A recap of summer on campus

By Jeff Budlong
August 17, 2023

The fall semester begins Aug. 21. If you were away from campus this summer, here's a quick summary of what you missed: 

News

  • Nineteen teams will share a $3.9 million investment this year in Iowa State's 2022-2031 strategic plan. The projects range from expanding student academic services to helping Iowa communities.
  • The committee considering requests to remove Carrie Chapman Catt's name from a campus building is preparing a draft recommendation for public review in the fall. 
  • In July, faculty, P&S and contract staff and post-docs with satisfactory performance evaluations received a 1% salary increase. In September, parameters for additional salary increases will be announced. Those increases take effect Jan. 1, 2024.
  • The state Board of Regents approved increases to tuition and mandatory student fees for 2023-24. Resident undergrads will pay 3.5% more, and nonresident undergraduates and graduate students have a 4% increase.
  • A new publication, Inside Impact, debuted during June's new student orientation, and highlights faculty and staff doing excellent work every day.
  • The Benefits and Pay Hub launched June 1. The Workday feature provides a single location for employees to review benefits, compensation and pay information.
  • The ISU Internal Careers Hub in Workday helps employees looking for internal job opportunities.
  • Eligible employees interested in a WorkFlex arrangement no longer need to wait for scheduled request windows to apply for the flexible work program or alter an agreement.
  • Employees verified dependents on their health care plan. Any changes go in effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
  • Summer enrollment increased slightly to 8,468 following five summers of declining numbers.
  • Iowa State Online continues to adjust to give online learners the best experience possible.
  • ISU researchers topped $300 million in research funding for experiments and projects for the 2023 fiscal year. It set a record for annual, external, sponsored research funding.
  • Three faculty members received Fulbright fellowships for the 2023-24 academic year.
  • Lots of building projects began, continued or wrapped up across campus.
  • CyRide added two electric buses to its fleet.
  • The Sloss Resource Room is open to all on campus and stocked with nonperishable food, personal care items, parenting supplies and more.
  • Recreation services became the second unit, after ISU Dining, to go to cash-only transactions in June.
  • In athletics, the Big 12 Conference officially added four new members on July 1. Four others will join next summer and the universities of Oklahoma and Texas will depart.

Appointments

College leadership

  • Seda McKilligan, to senior associate dean for academic personnel success and strategic success, College of Design
  • Cris Schwartz, to assistant dean for student success in the College of Engineering
  • Rob Whitehead, to associate dean for academic programs and student success, College of Design

Directors

  • Laura Greiner, to director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center
  • Michael Harwood, to associate vice president for campus life and director of residence
  • Melea Licht, to assistant director of communications, university library
  • Mike O'Donnell, to CIRAS director
  • Jeremy Paul, to director of transportation services
  • Peter Ralston, to director of the Ivy Supply Chain Forum 

Department chairs

Professorships

Specialist

Interim leadership

  • Abram Anders, to the inaugural interim associate director of the Student Innovation Center
  • Wendy Kisch, to interim associate vice president for facilities planning and management
  • John Netwal, to interim associate director for facilities services
  • Mary Howell Sirna, to interim director of equal opportunity and Title IX coordinator