Announcements
May 2024
Summer schedules begin May 13 in dining locations
ISU Dining reminds the campus community that it will begin its summer hours schedule on Monday, May 13. Please check the weekly hours website for location hours and menus. Members of the campus community are especially encouraged to plan ahead for lunch during Odyssey of the Mind World Finals week (May 19-25). Dining staff will be focused on serving the anticipated 6,000 guests to campus for this event, and locations will busier than usual and wait times may be long.
Proposal would increase P&S pay grade structure by 3%
The senior leadership team has approved university human resources' recommendation for a 3% overall adjustment to the pay grade structure for professional and scientific (P&S) staff. The decision is pending approval by the state Board of Regents, which will review the request at its June meeting. If approved, the revised P&S pay grade structure would become effective July 1. P&S employees who fall below the minimum salary in their revised grade would have their salaries increased to at least the new minimum. Those increases would occur on or before Oct. 1.
Graduating students can recycle their regalia
STORIES (Students on the Rise in Educational Success) and The Closet in the Memorial Union are partnering to collect graduation caps and gowns following commencement ceremonies this spring. They'll be shared with graduating Cyclones at future events. Collection box locations and dates are:
- Memorial Union west entrance (facing the lake), May 9-16
- Ames Public Library, May 28-June 2
- Gilbert High School, May 28-31
Graduation sets also can be mailed to: 2302 Osborn Dr., 131 MacKay Hall, Ames, Iowa 50010.
Phasing in: All-inclusive CyHire student job board
The Student Employment Center, part of the office of student financial aid, is collaborating with ISU Career Services to house all student employment opportunities in one system for the first time. This includes post-graduate, internship and part-time student jobs. Students will use it to find employment opportunities that fit their specific job criteria, and faculty, staff and off-campus employers can post positions for part-time employment on or off campus, internships and post-grad employment opportunities.
In addition, the CyHire system will move to a new platform (12Twenty) to offer a refreshed look, user-friendly interface and enhanced features. Over several months, CyHire will relaunch in phases. Phase 1: Effective May 15, the Part-time Student Job Board will function in CyHire. All active positions in AccessPlus will need to be reposted in CyHire on or after May 15. Directions for posting part-time positions in the new system will be posted soon on the Part Time Student Job Board website.
Students will begin to be loaded into the new CyHire platform in the coming weeks, though the current Student Job Board in AccessPlus and CyHire will remain accessible to students and employers during the early stages of this transition.
Employee volunteers needed for SHOP during the summer
Student health and wellness seeks staff and faculty volunteers for hour-increment shifts in the SHOP food pantry during the summer to keep the pantry open for student use. A sign-up schedule lists open shifts. Instructions are emailed to you once you sign up.
Iowa State to partner with Knack on undergraduate tutoring
Beginning fall semester, the Academic Success Center will partner with Knack to continue providing tutoring to Iowa State undergraduates. On Knack's platform, students will book one-on-one or group sessions with peer tutors. Students enrolled in selected courses will receive free, unlimited tutoring with no hourly fees. Similar to Iowa State's current tutoring model, sessions are facilitated by high-achieving Iowa State students who have taken the course and achieved a B grade or higher.
Save the date: Monday, July 22. The Academic Success Center and Knack will host open forums throughout the day in 3204 Student Innovation Center to share more information about the tutoring partnership. Details will be shared later this summer.
Employee sand volleyball league is back for summer
Humorist David Sedaris to do Stephens show in October
Humor writer and Grammy Award nominee David Sedaris will perform in Ames on Thursday, Oct. 24 (7:30 p.m., Stephens Auditorium). Tickets ($39.50-$69.50) go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Friday, May 10, via Ticketmaster. They're also available as part of a subscription package for Stephens' 2024-25 Performing Arts Season.
Athletics' 'tailgate tour' runs May 13-22
The annual Cyclone Tailgate Tour, featuring athletics director Jamie Pollard, Cyclone play-by-play announcer John Walters, Cy, spirit squad members and head coaches Matt Campbell, Kevin Dresser, Bill Fennelly, Christy Johnson-Lynch and T.J. Otzelberger, will complete an eastern Iowa loop May 13-15 and a western/northern Iowa loop May 20-22, with two stops daily. The tour kicks off Thursday, May 9 (6-8 p.m.) at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex, 6500 Grand Ave., West Des Moines. All events are free; food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Regents will review tuition proposal at May 10 meeting
The state Board of Regents will meet Friday, May 10 (11 a.m., board office in Urbandale). The primary purpose of the meeting is to hold a first reading of proposed 2024-25 tuition and mandatory fee rates. Iowa State is proposing a 3% tuition increase for resident undergraduates and 4.5% increase for nonresident undergraduates and all graduate students (with the exception of a proposed 10% increase for the executive MBA program in the Ivy College of Business). Proposed increases for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program are 5% for residents and 3.5% for nonresidents. Public portions of the meeting will be livestreamed on the board's website. A final decision on fall tuition rates is anticipated at the board's June 13 meeting.
Reiman Gardens hosts plant sale May 11-12
Reiman Gardens' annual plant sale Extravaganza will be held Saturday, May 11 (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Sunday, May 12 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) in the gardens' parking lot, rain or shine. No gardens admission fee is needed. Plants for sale include perennials for sun and shade, herbs and vegetables, Iowa natives, woody plants including trees, Buck roses, container and bedding annuals, houseplants, hanging baskets and All-American Selection winners. Credit card, check and cash will be accepted as payment. The sale supports several student organizations, the gardens and Story County Master Gardener Association. A sale for Reiman Gardens members precedes the public sale dates.
Alumni association's 2025 travel preview is May 23
The ISU Alumni Association will hold its 2025 Travel Preview on Thursday, May 23 (4-6:30 p.m., Alumni Center). Be among the first to receive the 2025 Traveling Cyclones tour schedule, ask questions and even book a trip. U.S. Postal Service representatives will be on site to accept passport applications or renewals (for more information or to set up an appointment, contact Johanna Hill, 515-776-4092). All are welcome; travel with the Traveling Cyclones program is not limited to Iowa State alumni. If you can't make it in person, RSVP by May 15 to receive event recordings following the day's sessions. Questions may be directed to manager of travel Lainey Heck, 515-294-5775.
Improve your online or hybrid course this summer
Faculty planning to revamp their online or hybrid courses this summer are invited to join the free online workshop, "Improving Your Online Course," facilitated by Olga Mesropova, world languages and cultures and Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching faculty affiliate. It will be offered twice: June 17-July 5 and July 29-Aug. 18 (register online). This asynchronous, work-at-your-own pace Quality Matters workshop will guide you to make improvements to various elements of your course including general alignment. Receive practical tips for infusing your course with active learning opportunities and evaluating the effectiveness of your assessments. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a formal Quality Matters certificate.
Design Reading Room collections moving to Parks Library
Collections held in the Design Reading Room (101 College of Design) will be transferred to Parks Library. The decision follows multi-year conversations among University Library and College of Design leaders about evolving usage of the space and collections -- and the most effective use of those resources. Transitioning the collections to Parks Library expands student access, where extended library hours include weekends and university breaks.
The last day of operation for the Design Reading Room will be Wednesday, May 15. Materials have remained available to students without interruption this spring. Library staff have relocated to Parks Library; student employees have been able to complete their spring term of service in the Design Reading Room and will have the option of moving to Parks. Furniture and fixtures are expected to be removed before July 4. The College of Design will explore the most effective and flexible ways to utilize the reading room space to support students and faculty.
Submit online feedback form on provost candidates by May 2
University community members are asked to share their feedback on Iowa State's provost finalists by completing the online candidate feedback form by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 2. Recordings of the campus forums for the three remaining finalists have been posted to the search website for those who want to view them. A fourth finalist, Eric Barker, dean of the College of Pharmacy at Purdue University, has withdrawn from the search.
Exterior projects at the Farm House museum scheduled for May
The Farm House Museum, a university museums affiliate on central campus dating to 1860, will be closed for three weeks, May 13-31, for several exterior improvement projects, including roof replacement, painting and repairs. If all work stays on schedule, the campus icon will reopen on Monday, June 3. Summer hours will be noon-4 p.m. weekdays, through Friday, July 26. Admission is free; donations are welcome.
Spring Art Mart runs May 7-10
The spring Art Mart pop-up shop, organized by the Workspace and the ISU Gaffer's Guild, will be held May 7-10 at the Memorial Union Art Gallery, first floor. Hours are Tuesday (4-7 p.m.), Wednesday (10 a.m.-7 p.m.), and Thursday-Friday (10 a.m.-4 p.m.).
Triple chocolate, anyone?
Members of the Dairy Science club are selling ice cream today (noon-2 p.m.) outside the north doors to Lush Auditorium in Kildee Hall. Get a cup for $2 (cash only); flavors are strawberry, blueberry, S'mores, cheesecake and triple chocolate. The ice cream is mixed by club members at the ISU Creamery, and the sale serves as a fundraiser for club activities throughout the year. Interested in having the club's ice cream for your event? Send an email.
You're invited: Central Stores appreciation lunch
Central Stores invites all faculty and staff to an appreciation open house on Thursday, May 9 (11 a.m.-2 p.m., lot 47 between General Services Building and the power plant). While supplies last, enjoy burgers, brats, chips, desserts and refreshments.
