Announcements
September 2024
Nominations due Dec. 1 for three alumni association awards
Nominations are due Dec. 1 for three annual awards from the ISU Alumni Association. Questions may be directed to Katie Lickteig. The awards are:
- Faculty/Staff Inspiration Award (nominators must have been ISU students), recognizes an employee who had a significant impact on a student's professional or personal life while at Iowa State. This award may be given posthumously.
- Kansas City Cyclone of the Year (started in 2021), recognizes alumni and friends whose career achievements, volunteer involvement or philanthropic efforts positively impact the greater Kansas City and Iowa State communities.
- Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award, recognizes outstanding senior students (90+ credits) who display high character, achievements in academics and university/community activities, and promise for continuing these exemplary qualities as alumni. Seniors graduating this December are eligible.
Biotech anniversary celebration is Oct. 15
The Office of Biotechnology is celebrating 40 years of research support with a reception on Oct. 15 (4 p.m., Molecular Biology Building atrium). Network with colleagues from across campus and learn if you're a winner in the office's $10,000 giveaway of its facility services. Enter the drawing by submitting a testimonial by Oct. 9 for each biotech core facility used (up to nine submissions per person). Winners will be selected in a drawing at the reception; must be present to win.
Register by Oct. 17 for this month's research roundtable
Faculty from across campus -- applied and social scientists, humanists, engineers and Extension specialists alike -- are invited to explore big ideas that could grow into large interdisciplinary research initiatives at the vice president for research's next Research & Innovation Roundtable on Wednesday, Oct. 23 (9 a.m.-4 p.m., lunch is included). The topic is "Creating Circular Economies through Sustainability Innovations." Register by Oct. 17 (allow about 10 minutes to rank-order a set of questions that will help organizers with team building). The event will include:
- Facilitated breakout discussions with time to pitch project ideas
- Time to self-assemble teams
- Instructions for developing a Request for Proposal for initial funding
ISU to host educational technology conference
Iowa State will host the 2024 Educational Technology Collaborative annual conference on Oct. 1-4. The event is for audiovisual and information technology (IT) professionals, instructional designers, technology vendors, manufacturers and those in related fields that support higher education institutions. Participants network, share experiences across institutions, learn best practices in audiovisual and IT services on campus and engage in training and showcasing technology. More than 200 participants from the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom will take part at the Student Innovation Center, Memorial Union and Gateway Hotel and Conference Center over the four days. ISU previously hosted the conference in 1992.
Gray options added to employee workwear program
Effective Sept. 26, employees will be able to choose gray clothing options in the ISU employee workwear collection. This includes the ISU Book Store's employee workwear program and other university-licensed vendors who produce employee apparel.
Ice cream sale on central campus today
Members of the Dairy Science club are selling ice cream today (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) on central campus. Get a cup for $2 (cash only); flavors this week are strawberry, triple chocolate, KitKat, caramel brownie and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The ice cream is mixed by club members at the ISU Creamery, and the sale serves as a fundraiser for club activities throughout the year. Interested in having the club's ice cream for your event? Send an email.
Reception for former faculty member Harold Cowles is Oct. 2
A reception to honor the life of former faculty member Harold Cowles will be held Wednesday, Oct. 2 (2:30 p.m., Prairie Rose Room, Green Hills, 2205 Green Hills Dr.). Cowles, who was a member of the industrial and manufacturing systems engineering faculty for 41 years (1949-90) and promoted to Distinguished Professor, died July 12 in Colorado Springs at the age of 100 years. A private burial in the ISU cemetery will be held earlier that day. Obituary.
Garden playhouses are for sale
Reiman Gardens is selling eight of the outdoor playhouses featured in its current exhibit, Garden Playhouses. They range in price from $2,000 to $10,000, which does not includes any unattached decorations and furniture in a playhouse. Purchase inquiries are requested by Sept. 30, with two removal windows: Oct. 1-4 and Oct. 6-8, during business hours. Email srummery@iastate.edu for more information.
Families invited to join Campus 4-H, Clover Kids Club
A group of ISU parents formed the Campus 4-H and Clover Kids Club several years ago and, as the new 4-H year gets underway, invites other families to join. Clover Kids are in grades K-3 and 4-Hers are grades 4-12. The group meets on the first Sunday of the month (3-4 p.m., Extension 4-H Building), and visitors are welcome to try it out. Parents provide a fun learning environment for the kids, who complete activities together such as homemade ice cream and STEM experiments. Meetings also feature field trips such as to the sheep barn or Reiman Gardens. Members take projects and livestock to the Story County Fair in July; those who don't have livestock participate in categories such as visual arts and horticulture. Many of the current members do not live on farms, and all are welcome. Questions may be directed to club leader Cayla Taylor, Extension and Outreach.
'Smart Start' workshop for entrepreneurs is Oct. 12
The ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship is a co-host of a "Smart Start" workshop on Saturday, Oct. 12 (9 a.m.-4 p.m., ISU Research Park Core Facility) for anyone who considers starting a business. Participants will learn about topics such as insurance, intellectual property, business organization, registration and operations from local business professionals. This free workshop is open to the public, and registration is required. Half-day registration also is available.
Claim your membership with national faculty development center
Iowa State is an institutional member of ncfdd, an independent faculty development center dedicated to supporting academics' successful transitions throughout their careers. The institutional membership provides all faculty, staff, postdocs and graduate students complimentary access to the center's member resources. Claim your membership by going to Join | ncfdd to complete the registration process. Once you receive the welcome email from ncfdd, you can register for upcoming training offerings. Questions or comments about the membership can be directed to Katharine Hensley in the provost's office. Technical questions about your membership should be emailed to ncfdd, Help@NCFDD.org.
Discounted football tickets available to employees
Faculty and staff may purchase $35 tickets for the Sept. 21 Cyclone home football game with Jonesboro-based Arkansas State. Game time is 1 p.m. Tickets must be purchased prior to game day.
LeBaron demolition update
As part of ongoing demolition, the north section of LeBaron Hall will be disconnected from the LeBaron lobby (1009 conference room area) and second floor of the Human Nutritional Sciences Building (HNSB) Thursday-Friday, Sept. 19-20. The north wing of HNSB will not be accessible during this time.
Mental health expo is Sept. 24 at city hall
The Story County Mental Health Expo will be Tuesday, Sept. 24 (5-8 p.m., Ames City Hall auditorium). Admission is free. The expo includes a vendor fair with exhibits and opportunities for conversation with mental health providers in Story County, including campus resources for students and employees. Staff from various Iowa State departments (including student wellness, police and student assistance) helped plan the event. The evening will include food trucks, opportunities for mindfulness, self-care, artistic expression and a QPR suicide prevention training.
Check-in volunteers needed for student haircut days
Student health and wellness, in collaboration with ClipDart, is offering free haircuts for students several times this semester at Cyclone Support Central (Room 140, Parks Library). Students can schedule an appointment for Sept. 24, Oct. 8, Oct. 22 or Nov. 8 (10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily). Appointments are on a first-come, first-served basis, and walk-ins may be accommodated in the event of no-shows or cancellations. Volunteers are needed to help with student check-in each day. Each shift lasts an hour, including additional setup and cleanup shifts to start and end the event.
Your sign-on dashboard changed to Microsoft today
Financial aid conference for campus partners is Sept. 24
Staff in the office of student financial aid will hold their annual free Financial Aid Conference for Campus Partners on Tuesday, Sept. 24 (8 a.m.-noon, MU Great Hall and South Ballroom). The conference assists faculty and staff in their professional roles. Register online; questions may be directed to senior assistant director for financial aid Isaac Ehlers. The morning includes:
- Large group presentations: Financial aid changes, program of study and the impact on financial aid, makerspace overview
- Break-out sessions: Financial aid 101, advising connections, student employment, satisfactory academic progress/withdrawals/dropping courses
Spring honors seminar proposals due Oct. 1
The University Honors program invites proposals from experienced instructors at any level for an Honors seminar in spring 2025. Proposals, submitted via an online proposal form, are due Tuesday, Oct. 1. These one- or two-credit courses allow Honors students to examine topics of current or special interest. They are offered on a pass/fail basis, and enrollment typically is limited to 17 students. Honors allocates $500 per seminar for the professional development (e.g. professional subscriptions, membership fees, travel) of the instructor(s). More information is online.
Kids in child care? This survey is for you
United Way of Story County is conducting a community survey to collect data about parents' child care experiences. ISU employee parents of child care-aged children are asked to complete the six-question survey.
Voorhees Supply Chain Conference is Oct. 10
Registration is open through Oct. 2 for the annual Voorhees Supply Chain Conference on Thursday, Oct. 10 (10 a.m.-5 p.m., Gateway Conference Center), hosted by the department of supply chain management. Learn from industry leaders about managing teams in supply chains. Featured speakers include Kevin Dresser, head wrestling coach; Jeannie Frana, global process owner for Cargill Transportation and Logistics; and Coralie Voss, vice president of creative solutions at Grain Processing Corp., a subsidiary of KENT Corp. Four credits of continuing education are available.
Associate professors: Promotion workshop for you
ISU ADVANCE is hosting a workshop is for faculty seeking promotion from associate professor to professor (and the academic leaders and mentors who support them) on Thursday, Sept. 26 (2-3:30 p.m., 3560 Memorial Union). Learn when to seek promotion and how to execute a plan to demonstrate the excellence and impact of your work. Assistant provost for faculty success Tera Jordan will present and a panel of professors of varying backgrounds will share successful pathways for building a case for promotion. Participants will meet in groups to discuss college-level requirements and expectations. RSVP online.
EHS to host fire safety event Sept. 18
Environmental health and safety will host a fire safety event on Wednesday, Sept. 18 (9-11 a.m., south of Parks Library) as part of its campus fire safety month. Attendees can put out a simulated fire, learn additional fire safety tips and receive a free T-shirt (while supplies last).
Financial wellness workshops offered this fall for employees
Provided by ISU Extension and Outreach and university human resources, the Financial Wellness at Work workshops explore financial topics during a virtual session over the noon hour. Register for the free workshops at least 24 hours ahead of each session -- registrants will receive login information via email. Learn more about the workshop content on the ISU Extension and Outreach website.
Pumpkin-carving volunteers needed in early October
Reiman Gardens is recruiting volunteers to carve more than 1,000 pumpkins for its annual Spirits in the Gardens celebration which will be held Oct. 11-13 this year. On Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11, volunteers will clean, trace, carve and place pumpkins at Reiman Gardens. Volunteers receive a free ticket to Spirits in the Gardens for each shift they complete. Registration is required to volunteer; walk-ins can't be accommodated. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old.
Save the dates: Flu shot clinic is Oct. 7-18
ISU WellBeing and occupational medicine are offering the ISU employee flu vaccine clinic Oct. 7-18 in 1218 State Gym. The clinic, which is free to employees, will run weekdays (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) with no appointment or pre-registration necessary. Emplyees need to know/bring their ISU ID to receive the vaccine.
'Spirits in the Gardens' tickets are on sale
Reiman Gardens has begun selling timed-entry tickets for its three-day "Spirits in the Gardens" pre-Halloween celebration, being held Oct. 11-13 this year. Tickets are $16 ($14 for members and ISU students, $7 for all youth 2-12 years, free for infants) and can be purchased online. Each night features more than a thousand carved, lit jack-o-lanterns, and guests in costume are encouraged. Additionally:
- Friday (6-9 p.m.) includes a cash bar instead of candy
- Saturday/Sunday (5-9 p.m.) includes trick-or-treating, activities and chemistry experiments
Ivy Women in Business Awards ceremony is Oct. 2
The Ivy College of Business will present its seventh annual Ivy Women in Business Awards at a ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Alumni Center. The awards celebrate women in business and their champions. The event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the awards presentation at 6 p.m. RSVPs are requested by Sept. 25.
Faculty-staff workshop focuses on supporting all students
The Women's and Gender Studies Program is offering a workshop for faculty and staff, "The Changing Landscape of Identity: Understanding and Supporting Students of all Gender Identities and Sexual Orientations." It will be held Tuesday, Sept. 17 (3-5 p.m., 3580 Memorial Union) and led by educator, speaker and grassroots activist Robyn Ochs. Space is limited and registration is requested but not required.
As part of her campus visit, Ochs also will present two public lectures:
- All the Letters: Understanding LGBTQIA+ Identities and Experiences in 2024, Sept. 16 (6 p.m., MU Sun Room)
- Getting Bi: Challenging Biphobia and Bi Erasure and Creating a Culture of Inclusion, Sept. 18 (6 p.m., MU Sun Room)
Learn about new contracted travel agency on Sept. 10
Iowa State has a second contracted travel agency, Diversity Travel, so faculty, staff and graduate students may choose options that best meet their needs for domestic or international travel. Collegiate Travel Planners is the university's other contracted agency. More information about working with the two agencies is online. Procurement services will host a team from Diversity Travel Sept. 10 for on-campus demonstrations and information sessions. All are welcome to attend as their schedules allow; no registration is needed.
- 9-10 a.m., Information session: Study abroad trips and group travel, 0118 Horticulture Hall
- 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Open session: Working with Diversity Travel, reservation portal demonstrations will begin at 10:30 a.m. and noon, 2630 Memorial Union
- 1:30-2:30 p.m., Information session: Study abroad trips and group travel, 1105 Pearson Hall
Campanile anniversary celebration is Sept. 15
Iowa State's campanile and carillon turn 125 this year, and the milestone will be celebrated with an outdoor concert Sunday, Sept. 15 (2 p.m., campanile northeast lawn, reception follows in the Memorial Union Campanile Room). The event will include performances on the carillon and by the Iowa State Singers and ISU Brass Ensemble, and remarks from President Wendy Wintersteen. To help with planning, RSVPs are requested by Friday, Sept. 13.
After-school phys ed program for kids starts Sept. 10
The kinesiology department's after-school program, ISU KIN Kids, serves children ages 4-12 years on Tuesdays and Thursdays (4-5:30 p.m., Sept. 10-Nov. 21). The program is led by preservice teachers in the physical education teacher education program and provides indoor and outdoor physical education lessons. The program costs $90 for 11 weeks, and previously was known as ISU Swim and Gym (due to the decommissioning of Forker pool, swim lessons no longer are included). Contact program director Jenny Smith-Wittrock to receive the online registration document.
Beat Iowa by donating more to the campus pantry
The student alumni councils at Iowa State and the University of Iowa are sponsoring "Rival Against Hunger" Sept. 3-13, a friendly competition to see which campus community can collect the most canned food and hygiene items to donate to its respective on-campus food pantry. Iowa State donations will go to the SHOP in Beyer Hall. List of SHOP items needed (PDF). The winning university will be announced on social media after Sept. 13. Drop-off boxes are located at:
- Alumni Center: reception desk on second floor (during business hours)
- Parks Library: main level, along the railing between the central staircase pillar and the main desk
- Memorial Union: south atrium table near the bookstore; Sept. 3-6 only
Town & Gown announces chamber music series
The Ames Town & Gown Chamber Music Association's 75th anniversary season features five concerts (September, October, November, April, May) in various Ames venues. It opens Saturday, Sept. 28 (7:30 p.m., Tye Hall, Estes Music Building) with "Celebration in Song," featuring three winners of the Young Concert Artists International Vocal Competition. The program includes each of the three singers in art song, with the second half of the concert devoted to operatic arias, duos and trios. Season tickets are $150 on the association's website, single-event tickets are $35 (online, at the door or downtown Ames at Rieman Music and Chocolaterie Stam).
Healthcare panel to discuss consumer needs
Five healthcare executives working in Iowa will participate in a panel discussion, "Meeting the Needs of Today's Healthcare Consumer," on Wednesday, Sept. 18 (5:30-7 p.m., Cardinal Room, Memorial Union). The event is open to the public, but attendees should register to attend because seating is limited to 75 people. The event is hosted by the healthcare programs in the Ivy College of Business and the Iowa chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Suicide awareness flag exhibit returns to library lawn Sept. 13
Student Counseling Services will sponsor its third annual Field of Memories -- Be Aware, Show You Care flag exhibit on Friday, Sept. 13, (9 a.m.-3 p.m., Parks Library south lawn). The visual display represents the 1,100 U.S. college students who die by suicide each year. This event occurs in September, Suicide Awareness Month, across the United States to raise awareness about this often-stigmatized topic. ISU students, faculty and staff are invited to participate by personalizing a flag with a message of hope in honor of a life lost to suicide, or to encourage an individual who struggles with depression. Student Counseling Services staff will be present to provide support for those impacted by the exhibit.
