Welch Avenue has reopened in campustown
The city of Ames project that had closed Welch Avenue from Chamberlain to Hunt streets since late April has concluded. The upgrades included water main, storm and sanitary sewer replacement, street and sidewalk reconstruction and street light replacement.
Oct. 10-12 'Spirits in the Gardens' tickets are on sale
Reiman Gardens is selling time-entry tickets for its annual "Spirits in the Gardens" halloween celebration, being held this year the weekend of Oct. 10-12. Tickets are $16 ($14 for members and ISU students, $7 youth 2-12 years). Enjoy more than 1,000 hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns, chemistry shows, cosplay, trick-or-treating and (optional) costumes.
Stange Road traffic switches to center lanes Sept. 17
Two-directional traffic on north Stange Road will move to the center two lanes in time for the morning commute on Wednesday, Sept. 17. Traffic will remain head-to-head in the center two lanes. Additionally, the second southbound lane will open south of the Ioway Creek bridge to shorten wait times at the traffic light at 13th Street. With traffic in the center lanes, the contractor will install the new pedestrian path and light fixtures on the west side of the road. The intent is to open the eastern-most lane (northbound) when the street lights are functioning.
Former Post leader reflects on media expansion
Eugene Robinson, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, author, political analyst and former assistant managing editor of The Washington Post, will present the 2025 Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science on Wednesday, Oct. 1 (6 p.m., MU Sun Room). He'll look at how the rise of 24-hour cable news, the internet, social media and corporate consolidation has transformed media -- and what that means for news audiences.
Lecture looks at liberty language in Declaration of Independence
Danielle Allen, director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, and director of the Democratic Knowledge Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, will explore the themes of liberty, equality and the power of language in the Declaration of Independence and their relevance today in a lecture on Thursday, Oct. 2 (6 p.m., MU Sun Room). Her talk is titled, "Do Words Matter? The Language of Liberty in the Declaration of Independence."
Cyclone Aide applications due Oct. 16
New student programs is seeking students to serve as Cyclone Aides. They are a group of student leaders who welcome over 7,000 new Cyclones to campus. These student leaders help guide new students, families and guests during one- and two-day orientation sessions throughout the year. Additionally, Cyclone Aides provide leadership through planning and executing Destination Iowa State. The deadline to apply is Oct. 16.
Tearoom opens for lunch service on Sept. 16
The Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom in 23A MacKay will open for the semester on Tuesday, Sept. 16. The Tearoom is a restaurant/classroom teaching program in ISU's hospitality management program. Payment is by credit/debit card only. This semester's service format will feature:
- Grab-and-go cold food items on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the front of the Tearoom.
- The weekly special ($10) and other hot items, with optional dine-in service, on Wednesdays and Fridays. Reservations are recommended for dining-in, but walk-ins are welcome.
Call for proposals for Focus art grants
Student artists, writers, performers and musicians are invited to apply for funding for their creative efforts through Focus, a campus organization supporting students in the arts since 1972, with funding through Student Government and the Memorial Union. Current ISU students of any major may apply for up to $600 for artistic projects outside of classwork. Grants support creating and presenting new work in visual art, apparel design, writing, theater and dance and musical performances. Applications are due Oct. 1, and awards are determined by a committee of students, faculty and staff who represent a broad range of the arts. Additional information, including application instructions, is online.
Fall GIS series includes workshops, celebrations
Co-hosted by the GIS Support and Research Facility and Parks Library, a series of GIS events and workshops in The Catalyst this semester is designed to help faculty, staff and students discover powerful GIS (geographic information system) tools and resources. Four workshops require registration; drop-in observances for Earth Observation Day (Oct. 14) and GIS Day (Nov. 19) do not.
Scholarship applications open for child care assistance program
The Office of Child Care and Family Services is accepting applications for the Childcare Assistance Program (CAP), available to parenting ISU students who have out-of-pocket costs for child care services. Students with the highest financial need will receive priority consideration. The CAP-G application for graduate, professional and international undergraduate students is due by Sept. 30. The CAP-U application for undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents is open through May 1, 2026, or until funds are exhausted. Eligibility guidelines and application instructions are online. Questions or requests for more information on resources for parenting students may be emailed to ccfamily@iastate.edu.
Cyclone Support resource fair is Sept. 23
The Cyclone Support resource fair on Tuesday, Sept. 23 (1-4 p.m., 140 Parks Library) is students' chance to drop by and explore a wide range of campus services available to help them thrive -- academically and personally. This fair gathers resources that support student success in one space so they can ask questions, make connections and learn how to navigate campus life with confidence. Chat with representatives from the Academic Success Center, Office of Financial Success, Navigate Student, Student Accessibility Services, Student Assistance, ISU Police Department, Thielen Student Health Center, Student Counseling Services, Student Wellness (with The SHOP) and Recreation Services.
Academic freedom historically, from professional norm to First Amendment right
David Rabban, Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas School of Law, will present the 2025 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 25 (6 p.m., MU Sun Room). His talk will compare the professional norm of academic freedom that originated from the 1915 declaration of the American Association of University Professors with the development of academic freedom as a First Amendment right, as recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court beginning in the 1950s. He also will explore the development of a distinctive First Amendment right of academic freedom that protects the expert speech of professors for societal interest in the production and dissemination of knowledge.
Business attire pop-up shop is Sept. 10-11
Iowa State's free Business Attire pop-up shop for students, which has a permanent space in the east Memorial Union, will be open for all ISU students Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 10-11, in preparation for the fall career fairs Sept.17-Oct.14. Visit the pop-up shop in the MU Multicultural Center (around the corner from the information desk):
- Wednesday, Sept. 10 (9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m.)
- Thursday, Sept. 11 (9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.)
Showcase for summer graduate career exploration is Sept. 9
Learn from 18 Ph.D. students majoring in different engineering fields during the Graduate Career Exploration Program poster showcase on Tuesday, Sept. 9 (11 a.m.-1 p.m., Student Innovation Center atrium). Pizza will be served. Over the past 14 weeks, the students participated in this new career services program in the Graduate College. During the showcase, they'll present their potential career paths, share the knowledge and tips they acquired from the program and insights gained from multiple informational interviews with professionals in those careers.
Volunteers needed for mass pumpkin carving at Reiman Gardens
Individuals and groups are needed to turn 1,000+ pumpkins into hand-carved jack-o-lanterns for Reiman Gardens' annual "Spirits in the Gardens" Halloween celebration Oct. 10-12. Two-hour volunteer shifts are available Oct. 1-4 and Oct. 8-10. Volunteers receive a free ticket to Spirit in the Gardens for each shift they complete. Register to volunteer by Sept. 26 (all volunteers must be at least 13 years old).
Study Abroad Fair is Sept. 11
The Study Abroad Center will host its fall Study Abroad Fair on Thursday, Sept. 11 (10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., MU Great Hall). Learn about interning, studying and volunteering abroad in experiences ranging from one week to one year. Students can enter their names for a chance to win study-abroad scholarships.
Field of Memories flag exhibit is Sept. 12
The staff in Student Counseling Services is sponsoring its fourth annual Field of Memories flag exhibit on Friday, Sept. 12 (9 a.m.-3 p.m., lawn south of Parks Library). The exhibit represents the 1,100 U.S. college students who die by suicide each year. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate by personalizing a flag with a message of hope, in honor of a life lost to suicide, or to encourage an individual who struggles with depression. Student Counseling Services staff members will be present to support those impacted by the exhibit.
Register now for sweet roll workshop in November
Members of the Culinary Science Club are offering a hands-on cinnamon roll workshop on Friday, Nov. 7 (6-7:30 p.m. 200 MacKay). Participants will learn how to make classic cinnamon rolls and other sweet roll options (pecan butterscotch, orange swirl and lemon blueberry) -- and leave with fresh rolls, recipes and a yeast dough to practice at home. The registration fee is $40 per person; register online.
Reminder: Sept. 1 is university holiday
University offices are closed and classes will not meet on Monday, Sept. 1, in observance of the national Labor Day holiday.
Translational AI Center offers fall micro-credential courses
The Translational AI Center (TrAC) offers industry-focused AI micro-credentials for individuals ready to advance in translational artificial intelligence. Learn practical, hands-on skills that employers value, from foundational AI techniques to cutting-edge applications, and receive a digital badge for each 4-week, self-paced online course completed. Iowa State students with basic Python programming knowledge and a basic understanding of deep learning pay the cost of one credit for each course. In collaboration with Iowa State Online, TrAC is offering the following courses this fall:
Foundational AI courses
- Mastering PyTorch, September
- End-to-End Natural Language Processing, October
- End-to-End Computer Vision, November
Advanced AI courses
- Graph Neural Networks, September
- Scientific Machine Learning, October
- Reinforcement Learning, November
Balance in constitutional powers is subject of Constitution Day Lecture
Former U.S. ambassador and former U.S. senator from Arizona Jeff Flake will discuss the current state of the balance of constitutional powers in the United States for Iowa State's 2025 Constitution Day Lecture on Monday, Sept. 15 (6 p.m., MU Sun Room). His talk is titled, "When Congress Steps Back: A Call for Restoring Constitutional Balance in Governance." All are welcome.
Honor former Cyclones on the 2026 Women Impacting ISU calendar
To mark the 20th year of the Women Impacting ISU calendar, the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics will publish a 2026 commemorative edition of the calendar featuring women who left Iowa State prior to the first calendar in 2007. Instructions and a link to the nomination form are on the Catt Center website. Nominations must be received by end of the day on Sunday, Sept. 28. Selection of the 2026 calendar honorees will be open to the Iowa State community. In early October, voting instructions and a link to the ballot will be distributed via email to all current faculty, staff and students.
Iowa landowners asked to help track fall monarch migration
Researchers with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, of which Iowa State is a member, are asking Iowa landowners to help document the fall south migration of thousands of monarch butterflies via an online form, phone or email. The butterflies funnel through Iowa, using sheltered areas to rest in clusters before continuing their journey south. Community members who observe monarchs resting on public lands are asked to report what they see, too. Documenting roosting sites helps guide conservation strategies across the continent.
Fall poster sale runs Aug. 20-29
The Memorial Union will host its fall poster sale Aug. 20-29 (Campanile Room, main level). Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and noon-6 p.m. over the weekend. Find an extensive collection of imagery, ranging from timeless classic posters to fresh-off-the-press artist prints. Prices range from $8 to $15, and proceeds directly support the Memorial Union Art Gallery. The public is welcome.
South 16th Street reconstruction update, Aug. 15
Crews finished paving the south lanes of South 16th Street in front of the Veterinary Medicine campus on Aug. 7 and the new trail along the south side of the road by Aug. 14. Paving at the intersection with Riverside Drive is nearly complete, and the Vet Med pedestrian trail has reopened. Wood rail fencing is being installed along the north side of the road. Lane striping is scheduled for next week, and substantial completion of the project, which includes reopening all four lanes of South 16th Street and the east driveway to the college, still is anticipated by Friday, Aug. 22. Additional work, including streetlight installation, grading and grass seeding, will extend beyond this date. The two-summer city of Ames project will widen South 16th Street to four lanes between University Boulevard and Apple Place.
Innovation lunch club meets Aug. 22
The August edition of the Innovation Impact Lunch Club will feature several "superstar" ag startup tenants in the ISU Research park. It will meet on Friday, Aug. 22 (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., lunch at 11:15 a.m., board room, ISU Economic Development Core Facility in the research park). Learn more about these cutting-edge startups and some global companies investing in the technology of tomorrow. The free series is hosted by ISU's office of economic development and industry relations especially for its faculty and staff partners, but open to all. RSVP to mndooley@iastate.edu.
Annual community rummage sale does the job
The ninth annual Rummage RAMPage July 25-Aug. 2, a community rummage sale jointly hosted by the city of Ames and ISU's Office of Sustainability, raised a record $72,641 for 51 non-profit organizations staffing the event, and found new homes for 131,434 pounds of furniture and housewares. Over nine years of Rummage RAMPage, more than 996,000 pounds of material have been diverted from the landfill and area non-profits have earned $357,495 for their role. Save the dates: The 2026 event is scheduled for July 24-Aug. 1.
South 16th Street reconstruction update, Aug. 11
Crews finished paving the south lanes of South 16th Street in front of the Veterinary Medicine campus on Aug. 7. Subgrade work where the road connects to Riverside Drive continues, with paving at that intersection anticipated by the end of this week, weather permitting. Substantial completion of the project, which includes reopening all four lanes of South 16th Street and the east driveway to the college, still is anticipated by Friday, Aug. 22. Additional work, including streetlight installation, grading and grass seeding, will extend beyond this date. The two-summer city of Ames project will widen South 16th Street to four lanes between University Boulevard and Apple Place.
Facilities planning and management seeks customer input
FPM wants your feedback. A new customer survey will gather feedback on your past experiences with facilities planning and management. This short survey will help benchmark service quality pre-reorganization and identify areas for improvement. The survey is anonymous. Customers will select their role (faculty, staff, student) and department, but no personal data is collected. Take the FPM customer survey by Wednesday, Aug. 20.
South 16th Street reconstruction update, Aug. 1
Crews poured the South 16th Street roadway adjacent to Vet Med Trail this week and have begun work on the subgrade layer for the south lanes, with paving scheduled for Aug. 7, weather permitting. For the workers' safety, traffic through the area on paving day will be restricted to one lane with flag attendants controlling east- and westbound traffic (6 a.m.-5 p.m.). Motorists in this area should use caution and expect delays; they're also encouraged to consider using alternate routes. Preparation and grading of the South 16th-Riverside Drive intersection and the shared use path on the south side of the road also is underway. On the north side of the road, crews are installing light poles and completing grading before the area is seeded for grass. The two-summer city of Ames project will widen South 16th Street to four lanes between University Boulevard and Apple Place.
Position description posts in search for ISU's next president
The search for Iowa State's next president took another step forward July 29 with the public posting of the position description (PDF) and an accompanying website about the ISU presidency. Applications are due Sept. 19, with the goal of the next president arriving on campus around Jan. 1, 2026. Nominations, expressions of interest or questions about the application process may be directed to the consultants at AGB Search assisting a local 12-member committee with the search.
Solution Center moves to library's lower level on Aug. 1
The IT Solution Center, the go-to resource for technology support for students, faculty and staff, will move to the lower level of Parks Library (room 031, at the base of the stairs) on Aug. 1 from its current home in room 192 on the main level. Directional signage will guide visitors to the new location.
In addition to in-person support at the service desk, the IT Solution Center will continue providing support via email (solution@iastate.edu), phone (515-294-4000) and online ticket (it.iastate.edu/ticket). Hours of operation also will remain the same in the new location.
Search committee fine-tunes presidential profile
The 12-member committee tasked with identifying candidates for the Iowa State presidency continued to hone the position description during its July 22 meeting at the Alumni Center. They worked with a draft developed by staff at the AGB Search firm from discussion at the committee's July 1 meeting and about 10 listening sessions with employees, alumni and other ISU stakeholders held July 1-21. When it's complete, anticipated yet this week, the position description will appear in several digital publications and posted to the Iowa State and AGB search firm websites. Board staff and AGB Search leaders were scheduled to collaborate Wednesday morning to incorporate suggestions from the July 22 discussion into a revised draft. The search committee will approve the position description before it's shared publicly.
Single-show tickets to Stephens series go on sale Aug. 5
Tickets for individual shows in the 2025-26 Performing Arts Series at Stephens Auditorium (13 events from October to April) will go on sale to the public at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5. Patrons interested in four shows or more are encouraged to purchase series tickets by July 31 to receive priority seating and season discounts.
South 16th Street construction update, July 21
Two-way traffic on South 16th Street in front of the Veterinary Medicine campus will be switched to the newly constructed north lanes on Monday, July 21, and demolition of the south lane will begin. Additional grading and light pole installation will continue on the north side. Riverside Drive traffic (the Vet Med east driveway) will be routed to Christensen Drive and a newly paved frontage road. Motorists through the area are asked to observe signage, use caution and expect delays. The two-summer city of Ames project will widen South 16th Street to four lanes between University Boulevard and Apple Place.
Register for lab safety orientation in August
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) will host an in-person Laboratory Safety Orientation four times: Aug. 19, 20, 26 and 27 at the EHS Services Building and Gilman Hall. Register online for a session. Whether you are new or tenured, this four-hour orientation is designed for on-campus laboratory workers, including faculty, staff and students (graduate and undergraduate). Participants receive hands-on experience on topics such as fire extinguisher use, hazardous waste disposal, chemical storage and personal protective equipment. Before attending, learners should complete three online trainings:
Cystarters demo day is July 31
CYstarters will host its demo day on Thursday, July 31 (3-6:30 p.m., Research Park CORE Facility Atrium, 1805 Collaboration Place). Student presentations (3-5 p.m.) will be followed by a networking event (5-6:30 p.m.). This summer marks the 10th cohort of the the accelerator program. Register online to attend.
Presidential search committee will meet July 22 on campus
The ISU Presidential Search Committee will hold its second meeting on Tuesday, July 22 (2:30-4 p.m., Uelner Executive Board Room, Alumni Center). The 12-member committee will discuss the leadership profile for the position as well as next steps in the search timeline. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on the Iowa Board of Regents website.
South 16th Street reconstruction update (July 10)
Paving the two new north lanes of South 16th Street (summer 2025 east half) in front of the Veterinary Medicine campus wrapped up on Wednesday, July 9. Early in the week of July 14, crews will prepare the new pavement to shift traffic to it, which could occur as early as the end of the week, weather permitting. Demolition of the south lane likely will begin the week of July 21. When two-way traffic is shifted to the north lanes, Riverside Drive traffic (the Vet Med east driveway) will be routed to Christensen Drive and the newly paved frontage road. Motorists through the area are asked to observe signage, use caution and expect delays. The two-summer city of Ames project will widen South 16th Street to four lanes between University Boulevard and Apple Place.
Floral bouquets among selections from the Hort Farm this week
This week, hand-crafted flower bouquets will be available from the ISU Hort Farm -- grown and arranged by the farm's talented ornamentals intern. Fesh produce picks include:
- Kale
- Swiss chard
- Cucumbers
- Garlic scapes
- Jalapeño peppers
- Bok choy
- Cherry tomatoes
Place your order online by noon on Thursday. Orders are ready for curbside pickup on Friday (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., northwest corner of lot 39 behind the Meats Laboratory, just off North University Boulevard). Cash or card payment is accepted. Friday walk-up customers also are welcome; extra produce will be available for purchase on site.
Boulevard light poles will be banner-free through fall
The 35 light poles on University Boulevard between Lincoln Way and Ironwood Court that frequently hold welcome and special event banners will be vacant this summer and fall. The City of Ames has ordered replacements for the 32-year-old poles, but they won't arrive for three to four months. As a precaution, the city's electric services team advised the university to wait until the new poles are installed to display banners again. University marketing and communications, which coordinates the April-November banner calendar, has contacted the groups scheduled to fly their banners yet in 2025. Questions may be directed to marketing and branding manager Angie Strotman.
Final replicated pieces to be added to fountain sculpture
The Fountain of the Four Seasons on the Memorial Union north lawn will be turned off Friday, July 11, and the pool drained in anticipation of a final phase to replace the Christian Petersen sculpture later this month. The (original) terra cotta panels that surround the fountain between the maiden sculptures will be removed and replaced with replicates, eight panels whose designs feature the caps and water spouts of the originals. They were made at Darwen Terracotta, England, under the guidance of art conservator Francis Miller, who's based in Hamden, Connecticut. Replicating the terra cotta pieces proved more complex than the sculpture's limestone pieces, which is why they weren't installed last August with the rest of the sculpture. Miller will return to campus July 23 to begin the installation work which, depending on weather, could take up to two weeks.
It's the kinesiology and health department
Effective July 1, the department of kinesiology has a new name: department of kinesiology and health. The update better reflects the department's offerings and is consistent with the name of the undergraduate program, kinesiology and health.
South 16th Street paving begins July 9; alternating traffic in place
Weather permitting, on July 9 crews will begin paving the new north lanes of South 16th Street in front of the Veterinary Medicine campus. This work will require flagging operations between Apple Place and Christensen Drive (6 a.m. to 5 p.m.), including a low speed limit and periodic halts to traffic. Drivers are encouraged to consider alternate routes or to allow extra time for delays.
Tickets are on sale for Reiman Gardens' anniversary bash
Tickets may be purchased for Reiman Gardens' 30th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Sept. 13 (5-9 p.m.). In addition to beautiful gardens, this family-friendly event will feature inflatables for the kids, an all-request concert by Dustin West, food trucks and an evening drone show. A silent auction will be ongoing in the gardens that day (9 a.m.-8:15 p.m.). Tickets are $16 ($14 for members and ISU students, $7 for youth 2-12 years); proceeds support the gardens, butterfly wing and gardens programming.
Stange Road lane switch scheduled for July 1
On Tuesday morning, July 1, traffic on Stange Road north of 13th Street will be switched to the newly paved east lanes so demolition of the west lanes can begin. Traffic on the new pavement will be in one direction, traveling northbound. Southbound traffic between 24th and 13th streets will be detoured to Grand Avenue, with CyRide bus routes detoured to Northwestern Avenue. The safety of drivers and construction workers remains a top priority.
Golfers will have access to Veenker golf course from both the north and south. A temporary entrance to Veenker, which will be necessary during the reconstruction of the west lanes, won't occur until at least mid-July.
Vet Med Trail to close at South 16th Street for 30 days
As part of a city of Ames project to widen South 16th Street to four lanes in front of the Veterinary Medicine campus, a section of the Vet Med Trail will close on Thursday, June 26, at its intersection with South 16th Street. The trail closure is expected to last about 30 days. The recommended north-south detour between South Fourth Street and Airport Road is on the path along University Boulevard.
North entrance to Memorial Union ramp reopens
A roof project at the Memorial Union is complete, and the north entrance to the MU parking ramp has reopened for the foreseeable future, pending additional construction projects next year. Visitors and permit holders also may continue using the ramp's south entrance located off of Lincoln Way.
Dates announced for city-university rummage sale
The dates for the ninth annual Rummage RAMPage at the city's intermodal parking facility on Hayward Avenue are July 25-Aug. 2, during Ames' annual lease turn-over period. The community garage sale is designed to keep reusable items out of the local waste stream. It's staffed by volunteers who share in the profits based on the hours they contribute (last year 51 non-profits shared more than $62,000).
Creek bank work in Brookside Park will close east trail, south bridge
A city of Ames project to stabilize the Ioway Creek in Brookside Park will begin on Monday, June 16, weather permitting. The goal is to reduce erosion along Ioway Creek affecting both park and private property, save trees and habitat and improve water quality. The work will include installing instream rock features, relocating approximately 500 feet of creek, stabilizing the stream bank, establishing vegetation and extending storm sewers. Completion of the three-phased project is anticipated for December. The east trail and south pedestrian bridge will be closed for the duration of the project. Shelters, parking lots and ballfields will remain open.
During the first phase (approximately one month), crews will install instream rock features in two locations: between 13th Street and the north pedestrian bridge, and between the south pedestrian bridge and Sixth Street. During periods of trail closures, users are encouraged to find alternate routes. A suggested route is west through the park to Haber Road and then north to 13th Street.