Student Announcements

January 2018

Apply now for undergraduate research presentation opportunities

All undergraduates conducting research are invited to apply to participate in two presentation opportunities this spring. Applications for both are due Thursday, Feb. 8. An information session for students will be held Thursday, Feb. 1 (3-4 p.m., 1151-1155 Jischke Honors Building). Questions may be directed to Svitlana Zbarska, University Honors program, 294-2064.

Student RUSH tickets for The Wizard of Oz

$20 student RUSH tickets for the Tuesday, Jan. 30, national tour performance of "The Wizard of Oz" are available now at the Stephens Auditorium ticket office (noon-6 p.m.). Purchase (one per ISU student) requires a current ISU ID card. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. in Stephens Auditorium.

Hort Club will hold cut flower sale

Members of the Horticulture Club will sell single-stem and bouquets of roses Feb. 12-14 (11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, Carver Hall). The club also is accepting rose and carnation online pre-orders through Jan. 31; those orders may be picked up during the same dates and times but in another location: near 033 Horticulture Hall.

Get a feel for Okta as an early adopter

The identity and access platform uses one secure login for multiple web-based programs and applications, such as Outlook 365.

Spring enrollment is third highest on record

There are 33,345 students enrolled at Iowa State this spring, 763 fewer than the record-setting spring semester 2017 and 314 fewer than spring 2016.

Green Dot exhibit encourages action

The reACT Gallery in Morrill Hall is hosting an exhibition about the Green Dot violence prevention program through Feb. 16. Faculty, staff and students are invited to visit the free show and participate in other related activities.

Four Vet Med dean finalists will visit campus in February

Four finalists in the College of Veterinary Medicine dean search will interview on campus in February. Each candidate's name will be shared publicly the day before his or her visit. Visit dates are: Feb. 1-2, Feb. 6-7, Feb. 12-13 and Feb. 19-20. Each candidate will meet with students, faculty and staff, and hold an open forum at the college. Updates will be shared on the provost's office search page.

Free comedy show at M-Shop Jan. 25

Comedian Jordan Rock, youngest sibling of comedian/actor Chris Rock, will perform a free comedy show on Jan. 25 (9 p.m., doors open at 8:30 p.m., MU Maintenance Shop). Rock appears on Netflix's "Take the 10" and "Love;" FX's "Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell;" and NBC's "Last Comic Standing, Gotham Comedy Live." For more information, visit the Student Union Board website or call the Student Activities Center, 294-8081. 

Call for proposals: Summer symposium on science communication

The program planning committee of the 6th Iowa State University Summer Symposium on Science Communication, hosted by the Science Communication Project, is accepting submissions through Jan. 29 for:

  • Individual abtracts that engage the symposium theme of: Understanding the role of trust and credibility in science communication 
  • Panel (up to 4 members) proposals focused on a unifying topic, content area, method, research question, etc. relevant to the theme

Contributions are welcome from relevant disciplines, including communication, rhetoric, human dimensions of natural resources, planning, science and technology studies, history and philosophy of science, psychology, sociology, design, as well as from scientists who have been involved in science communication and broader impact activities. 2018 symposium dates are June 7-9. Contact Dara Wald, Greenlee School, with questions.

W-2 forms available in AccessPlus

W-2 forms, an official, two-sided document valid for tax filing purposes, are available in AccessPlus. The payroll office encourages employees to print their W-2 from the website to save the university mailing costs. To access the electronic version, log into AccessPlus, select the Employee tab, then select "Payroll Info" in the left column. Turn off web browser pop-up blockers that may prevent the W-2 from opening. Employees who have not chosen the electronic copy of their W-2 by Jan. 24 will receive a paper copy via U.S. mail postmarked on Jan. 31. If you printed your 2016 W-2 from the electronic version and received an ISU paycheck in December 2017, your electronic preference from last year automatically carries over.

Meeting modern privacy needs is an ongoing focus in campus facilities

Nearly all campus buildings were built before spaces such as lactation rooms and gender-inclusive restrooms were considered, but the university's aim is to add them when possible.

Delicatessen opens in Memorial Union

Lance and Ellie's, ISU Dining's new deli venue, opened Wednesday in the MU food court. House-made and Iowa-sourced ingredients are used in the menu of sandwiches, wraps, salads, sides and desserts.

Farewell receptions for admissions' Kurt, Ralston

A farewell reception for Liz Kurt, director of New Student Programs in the office of admissions for 19 years, will be held Monday, Jan. 22 (10 a.m.-noon, MU Campanile Room). Kurt has accepted a position with conference planning and management at Iowa State.

A farewell reception for Kate Ralston, assistant director of admissions (research) will be held Friday, Jan. 26 (2-4 p.m., 311 Enrollment Services Center). Ralston has accepted a position with ACT.

Registration is open for library's spring workshops

University Library has posted its spring semester workshops. Most begin at 3 p.m. and last for 90 minutes. Registration opens 60 days prior to an event and is required.

Call for entries in student art exhibition

The Memorial Union has issued a call for entries for "Art Inspired," a juried exhibition of student art that will be shown Feb. 2-March 19. Students may enter up to three pieces in any media. The drop-off date for artwork is Tuesday, Jan. 30 (9 a.m.-1 p.m., MU Pioneer Room). Jurors Chris Vance and Charlotte Redmond, members of the Paintpushers visual artists group in the Des Moines area, will select around 40 pieces for the exhibit, as well as award winners: one Best of Show ($100), three Merit Awards ($75 each) and two Honorable Mentions ($25 each). Entry information is online.

Personal branding seminar for students is Feb. 3

The Event Management Club is holding its annual Collegiately Creative Personal Branding Seminar on Feb. 3 (10 a.m.-2 p.m., 0308 Elings Hall). Planned by students, the conference will feature a variety of guest speakers and break-out sessions. This year's theme is personal branding and making your mark on the professional world. Cost is $20 and includes a swag bag, T-shirt and boxed lunch. Register online

Beware of latest email phishing scam

A phishing scam targeting campus email addresses is hitting inboxes as a message from the IT service desk. The subject line starts with "Ticket:" and includes a code, and the message asks for user login information (ISU never will ask for login credentials via email). If you get such mail, forward it to abuse@iastate.edu as soon as possible and DON'T click any links or message content. Solution Center staff are available to answer your questions (294-4000 or solution@iastate.edu). IT staff also recommend this phishing email tutorial.

Student leaders sought for Destination Iowa State

New Student Programs is accepting applications for 2018 Destination Iowa State team leaders through Feb. 11. More information and an application form are available online. Team leaders play an important role in welcoming new students to Iowa State and preparing them for academic success. Faculty and staff are encouraged to personally contact students who would excel at being team leaders. Questions may be directed to Nicole Nicholson, or email or phone the office, 294-0801. 

Poster sale at MU runs Jan. 22-26

The Student Activities Center is hosting a poster sale Jan. 22-26 (9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, MU Cardinal Room). There are hundreds of posters to choose from, including art prints, movies, music and pop culture. Prices are generally $8-12. Proceeds from the sale support art programs at the Memorial Union.

Heads up: Chillers to be delivered by truck to north campus location

Two chillers will be delivered Jan. 15-17 to the north chilled water plant on Kooser Drive. A large crane will arrive onsite early Monday, Jan. 15, through parking lot 35. Two trucks each on Jan. 15 and Jan. 16 will bring in the main components of a chiller, and the electrical gear for the chillers will arrive on Jan. 17. Expect intermittent delays on Winlock Road while the trucks arrive and are unloaded. Morrill Road will remain open and provide access to this north area of campus. The new chillers will be operational this spring and increase the campus' cooling capacity by 30 percent to support new and future buildings.

Celebrate the life, service of Martin Luther King Jr. this month

A community birthday celebration, a campus conversation on freedom of expression and a lecture on the history of race in this country's criminal justice system are part of events to honor the civil rights activist on the 89th anniversary of his birth.

Cyclone Cinema resumes this weekend

The Student Union Board's free feature film series begins its spring run this weekend with eight showings of "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" (7 and 10 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, 101 Carver). Sunday showings include captions; concessions are sold nightly.

Team responds to bias incidents

About 50 bias incidents were reported to the campus climate response team during fall semester. Vandalism, such as unwanted messages posted on residence hall whiteboards, is a common offense.

Midyear cuts in governor's budget would be made permanent

Gov. Kim Reynolds' budget would take back $5.1 million in state support from the regents schools in the current budget year and make it permanent on July 1.  

Grawe named interim director of Study Abroad Center

Scott Grawe, associate dean for strategy and engagement in the Ivy College of Business, also will lead the Study Abroad Center through June.

University observes national King holiday

Iowa State classes will not meet and offices are closed Monday, Jan. 15, to observe the national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Tearoom reopens Jan. 25 for lunch, dinner

The Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom, 0023 MacKay, reopens Jan. 25 for spring semester. Lunch will be served Tuesday through Friday (11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m.) and dinner will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays (5:30-6:30 p.m.). Meals cost $7. Reservations are required; call 294-3330. 

Regents approve professional development assignments, four ISU project proposals

In a 9-0 vote without discussion, the state Board of Regents approved a consent agenda Jan. 9 that included 43 ISU faculty professional development proposals for the 2018-19 year and  four project proposals at Iowa State. The projects earlier cleared committee review at the board. They are: a home for the new Nanovacccine Institute on the fifth floor of the Advanced Teaching and Research Building, reconfiguration plans for the interior of the Hub, parking and lighting improvement plans adjacent to Hilton Coliseum and a new budget and expanded improvement plan for the recreation fields east of Willow residence hall.

Summer program seeks course proposals for high-ability students

The Office of Admissions Early Outreach (OPPTAG) seeks faculty, staff, graduate students and local teachers interested in teaching summer camp courses for talented and gifted students entering grades 3-11 next fall. The program seeks to add engaging new classes, particularly in the STEM fields, for students who do best in hands-on environments. Course proposals are due Jan. 19, with a decision shared by mid-February. Instructors are monetarily compensated for their time in the classroom. More information about wages and program dates is online. Questions may be directed to program coordinator Tricia Stouder.

Study Abroad Fair is Jan. 18

The spring Study Abroad Fair will be held Thursday, Jan. 18 (10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Learn about interning, studying and volunteering abroad in experiences ranging from one week to one year. Students can enter a drawing for a chance to win study-abroad scholarships.

Five questions for a liaison librarian

Liaison librarians such as Erin Thomas provide specialized research advice for faculty and students, but that's just a portion of their varied responsibilities.

New website will link users to inclusion info

All Iowa State inclusion information and resources will be accessible through a new website under construction. Its formal launch is slated for early next fall.

Rajala reappointed to Engineering dean post

Sarah Rajala, who has served as dean of the College of Engineering since April 2013, was reappointed last month to a five-year term.

Zipcar is the new car-sharing provider to campus

Iowa State has offered car sharing since 2011, but this month brings a new program to campus, Zipcar, a subsidiary of Avis. Employees and students may become members and lease a vehicle by the hour or day for personal use.

Regent approval expected on four university projects

The state Board of Regents will be asked to approve four ISU facility requests when it meets Jan. 9-10.

Call 294-5100 to report a facilities emergency

Members of the campus community are asked to call 294-5100 to report an emergency with a building or utility. This extension is answered 24/7. Non-emergency problems may be submitted online.