Announcements
December 2014
Walk safe this winter
That's the department of environmental health and safety's challenge to the university community as the season's snow and ice bring hazardous walking conditions to campus. Employee falls on snow or ice account for more than half of the university's workplace injuries during the winter months. Typical injuries include bruised and strained knees, strained backs, broken bones and head injuries. Check the Walk Safe This Winter website for information on how to: minimize your risks when walking on snow or ice, pack your car for winter travel, report problem sidewalks and more.
Save the date: P&S Council professional development conference
"Discover Your Treasure" during the full-day P&S Council professional development conference, sponsored by university human resources and the office of the senior vice president and provost. It's scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, in the Scheman Building, Iowa State Center. View more details and watch for registration on the conference webpage.
Holiday publication schedule for 'Inside Iowa State'
Inside Iowa State's final issue of the semester will publish on Dec. 18. There will be no issues on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, due to university holidays and the university's partial shutdown. Publication will resume on Thursday, Jan. 8.
Tickets on sale Dec. 19 for Gabriel Iglesias comedy show
Comedian Gabriel Iglesias will stop by Stephens Auditorium on Feb. 22, 2015, for a 7:30 p.m. comedy show, "Unity Through Laughter." Tickets, $33 to $68, are available at the Iowa State Center ticket office or through Ticketmaster beginning Dec. 19 at 10 a.m.
Mileage reimbursement rates go up on Jan. 1
For work-related travel expenses incurred on or after Jan. 1, 2015, the mileage reimbursement rate of 28 cents/mile will increase to 28.75 cents/mile. This rate, 50 percent of the full IRS rate, applies to trips of more than 100 miles if the traveler opts to use his or her personal vehicle when a Transportation Services vehicle is available.
The full IRS rate will increase from 56 cents/mile to 57.5 cents/mile and applies when:
- The round trip is 99 miles or less
- The round trip is 100 miles or more but the traveler is unable to reserve a Transportation Services vehicle
- The traveler is based off-campus permanently
- The traveler is not an ISU employee or student (including travel expenses reimbursed under professional service agreements)
- The combined airfare and mileage cost to any of three designated international airports (Kansas City, Minneapolis-St. Paul or Omaha) is less expensive than airfare and mileage from the Des Moines International Airport
Questions regarding the rate change may be directed to Bill Cahill, 294-5124, or Katie Wiegand, 294-1940.
Nominations due Feb. 1 for alumni association awards
The alumni association's board of directors seeks nominations for six awards that will be presented next October during Homecoming weekend. Nominations are due Feb. 1, 2015; award information, including nominations forms, is online. Questions may be directed to Julie Larson. The six awards are:
Reminder: Recycle phonebooks on Dec. 18
Boxes of unused phonebooks will be collected for recycling from building loading docks or similar outdoor locations on Thursday, Dec. 18. Look for the collection box in your building. 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.
More study space during Dead Week
Several classrooms will be open evenings this week (Dec. 8-12) providing addtional study space for students cramming for finals. These classrooms, each with about 30 seats, are available on a drop-in basis from 5:10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Carver 0002, 0004, 0008 and 0196
- Gilman 0611 and 1312
- Howe 1246
- Ross 0022, 0028, 0029 and 0031
Indoor practice facility at Veenker stays open all winter
The golf performance center at Veenker Memorial Golf Course will stay open five days a week (Tues-Sat) all winter. A winter membership (Jan. 15-March 15) costs $200, or you may pay on an hourly basis. Reservations are required; call 294-6727 to reserve time, just like a tee time.
Memorial service for Alison Morris is Dec. 13
A memorial service for associate professor of psychology Alison Morris will begin at noon on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Ames. Visitation begins that morning at 10 a.m., also at the funeral home. Morris died unexpectedly on Nov. 21 in Ames. Memorials are preferred to a scholarship fund honoring Morris' mother, Elizabeth Morris, at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. Obituary.
Wanted: Destination Iowa State team leaders
The New Student Programs office is seeking student team leaders for Destination Iowa State, Aug. 20-22, 2015. Destination Iowa State is an excellent way for current students to show their Cyclone pride, be part of a team, develop leadership skills and earn up to $250. Each team leader mentors a group of approximately 12-15 students throughout the Destination Iowa State experience. Two information sessions are planned for Jan. 27 (7 p.m., MU Gold Room) and Feb. 2 (7 p.m., MU Gallery Room). More information and the application are online; applications are due Friday, Feb. 6. Questions may be directed to Paige Johnsen, 294-6660.
Testing center seats will double for final exams
In response to student concerns, finals week testing center capacity has doubled, from 219 to 448 seats, including the addition of four testing centers. Students also have the option of taking online exams the weekend before finals week (Dec. 13-14). Beginning spring 2015, schedulers will match final exam times with the published exam time for each course. Exams will be scheduled for two-hour windows, which will eliminate lines during peak times.
Reiman Gardens hosts Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 13
Reiman Gardens will host two seatings of Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 13 (8:00 and 10:30 a.m.). Meet Santa, enjoy breakfast (eggs, bacon, pancake bar with toppings) and numerous activities, including holiday storytelling, mechanical organ music and ornament making. Children also may write a letter to Santa. Cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 1-12 years (children less than one year old are free). Admission is discounted $2 for members. Preregistration is required.
Black faculty/staff holiday celebration is Dec. 13
The ISU Black Faculty and Staff Association will hold its third annual holiday gathering on Saturday, Dec. 13 (6-9 p.m., home of Jeff and Peggy Johnson). Email RSVPs are requested by Dec. 11 to Audrey Kennis.
New employee wellness program is topic of Dec. 9 seminar
Stephanie Downs, university human resources, will talk about Iowa State's new employee wellness program at the Professional and Scientific Council seminar on Dec. 9 (2-3:30 p.m., MU Campanile Room). If you can't attend in person, view the seminar live online. Log in as a guest; no preregistration is required.
Class museum project on display in Morrill Hall
Students in the AMD 257 museums studies class created an exhibit that will be on display Dec. 5-16 in Morrill Hall's Mary Alice Gallery. The exhibit, "Mystery Solved! The Case of ISU Museums' Recent Acquisitions," explores items acquired by University Museums and the Textiles and Clothing Museum in the past five years, looking at donors, object design and educational use. The exhibit is free and open to the public on weekdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Biorenewables student poster symposium is Dec. 18
Undergraduate and graduate students in biorenewables-related activities this fall will hold a poster symposium on Thursday, Dec. 18 (2:15-4:15 p.m., Sukup Atrium, Biorenewables Complex). Graduate students either are "Leading the Bioeconomy" fellowship recipients or members of a biorenewable resources and technology research seminar (BRT 506C). Undergraduates enrolled in TSM 325, Biorenewable Systems, this fall. All are welcome; light refreshments will be available.
Take in comfort dogs next week
The Library is giving students a chance to take a cuddle break with comfort dogs during Dead Week. A mix of large and small breeds will be available for petting Dec. 8-12 (1-5 p.m., 192 Parks Library). All dogs are certified by Therapy Dog International (TDI) or Canine Good Citizen (CGC) from the American Kennel Club.
Adam Devine tickets go on sale Dec. 5
Tickets for a Feb. 27 performance by comedian Adam Devine in the MU Great Hall go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5, on Midwestix. Tickets are $20 ($12 for ISU students with valid I.D.) plus fees. Devine stars in the Comedy Central shows Workaholics and Adam Devine's House Party, and has a recurring guest role in ABC's Modern Family.
Dec. 4 Cyclone Club luncheon features Bill Fennelly
Join Cyclone broadcaster John Walters and ISU women's basketball head coach Bill Fennelly on Thursday, Dec. 4, as part of the Cyclone Club luncheons at the ISU Alumni Center. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., with a program from noon to 1 p.m. Lunch is available for $10, catered by the west Hy-Vee. Bring your questions for Coach Fennelly.
Volunteers sought for winter Science Bowl competitions
About 150 volunteers, both scientific and nonscientific, are sought for the 2015 Ames Laboratory/Iowa State University Science Bowl events. High School Science Bowl is Saturday, Jan. 24. Middle School Science Bowl is Saturday, Feb. 21. Volunteers serve as moderators, judges, timekeepers and scorekeepers. To learn more or to volunteer, contact Breehan Gerleman Lucchesi, Ames Lab public affairs, 294-9750.
Submit spring course reserves at library now
Instructors who wish to place required materials on reserve in the library for spring semester should submit requests now. Forms are online.
Register now for Project LEA/RN workshop Jan. 6-7
ISU's Project LEA/RN will sponsor a workshop, "Introduction to Learning-centered Clases and Meetings,' on Jan. 6-7, 2015 (9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, 2622 Lagomarcino). Discover new things about human learning, share insights about the brain based on current research, engage in strategies that promote interaction and deep thinking, and learn how to apply all this to situations where you facilitate learning. Enrollment is free but limited to 20 educators; RSVP to Project LEA/RN associate director Jan Wiersema.
