Announcements
November 2012
CAC funds available for innovative info technology projects
The Computation Advisory Committee expects to commit approximately $400,000 toward information technology projects that broadly enhance student computing and instruction. Student involvement in the development of project proposals is strongly encouraged. Proposals must be:
- Submitted to administrative units (colleges, etc.) by Feb. 14
- Forwarded electronically from administrative units to CAC (admin-cac@iastate.edu) by Feb. 28
For details, download the call for proposals (PDF) from the CAC website. Direct questions to Eliot Winer, CAC chair or Lynette Sherer, administrative liaison.
Book drive for local children runs through Dec. 7
America Reads/America Counts is holding a book drive for area school-age children who cannot afford their own books. Well-loved books for all elementary ages, grades and reading levels are welcome. Drop off your donations by Dec. 7 at 0640 Beardshear Hall. Contact ARAC with questions.
2013 benefit confirmation statements now available
2013 benefit confirmation statements for non-supervisory merit employees and ISU Plan participants are available on AccessPlus. Each employee should review the statement to make sure the information is correct. If the statement is correct, do nothing. If changes are necessary, follow the instructions at the top of the benefit statement. All changes must be submitted to the benefits office, 3810 Beardshear Hall, before 5 p.m. on Dec. 7. Final benefit statements will be available Jan. 11, 2013. Contact human resources services, 4-4800, with questions.
Osborn Club lecture is Dec. 10
Ulrike Passe, professor and director of the Center for Building Energy Research, College of Design, will present "Designing Energy Efficient Buildings: The Low Hanging Fruit -- So Hard to Reach" at the next public Osborn Club lecture on Dec. 10 (7 p.m., following club member dinner, 1420 Molecular Biology). Visit the club's website for more information.
Reiman Gardens open late on Thursdays through December
Reiman Gardens will be open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays through Dec. 27 for visitors to shop at the gift store and see the holiday display in the conservatory, Santa’s Workshop. Admission after 4:30 p.m. is free. The Butterfly Wing still closes at 4:30 p.m.
Destination Iowa State seeks team leaders
Know a student who would make a great leader? Encourage him or her to be a team leader during Destination Iowa State, Aug. 22-24, 2013. This 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 will lead and mentor a group of approximately 15 new students through the Destination Iowa State experience. More information and an application are online. Applications are due Friday, Feb. 8. Contact Kasie Von Haden, 4-6660, for more information.
Dec. 6 faculty roundtable looks at performance as a public act
Faculty members Debra Marquart (English), Jane Cox (theater), Gregory Oaks (music) and Theresa Paschke (integrated studio arts) will participate in a roundtable discussion about performance as a process from conception to its entrance into the public sphere. Their talk will be Dec. 6 (4:10-5:30 p.m., MU Gold Room) and all are invited. Artistic endeavors today can make broad and important public statements, as well as be highly individualized and personal. This panel seeks to dissect this process, its resonance in public and its complexities in our visual, hyper-informational world.
Faculty: Reserve course materials now for spring semester
Instructors who wish to place required materials on reserve for spring semester at Parks Library should submit requests now. Forms are available online.
Reminder: Register for Financial Aid Mini-Conference by Dec. 7
The Office of Student Financial Aid will host its 15th annual Financial Aid Mini-Conference for faculty and staff on Friday, Dec. 7 (8-11:30 a.m.). The conference will offer information on financial aid policies, procedures, program changes and also address current hot topics (reducing student debt, unique student situations and satisfactory academic progress). Online registration and more information is available online.
Get tickets now for "Breakfast at the North Pole" event
Reiman Gardens is hosting "Breakfast at the North Pole" Dec. 8 (two seatings available at 9 and 11 a.m.). In addition to a hearty breakfast, guests can make a tasty treat and create an ornament. Kids will enjoy storytelling, face painting and singing. Tickets, $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 1 to 12 (adult members, $10; youth members, $6), must be purchased in advance by Dec. 5. Call 4-2710 or register online.
Madrigal Dinner tickets go on sale Dec. 3
Tickets for Iowa State's 48th annual Madrigal Dinner (Jan. 18-19, 2013) go on sale at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 3. The price is $42 ($38 for ISU students and groups of 10 or more) and tickets are available by phone (4-8349), in person at the Memorial Union ticket office (11 a.m.-5 p.m.), or online (3 percent convenience charge applies). This music and theater department-sponsored event includes dinner and pageantry reminiscent of 16th-century England.
Noel Shepley dies in weekend accident
Noel Shepley, a staff member in facilities planning and management, died Nov. 24 in a tractor rollover accident in rural Cambridge. Shepley, 42, an FPM plumber, had worked at Iowa State since 1996. Visitation will be held 5-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at Cornerstone Church, Ames. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, also at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Noel Shepley Memorial Fund. Bacon Funeral Home, Nevada, is handling arrangements.
Rec Services will sponsor Alaska sea kayaking trip in June
The Outdoor Recreation Program will sponsor a one-week Sea Kayaking in Alaska trip June 20-27, 2013. The price is $1,798 for those with a Rec Services pass; $1,999 for others, and includes airfare, motels, food, kayak rental and more. For more information or to register, contact Jerry Rupert, 4-4774, or the Outdoor Recreation Program office, 4-8200.
UCC morning preschool has spring openings
The morning preschool program at University Community Childcare has spring semester openings for 3- to 5-year-old children. UCC's early childhood education program is accredited with the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and uses The Creative Curriculum for preschool. A sliding fee scale is available for qualified families. For more information, call 4-9838 or send an email.
Volunteers sought for winter Science Bowl competitions
About 150 volunteers, both scientific and nonscientific, are sought for the 2013 Ames Laboratory/Iowa State University Science Bowl events. High School Science Bowl is Saturday, Jan. 26, in Howe, Hoover and Black Engineering halls. Middle School Science Bowl is Saturday, Feb. 23, in Hach, Spedding, Gilman and TASF halls. Volunteers serve as moderators, judges, timekeepers and scorekeepers. To learn more or to volunteer, contact Breehan Gerleman Lucchesi, Ames Lab public affairs, 4-9750.
CELT seeks associate director for new online learning post
The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching has created a new position, associate director for online learning, and is conducting an internal search to fill it. This is a 0.5 FTE, three-year term appointment with a proposed start date of Jan. 1, 2013. Required qualifications include: Tenured ISU faculty member; experience in online teaching; solid record in teaching, research and service; and strong interpersonal and communication skills. More information is on this ISU jobs site.
Classes recessed during Thanksgiving week
Iowa State classes will not meet Nov. 19-23 for the Thanksgiving break. University offices will be closed Nov. 22-23.
Faculty, staff offered Nov. 25 wrestling ticket discount
The athletics department is offering faculty/staff half-price tickets ($5) for the Nov. 25 wrestling match (1 p.m., Hilton Coliseum). The season-opening dual vs. Old Dominion is one of five home matches this year. Faculty and staff must present their ISUCards or the emailed offer to receive the discount. The Hilton ticket office will open at noon.
Register by Nov. 20 for fan bus to Iowa City
The athletics department is sponsoring a fan bus to Iowa City on Thursday, Dec. 6, for the 7:30 p.m. women's basketball game between the Cyclones and Hawkeyes. The cost is $30 per person and includes transportation, game ticket and a box lunch. The bus will leave Ames at 4 p.m. and return following the game. Register by Nov. 20 by faxing (4-0104) the order form (PDF) or delivering it to the athletics marketing department in the Jacobson Building. For more information, call 4-3558.
STEM town hall talk is Nov. 16
A Nov. 16 town hall meeting will serve as a conversation about science, technology, engineering and math education, and economic development (1-2:30 p.m., Garden Room, Reiman Gardens). Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen will participate in the event. The Ames conversation is one of a series of statewide public events seeking feedback on priorities for the governor's STEM initiative.
November employee wellness activities
Check out the following free employee wellness events in November. No rec pass is required.
- Yoga, Nov. 13 (5:30-6:20 p.m., 1218 State Gym)
- Updated date, time and location: "Dance Out Diabetes," Nov. 28 (5:15-6:30 p.m., 198 Forker). Led by ISU Ballroom Dancing Club and HS 380 students. Feel free to bring a partner (does not have to be from ISU).
Reminder: Benefits open change period ends Nov. 16
Non-supervisory merit employees and ISU Plan participants who wish to change their benefits elections for 2013 must do so by 5 p.m., Nov. 16. If you have questions, contact human resource services at 4-4800.
Auditions are Nov. 11-15 for 'The Vagina Monologues'
In conjunction with V-Day on Feb. 14, 2013, the Margaret Sloss Women's Center will hold a benefit production of Eve Ensler's play, The Vagina Monologues. Auditions will be held Nov. 11 (6-9 p.m.), Nov. 14 (5-7 p.m.) and Nov. 15 (7:30-9:30 p.m.), all at the Sloss House. No acting experience is necessary. All proceeds will benefit the ACCESS shelter in Ames and the V-Day Spotlight Campaign. Questions may be directed to Blair Gershenson, 4-4154.
Open forum on employee wellness is Nov. 13
An open forum to help evaluate employee wellness opportunities will be held Nov. 13 in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room (11 a.m.-noon). Representatives from ISU human resource services and Sibson Consulting will be collecting input on health and wellness initiatives for employees, one of the priorities mentioned in president Steven Leath's inauguration address.
Large surplus auction is Nov. 17
All kinds of Iowa State surplus items will be sold at an auction, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. The auction at the ISU Surplus store, 1102 Southern Hills Dr., will include small items as well as furniture, office, cafeteria and janitorial equipment. Included in the auction are:
- Computer equipment, including complete working units
- Bookcases
- 100+ chairs
- Wet-dry vacs and vacuum sweepers, carpet and floor scrubbers
- Microwave ovens and smoothie station
- Serving pans, utensils, bowls, carts and trays
- Dining chairs and tables
See PDF flyer for more information.
Giving Tree expands to five locations this year
The YWCA Ames-ISU, Faculty Senate and the Ames school district are hosting the 13th annual Giving Tree Nov. 9-28 to support more than 100 local children. Five Giving Trees across campus are decorated with tags that contain the children's special wishes. To participate, remove a tag from a tree, purchase that item and return it (unwrapped) to: 103 Lab of Mechanics, 2101 Agronomy, Vet Med Small Animal Hospital desk, 101 Hamilton or 306 MacKay by Nov. 28. Cash donations also are welcome in the YWCA office, 210 Lab of Mechanics. Checks should be payable to the YWCA Ames-ISU. Receipts are available when requested. The Business college also is sponsoring a food drive for families represented on the Giving Trees. The trees are in these campus locations:
- 103 Lab of Mechanics (Faculty Senate office)
- Commons outside 2101 Agronomy
- Glass hallway, Vet Med Large Animal Hospital
- First floor foyer, Hamilton Hall
- Breezeway connecting LeBaron and MacKay halls
For more information, contact Angela Merrick, 4-0043; or Sherri Angstrom, 4-9717.
Reiminder: MLK Award nominations are due Nov. 15
Students, faculty/staff and campus organizations that have demonstrated commitment to the principles and goals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., are encouraged to apply for the Advancing One Community Award. Recipients have worked to create an inclusive multicultural community or systemic change to reduce injustice and inequity at Iowa State University. Nominations should include: a nomination letter (2 pages or less), up to three letters of support and a resume/CV for an individual award or a description of the organization for a group award. Eligibility details are online. Send nominations to Melinda Thach by Nov. 15.
Seminar series focuses on energy policy
The energy policy platform of the Iowa NSF EPSCoR is hosting a seminar series this year, the first two of which are this fall. Nick Paulson, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, will speak Nov. 29 (3-4:15 p.m., 0013 Curtiss) on conducting economic research to impact policy decisions. Marc Rosen, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, will speak Dec. 6 (3:40-5 p.m., 0013 Curtiss) on energy sustainability and the roles of bioenergy. Seminars are free; no registration is required.
Comfort Zone offers childcare for mildly ill children
The Comfort Zone, licensed child care for children (infants through fifth graders) who are mildly ill or recovering from health problems, is accepting registrations (all children must be preregistered) from faculty, staff and student parents. The Comfort Zone, located north of campus, is staffed with a registered nurse and professional child care staff member, and open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mild illnesses include things such as ear infections, colds, flu, pneumonia, strep throat and recovery from minor surgery such as a tonsillectomy. The services are offered in half-day blocks and fees are on a sliding scale according to family income. To request a registration form, email the Comfort Zone.
Reminder: Webcast for ISU Plan participants is Nov. 8
Human resource services is hosting a live webcast on Nov. 8 (9-10 a.m.) for ISU Plan participants who want to learn about benefits changes for 2013. An archived replay of the webcast will be available on the benefits website. To participate in the live webcast, click here and select "Enter as Guest." The ISU Open Plan change period ends Nov. 16.
STEM community conversation is Nov. 16
The North Central STEM Hub at Iowa State will host a STEM community conversation Nov. 16 (1-2:30 p.m., Garden Room, Reiman Gardens). All parents, grandparents, educators, business and civic leaders, legislators and other Iowans are invited to attend this town hall-style meeting, intended to foster STEM relationships between local businesses, the regional STEM network, area schools and the university. It's also designed to seek feedback from Iowans about priorities for the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
Workshop offers training on assessing predatory attacks on livestock
ISU alumnus Carter Niemeyer, who is retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will lead a training workshop on distinguishing among predators in attacks on livestock on Nov. 15 (4-6 p.m., E164 Lagomarcino). The workshop is free but registration is requested by emailing Andrew Stephenson in the natural resource and ecology management department. Niemeyer, the author of a memoir titled Wolfer, also will present an NREM department seminar on Nov. 16 (3:10 p.m., E164 Lagomarcino) about monitoring and managing wolf populations in today's political climate. Both events are open to the campus community.
Sanchez will present next Osborn Club lecture
Assistant professor of physics and astronomy Mayly Sanchez will present the next Osborn Club Lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 14 (7 p.m., Ames Moose Lodge, North Highway 69 adjacent to the Oaks Golf Course). Her talk is titled "Measuring the elusive: All you need to know about catching neutrinos in the Midwest," and will focus on a series of experiments based at the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermilab in suburban Chicago and directed toward northern Minnesota. The lecture portion of the monthly Osborn Club gathering is free and open to the public.
Duffelmeyer Reading Improvement Clinic accepting applications
The School of Education provides reading tutoring for students in 1st through 12th grades who have difficulties learning to read, write and spell. There is an emphasis on developmental instruction and positive learning experiences. A progress report with recommendations is provided after tutoring. Spring tutoring dates are Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 5 through April 18 (5:15- 6:30 p.m., Lagomarcino Hall). Apply online or contact Marissa Vermeer for more information.
P&S award nominations due Dec. 1
Nominations are now being accepted for awards recognizing professional and scientific staff who performed above and beyond the call of duty within the last year. In addition to individual P&S CYtation Awards, a P&S Team Award has been introduced this year to acknowledge groups that have made a significant contriubtion. The nomination deadline is Dec. 1.
Food drive for the SHOP runs Nov. 5-19
The Fellowship of Athletic Training Club is holding a canned food drive Nov. 5-19 to benefit the SHOP (Students Helping Our Peers), an on-campus student food pantry. Items may be dropped off in the atrium of the Jacobson Athletic Building and in the Lied Recreation Center lobby (near the front desk).
