Announcements
Celebration of Life for Hector Avalos is Aug. 15
A celebration of life for former professor of religious studies Hector Avalos will be held Sunday, Aug. 15 (1 p.m., Memorial Union Sun Room). He died April 12 at age 62 after battling cancer. Avalos joined Iowa State's religious studies faculty in 1993 and founded the U.S. Latino/a studies program. In 1999, he co-founded the ISU Atheist and Agnostic Society, which primarily serves students who do not use religion as a way to live in this world. Obituary.
COVID-19 vaccination clinic opens Aug. 17
Iowa State will hold a COVID-19 vaccination clinic Aug. 17-20 (noon-3 p.m. daily, south gymnasium of State Gym, enter at the south doors), offering both the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and dose 1 of the 2-dose Pfizer vaccine (dose 2 will be available in a few weeks). Faculty, staff and students who would like to receive a vaccine, at no cost, are encouraged to make an appointment online or call 515-294-5801. Walk-in clients also will be served, though these appointments may take longer to begin the registration process.
Employee volunteers still needed for state fair exhibit
The office of university marketing still seeks faculty and staff volunteers for the university's state fair exhibit this month in Des Moines. Volunteers will roll and hand out Cyclone football posters or give away dry tattoo gift bags (for the health and safety of volunteers and visitors, we won't apply the tattoos). One daytime shift (8:45 a.m.-3 p.m.) is available on Aug. 14; evening shifts (2:45 -8 p.m.) are available on Aug. 12, 14-17, 19-22. University employees who enjoy meeting the public are invited to sign up online. For their service, volunteers receive free fair admission and parking and a T-shirt to wear during their shift(s). Questions, concerns or problems with signing up should be directed to Emma Haley, university marketing, by email, umarket2@iastate.edu, or phone, 515-294-3969.
Update underway for guest Wi-Fi network
An update to the university's Wi-Fi network for guests will help campus visitors easily connect to the internet. To access IASTATE-Guest, users are required to agree to the university’s acceptable use policy. Once connected, access is available for 24 hours. At the end of 24 hours, the guest can request access again by agreeing to the terms and conditions for another 24 hours. Installation is underway and should be complete by Aug. 14.
Faculty, staff and students have access to Wi-Fi via the secure and encrypted Eduroam network, which requires Net-ID credentials. A second network, IASTATE, is used for devices, including gaming consoles, TVs and smart speakers. Devices on the IASTATE network must be registered.
WorkLife can assist your transition to fall on campus
- Complimentary chair massages
- Free ISU tote bags for the first 100 people
- Four drawings for a $25 ISU Book Store gift card
- Snacks and bottled water
U.S. postal rates go up Aug. 29
On Sunday, Aug. 29, the U.S. Postal Service will raise rates for first-class mail, marketing mail, periodicals (four or more issues/year) and some special services such as certified mail and return receipt mail. For example, the price of a first-class stamp will go from 55 cents to 58 cents, and a first-class metered piece from 51 cents to 53 cents. Certified mail is increasing 15 cents to $3.75, and return receipt will increase 20 cents to $3.05.
Campus units with the flexibility might try to expedite planned mailings to beat the increase. Questions may be directed to Bob Tott, manager of postal and parcel services, 294-4243.
Register by Sept. 1 for 4-H quiz bowl, skillathon
The registration deadline is Sept. 1 for ISU Extension and Outreach's State 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl and Skillathon. Both will be held Saturday, Sept. 18 (10:30 a.m., Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center). There are two age divisions, and the contests will be occurring at the same time, but accommodations will be made so teams can compete in both. Questions may be directed to Amy Powell, extension education specialist and contest coordinator, 294-3441.
MU's art lending open house is Aug. 4-5
The Memorial Union is hosting its annual Art for Rent open house Wednesday, Aug. 4 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Thursday, Aug. 5 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) in the Art Gallery on the ground floor. The art rental collection features about 275 framed posters, prints and paintings. They may be viewed during the open house and are available for rent for a full or half year, for office or home. Rentals typically range from $10 to $25 per year, and patrons may take selected pieces with them. Individuals don't have to be affiliated with Iowa State to participate. Proceeds directly support art programs at the Memorial Union. Interested in renting but can't attend the open house? Email mugallery@iastate.edu to request a viewing appointment.
City-university rummage sale returns July 31-Aug. 7
The city of Ames and ISU's office of sustainability are sponsoring a fifth community rummage sale this summer at lease turnover time in the intermodal parking facility, 129 Hayward Ave. The intent is to help residents reuse and recycle household items and furniture, and reduce the volume going to a landfill. Sale and donation drop-off dates are July 31-Aug. 6 (Aug 7 is half-price day). July 30 is for drop-offs only. Volunteer registration closes July 25. See the project website for accepted items, sale hours and more.
Pandemic process/forms eliminated for employee international travel
ISU-sponsored international travel by employees no longer is subject to university pandemic travel requirements. However, many destinations continue to be high-risk due to the pandemic, and itineraries for all high-risk travel must be reviewed by the office of risk management's (ORM) international risk manager. Additional information, including a link to current risk levels by country, is on ORM's international travel web page. Student-related travel and study abroad programming will continue to operate under the international travel guidance outlined in a March 18 communication from senior vice president and provost Jonathan Wickert.
West Highway 30 employee van pool starts July 1
ISU's van pool service, offered through transportation services, will start a new "Highway 30 West" van pool on July 1, with stops in Jefferson, Ogden and Boone. For more information about the route or how to join the van pool, contact Teri Jensen, 515-294-0181. There also are openings this summer in the van pools operating in the Des Moines, Urbandale and Ankeny areas.
