Announcements
November 2017
Search opens for School of Education director
Applications are being accepted in the search for the School of Education's next director, with a targeted closing date on Feb. 2, 2018. Atlanta-based Parker Executive Search is assisting with the national search. Finalists are expected to be on campus in March, with a new director in place in July. Current director Marlene Strathe will retire when the successful candidate is on board.
Project LEA/RN Workshop scheduled for Jan. 3-4
ISU's Project LEA/RN will host a workshop for educators on Jan. 3-4, 2018 (9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily). Up to 20 participants will share insights about the brain based on current research and its implications, engage in strategies that promote interaction and deep thinking, and apply their new understandings in the situations where they facilitate learning. The strategies and concepts are directly applicable to classes, orientation sessions, extension meetings or any other learning situations. To enroll, or for more information, email associate director Jan Wiersema. Materials and lunch are provided at no cost to participants.
Parks Library helps students prepare for finals
In a continued effort to help students prepare for finals, Parks Library will be open 24/7 Dec. 3-15 to allow students a quiet place to study. For those who need extra stress relief, the ever-popular Barks@Parks will take place in the library's upper rotunda (follow the paw prints) on Dec. 4, 6 and 8 (1-5 p.m.); Dec. 5 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Dec. 7 (10 a.m.-noon). In addition, Student Wellness is sponsoring other stress-relief activities, such as color pages, games and chair massages.
Study spaces opened for Dead Week
Ten classrooms will be set aside as evening study spaces during Dead Week. The spaces, which seat about 30 each, will be available to students on a drop-in basis Dec. 4-8 (5:10-11 p.m. daily). Room locations are:
- Black Engineering: 1028
- Carver Hall: 0160, 0282
- Pearson Hall: 3131, 3137, 3149
- Ross Hall: 0026, 0028, 0029
- Town Engineering: 0230
Volunteers needed for The SHOP food pantry Dec. 5-7
Faculty and staff volunteers are needed to staff The SHOP student-run food pantry during Dead Week. One-hour shifts are available from Dec. 5-7. Sign up online.
Forums scheduled for learning communities director finalists
Open forums are planned for three finalists identified in the search for a learning communities director. The position provides leadership and administration for all learning communities initiatives. Candidate résumés and evaluation forms are available on the student affairs website.
Each open forum will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Memorial Union's Soults Family Visitor Center on the following dates:
- Nov. 29, Shanna Fountain, Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines
- Nov. 30, Julie Yankey, Drake University, Des Moines
- Dec. 1, Jennifer Leptien, Iowa State
Spring course materials are due now to ISU Book Store
Faculty are reminded that spring course material orders are due now to the ISU Book Store. They should submit textbook and supply requirements for course(s) to their designated department coordinator. Departments without a designee should email their orders to course materials buyer Katelyn Engh at the bookstore. Spring adoptions impact the store's fall book buyback, which starts Dec. 7.
Training for youth program leaders is Dec. 5
The offices of Risk Management, Extension and Outreach, and Conference Planning and Management will offer training on Dec. 5 (2-4 p.m., Administrative Services Building, conference room 1155) 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 training is for anyone responsible for planning and supervising youth programs or providing administrative support for one. Preregistration is required; send an email to orm@iastate.edu by Dec. 3.
Fall Honors poster presentation is Dec. 6
The University Honors Program invites the campus community to its fall 2017 poster presentation on Wednesday, Dec. 6 (3-5 p.m., MU Great Hall). The event will feature the projects of fall Honors graduates and other Honors students, who will speak about their projects and answer questions.
Cain to lead university services and finance divisions
Pam Elliott Cain, associate vice president for finance, has been named interim senior vice president for university services, effective Nov. 17, and interim chief financial officer as of Dec. 15. The appointments fill vacancies left by the resignations of Kate Gregory and Miles Lackey, respectively. Lackey will continue serving as chief of staff through Dec. 31. Cain's appointments are pending state Board of Regents approval.
Break hours at the library begin Nov. 17
Parks Library will close at 5 p.m. beginning Friday, Nov. 17, during the fall break. The library will be closed Nov. 18-19 and 23-25. Regular library hours resume Sunday, Nov. 26.
Nov. 30 campus conversation to focus on suicide
The next campus conversation, "Break the Silence," will be held Thursday, Nov. 30 (3:30-5:30 p.m., 198 Parks Library). Students, staff and faculty are welcome for a joint presentation on suicide awareness and prevention from staff members in ISU police, student counseling and student wellness, followed by small group discussions.
Gold Star training for faculty and staff is Nov. 28
ISU faculty and staff are invited to learn tips and strategies aimed at serving student veterans, miliary personnel and their families at the next Gold Star training session Nov. 28 (1-2 p.m., MU Gallery). Registration is available online.
Reminder: Benefits open change period ends Nov. 17
Merit employees selecting ISU Plan benefits for the first time and faculty, P&S and nonsupervisory confidential staff members wanting to change their benefits elections for 2018 must do so by 5 p.m., Nov. 17. Contact the UHR service center, 294-4800, with questions.
Campus town hall event is Nov. 9
A panel of senior ISU administrators will respond to questions from students during a campus town hall event Nov. 9 (5:30-7 p.m., MU Great Hall). Topics could include: campus climate and Principles of Community, tuition and fees, student health and safety, facilities and infrastructure, classrooms and residence halls. The event will be livestreamed.
Office of the VP for research updates its website
The office of the vice president for research has updated its website. The user-friendly design offers researchers a different way to navigate and search for resources provided by the office and its service units, as well as information about training and development. Resources and contacts are provided for potential industry partners with additional information about centers, institutes and initiatives. An interactive timeline allows users to see the history of innovation at Iowa State. Contact vpr@iastate.edu with any questions.
Tailgate with University Library on Nov. 11
University Library is hosting a tailgate on Nov. 11, prior to the Cyclones football game against Oklahoma State (9 a.m., Tent 4, Iowa State Center parking lots). Enjoy food, drinks, giveaways and a pop-up exhibition of some important pieces of Iowa State and Cyclone sports memorabilia.
Construction crane returns to west side of library
Work continues on the Parks Library roof. Beginning Nov. 10, workers will set up a crane along the west side of the building. The street will be blocked off and vehicle traffic will be prohibited beyond the Snedecor/Atanasoff parking lot. The sidewalk west of the building also will be closed. Library patrons should enter and exit the building through the front doors. More information is online.
Funeral service for emeritus professor Peter Reilly is Nov. 11
A Mass of Christian Burial for Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering emeritus Peter Reilly will be held on Saturday, Nov. 11 (11 a.m., St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 2210 Lincoln Way). A visitation will be held Nov. 10 (4-6 p.m., also at the church). Reilly died Nov. 2 of cancer at age 78 years. He was a member of the chemical engineering faculty from 1974 until his retirement in 2014. Memorials may be directed to the Peter Reilly AIOFA (Ames International Orchestra Festival Association) Fund through the ISU Foundation, or to the Bliss Cancer Center or MGMC Hospice, both through the Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation. Obituary.
Volunteers welcome for Nov. 12 compost install
The Engineers for a Sustainable World student club welcomes volunteers to help them with a landscaping project Sunday, Nov. 12, outside Town Engineering (noon-5 p.m.). They'll spread compost from the Iowa State composting facility and add a layer of mulch. Volunteers should bring friends and a willingness to get dirty; tools, gloves, music and free Jimmy John's food will be provided. Questions may be directed to project leader Carissa Moyna; registration is requested.
Free comedy show at M-Shop Nov. 8
Comedian Anthony DeVito will perform at the Memorial Union's Maintenance Shop on Nov. 8 (9 p.m., doors open at 8:30 p.m.). Admission is free and open to the public. DeVito has appeared on several television shows, including CBS' "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Comedy Central's "Adam Devine's House Party" and TV Land's "The Jim Gaffigan Show."
Grad students compete in Three Minute Thesis competition Nov. 6
The second annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for graduate students is Nov. 6 (preliminary heats are 3:15-4:15 p.m., Carver and Pearson; finals are 5 p.m., 2200 Marston). Students have three minutes to explain their research in language understood by a non-specialist audience with the use of only one PowerPoint slide. The events are open to the public, and the final round will be live streamed. Faculty and staff will judge the preliminary rounds. Judges for the final round are Nancy Boettger, state Board of Regents; Ann Campbell, Ames mayor; and Kathie Obradovich, political columnist for the Des Moines Register.
"Cry for Help" campus screening is Nov. 7
"Cry for Help," a 2009 documentary exploring teenage mental illness and suicide, will screen on campus Tuesday, Nov. 7 (7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m., MU Gallery). The film follows the efforts of two high schools to identify adolescents at risk -- one after losing four students in less than a year. Through a first-person account, "Cry for Help" also examines the sometimes difficult transition from high school to college. A panel discussion featuring ISU students and staff will follow the screening.
P&S award nominations due Dec. 1
Nominations are being accepted for awards recognizing professional and scientific staff who performed above and beyond the call of duty; did something extraordinarily well; or made a difference in the institution. The nominated work must have happened within the past two years (from date of submission). Nomination forms for the individual P&S CYtation Awards, P&S Team Award, Woodin CYtation Award and the Outstanding New P&S Council Member CYtation Award are available online and due by Dec. 1.
TIAA webinar addresses lifetime income stream
TIAA's Benny Goodman will present a webinar on Nov. 7 (3 p.m.) on how to turn a portion of a TIAA retirement plan into a lifetime income stream for you and your spouse/partner. He also will answer questions. Access the webinar online. A recording of the webinar will be available for 15 days following the live event. To access the recording, email Ann Doty and she will provide you with a link.
Norton to speak on the public classroom at faculty workshop
University counsel Michael Norton will lead a faculty workshop, The "Public Classroom," on Friday, Nov. 17 (2:30-4 p.m., MU Campanile Room). Norton will review the current environment and its implications for freedom of speech and academic freedom. All faculty are welcome; register via Learn@ISU. The event is hosted by the office of the senior vice president and provost.
Final Leopold Center listening session scheduled for Nov. 15
A visioning task force for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture will hold the last of five visioning sessions on Wednesday, Nov. 15 (5:30 p.m., 104 Wilder Business Center, Northeast Iowa Community College, Calmar). It's open to the public and attendees are invited to share ideas on how the center could move forward after losing its state funding during the 2017 Legislative session.
Don't throw your jack-o'-lantern in the trash, please
Through Nov. 10, the city of Ames will have a drop-off bin on the north side of its Resource Recovery Plant for decaying pumpkins, gourds and harvest vegetables. The plant converts garbage to fuel for the city's power plant, but garbage with high moisture -- such as pumpkins -- diminishes the quality of the fuel. The plant is located at 110 Center Ave., just off East Lincoln Way.
Daylight saving time ends this weekend
Just a reminder: Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. Turn your clocks back one hour before turning in Saturday night.
ISCORE proposals due Nov. 17
The annual Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE) will be held March 2, 2018, in the Memorial Union. A preconference for faculty and staff is Feb. 28 (11:45 a.m.-5 p.m.). Planners are accepting proposals for presentations on race and ethnicity through Friday, Nov. 17. Notices of acceptance will by sent by Friday, Dec. 15.
Last chance: Campus climate survey closes Tuesday night
Employees and students are asked to share their thoughts and experiences on the campus climate at Iowa State through an anonymous, online survey. All responses are confidential. Plan 20-30 minutes to complete the survey; it must be done in one sitting. The survey will be available through Tuesday, Nov. 7. Those who complete the survey may enter to win one of 10 $50 gift cards. Outcomes of the university's 2004 campus climate survey included a multicultural student center, university-level diversity committee, ombuds office and training on techniques for improving diversity in search processes.
