Announcements
May 2025
May 26 is a university holiday
University offices are closed and summer classes won't meet on Monday, May 26, in observance of the national Memorial Day holiday.
Services planned for Vet Med's Jared Danielson
Jared Danielson, former Morrill Professor of veterinary pathology and senior associate dean for academic and student program success in the College of Veterinary Medicine, died May 16. A memorial service will be held Friday, May 23 (11 a.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2524 Hoover Ave., Ames). Visitation will be in the same location on Thursday, May 22 (4-7 p.m.). In addition, the college will host a Celebration of Life on Thursday (3-4 p.m., Café Commons, Patterson Hall). Obituary.
Limited bloom has begun for 'corpse plant' at Reiman Gardens
The Amorphophallus titanum (or corpse plant) has bloomed for the first time at Reiman Gardens, coinciding with the public garden's 30th anniversary celebration. The plant began its blooming cycle at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 17. Visitors are encouraged to come quickly -- the bloom only lasts for 24 to 36 hours. Reiman Gardens will have extended hours until 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The tropical titan is known for its enormous height and infamous odor, often compared to rotting flesh. Follow the gardens' live updates on social media for real-time bloom status.
Gilbert selected as faculty director for University Honors Program
Stephen Gilbert, professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, has been appointed faculty director of the University Honors Program, a three-year, 75% appointment. Gilbert, who also serves as associate director of the VRAC Research Center and directs the Human Computer Interaction graduate program, will direct Iowa State's undergraduate research program, help develop the Honors curriculum, foster partnerships with colleges and departments, mentor students and chair the University Honors Committee.
Process renewals for student employees extending for summer or fall
Managers and job management support staff may process renewals for students extending their employment through summer or returning for fall semester. The latest employment end date allowed for renewals is May 31, 2026. The latest employment end dates allowed for student employees not being renewed are:
- Graduating seniors: May 31, 2025
- Graduating international students: Last day of classes in the semester in which they graduate.
- All other student workers: May 31, 2025
Student employees can work up to 40 hours per week during the summer starting the week of May 19, including students enrolled in summer courses. Only students registered for fall courses are allowed to work during the summer as student employees. Questions about a specific student's eligibility may be sent to uhrim@iastate.edu. General student employment policy questions may be sent to hrshelp@iastate.edu.
Renew your extended loan materials from the library now
Staff, faculty, retirees, graduate students, visiting scholars and affiliates should return or renew their university library materials (books, journals, DVDs, etc.) with a due date of May 16, 2025. Online, phone and in-person renewal is available.
New website launches for 2022-31 strategic plan
A new website has launched for Iowa State's 2022-2031 Strategic Plan. The site reflects a revision of the plan approved earlier this year by the Iowa Board of Regents. Visitors to the site can download a PDF of the plan, read progress stories and review summaries of university investments made to date to advance strategic initiatives.
Second learning community cohort for term faculty completes its work
Twelve Iowa State faculty recently completed their participation in the university's Term Faculty Learning Community, created in 2022 to foster leadership skills, build connections with peers across campus and pursue their career goals. The program is led by teaching professors Sarah Bennett-George, apparel, events and hospitality management; and Michael Bootsma, accounting; and offered through the office of the senior vice president and provost. Participants in the second cohort were:
- Erica Beirman, food science and human nutrition
- Erin Bergquist, food science and human nutrition
- Christen Burgett, animal science
- Sandra Jennings-Hammond, marketing
- Ilker Karaca, finance
- Jelena Kraft, genetics, development, and cell biology
- Carly Manz, genetics, development, and cell biology
- Brenda Mulherin, veterinary clinical services
- Cullen Padgett-Walsh, philosophy and religious studies
- Jennifer Scaccianoce, veterinary clinical services
- Jennifer Schieltz, natural resource ecology and management
- Aaron Wood, earth, atmosphere and climate
Interdisciplinary research teams recognized with university award
Two teams were chosen to receive the university's Award for Interdisciplinary Team Research and will be recognized at the university awards ceremony in the fall. This award inadvertently was left out of last week's Inside story (the provost's office apologizes for the omission). Congratulations to the 12 members of the Soynomics team and the 13 members of the Dairy Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza team.
Summer session at the exercise clinic starts May 19
The ISU Exercise Clinic, sponsored by the kinesiology department, is offering a 12-week summer session, May 19-Aug. 8. Classes are offered three days a week at 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., noon and 5:30 p.m., and are open to adults in the ISU and Ames communities at all fitness levels, from beginners to experts. Small, supervised classes feature personal trainers to keep participants on track. State-of-the-art equipment was chosen to be user-friendly for all participants. The cost of the clinic is $75. Fitness testing is done for new participants to identify an appropriate starting level. For more information or to sign up for a session, call 294-8257 or visit the website.
Hyland Avenue closing Monday for city project
Hyland Avenue, from Ontario Street to just north of the Unitarian Universalist worship center (1015 Hyland Ave.), will close on Monday, May 19, for the first of a four-phase city of Ames street reconstruction project. Sidewalks and bike lanes also will be closed.
Phase I is anticipated to take five to seven weeks, weather permitting. For motorists, the recommended detour is Grand Avenue between13th Street and Lincoln Way. Bicycle and pedestrian traffic should detour to North Dakota Avenue or consider other streets to avoid the construction.
The full project, anticipated for completion by fall, will include pavement removal and replacement on Hyland from Ontario Street to Pammel Drive, and patching on select locations between Pammel Drive and Lincoln Way. Existing bike lanes in the Hyland roadway between Ontario and Oakland streets will be relocated to a new shared-use path along the west side of Hyland.
Registration is open for summer intramurals for faculty, staff
Recreation servics is sponsoring summer intramural leagues for faculty, staff and post-grad employees at no cost to participants thanks to sponsorship by ISU Wellbeing and the division of student affairs. Compete with your coworkers or friends in departments across campus -- or sign up as a free agent and rec services staff will create a team or find a partner for you. All participants must complete the wellbeing assessment in Adventure2 (and earn 25 points). Registration information, including deadlines, is on the rec services website. These leagues will be offered this summer:
- Sand volleyball: Teams of six or more people. Games on Mondays in June (4:30 p.m. or 5:15 p.m., Southeast Recreation Complex). Faculty/staff sand volleyball sign-up.
- Bags: Teams of two people. Games on Mondays in June (6-7 p.m., Southeast Recreation Complex). Faculty/staff bags sign-up.
- Basketball: Teams of five or more people. Starting July 9, games on Wednesdays in July (noon-1 p.m., Beyer Hall). Faculty/staff basketball sign-up.
- Pickleball doubles: Teams of two people. Starting July 15, games on Tuesdays in July (4:30 or 5:15 p.m., State Gym). Faculty/staff pickleball sign-up.
Tips for keeping food safe at graduation parties
As you make plans for your graduation celebration in the next few weeks, remember also to make plans to keep your food safe to eat, says food safety expert Anirudh Naig, state extension specialist for retail food safety and associate professor in hospitality management. He cited four steps to food safety from the federal government's food safety website.
May innovation lunch club features bioscience platform leaders
Rescheduled from April, the May 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, May 23 (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.
Ticket packages on sale now for next year's Stephens series
The Iowa State Center released the 2025-26 Performing Arts Season at Stephens Auditorium this week. The 13 performances include comedy musicals, acrobatics, several holiday shows and tribute concerts. Subscriptions (tickets to three or four performances with discounts of 15% to 20% on the package) are on sale now. 2024-25 subscribers who renew by June 13 keep their seating priority. Single-event tickets begin to go on sale to the public Aug. 5.
Cyclone 'Tailgate Tour' is May 19-23
The athletics department's annual Tailgate Tour will stop at 10 Iowa cities in five days, May 19-23. These family-friendly events give fans the unique opportunity to meet and hear updates from Iowa State head coaches and director of athletics Jamie Pollard. While tour event lineups may vary, in addition to Pollard, this spring's tour will feature football coach Matt Campbell, men's basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger, women's basketball coach Bill Fennelly, volleyball coach Christy Johnson-Lynch, wrestling coach Kevin Dresser and "Voice of the Cyclones" John Walters. Cy and members of the spirit squad also will attend.
Inside shares summer schedule
Inside Update, the companion email to Inside Iowa State, will be sent every other Thursday during summer term. Announcements, appointments and receptions/retirements should be submitted (inside@iastate.edu) by noon on the Wednesday preceding an email date to be included in that edition. Emails are scheduled for:
- May 15 (final week of spring semester)
- May 29
- June 12
- June 26
- July 10
- July 24
- Aug. 7 (final week of summer term)
- Aug. 21
- Aug. 28 (first week of fall semester)
Traffic changes at University Boulevard/Sixth Street begin May 19
A university project to reconstruct the intersection of University Boulevard and Sixth Street (adjacent to the CyRide facility), including sidewalks, and replace the traffic signals is scheduled to begin Monday, May 19, and continue into the first week of August. The work will be done in phases, first the northbound lanes, followed by the southbound lanes (estimated to begin around June 19). Single-lane traffic in both directions will be maintained throughout the project. Access between Sixth Street and University Boulevard will be closed during the first phase, and access between the east CyRide driveway and University Boulevard will be closed during the second phase.
Shared walking and cycling paths in the vicinity of the road project, including the sycamore path north of the Lied recreation center, will close during the project, and pedestrians and bicyclists will have two detour options:
- South from Sixth Street on Brookridge Drive/North Hazel Avenue to Lincoln Way, and west on Lincoln Way to campus.
- West past the Brookside Park baseball fields and ISU Transportation Services to the pedestrian railroad underpass near the horse barns/Wallace Road.
Corpse plant's infrequent bloom is likely in mid-May
Stink plant
The Reiman Gardens staff awaits the blooming of its corpse plant (Amorphophallus titanum), irreverently named "Stink Floyd," which promises an unforgettable sensory experience when it blooms every seven to 10 years. The corpse plant is one of the world's largest and most unusual flowering structures, growing up to 10 feet tall. When it does bloom, it emits a powerful odor reminiscent of rotting flesh -- an evolutionary strategy to attract pollinators like carrion beetles and flesh flies. The bloom and stink last for 24-48 hours. The bloom is expected between May 10 and May 14, but because of the plant's unpredictability, guests are encouraged to follow Reiman Gardens on social media for live updates. The gardens will offer extended hours (7 a.m.-11 p.m.) during the peak stink/bloom, and guests can see the plant with the price of daily admission.
"This bloom is nature's rock concert,” said director of Reiman Gardens Christine Prescott. "It's loud in scent, rare in appearance and draws a crowd."
End-of-semester Art Mart is May 13-16 at the MU
The Workspace and Gaffers' Guild will co-host an Art Mart pop-up shop May 13-16 in the Memorial Union's first floor art gallery. Purchase blown glass pieces, pottery, jewelry, accessories, prints and more. Hours are: 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Friday.
Demo Day set for Startup Factory's newest class
The ISU Startup Factory 18-week incubator program will hold Demo Day for the program's 17th cohort on Tuesday, May 20 (5:30 p.m., networking reception follows their presentations until 8 p.m., atrium, ISU Research Park Core Facility). All Startup Factory alumni, founders, mentors and startup community supporters are welcome; RSVPs are requested.
Some U.S. Postal Service rates will go up in July
Planning some large mailings this summer? Donna Villaescusa, manager of ISU postal and parcel services, said the U.S. Postal Service has filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission of mail price changes that will take effect Sunday, July 13. The proposed adjustments will raise some mail service prices approximately 7.4%. The new rates include a 5-cent increase to a first-class ("Forever") stamp, from 73 cents to 78 cents. Price increases for priority mail and express mail are in the same range, with rates based on destination, size and weight.
U.S. Postal Service price increases: July 13
|
Product |
Proposed price |
Current price |
|
First class letter (1 oz) |
78 cents |
73 cents |
|
Metered letter (1 oz) |
74 cents |
69 cents |
|
Each additional oz |
29 cents |
28 cents |
|
Domestic postcard |
62 cents |
56 cents |
|
International postcard |
$1.70 |
$1.65 |
|
International letter (1 oz) |
$1.70 |
$1.65 |
SHOP food pantry seeks volunteers for May-August
Faculty and staff volunteers are needed to help keep the SHOP food pantry open during prep week, finals week and summer break. SHOP, which serves our student community out of 1306 Beyer, would like to maintain its service hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. A new volunteer sign-up schedule has been created for May-August.
Reiman Gardens' plant sale is May 10-11
The Reiman Gardens' annual plant sale is May 10-11 in the gardens' parking lot, rain or shine. Plants for sale include perennials for sun and shade, trees, Buck roses, houseplants, spider plants, "Dreamy Kiss" dahlias, "Shamrock Rose" lantanas, "Dragon Wing Red" begonias and more. Credit card, check and cash are accepted. Sale hours are: May 10 (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) and May 11 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.). Garden members can shop early on Friday, May 9 (3-4 p.m. sustainer and champion levels, 4-7 p.m. all membership levels).
Traveling Cyclones' 2026 program preview is May 29
The ISU Alumni Association will host its 2026 Travel Preview on Thursday, May 29 (4-6:30 p.m., ISU Alumni Center). RSVP by May 21. Receive a copy of the 2026 "Traveling Cyclones" tour schedule and book trips (or ask questions) with trusted providers. In addition, U.S. Postal Service representatives will attend to accept passport applications and renewals. (For more information or to set up a passport appointment, contact Johanna Hill, 515-776-4092 or Johanna.M.Hill@usps.gov.) The Traveling Cyclones program is not limited to Iowa State alumni. Questions about the preview event may be directed to Shellie Andersen.
Reminder: United Way food donation ends May 8
Iowa State is participating in the United Way of Story County's annual Live United food drive, which continues through May 8. Donations collected will go to participants in the Story County Food Pantry Collaboration, which includes food pantries and food distribution programs. A drive-up, drop-off option will be piloted Monday and Tuesday during the morning commute (7-8:30 a.m.) at three locations daily. Indoors, there are nearly 20 drop locations on campus.
