Announcements
July 2015
MU's art-lending open house is Aug. 4-5
The Memorial Union will host its annual art lending open house Aug. 4-5 (10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday) in the browsing library on the first floor. The collection includes nearly 175 framed posters, prints and paintings, including a number of new pieces for 2015. Pieces may be rented for a half or full year and be used in an office or home. Patrons may take selections from the art-for-rent collection with them that day. Rentals typically range from $10 to $25 per year. Proceeds from rentals support art programs at the MU.
Lunch and learn with transportation services
Transportation Services is offering Thursday lunch-and-learn training sessions for its customers on two topics. These one-hour sessions begin at noon in transportation services' dispatch office on Haber Road. Feel free to bring your lunch. The topics are:
- Navigating through the Agile Fleet Commander system, helpful for anyone who uses the online vehicle reservation system frequently. Learn how to make and change reservations, and acquire some tips and tricks for navigating the new system more easily. This session also includes basic information about how departments receive their billing information. Offered: Aug. 13 and Sept. 10.
- Servicing your ISU Vehicle, for departments with yearly or seasonal vehicle rentals. This provides an overview of the preventative maintenance that transportation services provides and who to call when a university vehicle is not running properly. Offered: Aug. 20 and Sept. 17.
Attendance is limited to 10 people per session. To register, contact Kathy Wellik, 294-1657.
Two volunteers sought for state fair exhibit
University marketing has just two volunteer spots still available at its Iowa State Fair exhibit. Volunteers are needed on Aug. 14 and 20 (8:45 a.m.-3 p.m. or 2:45-9 p.m.) to either apply temporary tattoos or roll and distribute athletic posters. Volunteers receive at no cost a specially designed T-shirt, full-day admission to the fair and vehicle parking. View available volunteer slots and sign up online. Questions may be directed to Catherine Hayes in the office of university marketing, 294-3969.
Federal TRIO funding renewed for student support services
Student Support Services has received federal TRIO funding through 2020. The five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education totals $1.65 million. Student Support Services annually serves about 250 students who need extra help to succeed at the university level. That assistance includes individual academic advising and personal counseling, financial aid counseling, tutoring, mentoring, instruction in reading, writing and mathematics, career or graduate education evaluation, and a program that helps first-year students develop non-cognitive skills and transition to college. Federal rules require that students served are either a first-generation college student, low income-eligible student or student with a disability.
Iowa State participates in two other federal TRIO programs, Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound, which have different funding cycles.
Some mail lost in semi fire; postal service alerting affected units
Some Iowa State mail surely was on a Des Moines-bound U.S. Postal Service semi that burst into flames on I-35 late Tuesday afternoon. Contents of the semi were a complete loss. Robert Tott, manager of ISU postal and parcel service, said he is calling representatives of approximately 25 campus units whose mail was picked up in the afternoon to alert them of the loss.
Almost all mail that arrives at postal and parcel service is metered, with postage costs billed back to the departments. Tott used that information to determine whose mail was on the afternoon delivery. He notes there's no way to track already stamped mail, but postal and parcel services doesn't receive much of that. Tott said mail that was picked up Tuesday morning should be safely on its way.
Stoplight arms to be installed Thursday night at Stange/13th
Crews will be working from 7 p.m. Thursday (July 23) to 7 a.m. Friday to install the new traffic signal arms and remove the current signal poles at the intersection of Stange Road and 13th Street on the north side of campus. During this time, the outer lane in all directions will be closed; inside lanes will remain open to traffic. Drivers are asked to be aware of stop-and-go traffic because 4-way stop signs will be used during the switchout.
Salary slips are available in AccessPlus
Iowa State employees may retrieve their FY16 salary slips in AccessPlus (under the Employee tab, select "e-Salary Slip" in the left column). Salary slips will not be provided in paper form. The new fiscal year began July 1. Questions regarding new salaries should be directed to an employee's supervisor.
Fall semester reserve at Parks Library
Instructors who wish to place required materials for fall semester on reserve at Parks Library should submit requests now. Forms (online or printable) are available online.
Tickets for Stephens series events go on sale July 20
Tickets for single events in the 2015-16 Performing Arts Series at Stephens Auditorium go on sale Monday, July 20. The 15-performance series kicks off Sept. 30 with comedians drawn from the Last Comic Standing television competition and concludes April 19-20 with two performances by the multi-media musical trio, Blue Man Group. The Iowa State Center ticket office in Stephens is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets also may be purchased via Ticketmaster, online (surcharges apply) or by phone, 1-800-745-3000.
July 31 hearing precedes regents' telephonic meeting
If you'd like to comment on any items scheduled for discussion at the state Board of Regents Aug. 5 telephonic meeting, you have several options:
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Attend one of six public hearings held at the regents institutions and board office July 30-31. Iowa State's hearing is Friday, July 31 (4-5 p.m.), Oak Room,
Memorial Union. All public hearings will be video recorded and posted to the regents' hearings website. Transparency officer Shirley Knipfel will preside at the meeting. -
Provide written comments to regents transparency officer Josh Lehman, jlehman@iastate.edu.
Meeting materials and an agenda for the August meeting will be posted to the regents homepage by July 28.
Wallace Road reopens
Wallace Road, in the vicinity of Gerdin and East halls, was scheduled to reopen to east-west traffic on Friday, July 10.
cyBUY vendor fair is July 21
The purchasing department will host a cyBUY vendor fair on Tuesday, July 21 (1-4 p.m., MU Great Hall). Several dozen cyBUY vendors will participate to answer questions, showcase new products and present the options outlined in the cyBUY catalog. All university employees are welcome. Refreshments will be provided and vendors will have raffle prizes and giveaways.
Lanes closed at Stange and 13th through Wednesday
The city of Ames is advising drivers to avoid the Stange Road/13th Street intersection through Wednesday afternoon, if possible. East- and westbound traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction. Northbound traffic on Stange also is a single lane. As part of a project to replace the traffic lights at the intersection, crews also are replacing curbing and sidewalk ramps to the street, necessitating the lane closures Tuesday and Wednesday.
Eight volunteer slots open for state fair exhibit
University marketing has eight volunteer spots still available at its Iowa State Fair exhibit. Volunteers are needed on Aug. 16, 19, 21 and 23 (8:45 a.m.-3 p.m. or 2:45-9 p.m.) to either apply temporary tattoos or roll and distribute athletic posters. Volunteers receive at no cost a specially designed T-shirt, full-day admission to the fair and vehicle parking. View available volunteer slots and sign up online. Questions may be directed to Catherine Hayes in the office of university marketing, 294-3969.
College Creek cleanup is July 25
College Creek will get some TLC from volunteers during the annual cleanup Saturday, July 25 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.). Online registration is open for volunteers who want to help remove trash from designated sections of the creek that wind through the southeast corner of central campus. Supplies are provided but volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and may bring their own gloves. Campus organizers will provide a free burrito lunch and door prizes. Volunteers should check in at the Forker parking lot, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Memorial service for Lisa Shepherd Jenkins is July 10
A memorial service for Lisa Shepherd Jenkins, seed health testing coordinator for the Seed Science Center, will be held Friday, July 10 (2:30 p.m., MU Great Hall). Shepherd Jenkins, 43, died July 1 in Ames following a brief battle with amyloidosis and multiple myeloma. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be designated to the family. A scholarship to honor her work also is being established; contact the Seed Science Center for more information.
Beach Road is open
The section of Beach Road between the power plant and Forker Building reopened to vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic on Friday, July 3. The need to relocate an underground electrical vault in turn required that crews realign the bike path passing through that zone, adding about 10 days to the project timeline.
ISU teams secure second and third in international data mining competition
Two teams of Iowa State graduate students recently placed second and third in an international data mining competition in Berlin. Iowa State's teams were among 188 teams from 48 countries competing in the 2015 Data Mining Cup, a competition in intelligent data analysis. Last year, Iowa State fielded the first team in the United States to win the competition.
Office for Responsible Research becomes two units
Effective July 1, the Office for Responsible Research (ORR) was reorganized into these two units:
- Office for Research Integrity (ORI), directed by Brooke Langlitz. The office will focus on conflict of interest and commitment, export control and research integrity.
- A new version of the Office for Responsible Research (ORR), directed by Lisa Leiden. The office will manage compliance committee work and serve as a resource for required training and education on responsible conduct of research, and for research involving animals, humans and biohazards.
Indie band concert tickets go on sale July 6
Popular indie artists Smallpools and X Ambassadors will perform at Iowa State on Thursday, Aug. 27 (8 p.m., MU Great Hall, doors open at 7 p.m.). Tickets, $20 plus fees (ISU students with ID, $12), go on sale on Monday, July 6, via Midwestix. Beginning Aug. 24, tickets may be purchased in person at the MU Maintenance Shop (11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday). The concert is the Student Union Board's fall kickoff concert.
Research proposals sought on tracking water quality progress
Iowa State seeks pre-proposals by July 15 for research that improves the ability to track progress on reducing nutrient loss from farm fields to water resources. A public-private partnership is sought. With new funds from the 2015 Iowa Legislature, Iowa State has $250,000 per year for three years for a proposal. Following a review of preproposals, the university will invite full proposals to be submitted by Aug. 15. A decision on the accepted proposal should be made by the end of August. More information, including the RFP, are on the Iowa Nutrient Research Center website.
Meyer retires, Brooks to interim assistant VP
Director of purchasing Nancy Brooks will begin serving as interim assistant vice president for business services with the July 7 retirement of current assistant VP Arlo Meyer. Cory Harms, associate director of purchasing, will become the interim purchasing director at the same time. Senior vice president for business and finance Warren Madden thanked Meyer for his "many years of fine service." Meyer began his ISU career in 1979.
Regents' application portal goes live July 1
All direct-from-U.S.-high-school graduates who apply for admission to more than one Iowa regent university for Fall 2016 or later now may do so from a single web portal, apply.regents.iowa.gov. The portal includes application questions common to all three universities (Iowa State, Northern Iowa, University of Iowa) plus the questions specific to each school. The application fee remains unchanged at $40 per university. A shared application portal is an outcome of the state Board of Regents' TIER (Transparent, Inclusive Efficiency Review) study.
