Announcements
April 2025
Classrooms reserved for evening study during prep week
Room scheduling will reserve 13 general university classrooms for students to use as study rooms during the evenings of prep week, May 5-9 (5:30-11 p.m. daily):
- 2226 and 2234 Bessey
- 0124, 0128 and 0202 Carver
- 0278 and 0289 Forker
- 1220 and 1226 Howe
- 0029 and 0031 Ross
- 1116 and 1120 Sweeney
One-block stretch of Welch closed for city utility improvements
A city of Ames project has closed Welch Avenue from Chamberlain to Hunt streets, including the intersections, for upgrades that include water main, storm and sanitary sewer replacement, sidewalk and street reconstruction and street light replacement. Weather-dependent, work starts Monday, April 28, and will take two to three months for this block. Pedestrians are asked to use the protected routes through this construction zone created by chain link fencing along both sides of Welch.
Last chance: Lake LaVerne survey closes Friday
As part of a broader plan to dredge, restore and maintain Lake LaVerne, a design team invites interested faculty, staff and students to participate in a 10-question survey about the south campus landmark by end-of-day Friday, May 2. The information collected will be used to guide the redevelopment plan.
CIRAS hosts Iowa AI Summit for Industry in May
The Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) is hosting the 2025 Iowa AI Summit for Industry May 12-14 at the Scheman Building. This three-day event is designed to meet you where you are, covering everything from beginner-friendly AI tools to advanced, real-world applications across multiple industries. Register for one, two or all three days to customize your experience:
- AI Introduction, May 12 (1-4 p.m.), a beginner-friendly overview of what AI is and how it’s shaping the future.
- AI Summit, May 13 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), a deeper dive into current AI tools, trends and applications through expert-led discussions and case studies.
- AI Accelerator, May 14 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), for those ready to take the next step, this hands-on session helps you build your own AI-powered solutions and workflows.
You're invited: Central Stores appreciation lunch
Central Stores invites all faculty and staff to an appreciation open house on Thursday, May 8 (11 a.m.-1 p.m., lot 47 between General Services Building and the power plant). While supplies last, enjoy burgers, brats, chips, desserts and refreshments.
You're invited: Distinguished Awards celebration is May 2
Celebrate the university's highest awards at the annual Distinguished Awards celebration on Friday, May 2 (2 p.m., lower level of the Sukup End Zone Club at Jack Trice Stadium). The ceremony is open to the public, and a reception follows. Details about the awards presented to alumni and friends via the ISU Foundation and Alumni Association are online.
Dog scamper is May 3
The 41st annual Scamper, a 5K walk/run with pet dogs hosted by Iowa State's chapter of the Student American Veterinary Medicine Association, will be held Saturday, May 3 (10 a.m., College of Veterinary Medicine). Registration is $25; register online. Proceeds will support local animal shelters and rescues as well as be used to raise community awareness about the One Health mission.
Honors poster presentation is May 7
The University Honors program invites the campus community to its spring poster presentation, featuring honors capstone projects, on Wednesday, May 7 (3-5 p.m., MU Great Hall). Spring 2025 honors graduates and other honors students will present, answer questions and speak with individuals interested in their projects. The Honors spring convocation will follow at 5:45 p.m. in the MU Sun Room, preceded by a reception (5-5:45 p.m.).
Ticket lottery announced for 'Book of Mormon' shows April 30-May 1
"The Book of Mormon," winner of nine 2011 Tony Awards including Best Musical, has announced a lottery ticket policy for the shows at Stephens Auditorium April 30 and May 1 (7:30 p.m.). A limited number of tickets will be available for $25 each. Here's how it works: Beginning at 5 p.m., entries will be accepted at the Stephens ticket office for that evening's performance. On a card that's provided, each person will print their name and number of tickets (one or two) they wish to purchase (limit of one entry/person). Shortly after the lottery closes at 5:30 p.m., names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets. Winners must be present for the drawing and show valid ID to purchase up to two tickets. Cash or credit card is accepted.
State Science and Technology Fair winners announced
Junior and senior high school students from 77 schools and 38 counties exhibiting more than 500 projects competed for prizes, awards and scholarships at the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa March 26-27 at Hilton Coliseum. Dozens of university faculty, staff and graduate students served as judges. Aligning with Next Generation Science Standards, the fair is the premier STEM contest for Iowa students in grades 6-12. Earlier this week, fair organizers posted award recipients.
MU parking permit sale opens April 30
Parking permit sales for the Memorial Union ramp for summer 2025, fall 2025 and annual 2025-26 begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 30. Permits will be issued on a first come, first served basis, based on application time. Current permit holders must apply for a new permit. Permit holders who want to pay for their permit via payroll deduction need to sign a payroll deduction form each year when they apply. The prices for the new permits are:
- Summer (valid May 19-Aug. 10, 2025) $251
- Fall (valid Aug. 18-Dec. 20, 2025) $304
- Annual (valid July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) $700
Update on Stange Road construction
On Friday, April 25, access to University Village from Stange Road will close at Bruner Drive and open at Blankenburg Drive. Northbound traffic on Stange remains detoured east to Grand Avenue via 13th and 24th streets. Closure of Stange's northbound lanes is required for the contractor to demolish the old road surface up to the center line. The closure has required detours to three CyRide bus routes: #6 Brown, #14 Peach and #25 Gold, including closed and temporary bus stops. Weather dependent, this phase of the work is expected to be completed by the first week of May. Map of detour.
Employee workshop targets sticky work situations
Employees who find themselves in an uncomfortable work dynamic are invited to an interactive workshop, "Sticky Situations Between Supervisors and Supervisees: A Discussion with University Human Resources and the Ombuds," on Wednesday, April 30 (9-10:30 a.m., 206 Durham). University ombuds Laura Smythe and associate director for employee relations and labor relations Andrea Little, university human resources, will lead the workshop. It's open to all faculty and staff; register in Workday Learning.
Procurement customers asked to complete service survey
Procurement services invites its campus customers to complete a 2025 satisfaction survey. The procurement team uses the feedback each year to improve its services and enhance processes to better meet the needs of the university community. This spring's customer satisfaction survey will be available through May 6.
April innovation lunch club features bioscience platform leaders
The April edition of the Innovation Impact Lunch Club will feature the three chief technology officers assigned to Iowa State's three state-funded bioscience platforms: biobased products (Kevin Moore), digital and precision agriculture (Nadilia Gomez), and vaccines, diagnostics and immunotherapeutics (Mike Roof). It will meet on Friday, Apri 25 (11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., training room, ISU Economic Development Core Facility, ISU Research Park). Learn more about each platform and its impact, and how the officers work with researchers and industry. 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.
Graduate Career Exploration showcase is April 23
The Graduate College will host a poster showcase for its new Graduate Career Exploration Program on Wednesday, April 23 (11 a.m.-1 p.m., Student Innovation Center atrium, pizza provided). For the last 12 weeks, 16 Ph.D. students in biology-related fields have participated in the newly established program, and they will present their potential career paths, share the knowledge they have acquired from the program, and discuss insights gained from conducting multiple informational interviews with professionals already pursuing those careers. All are welcome; graduate students, graduate faculty mentors and graduate student support staff especially are invited to learn more about this new program. Questions may be directed to Svitlana Zbarska, graduate career services lead.
Tickets on sale for June 29 Frankie Valli concert
Tickets are on sale for a June 29 concert at Stephens Auditorium with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, joined by The Rascals. Tickets ($45-$125) may be purchased at the Stephens ticket office or via Ticketmaster.
Design student art sale is April 16-18
The CODAC (College of Design Art Club) spring sale, featuring work by students in the integrated studio arts and integrated visual arts programs, will take place April 16-18 in the central foyer of the College of Design building. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday. Find unique gifts for spring and summer celebrations, or something for yourself. A majority of proceeds go to the student artists, with the remainder allocated for club activities like guest speakers and workshops.
It's a great Wednesday for ice cream
Members of the Dairy Science Club are selling ice cream today (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) outside the north doors to Lush Auditorium in Kildee Hall. Get a cup for $2 (cash only). Try one of the club's new spring flavors: raspberry chocolate chip or mango. Other flavors this week are chocolate, Kit Kat and Twix. 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.
Reminder: Stash the Trash is this weekend
The Ames/ISU annual "Stash the Trash" community spring clean-up event is Saturday-Sunday, April 26-27. Volunteers can choose to work alone or with a group or organization and clean up their neighborhood or favorite outdoor area. All collected trash can be disposed of in a rolloff container that weekend at the city's Resource Recovery Center, 420 E. Second St. Use your own bags and gloves, or pick them up April 21-25 at the plant.
Peak spring bloom window at Reiman Gardens opens this weekend
An estimated 50,000 tulips, daffodils and other bulbs are blooming at Reiman Gardens this spring, with the peak tulip time estimated for April 19 through May 3. Reiman Gardens opens daily at 9 a.m. and is open five days a week until 5 p.m., with extended hours to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Admission is $12 (65 years $11, youth 2-12 years $6, ISU students free with ID).
Faculty, staff volunteers needed for Cy's Finals Frenzy during prep week
The division of student affairs seeks volunteers for the third Cy's Finals Frenzy at the beginning of prep week: Sunday-Tuesday, May 4-6. Volunteers help individual events run smoothly, and faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for a shift or two to interact with students. Most shifts are 60 or 90 minutes long. This once-a-semester event promotes healthy study habits and personal wellness as students prepare for final exams. All events are free for Iowa State students and take place in and around the Memorial Union. Offerings include Bingo, movie night, free snacks, a Sunday cookout and wellness activities. Academic support programs, including exam prep and supplemental instruction sessions, will be available, too.
P&S seminar series topics announced for April, May
The P&S Council's monthly seminar series (Tuesdays, 2-3 p.m.) includes these upcoming topics. The series is open to all:
- Excel Your Skills, intermediate and advanced Excel techniques, with Sarah Freestone, office of student financial aid, and Sara Joanna Everson, department of public safety, April 22, location TBA, register
- P&S Classification and Compensation Structure in Action, how the structure is used to classify P&S employees and inform pay decisions, with Dwayne Hepler, human resources delivery, May 22, 0114 Student Innovation Center, register
Uganda baskets pop-up sale runs April 14-25
The Workspace is hosting a pop-up basket sale with the Uganda Alliance Club April 14-25 (weekdays 2-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., lower east level of the Memorial Union). Handmade baskets created with dried raffia and banana leaves by women in the Tusubila ("hope") Crafts Group, Kamuli, Uganda, sell for $10-$25, and the money from sales goes directly toward supporting the artist's family with food, school fees, and other needs.
This initiative began through Iowa State's Uganda program. Students studying abroad purchased baskets but saw that market access was limited for the artists. They formed the Uganda Alliance Club to work with the Tusubila group to bring baskets to the United States, sell them and send the money back to the artists.
TIAA general information session recording available
Iowa State employees with retirement plans with TIAA can watch an on-demand recording of one of the virtual general information sessions about the changes to the plan. Employees who did not attend the session may have to register on the page to view the recording. The basic design of the retirement program with TIAA will remain the same, as will contribution rates and eligibility requirements. There is a 10-day window (April 14-25) for one-on-one sessions with a TIAA professional to discuss individual plans.
Monday Monologue series resumes on library steps
Three spring events have been added to the university library's Monday Monologues series, a free lunch-hour series to highlight Iowa State performing talent. Events begin at 12:15 p.m. on the front steps of Parks Library:
- April 14: Student vocal ensembles Cantamus, Lyrica and Count Me In
- April 21: Jubilee Gospel Choir, a student organization
- April 28: Favorite Poem Project (a National Poetry Month event), everyone is invited to read a cherished published poem and share why it's personally important, books of poetry will be on site
Celebrate: ISU Extension and Outreach Week is April 7-12
Throughout Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Week (April 7-12), Iowa's 100 county extension offices will host "I Spy Cy" activities and educational events to thank Iowans across the state for their support of ISU Extension and Outreach.
Conflict management training scheduled for June
Seats are available at a summer training for faculty and staff leaders on conflict management. It's offered by Iowa State ombuds Laura Smythe over three half-days, June 9-11 (8:30 a.m.-noon daily). The training is interactive and designed to address scenarios that participants find occur repeatedly, yet they approach with uncertainty or discomfort. Participation is limited to 25 individuals, and registration is first come, first served; contact Kay Mwanza, 515-294-0165, to register. Each day builds on the prior day, so registrants are asked to commit to attending all three days.
Confirm summer, fall teaching assignments, then submit course material requests
Faculty who will teach a summer session or fall semester 2025 course are asked to submit all materials needed for class -- textbooks, courseware, eBooks, course packets, subscriptions and supplies (Design, lab, protective equipment, technology, etc.) as soon as their teaching assignment is confirmed. Include courses for which there are no textbook requirements or when open educational resources (OER) will be used. These lists should be submitted to your department academic coordinator, or instructors can submit their own materials via Verba Collect. Contact Emma Hartman, 294-0362, with questions, or visit the ISU Book Store's Course Material Adoptions website. The bookstore team provides custom book lists to students after course registration. Published textbook and course material requirements are online.
For undergraduate courses, most required textbooks, eBooks, courseware and course packets will be part of Immediate Access ONE, a one-price, day-one access program where students receive their required books for one flat rate. For more information about this program, contact immediateaccess@iastate.edu.
Financial aid office announces annual award recipients
The office of student financial aid announced the recipients of its annual awards:
- 2025 Student Employee Supervisor of the Year (in partnership with university human resources): Lauren Schalinske, divisional communications lead, division of operations and finance
- 2025 Student Employee of the Year: Zara Babinat, senior in computer science, and shelter coordinator at Ames' Bridge Home, a non-profit organization and partner employer in Iowa State's student employment program (students work at a local non-profit as community service employees but are paid as ISU student employees)
2nd annual AI event is April 16
The Translational Artificial Intelligence Center team is hosting its second annual TrAC Day on Wednesday, April 16 (2-6 p.m., first floor of the Student Innovation Center). The free event includes a series of 5-minute flash talks from students, short presentations from industry collaborators about how they use AI in their work, student poster presentations about how artificial intelligence is being applied to various sectors such as agriculture and healthcare, and networking opportunities. Faculty, staff, students and the public are welcome. Register to receive more information closer to the event date.
