Announcements
February 2012
All tickets claimed for Biden town hall meeting
All available tickets for U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's town hall meeting on March 1 (11:30 a.m., Howe Hall atrium) were distributed by Wednesday morning. No one will be admitted without a ticket. For those with tickets, the doors will open at 9:15 a.m. and close at 11 a.m.
For those not able to get a ticket, the College of Engineering will provide an online live stream of Biden's remarks.
Wanted: Leaders for SUB directors
Student Union Board (SUB) is seeking students interested in leadership positions to join the 2012 planning board. SUB brings movies, live music, comedy, art, awareness, multicultural and national events to campus each week. In addition to president, 12 directorships are available. Information about the directors' duties and an application are available online. Applications must be submitted by March 16.
Stash the Trash/Veishea Service Day is March 24
Pre-registration is requested for the annual Stash the Trash/Veishea Service Day, March 24 (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) in Ames and Story County. Volunteers may work alone or with an organization or family members to pick up debris around the community or help with other service projects (indoor options are available). Trash bags and gloves may be picked up in the Reiman Gardens parking lot; a free lunch also is provided at that location. Local sponsors are partnering with myLocal Cooperative to offer merits to participants, which give them deals from more than 50 locally-owned businesses. Questions may be directed to Jennifer Garrett, 4-4354.
Staff, faculty can volunteer at Veishea 2012
Vice president for student affairs Tom Hill invites faculty and staff to volunteer at Veishea events April 20-22. Opportunities include serving at one of the pancake feeds (midnight-3 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mornings) or assisting students at the LIVE@Veishea concert Friday or Saturday night. Volunteer shifts generally are 3 or 3.5 hours long. Online signup is requested by March 23. For more information, contact Jenn Plagman-Galvin in the dean of students office, 4-7888.
Honors program seeks nominees for teaching, advising awards
The University Honors Committee recognizes excellence in the teaching and advising of Honors students through annual awards of $500. A teaching award recognizes general excellence in the teaching of Honors courses, Honors seminars or other courses taught for Honors credit. A mentoring/advising award recognizes general excellence in academic advising of Honors students, advising of Honors projects and mentoring of students in the first-year Honors mentor research program. Letters of nomination, including self-nomination (as well as optional supporting materials such as syllabi, student letters or other materials), are due in the Honors Program office, 2130 Jischke, by 5 p.m. March 21. Recipients will be honored at the Honors program's poster presentation on April 25. Questions may be directed to Honors faculty director Susan Yager, 4-4372.
Postal and Parcel Services announces mail changes
Beginning March 5, Postal and Parcel Services is altering its campus delivery schedules due to changes within the U.S. Postal Service. These changes include:
- Postal and Parcel Services will deliver mail later each morning because mail from the Postal Service will be delivered to campus one hour later.
- The number of outbound mail collections by the Postal Service will be reduced from twice to once per day. The pick-up time will be approximately 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. The loss of a daily collection should not impact the meter processing schedule for normal daily business mail. However, high-volume mailings may require advanced notification to Postal and Parcel Services, 4-7790, so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
- Five buildings that currently receive daily deliveries from the Postal Service will be migrated to Postal and Parcel Services. The buildings are the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, Bessey Hall, Curtiss Hall, East Hall/Heady Hall and Physics Hall/Zaffarano Physics Addition.
Contact Robert Tott, manager of Postal and Parcel Services, at 4-4283 with questions or concerns.
Next STEM collaboration coffee is March 6
All are invited to attend the March 6 (9-10 a.m., N047 Lagomarcino) STEM coffee hosted by the Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education. The topic is "Establishing Successful Project Evaluation for NFS-funded Programs," presented by Mack Shelley, professor of statistics and political science, and Mari Kemis, assistant director of the Research Institute for Studies in Education. Please RSVP to Stacy Renfro.
Glen Campbell tour stops at Stephens April 15
Tickets for an April 15 concert by Grammy Award-winner Glen Campbell go on sale at noon Feb. 27 through Ticketmaster. Campbell's "Goodbye Tour" band includes three of his children. The singer announced last year he has Alzheimer's disease. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $45 and $65.
Officials anticipate snow ordinance will go into effect at 10 p.m. Feb. 23
Based on the weather forecast, the City of Ames Snow Ordinance will likely go into effect at 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. Vehicles parked on snow routes (marked by red and white signs) must be moved or they will be ticketed and towed. Vehicles should be moved to off-street parking or to streets that aren't snow routes. To assist in plowing efforts, all Ames residents are asked to remove parked vehicles from residential streets. However, only those on snow routes are required to move vehicles. The snow ordinance goes into effect when 2 inches of snow has fallen on major city streets and remains in effect until streets are completely plowed and it has stopped snowing.
Register now for grant search workshops
Faculty, staff and graduate students interested in finding grant funds are invited to register for a hands-on workshop, "Secrets to Targeting the Right Funding Source for Your Grant Proposal." ISU librariarians Rebecca Jackson and Sarah Passonneau will lead two workshop sessions (3-4:30 p.m., March 8 and April 24) at Parks Library. Registration is free; use AccessPlus to reserve a spot. Contact Jody Kalvik for more information.
Rec Services to hold super-sized Zumba class
Help ISU's Recreation Services "jam the gym" March 5 (6-7 p.m., State Gym west courts) for the university's largest Zumba class. It's free and open to all Iowa State students and Rec Pass holders.
Learn about Feng shui at workshop
ISU's student Lion's Club will sponsor a workshop on the ancient Chinese art of Feng shui on Feb. 27 (6-7:30 p.m., MU Oak Room). Certified Feng shui practitioner and club adviser Susan Radke will demonstrate how to enhance the flow of energy (ch'i) in your space, promoting increased focus, concentration and creativity. A major portion of the fee ($9 ISU students, $27 all others) will support Iowa KidSight. Questions may be directed to Radke, 4-6050.
Achieving success in NSF's "Broader Impacts" requirement
ISU's Strengthening the Professoriate effort will host a lunch workshop March 6 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., MU Gallery) on writing grant proposals that address the question of benefits to society beyond the research impact. Faculty members who have written successful proposals, particularly in the area of broader impacts, will share their experiences. Lunch is provided; RSVPs are requested to Megan Heitmann, 4-8061.
Registration open for spring women's leadership conference
The Iowa Network for Women in Higher Education (IOWAWHE) will hold its third annual spring leadership conference at Iowa State on Friday, April 27 (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Reiman Gardens). This year's theme is "Journey to Leadership." Cost is $30. All women interested in leadership in higher education are invited to attend. Conference details and registration information are available online.
Beware: Hackers using more sophisticated scams
IT Services is warning campus email users that official-looking emails from the "Solution Center" are malicious "Spearphishing" attempts to obtain logins and passwords. ITS never will ask for personal account information and the suspicious emails should be deleted.
Feb. 29 lecturer discusses eating disorders
Shannon Cutts, founder of MentorCONNECT, will present "Beauty Undressed" Feb. 29 (7 p.m., MU Great Hall) as part of Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Cutts, who battled anorexia and bulimia for 15 years, will talk about how to put "beauty" into perspective, and how mentoring can help those stuggling with eating disorders. This lecture is free and open to the public.
Leath will present CYtation Awards at Feb. 28 open forum
President Leath will address employees and present the fall 2011 CYtation Awards at the Professional and Scientific Council open forum Feb. 28 (noon-1 p.m., MU Gallery). A list of award winners is available online. All are invited to attend; feel free to bring your lunch.
Judges sought for State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa
The State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa and FFA Agriscience Fair will be held March 30-31 at the Iowa State Center. Individuals with a major, background or degree in science, engineering or technology are sought to serve as volunteer judges. About 350 judges are needed for the middle school exhibits and 100 are needed to evaluate high school exhibits and encourage students to become better researchers. Register online. Questions may be directed to Vicki Speake, 4-5738.
Half-day ComETS symposium is March 22
The third ComETS Symposium March 22 (noon-5 p.m., MU Sun Room) will feature a keynote talk by George Saltsman, executive director of Abilene Christian University's teaching and learning center. Since 2009, ACU has distributed iPhones to freshmen and built mobile-enabled services to enhance student learning and student life. The symposium also will include:
- a panel discussion on eTexts and ePublishing systems
- 10-minute mini-presentations from ISU faculty and staff on technology innovations (submit your proposal here)
- a student panel on mobile computing.
Online registration is requested.
Nominate students for volunteer award
The Student Activities Center, partnering with the Volunteer Center of Story County, seeks nominations for outstanding volunteers in Story County who are under the age of 25 years. Individuals or groups in these ages/categories will be honored: elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and community. Nominations for a 2012 Story County Youth Volunteer Award are due March 23; recipients will be honored at an April 24 reception in the MU Sun Room. The nomination form may be downloaded from the Volunteer Center's website. Questions may be directed to Jennifer Nissen in the Student Activities Center, 4-4354.
MBA informational lunch is Feb. 28
Learn more about the MBA program in the College of Business during an informational lunch Feb. 28 (noon-1 p.m., 1360 Gerdin). Lunch is provided; bring your questions. Register online. For more information, contact Jenny Reitano, 4-7819.
Registration open for library workshops, seminar
Faculty, staff and graduate students are invited to register for an upcoming seminar and a pair of workshops at the ISU Library. The Feb. 22 seminar (10-11 a.m.) , "Finding Industry Standards at ISU: An Introduction," will provide basics on the creation and approval of standards. Participants also will learn how to search and locate them in the library. "Get X-Cited About Cited Reference Searching" will be the topic of two hands-on workshops, Feb. 22 (3-4:30 p.m.) and Feb. 28 (9:30-11 a.m.). The workshops will cover all disciplines, but focus on the subject areas of participants. Registration is free; use AccessPlus to reserve your spot. Contact Lorrie Pellack for more information.
Two wellness events planned for Feb. 15
Faculty and staff have two opportunities on Feb. 15 to enhance their health through employee wellness programs:
- "Steps to a Healthier You," (noon-1 p.m., MU Room 3505). Activities include interactive desk exercise demo, tutorial of MyPlate, and helpful breathing and focusing techniques. Informational handouts and healthy snacks also will be available. Come and go as you please.
- "CYcling," (6-6:50 p.m., Cycling Room 2185, State Gym). This is a free cycling glass (no access pass required) at the new State Gym. Registration is limited to 19 participants. RSVP to voakinde@iastate.edu.
Register now for girls' career conference
"Taking the Road Less Traveled: A Career Conference for Girls," sponsored by ISU's Program for Women in Science and Engineering (PWSE), is now accepting registrations for its three spring conferences:
- April 12, high school (grades 9-12)
- April 19, middle school (grades 6-8)
- April 26, middle school (grades 6-8)
The conference's goal is to expose girls in grades 6-12 to career paths within science, technology, engineering and math. Conference information, including registration forms, a registration checklist and suggested pre- and post-conference activities, are available online. Contact Carol Heaverlo, 4-5883, or Katie Gibson, 4-5319, with questions.
Student scholarship deadlines are approaching
The Office of Student Financial Aid is accepting applications for three Iowa State scholarships for 2012-13:
• ISU Community Service Scholarship, March 1 deadline. Recipients are selected for their service in Ames or Story County while enrolled at Iowa State.
• ISU Working Scholars Award, March 1 deadline. Sophomore recipients from an Iowa high school are selected for academic achievement, financial need and motivation/willingness to help themselves through college with minimum debt.
• Roy J. Carver Scholarship, April 1 deadline. F-T junior recipients from an Iowa high school are selected for academic achievement, financial need and extenuating circumstances that present challenges to obtaining a degree.
Faculty and advisers are asked to share this information with students who qualify to apply.
Faculty, student applications for undergrad research program due March 30
Faculty and students who are interested in participating in Iowa State's undergraduate research assistantship program in 2012-13 should submit an application by March 30. The program is intended to promote graduate study by giving outstanding students hands-on experience in a formal reserach environment. Students must be juniors or seniors next fall with a GPA of at least 3.25. Students and faculty are encouraged to seek out those with similar interests for possible matches. Details, including application procedures and forms, are online. Questions may be directed to Julie Arnold, Office of Student Financial Aid, 4-0103.
Prominent writers to keynote annual Wildness Symposium
Readings, craft talks and panel discussions highlight the Feb. 26-27 Symposium on Wildness, Wilderness & the Creative Imagination. This year's festival, set in the Memorial Union, has an "outliers" theme. It will feature keynote readings and craft discussions by four prominent writers and celebrate the work of ISU graduate students and faculty. The event reaches across disciplines and is open, free of charge, to people from the Ames and university community. Visit the symposium site for more information.
Reminder: Nominations for university awards are due Feb. 20
Nominations for university awards are due in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost by Feb. 20. About 40 awards are available in faculty and staff categories. Units will be notified around May 1 of award decisions, and recipients will be honored at the September university convocation.
These liaisons can answer questions about specific awards:
- Dawn Bratsch-Prince: Distinguished Professor, University Professor, Regents Faculty, and Departmental Leadership awards
- David Holger: Teaching, graduate, international and advising awards
- Mary Holz-Clause: Extension/Professional Practice awards
- Chitra Rajan: Research, economic development and intellectual property awards
- Emily Olson: P&S awards
- John Anderson: Regents Staff Award
Next STEM brown bag seminar is Feb. 22
The Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering (CESMEE) is hosting a brown bag seminar for all faculty, staff and students Feb. 22 (noon-1 p.m., N047 Lagomarcino). Craig Ogilvie, professor of physics and assistant dean of the Graduate College, will speak about "Together Energizing Student Science: A Howard Hughes Medical Institute Report." Feel free to bring your lunch. RSVPs are requested to Stacy Renfro.
Collegiate invention competition welcomes entries
The Invent Now 2012 Collegiate Inventors Competition is accepting entries through June 15. The annual competition recognizes student inventions that one day could make significant contributions to society. More than $100,000 in cash prizes will be awarded this year to undergraduate and graduate students and their advisers. Entries are judged on originality, potential impact on society and student initiative. Entry requirements and tips are available online.
Applicants sought for ADVANCE faculty fellowship
Associate provost Dawn Bratsch-Prince is accepting applications through Feb. 22 for an ADVANCE faculty fellowship (quarter time, 9 months for two years beginning in August, renewable for a third year). The program is open to tenured full professors employed at least 2 years at Iowa State; those in a STEM field, including social, behavioral and economic sciences, are preferred. The fellow will continue to develop the university's programs and materials for recruiting, retaining and advancing women faculty and faculty of color. More information (PDF), including application requirements and form, is online. Questions may be directed to Bratsch-Prince, 4-6410.
Singing Valentine fund-raiser benefits student organization
The Iowa State Singers will be taking orders for singing valentines on Feb. 8-10 (10 a.m.-noon and 1-2 p.m.) at a booth outside the Memorial Union's west student office space. For $10, a quartet of Iowa State Singers will "deliver" Valentine songs to locations in Ames, or sing them live nationwide by phone. Deliveries will be made Monday, Feb. 13, or Tuesday, Feb. 14.
Snow ordinance in effect at 8 a.m. Feb. 4; move cars from snow routes
Based on the weather forecast, the City of Ames Snow Ordinance will likely go into effect at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. Vehicles parked along snow routes (marked by red and white signs) must be moved or they will be ticketed and towed. Vehicles should be moved to off-street parking or to streets that are not designated snow routes. To assist in plowing efforts, all Ames residents are asked to remove parked vehicles from residential streets. However, only those on snow routes are required to move them. The snow ordinance goes into effect when 2 inches of snow has fallen on city streets. It remains in effect until the streets are completely plowed from curb to curb, and it has stopped snowing.
Wind energy production in January sets a record
Iowa State received 2.23 million kilowatt hours of wind energy in January from the NextEra Energy Resources farm in northeast Story County. That equates to 14 percent of the university's electrical usage for the month, eclipsing the previous one-month record of 11.6 percent set last April. Some scheduled upgrades to the electrical transmission system in the area were completed in late December, and the wind farm was released to full production on Jan. 5. During January, the wind farm ran at an average of 50 percent capacity, which is within the predicted performance for the month. The university's goal is to receive 10 percent of its electricity annually from the wind farm.
ISU theater students capture festival awards
In addition to hosting for a second consecutive time the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (Jan. 15-21), ISU performing arts students received several awards (PDF) or made it to advanced rounds in the competition. Nearly 1,400 students and faculty participated from colleges and universities in a seven-state area.
U.S. bank failures is topic of Feb. 13 Osborn Club lecture
Valentina Salotti, assistant professor of finance, will discuss failed U.S. banks since 2008 and what acquiring banks gain from the failed institutions during this month's Osborn Club lecture, Feb. 13 (7 p.m., 1420 Molecular Biology). The lecture portion of the monthly gathering is free and open to the public.
Kick off your spring with ISCORE
Registration is open for the 13th annual Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE), to be held March 2 (8 a.m.-5 p.m., Memorial Union). ISCORE is a comprehensive forum on issues of race and ethnicity at Iowa State and beyond. Students, staff and faculty will provide concurrent sessions, and Nana Osei-Kofi, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies, will provide the morning address. The keynote presentation will be from Ames resident and social justice educator Grace Amemiya.
Tax assistance program begins Feb. 14
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program will be available for taxpayers with household incomes of less that $50,000 from Feb. 14 through April 12. The service is provided by trained ISU accounting students. Online appointment scheduling begins Feb. 1. Appointments will be held Feb. 14 through April 12 in 2148 Gerdin during the following days and times:
- Tuesdays, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m.
- Thursdays, 6-8 p.m.
Assistance will not be available during spring break, March 12-16.
Volunteers sought to assist dietetics students
Senior-level dietetics students are seeking employees interested in nutrition counseling. Students will meet with volunteers three times during spring semester to evaluate and improve their eating habits. Volunteers cannot have certain health concerns, such as hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol. Contact Sally Barclay if you are interested in volunteering.
