Announcements
March 2017
Regents: Presidential search will be open
Schmittmann reappointed as LAS dean
Beate Schmittmann, hired in 2012, received her second five-year appointment as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
More gold awards for campus green achievements
Iowa State receives gold certifications from a higher education association and for sustainability qualities at Sukup and Elings halls.
Be alert when the thunder rolls
Revamped ISU employment site is mobile friendly
University human resources has launched a new mobile-friendly applicant website for job seekers. The new site allows applicants to view and apply for open positions from a mobile device. It also features streamlined navigation and clear, focused content (easier for mobile navigation). The new website is intended to help ISU attract and retain larger pools of qualified and diverse candidates, supporting the ISU Strategic Plan.
Forever True week
The Iowa State University Foundation is celebrating the historic $1.1 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign, Forever True, for Iowa State, on campus next week (April 3-7). Visit ForeverTrueWeek for more information about activities and prizes for students, faculty and staff.
Osborn lane closed Saturday for crane removal
On Saturday, April 1, the tower crane at the Bessey Hall construction site will be disassembled. The eastbound lane of Osborn Drive will be closed all day to accommodate the trucks, trailers and equipment required to remove the crane.
Regents meet Monday to vote on interim president
The state Board of Regents will meet via telelphone on Monday, March 27 (9 a.m., board office in Urbandale) to accept the resignation of President Steven Leath and vote on the appointment of an interim president. As proposed, Leath's resignation would take effect on May 8 and the interim president's appointment on May 9. The board also is scheduled to authorize its executiive director, Robert Donley, to initiate a presidential search, including selecting a search firm, appointing a search committee and developing a search timeline. Audio of the meeting will be livestreamed on the board's website. The meeting's sole agenda item is online.
Training for youth program leaders is April 6
The offices of Risk Management, Extension and Outreach, and Conference Planning and Management will offer training that provides youth program leaders, administrators and student organization officers information regarding youth-related policies, procedures and forms for successfully conducting youth programs at ISU. The two-hour training session is for anyone responsible for planning and supervising youth programs or providing administrative support for one. It will be offered 2-4 p.m. on April 6 (1020 4-H Extension Building) and May 10 (1155 Administrative Services Building). Preregistration is required; send an email to orm@iastate.edu at least 2 days before the session you wish to attend.
President Leath takes top job at Auburn
Having completed five years as Iowa State president in January, Leath said he expects to leave Ames by June 2.
Suchan tapped as interim registrar
Jennifer Suchan, ISU's senior associate registrar since 2015, stepped in as interim registrar on Monday. A search for the next registrar will be conducted this fall.
No. 1 graduate program
Iowa State's program in agricultural and biosystems engineering jumped one spot to No. 1 in the country, according to this year's rankings of university graduate programs released March 14 by U.S. News and World Report.
Tribute planned for former dean of students
The student affairs division will host a tribute to celebrate the life and work of former dean of students Pamela Anthony on Tuesday, March 28 (4 p.m., MU Sun Room). The program includes music, a video presentation and remarks from coworkers, students and friends, and will be followed by a reception. Anthony, who served as dean from 2012 to 2016, died Jan. 17 in Dallas, where she was vice president for student affairs at Southern Methodist University. The event is open to the university community and will be streamed live online. Send tributes to studentaffairs@iastate.edu, or use #PDAtribute on social media posts.
Learn about Iowa history at mobile museum
The State Historical Museum of Iowa's mobile museum (a 38-foot, custom-built Winnebago) will be parked outside Parks Library on March 27 (3-5 p.m.) and March 28-31 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.). Faculty, staff and students are welcome to take free tours of the exhibition "Iowa History 101," which features about 50 artifacts from the State Historical Society's collection. Additional information is on the University Library website.
Childcare assistance still available for student parents
ISU Child Care and Family Resources still has four CAP (Childcare Assistance Program) scholarships for undergraduate student parents for the current academic year. The scholarships help cover child care expenses for children not yet enrolled in kindergarten. Guidelines and application information are online. Questions may be emailed to ccfamily@iastate.edu, or call 294-3149.
Lawnmower service days are March 31-April 1
Members of the Agriculture Systems Technology Club will hold their annual lawnmower service days on Friday, March 31 (1-6 p.m.) and Saturday, April 1 (8 a.m.-3 p.m.), west side of Sukup Hall. This is a routine maintenance service; club members won't do repairs. Cost is $35 (riding mower $50, weed eater $15). Pick up and delivery for Ames-only addresses is an additional $15 ($20 for riding mowers); call 515-708-8672 or send an email by 2 p.m. March 30 to request pick up.
Learning communities honor their peer mentors
The Learning Communities program will serve a come-and-go breakfast on Wednesday, March 29 (7:30-9:30 a.m.), for the 600+ peer mentors who make Iowa State's program a leader in higher education. Peer mentors, upperclassmen from the major associated with the learning community they help guide, are invited to register for prizes and grab some breakfast in their home college location:
- AGLS: Agronomy Hall, second floor commons
- Business: 1301 Gerdin
- Design: 88 Design
- Engineering: Howe Hall atrium
- Human Sciences: 1009 LeBaron
- LAS: Troxel Hall atrium
Incentive competition event planned for March 31-April 1
The ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship and the ISU Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative are sponsoring the first ISU Innovation Prize, a free incentive competition open to students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. The competition will be held March 31 and April 1 at ISU's Economic Development Core Facility, 1805 Collaboration Place, at the south end of the research park. Participants will develop innovative solutions in two focus areas:
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AgTech: How do we increase productivity of the global agricultural system with less negative impact on land, energy, water and Mother Earth?
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EdTech: How do we design and reinvent learning for a better experience (quality and value) in an age of accelerating technology?
Theatre program moves to third Carver
Over spring break the theatre program, faculty and staff moved from the second floor of Pearson to the third floor of Carver. The theatre main office is in 310 Carver. Faculty and staff office phone numbers are unchanged.
Lecture: ISU's 1890s football controversy
In the 1890s, Iowa State's football team so dominated opponents that the school was accused of fielding a team of hired semi-professionals instead of student-athletes. This controversy and the early years of Iowa State football under legendary coach "Pop" Warner is the topic of an Ames Historical Society lecture by Douglas Biggs, University of Nebraska-Kearney history professor. The March 28 talk begins at 7 p.m. in the Ames Public Library auditorium.
Demo to begin at student innovation center site
Crews are installing the construction fence this week around the future site of the Student Innovation Center north of Hoover Hall. Throughout the 34-month span of the project, there will be an east-west sidewalk to move pedestrians through or around the project; signage will alert pedestrians to its location as the walk is relocated. Up first at the site: the demolition of the Nuclear Engineering Laboratory and the southeast wing of Sweeney Hall.
Theater program is on the move
Beginning Monday, March 13, the theater program will be relocating from the second floor of Pearson to the third floor of Carver. There will be some interruptions in service early in the week, but faculty and staff expect to be operational in their new locations when classes resume on March 20.
Nursing degree gets senate approval
A bachelor's of science in nursing and a higher transfer GPA requirement were among the items passed at the March 7 Faculty Senate meeting. A proposal to raise the undergraduate communication proficiency grade requirement was introduced and will be voted on next month.
The best storage on campus
There are many reasons to keep your university work on the CyBox cloud. Unlimited free storage. Access from all kinds of devices. Easy document sharing. Secure space that meets FERPA and HIPPA standards.
Reminder: Faculty research event is March 21
ISU Faculty Research Day, an afternoon hosted by the office of the vice president for research and dedicated to celebrating research accomplishments and exchanging ideas around the interdisciplinary grand challenge research ideas, will be held Tuesday, March 21 (1-5:30 p.m., MU Great Hall). Scholars from all disciplines are welcome; register online.
Learn about W.M. Keck Foundation's funding priorities
Donna Van Pelt, ISU Foundation senior director of development, will outline the W.M. Keck Foundation’s funding criteria and application process for research programs on March 28 (3:30 p.m., 3150 Beardshear). The presentation will be followed by a discussion and questions. The office of the vice president for research currently is accepting pre-proposals for this limited submission funding opportunity. Questions may be directed to Van Pelt, 294-1280.
Submit proposals for Focus Grants by April 3
Student artists, writers and performers may apply for Focus Grants up to $600 to fund creative projects done outside the classroom. Past projects have included visual art, poetry readings, dance, drama, music, chap books and apparel design. More information, including rules and the application process, is available online. Applications are due by April 3.
Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 12
Daylight saving time returns at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 12. Clocks should be turned forward one hour.
Tickets required for free concert by U.S. Navy Band
The United States Navy Concert Band, the premier wind ensemble of the U.S. Navy, will perform in Stephens Auditorium on Thursday, March 30 (7:30 p.m.), as part of its national tour. Due to sponsor support, the concert is free, but tickets are required. Tickets may be picked up on campus at the Stephens box office, the Memorial Union information desk and the music department office, 149 Music. Tickets also are available at these Ames sponsor locations: Alpha Copies and Fast Signs, Aureon, Chocolaterie Stam, First National Bank and Wilson Toyota.
Honors program seeks award nominations
The University Honors Program seeks nominations for outstanding Honors teaching, advising or mentoring. Two awards of $500 will be given for general excellence in teaching or advising Honors students. Anyone who has taught or mentored in the Honors program may apply. Recipients will be recognized April 26 at the University Honors Program convocation. Send nominations and optional supporting materials to 2130 Jischke by 5 p.m. Friday, March 24.
Iowa State must trim another $1 million
Operational savings will come from the same four categories used to cut $8 million last month.
Collaborative study examines new student onboarding
A task force charged by the student and academic affairs divisions is studying "onboarding" procedures that help new students make a successful transition to ISU, from student admission through the first year of study.
Newton tapped to lead ISU Police
Michael Newton, who has served in the University of Wisconsin, Madison, police department since 1998, has been named chief of police and vice president in university services. His appointment begins April 3.
