Announcements
February 2013
Annual Staniforth lecture is March 5
Frank Forcella, a research agronomist with the USDA-ARS North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory in Morris, Minn., will present the agronomy department's 24th annual David Staniforth Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, March 5 (4:10-5 p.m., 2050 Agronomy). The title of his talk is "Weeds, Crops and Health." Forcella also is an adjunct professor in both the agronomy and plant genetics department at the University of Minnesota, Morris; and the plant science department at South Dakota State University, Brookings. A reception in the Agronomy commons will follow his talk.
Veenker golf course to hold open house March 3
A "Bring on Spring" open house will be held at Veenker Memorial Golf Course on Sunday, March 3 (1-4 p.m.). The event will feature door prizes, refreshments and an opportunity to meet Greg Dingel, Veenker's new golf professional. Prize drawings will be held every half hour and the club house gift shop will offer merchandise discounts to season pass holders.
Shoe drive planned for March 4 women's hoops finale
The Iowa State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will host a shoe drive at the March 4 Cyclone women’s basketball game. Fans are encouraged to place new or used shoes in boxes located at the Hilton Coliseum entrances. All shoes will be donated to Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization which will distribute the shoes in the U.S. and overseas. Collection boxes also will be located in the Jacobson Athletics Building lobby through mid-March.
Ames snow ordinance in effect at 5 p.m. Feb. 26
The City of Ames Snow Ordinance is expected to go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26. The ordinance is operational when 2 inches of snow has fallen on major Ames streets. Vehicles parked along snow routes (marked by red and white signs) must be moved or they will be ticketed and towed. Drivers should move vehicles 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 remains in effect until streets are completely plowed from curb to curb, AND it has stopped snowing.
Register now for EH&S Safety Summit, March 15
Environmental Health and Safety is holding a safety summit (PDF) March 15 (7:45-9 a.m., Environmental Health and Safety Services Building, 2809 Daley Dr.) for all employees. Learn how severe weather or a lab fire can impact your research. Register online (click on "Training;" log in to Learning Center; click on "Schedule" under My Menu; go to March 15 and select "EH&S Safety Summit").
Regents seek member from the public for task force
The state Board of Regents is soliciting nominees from the public to serve on a task force that will study transparency and openness at Iowa's regent schools. The board created the task force at its Feb. 6 meeting and expects to approve its membership at its March 13 meeting in Ames. One member must represent the public. Nominations should be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 6. Members of the public are invited to submit their names, contact information and a brief summary (20 words or less) of why they're interested in serving on the task force. Nominations should be sent to board policy and operations officer Ann McCarthy, or via the regents' website.
Security measures for nitric acid use to be lifted
Effective Feb. 28, security measures in place since 2011 for purchasing and using nitric acid in campus laboratories will be lifted. ISU's environmental health and safety department has completed the process of reclassifying the campus with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, making the 2011 measures unnecessary. However, the university is required to keep campus quantities of nitric acid and other "chemicals of interest" (PDF) below regulatory levels to avoid security measures in the future. Researchers who need to increase their quantities of nitric acid or other chemicals on the list are asked to contact Ryan Wyllie at EH&S, 4-4092, to ensure that the university stays in compliance. Researchers also are reminded to submit their chemical inventory to EH&S annually.
Faculty, staff volunteers sought for Veishea events
Senior vice president for student affairs Tom Hill invites faculty and staff from across the university to volunteer at Veishea events on April 19-21. Volunteer opportunities include assisting students at Live@Veishea and serving at the midnight pancake feed. Sign up online by March 18. For more information, contact Keith Robinder in the Dean of Students Office.
Ames snow ordinance should go into effect about 5 p.m. Feb. 21
Library workshop targets grad students
Parks Library's spring workshop series opens March 8 with an event for graduate students: "Everything You Need to Know About the Library" (3-4:30 p.m., 134 Parks Library). Find out who your subject librarian is and library services that can strengthen your research and writing. Registration is required.
Registration opens for STEM careers conference for girls
Registration is open for three April conferences during which girls explore career options in the science, technology, engineering an math-related fields. "Taking the Road Less Traveled" is sponsored by the Program for Women in Science and Engineering; registration costs $8 and includes lunch and conference materials. The April 11 conference is for girls in grades 9-12; conferences on April 18 and April 25 target girls in grades 6-8. Questions may be directed to Carol Heaverlo, 4-5883, or Katie Gibson, 4-5319.
Employee wellness: "Tools for Weight Management," Feb. 22
Faculty and staff are invited to "Tools for Weight Managment," presented by FSHN 480 students, on Feb. 22 (noon, 192 Parks Library). No registration required; feel free to bring your lunch.
University faculty and staff award nominations due Feb. 20
Final nominations for University awards given annually to outstanding faculty and staff must be submitted online to the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost by Feb. 20. Earlier deadlines may be required for colleges and unit submissions. Award descriptions, criteria and nomination instructions are online.
Seats still available for Miranda Lambert/Dierks Bentley
Country music performers Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley bring their "Locked and Reloaded Tour" to Hilton Coliseum this Thursday (Feb. 21) for a 7:30 p.m. show, and tickets still are available. Purchase tickets through Ticketmaster.
Nominations for Live Green Sustainability Award extended
If you know faculty, staff or students who are making an impact on campus sustainability efforts, consider nominating them for the Live Green Awards for Excellence in Sustainability. The awards will be presented at the Symposium on Sustainability, Feb. 25-26 in the Memorial Union. Nomination forms and supporting materials were due by 5 p.m. Feb. 15. However, if you need more time to complete a nomination, contact Merry Rankin, mrankin@iastate.edu, to request an extension. The forms and details on the award are on the symposium website.
Enrollment deadline for LTC insurance extended to Feb. 28
Genworth Financial has extended the enrollment deadline for long-term care (LTC) insurance to Feb. 28. Eligible Iowa State employees under age 66 may enroll with no underwriting (guaranteed acceptance) through Feb. 28. Streamlined underwriting for qualifying spouses also is available during this time. This is a limited-time offer, and will not be available each year. After Feb. 28, benefits eligible employees and family members still may apply but underwriting will be required.
Upcoming LTC informational webinars:
Feb. 13, 10 a.m. (live webinar)
Meeting number: 712 498 452
Meeting password: LAF55gltc
Feb. 19, noon (live webinar)
Meeting number: 717 937 177
Meeting password: LAF55gltc
Teleconference: (866) 692-3158 (participant code is 760167)
Feb. 21, 2 p.m. (live webinar)
Meeting number: 714 101 244
Meeting password: LAF55gltc
Teleconference (866) 692-3158 (participant code is 7660167)
Contact Genworth Financial online (group ID is ISU; access code is groupltc) or call (800) 416-3624 with questions about LTC insurance.
Nominations sought for Margaret Sloss Gender Equity Awards
Nominations for the Margaret Sloss Gender Equity Awards (MSGEA) are being accepted through Feb. 28. The MSGEA ceremony is planned for March 26 (3:30-5 p.m., MU Campanile Room). More information is available on the Dean of Students website.
Franke will present Rossmann Manatt lecture on Feb. 22
Warren Franke, professor of kinesiology and director of ISU's Exercise Clinic, will give the annual Rossmann Manatt lecture on Feb. 22 (1:10 p.m., MU Gallery). In "Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Public Safety Personnel: Is It the Job or the Doughnuts?" Franke will discuss his research on how environmental factors may increase the chance for cardiovascular disease and other chronic health issues in law enforcement officers. The Rossmann Manatt Award recognizes a tenured faculty member in the College of Human Sciences who has demonstrated exceptional creativity and productivity in scholarship, teaching and service and who shows great promise for continuing such achievement.
It's a Troxel Hall mockup
If you work on the east side of campus, you may have noticed a small structure in the southwest corner of the Troxel Hall construction site. It's a mockup of the building and includes all the exterior components (brick, window systems, air and vapor barriers, flashings, caulking, etc.). These components have been installed by the subcontractors that will perform the work on Troxel Hall. Constructing a mockup lets the construction team confirm proper installation techniques, assure proper interfaces between the construction materials and see the final appearance of the exterior shell before the actual work is done on Troxel Hall. The goal is to identify potential issues and assure a high-quality finished product. The mockup will be removed at the conclusion of the project.
Volunteers needed for State Science and Technology Fair
The State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa and the FFA Agriscience Fair are seeking volunteers with a background in science, engineering or technology to judge junior high and high school research projects on April 5 at Hilton Coliseum. A total of 350 junior high and 100 high school judges are needed (all-day shifts preferred; half-day also appreciated). Online training will be provided prior to April 5. To become a judge, complete the online registration form. Contact Vicki Speake, 4-5738, with questions.
Feb. 8 Supply chain lecture POSTPONED
A seminar by Ted Stank, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, scheduled for Feb. 8 (9-10:30 a.m., MU Gold Room) has been postponed. Mr. Stank is ill. His presentation will be rescheduled.
Registration is open for March 1 ISCORE
Iowa State students, faculty and staff are invited to the 14th annual Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE) to be held March 1 in the Memorial Union. ISCORE is a comprehensive forum on issues of race and ethnicity at Iowa State and beyond. Daniel Robinson, professor in the School of Education, will provide the morning address, and Nancy (Rusty) Barcelo, president of Northern New Mexico College in El Rito, will provide the noon keynote presentation. Online registration is available.
Healthy volunteers sought for nutrition counseling
Sally Barclay, ISU Nutrition Clinic for Employee Wellness, is seeking volunteers to work with senior-level dietetics students during spring semester. Volunteers cannot have health concerns such as hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol. Volunteers must meet with an assigned student three times during the semester. The student will evaluate your eating habits and help you set specific and reasonable goals to improve your eating patterns. If you'd like to participate, contact Sally Barclay.
Wind turbine completes first month of production
In its first full month of operation, the campus wind turbine provided 9,300 kWhr of renewable energy to the university during January. That's a little more electricity than was used by the Jischke Building during the same month.
Panel: Professional women balance career and family
Professional women will share their stories of handling the pressure of balancing a career and family during a panel discussion, "I Wish Someone Had Told Me That," Feb. 18 (2-3:30 p.m., 368A Heady). The intended audience includes graduate students, post docs and young professionals. Panel members are Jennifer Roback Morse, founder and president of the Ruth Institute, San Marcos, Calif; Kristen Constant, Wilkinson Professor of Interdisciplinary Engineering and chair of ISU's materials science and engineering department; and Alexia Campbell Hoffman, postdoctoral research associate in ISU's biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology department. University Professor in economics Peter Orazem will facilitate the discussion.
