Twelve projects with multi-year proposals received a second round of strategic plan funds for FY25. They are:
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Forging New Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, Volker Hegelheimer, English, $59,645 (FY24 funds: $78,476)
Organize a symposium for humanities and social sciences faculty on AI in the Humanities (March 2024) to explore directions for research and teaching curriculum. Efforts also include a faculty learning community and game competition for undergraduates. -
Project Management Support for Faculty Research, James Reecy, office of the vice president for research, $160,123 (FY24: $155,750)
Expand Iowa State's research project management infrastructure -- a full-time project manager and project management council -- to serve faculty leading large research projects. Develop best practices for all externally funded faculty. -
Catalyzing Innovative Research Teams to Address Critical Opportunities, Peter Dorhout, office of the vice president for research, $300,000 (FY24 funds: $300,000)
Use the Research and Innovation Roundtable model twice each academic year to assemble up to 10 team research projects and provide them seed grants as a process to grow external funding for research. -
Center for Student Educational Success, Sharron Evans, office of the dean of students, $257,587 (FY24: $253,088)
Create a center that focuses on helping first-generation and/or low-income undergraduates succeed and boost their retention and graduation rates. -
Delivering Individualized STEM Instruction at Scale, Ben Van Dusen, School of Education, $30,780 (FY24: $80,291)
Develop computer adaptive testing for introductory courses that provides real-time feedback on each student's understanding of core skills and need for additional instruction, ultimately to improve passing rates. -
Enabling Healthier Communities Through Data-enriched Decision Making, Erin Olson-Douglas, community and economic development, ISU Extension and Outreach, $353,292 (FY24: $281,945)
Enhance rural vitality by helping Iowa communities better use data to address their most pressing and unique challenges. -
Expanding Online Learning Across Iowa State's 99-county Campus, Constance Beecher, School of Education, $365,922 (FY24: $434,187)
In collaboration with Iowa State Online, research Iowans' preferences on virtual learning, technology and marketing to expand ISU Extension and Outreach's non-credit, nonformal offerings. Develop and pilot several modules for human sciences professionals. -
Launching the Next Generation of Manufacturing Research, Mike O'Donnell, Center for Industrial Research and Service, $138,488 (FY24: $215,900)
Grow applied research in manufacturing by linking faculty work to manufacturers' real needs, helping researchers manage portfolios of small projects and expanding opportunities for faculty to engage with industry. -
Maintaining High-quality Childcare Environments, Ed Holland, university human resources, $125,000 (FY24: $415,800)
Complete deferred maintenance projects in two campus child care centers to enhance the experiences of the children of faculty, staff and students. -
Student-focused Transformation of Testing Centers, Joel Hochstein, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, $80,000 (FY24: $550,000)
Renovate and equip the testing center in 0060 Carver Hall to improve safety and security; meet the testing needs of students who need accommodations; meet vendor standards to host entrance, professional, certification and licensure exams; and achieve certification with the National College Testing Association. -
Supporting Student Internships at Reiman Gardens, Sara Merritt, Reiman Gardens, $90,712 (FY24: $90,712)
Continue the gardens' two-decade-old student internship program (semester and summer) while it recovers from several years of lost revenue due to the pandemic. -
Supporting University Undergraduate Internships in the Ames National Laboratory, Theresa Windus, chemistry, $200,296 (FY24: $127,362)
Create student internships (in both operations and research) at Ames National Laboratory to expand the state and nation's energy sciences workforce and recruit top students to Iowa State.
