Announcements
November 2014
Open house at The Knoll is Dec. 5
Iowa State First Lady Janet Leath will host an open house at The Knoll Friday, Dec. 5 (3-6 p.m.) The university community is invited to drop in. It's a special opportunity to tour the first floor of the president's home, view holiday decorations and try some of the famous Knoll hot chocolate.
Iowa State receives veteran-friendly designation
Iowa State, along with the universities of Iowa and Northern Iowa, have been designated Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partners (CHAMPs) by Gov. Terry Branstad. The designation recognizes the university's efforts to educate and assist veterans, including many veteran support services and programs. It will help all three schools promote their campuses to veterans looking to continue their educations.
Forestry Club tree sales begin Nov. 30
The Forestry Club's annual tree sales fundraiser will take place on weekends, Nov. 30 through Dec. 14, in the Reiman Gardens parking lot. Four tree varieties are being offered: Fraser fir ($50), balsam fir ($45-$50) and white and Scotch pine ($30). Balsam fir wreaths ($20-$30) also are available, natural and decorated. Sale times are 3-6 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays.
Phonebook recycling pickup is Dec. 18
Facilities planning and management will coordinate a campus-wide phonebook recycling effort in December. Look for the collection boxes in your building (boxes should not be so large that one person couldn't lift it when it's full). Boxes of phonebooks will be picked up from building loading docks or similar outdoor locations on Thursday, Dec. 18. The request for pickup is online and must be submitted by Dec. 17; one request per building. Questions may be directed to recycling coordinator Sue Mallas, 294-0692.
Register for June sea kayaking trip in Alaska
ISU's outdoor recreation program is offering a sea kayaking trip to Alaska June 18-25, 2015. The price is $1,829 for holders of an ISU recreation services pass and $2,061 for others. Registration deadline is March 13. For more information, contact the outdoor recreation program office, 294-8200, or Jerry Rupert.
Visitation, service for George Serovy are Nov. 20
A memorial service for former Distinguished Professor Emeritus (mechanical engineering) George Serovy will begin at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Adams Funeral Home, Ames. A visitation will precede it at 1:30 p.m. Serovy, an ISU faculty member from 1958 to 1991, died Nov. 14 in Ames. Memorials are preferred to Iowa Public Television, Iowa Public Radio or Youth and Shelter Services, Ames. Obituary.
Nov. 25 webinar offers holiday financial help
University Human Resources is offering employees access to a free webinar, "Tips to Stay Financially Healthy Through the Holidays," on Tuesday, Nov. 25 (2-3 p.m.). The webinar shares methods to help keep finances on track and under control during the holiday season. Participants can register online. Contact Dawn Shedarowich with questions, 4-4820.
Lots of ice cream flavors at today's sale
The Dairy Science Club's Nov. 19 installment of its weekly ice cream sale will feature these flavors: Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mint chocolate chip, triple chocolate, Oreo, Reese's, Butterfinger, Twix, Heath caramel (ground Heath bar in caramel-flavored ice cream) and, in limited quantities, mint Oreo. The sale is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the north doors to Lush Auditorium in Kildee Hall; an 8-oz cup is $1.
Osborn Club lecture is Dec. 8
Klaus Ruedenberg, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and U.S. Department of Energy Ames Laboratory associate, will present part two of "Three Millennia of Atoms and Molecules" at the Osborn Club lecture on Dec. 8 (7 p.m., Hach Hall atrium, follows club member dinner). The lecture portion of the program is open to the public.
STEM Fellowship Program seeks applicants
The Center for Biorenewables Chemicals and the School of Education are seeking applications from qualified engineering graduate students for 10 $25,000 stipends. Each fellow works collaboratively with an elementary school teacher and spends one day each week performing the duties of a resident scientist/engineer in a classroom. This program is a partnership with the Des Moines Public School District and is funded by NSF. Applications are due Dec. 7. More information is available online. Interested candidates also are encouraged to attend an informational open house on Dec. 2 (3-5 p.m., 1124 Biorenewables Research Laboratory).
Apply for these ISU 2015-16 undergraduate scholarships by Dec. 5
More than a dozen undergraduate scholarships for the 2015-16 academic year are available from the Division of Student Affairs. Each has an application deadline of Friday, Dec. 5. Guidelines and application forms are online. Questions may directed to studentaffairs@iastate.edu or call 294-4420. The scholarships are:
- Minority Student Scholarships ($2,000 each), Four awards for African American, Native American and minority students
- Kappa Alpha Theta High Flyer Award ($10,000), Recognizes an outstanding female leader with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 who will be a senior in 2015-2016
- President’s Leadership Initiative Awards ($2,000 each), Eight awards that recognize student leadership
- Principal Financial Group Premiere Scholarship ($8,000) Recognizes a junior majoring in one of the following areas of study: computer science, finance, accounting, management, international business, business economics, management information systems, economics
- Sesquicentennial Leadership Award ($3,000), Recognizes a junior or senior (fall 2015) who has developed a significant, unique project
Buy tickets for 50th annual Madrigal Dinners on Dec. 1
The music and theatre department's 50th annual Madrigal Dinners will be held Jan. 16-17, 2015, in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Tickets go on sale Dec. 1 and may be ordered online through Midwestix, by phone (294-8349), mail (PDF) or at the Memorial Union ticket office in the M-Shop (11 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday). Tickets are $47 ($43 for ISU students and seniors), with other discounts for groups, ISU alumni association members and past Madrigal performers.
Five Cyclone statues to be auctioned Dec. 4
Five of the 30 Cy statues that are brightening community corners and byways will be auctioned Thursday, Dec. 4. The auction, part of the Ames Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event at the ISU Alumni Center, begins at 6:45 p.m. and is open to the public. Starting bids for each of the statues are $1,000.
Youth program training is Dec. 3
The offices of risk management, university counsel, extension and outreach and conference planning/management will hold a training session on Dec. 3 (1-3 p.m., 1155 Administrative Services Building) that targets departmental/unit employees who plan and supervise youth programs and administrative assistants who complete administrative tasks for youth programs. The training will provide the most current information on pre-collegiate and youth-related policies, procedures and forms that need to be completed to conduct youth programs at Iowa State. Those planning to attend are asked to send an email by Dec. 2 to the office of risk management.
Parking recommendations for Monday's Richard Dawkins lecture
Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins will give a presentation at Stephens Auditorium on Monday, Nov. 17 (8 p.m., doors open at 7:15 p.m. for general admission seating). Parking is available in the lots directly south of Stephens: A-1, A-2 and A-3. Parking for mobility-impaired guests is in the fire lane and lot F on the west side of Stephens. All other lots at the Iowa State Center are reserved for the Cyclone men's basketball game (8 p.m., Hilton).
Memorial service for Robert Dyas is Dec. 6
The memorial service for former Distinguished Professor Emeritus of landscape architecture Robert Dyas will be held Saturday, Dec. 6 (11 a.m., Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, Ames). Burial will be in the ISU cemetery. Dyas, 95, died Nov. 10 at Northcrest Health Care Center in Ames. He was an ISU faculty member from 1960 to 1989. Memorial contributions may be made to the Robert W. Dyas Internship at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, or either the Robert W. Dyas Scholarship in the College of Design or the Anderson-Dyas Prairie, ISU Research Farms, through the ISU Foundation.
Vote now for Academic Minute Listener’s Choice Award
Max Guyll, an associate professor of psychology, is a nominee for the 2014 Academic Minute Listener’s Choice Award. Guyll was featured in a November 2013 segment for his research on the psychology of false confessions. Click here (http://bit.ly/AM_ListenersChoice) to vote and listen to Guyll’s essay. The Academic Minute is broadcast on WAMC Northeast Public Radio and features researchers from colleges and universities around the world. A podcast is also available at www.wamc.org. Voting for the Listener’s Choice Award is open until Dec. 12.
TIER cases are focus of Friday regents meeting
The state Board of Regents will hold a telephonic meeting on Friday, Nov. 14 (2-3:30 p.m., orginating from the board's Urbandale office). The only agenda item (PDF) is discussion and an anticipated decision on eight administrative business cases proposed by the Deloitte consultants last month. A live audio stream of the meeting will be available on the board's website.
Catt Center announces 2015 Women Impacting ISU honorees
The 2015 Women Impacting ISU calendar features 12 women -- three students, five faculty and four staff members -- chosen by a selection committee based on their achievements in service, teaching, research, administration and various other campus activities. The 2015 calendar will be unveiled during a reception recognizing the 12 honorees on Jan. 14, 2015 (3:30-5 p.m., MU Sun Room). The reception is free and open to the public.
Reminder: Fulbright Scholar officer visits campus Nov. 13
Andy Reiss, assistant director of outreach and communication for the Council for International Exchange of Scholars, which administers the Fulbright Scholar Program, will visit campus on Thursday, Nov. 13, to talk with faculty from all disciplines about the program. No registration is needed. Reiss' schedule is as follows:
- 9-11 a.m. (repeated 1-3 p.m.), Presentation: Fulbright funding opportunities for faculty, MU Gold Room
- 3:10-4:30 p.m., Drop-in Q&A session, 3540 MU
Demolition prep work has begun at Davidson Hall
Work has begun to prepare Davidson Hall for demolition. Former Davidson tenants moved to Elings Hall last summer. Asbestos abatement on exterior windows, floor tile, pipe insulation, ceiling mastic and some roofing materials began Nov. 4 and will continue through December. Demolition of the building should begin in January and continue through April. Next summer, a utility tunnel under Osborn Drive will be removed.
Scholl Road section closed Nov. 12-13
On Wednesday-Thursday, Nov. 12-13, crews will add a layer of asphalt to the section of Scholl Road north and south of the railroad tracks. Scholl Road is the access road to the Applied Sciences Complex. The overlay is a temporary repair until permanent improvements can be made. Through traffic will be detoured to Minnesota Avenue (east of Scholl), Kingman Road and back to Scholl Road.
Nov. 20 hearing precedes regents' telephonic meeting
If you'd like to comment on any items scheduled for discussion at the state Board of Regents Dec. 3 telephonic meeting, you have several options:
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Attend one of six public hearings held at the regents institutions and board office Nov. 20-21. Iowa State's hearing is Thursday, Nov. 20 (6-7 p.m.), Memorial Union Oak Room). All public hearings will be video recorded and posted to the regents' hearings website. Transparency officer Shirley Knipfel will preside at the meeting.
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Provide written comments to regents transparency officer Sheila Doyle Koppin, sdoyle@iastate.edu.
Meeting materials and an agenda for the December meeting will be posted to the regents homepage by Nov. 18.
Giving Trees are up across campus
The YWCA Ames-ISU and the Faculty Senate are hosting the 15th annual GIving Tree program to support more than 100 area children in need of family services. The trees are located in:
- 103 Lab of Mechanics, Faculty Senate office
- Agronomy Hall Commons, near the main office
- College of Veterinary Medicine, large animal glass hallway
- Hamilton Hall, first floor open area by the doors
- LeBaron Hall, connecting breezeway to MacKay
To help a child in need:
- Select a tag from a tree
- Return the unwrapped items to one of the following locations by Dec. 3: 103 Lab of Mechanics, 2101 Agronomy, Vet Med tree (place gifts under the tree), 101 Hamilton or 306 MacKay
- Cash donations are accepted. Deliver cash or checks (made payable to the YWCA Ames-ISU) to the Y's office, C1102A Knapp-Storms Commons.
Contact Angela Merrick, 294-0043, or Sherri Angstrom, 294-9717, with questions.
Tickets go on sale Nov. 10 for spring Sam Hunt concert
Tickets are available beginning Monday, Nov. 10, for country singer Sam Hunt's March 29, 2015, performance at Iowa State (8 p.m., Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center). Tickets, $20 ($12 for students), are available at the MU 's Maintenance Shop box office (open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; 294-8349) or online through Midwestix (fees apply).
Be aware of phone scam
ISU Police and the Ames Police Department have received several reports of scam phone calls to students, their parents and other community members. The callers have posed as government, university and utility company officials and demand payment, threatening arrest for those failing to comply. These unsolicited calls are examples of phishing. Thieves claiming to represent legitimate agencies attempt to get personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims. As a reminder, please be vigilant about any unsolicited calls or emails. Do not release bank account or Social Security numbers, date of birth or any other information that could compromise your financial security or result in identity theft. If you are the victim of a phishing scam, contact local police and the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.
Supple lecture focuses on Pope Francis
Anne Clifford, the Msgr. James Supple Chair in Catholic Studies, will examine Pope Francis’s mission with attention to the significance of his name choice during the annual Supple lecture on Monday, Nov. 10 (7 p.m., MU Sun Room). When Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected pope of the Catholic Church in March 2013, he chose the name Francis in honor of Francis of Assisi, widely revered for his commitment to poverty, concern for the poor, peace-making efforts, and care for creatures.
Try free streaming videos through Nov. 21
In observance of National Distance Education Week (Nov. 10-14), University Library, in partnership with the streaming video vendor Kanopy, will host a virtual film festival featuring films from 16 film and educational documentary distributors. Kanopy has a large collection of videos available for streaming that are captioned, accesible and have transcripts. Faculty, staff and grad students are encouraged to try out the site (log in with your ISU Borrower ID and library password). Users can create their own account on the Kanopy system, which allows them to post reviews, create clips and more.
Student art displayed in Beardshear conference room
Perspective drawings of Beardshear Hall created by six College of Design students will be displayed in the provost's office conference room (1550 suite) through the remainder of the 2014-2015 academic year.
2015 benefits are topic of P&S Council outreach seminar
Jane Walter, assistant director of university human resources, will present an overview of Iowa State's 2015 benefits at the Professional and Scientific Council's outreach seminar, Nov. 11 (2-3 p.m., MU Campanile Room). The open forum also will be streamed live online. All are invited to attend.
Register now for Nov. 11 youth program training
The offices of risk management, university counsel, extension and outreach and conference planning/management will hold a training session on Nov. 11 (1-3 p.m., 1155 Administrative Services Building) that targets departmental/unit employees who plan and supervise youth programs and administrative assistants who complete administrative tasks for youth programs. The training will provide the most current information on pre-collegiate and youth-related policies, procedures and forms that need to be completed to conduct youth programs at Iowa State. Those planning to attend are asked to send an email by Nov. 10 to the office of risk management.
PeopleAdmin project: New electronic letter of intent rolls out in December
An electronic letter of intent (eLOI), developed in conjunction with the PeopleAdmin 7 project, will be implemented in early December. Each eLOI will be created with data from an approved hiring proposal for each faculty, P&S and merit position. The hiring department will use AccessPlus to generate the eLOI, finalize it, and route it for administrative approval. When the department extends a formal offer, an email will be sent to the finalist with instructions to log into AccessPlus to review and accept (or decline) the offer. The eLOI should help expedite the offer and acceptance process. Additional information, including training opportunities, is available online.
Search is on for campus gift guide ideas
The Inside Iowa State staff has begun its annual search for items and ideas to be included in our campus holiday gift guide on Dec. 4. Does your office (or department or student organization) sell something or provide a service that's gift-able -- and affordable for most of us? Send your suggestions to inside@iastate.edu. Don't forget to include important details like price, location or contact information, and relevant purchase deadlines.
Plagiarism prevention and detection tool available
Turnitin ("turn it in") is a comprehensive cloud-based plagiarism tool that helps students learn by facilitating personalized feedback. It is available at Iowa State as an integrated Blackboard tool. More information about Turnitin features and support options is available on CELT's website.
Holiday open house at gardens' gift shop is Nov. 8-9
Reiman Gardens gift shop's holiday open house will be held Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 8-9 (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day). The open house features holiday sales and samples of gourmet food items. The gift shop will have extended holiday hours (until 8 p.m.) on Thursdays in December. Admission to the gift shop is always free; members receive a 10 percent discount on purchases. All proceeds directly benefit Reiman Gardens.
Diabetic Education Club will hold first event Nov. 12
The Diabetic Education Club (DEC) is a new student club bringing diabetes awareness, education and support to ISU. The club is open to students, faculty, staff and community members. The club's first event is the Beat Diabetes Walk on Nov. 12 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Hoover/Howe skywalk. The short walk will begin inside the northeast door of Hoover (near the Marston Water Tower), cross the skywalk to Howe, and loop back to Hoover. Information about the prevention of type 2 diabetes will be available along the route as well as prize drawings and healthy snacks. There is no cost to participate and all are invited.
Faculty, staff: Remind students to complete Title IX online training
Faculty and staff are asked to remind students of a Nov. 21 deadline to complete federally mandated training, "Title IX Awareness and Violence Prevention." Title IX is a federal law that prohibits gender discrimination at schools that receive federal funding. The training educates students on preventing rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. ISU students had opportunities to complete the training earlier this fall and last spring; the goal is a 100 percent completion rate. Email reminders are being sent to academic advisers and students who haven't yet completed the training as part of spring semester registration. Student employees of the university are asked to complete a second training, "Unlawfull Harassment Prevention for Staff." Questions about either training component may be directed to ISU's Office of Equal Opportunity.
Arts and events
'Die Fledermaus' is a farce of mistaken identity, flirtation and a practical joke with unanticipated consequences. It opens Nov. 7 in Fisher Theater.
