to the public.
Campus drive for canned food, hygiene supplies runs through April 14
The student organization Campus Service Council is accepting donations for a food drive for SHOP, the campus student food pantry; and a hygiene supply drive to benefit SHOP and Ames' Bridge Home. A list of suggested items for each drive is on the council's website. Donation boxes will be available in six campus locations through Friday, April 14:
- Lobby in Carver, Curtiss, Kildee, Lagomarcino and MacKay halls
- Memorial Union main lounge
Cat litter buckets needed for glass disposal in labs
Staff in environmental health and safety (EH&S) and facilities planning and management repurpose empty Tidy Cats® litter buckets (35-pound size) to collect glass in laboratories across campus, and more buckets are needed for the waste and recycling program. To donate empty buckets, email ehs_envprog@iastate.edu to coordinate a pickup, or bring buckets to the EH&S Services Building on the north side of campus.
Sign up now for service activities on April 15
The Campus Service Council is cosponsoring a spring service day on campus and around Ames on Saturday, April 15 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.). Registration is open to volunteer your time in one-hour increments for both indoor and outdoor projects.
'State Day' virtual program is archived
The ISU Alumni Association celebrated Iowa State's 165th Founders Day on March 22 with a virtual "State Day" program (archived online, 42 minutes in length). Alumni and friends who joined from around the globe learned about the innovative work happening at the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, stepped inside the historic Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom and saw how students are making an impact on campus and in the community.
Stuart Smith path closes March 27 for several weeks
The shared use path through Stuart Smith Park east of University Boulevard and adjacent to the Iowa State Center, will close Monday, March 27, likely through the end of April. The closure facilitates sewer work across University Boulevard as part of infrastructure upgrades for the CYTown development at the center. The impacted section of the path starts just south of the pedestrian bridge and continues to South Fourth Street. In addition, the pedestrian path along the west side of University Boulevard will be closed all summer for this project. The preferred detour is posted.
Dogs on leashes welcome at Reiman Gardens Tuesdays in April
Every Tuesday (4:30-7:30 p.m.) in April, visitors to Reiman Gardens are welcome to bring their dogs to enjoy the gardens' outdoor areas. During these Rovers at Reiman events, dogs must remain on hard surfaces or turf and aren't allowed in flower beds or other posted areas. Dogs also must be current on vaccinations and remain leashed at all times (non-retractable leashes are required). Dogs and owners will be given a colored ribbon (red, yellow or green) to attach to collars that reflects a dog's comfort level with interacting with other dogs or humans. The fee is $5 per dog; dog owners pay the usual gardens admission (free for members and ISU students) and must sign a liability waiver.
Award recipients: Student employee, supervisor of the year
Last week, the office of student financial aid honored outstanding student workers for their contributions to campus, as demonstrated in five categories: community service, diversity and inclusion, leadership, technology and innovation, and critical thinking. From 47 nominations, a selection committee chose these students (listed with their employing unit):
- Student Employee of the Year: Jamie Hefley, biomedical sciences
- Student Employees of Distinction: Hannah Uhrich, human development and family studies; Alexias Townsend, ISU dining; Jack Stevenson, recreation services
In partnership with university human resources, the student financial aid team also selected an inaugural Student Employee Supervisor of the Year this spring. Selection reflects mentoring, professionalism and leadership provided to hourly student employees. Nearly 30 individuals were nominated, and these supervisors were selected:
- Student Employee Supervisor of the Year: Linda DeSchane, ITS Solution Center, who oversees nearly 40 hourly student employees
- Student Employee Supervisor of the Year finalist: Raquel Espin Palazon, genetics, development and cell biology
The two winners received a prize for their achievement, and their nominations will be forwarded for additional consideration at the regional level.
Veenker golf course opens March 24
Iowa State's Veenker Memorial Golf Course and driving range on North Stange Road will open for the season on Friday, March 24. ISU students, faculty and staff receive discounts on season passes. Additionally, Mondays and Thursdays are designated "ISU student days" year-round, with daily green fee discounts available. More information is online or call 515-294-6727.
Ivy College of Business online MBA available this fall
The Ivy College of Business announced last week that its part-time professional MBA program will be available fully online this fall. Students in the program can choose to take courses online or in a hybrid format with one class/week in person at the college's Capital Square location in downtown Des Moines. Registration is open. To learn more, contact assistant director of graduate recruitment Kim Putz.
Global Gala is March 24
The Global Gala celebrates all cultures and promotes the diversity at the university. Student organizations showcase their cultural heritage through music, dance and fashion. The gala is free and open to the public on Friday, March 24 (7 p.m., MU Great Hall). Doors open at 6 p.m. and light refreshments, including a sampling of foods from different cultures, will be served.
Who knew financial literacy packed the fun?
April is Financial Literacy Month, and the office of student financial success is hosting events for ISU students all month, including:
- Paint a Piggy Bank: Saving Strategies and the Importance of Having an Emergency Fund, April 6 (4 p.m., MU Oak Room), attendees decorate and take home their own mini piggy bank while learning about the importance of and tips for saving
- A Humorous Guide to Financial Success, April 19 (6 p.m., 2630 MU), ISU lecture series event with comedic financial speaker and author Colin Ryan
- CashCab, April 26 (11 a.m.-2 p.m., central campus), staff in the office of student financial success will provide golf cart rides around campus and prizes to students who answer financial literacy trivia questions
A complete list of events and registration details is online. Contact the office of student financial success at financialsuccess@iastate.edu for any questions regarding Financial Literacy Month events.
Celebrate State Day March 22 on central campus
SALC, the Student Alumni Leadership Council, will host a State Day celebration for students on central campus Wednesday, March 22 (noon-3 p.m.), that features free lunch, desserts, inflatables, a dunk tank and Cyclone swag. The Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm was established on March 22, 1858.
Hourly updates provided until network restored
There are currently internet outage issues on the Iowa State network impacting the ability to access some services from on campus such as Okta (your Sign On dashboard). Information Technology Services is working with vendors and service providers to resolve the issue.
Please follow the university's Status Hub for updates. Updates will be posted to Status Hub hourly until internet connectivity has been restored.
Language and communication justice series continues March 29
Faculty, staff and students are invited to a virtual panel event, Rewriting, Reclaiming and Reorienting in Digital Spaces, on Wednesday, March 29 (4-5:15 p.m., via Webex). Artists and designers Ashlee Bird, Joseph Erb and Casey Koyczan each will share their work advocating for Indigenous language justice through technology and design, followed by a Q&A with attendees. Register to receive the link. The discussion is part of the 2022-23 Series on Language and Communication Justice, hosted by the Academic Success Center and writing and communication consultations.
Learn to swim this spring
Recreation services is offering swim lessons for adults and the children (ages 5-12 years) of Iowa State faculty, staff and students this spring, March 28-April 30. Adult sessions meet Tuesdays and Thursdays; youth lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays. Lessons are 30 minutes. The price varies based on rec services membership. Course level descriptions and registration details are online.
ISU therapy dog turns 12 on Wednesday
ISU police department therapy dog Zosia will celebrate her 12th birthday on Wednesday, March 8 from 3-4 p.m. All are welcome to join outside of Parks Library and enjoy cookies, balloons and a goodie bag.
Jump start funds available for low-cost course infrastructure
Proposals are due March 31 for projects to develop a sustainable infrastructure to support low-cost and no-cost course materials for students, one of the nine Jump Start initiatives in the university's strategic plan. A second round of funding will address course content. Criteria and guidelines for submission are online.