Announcements
August 2024
Sept. 2 is a university holiday
Classes will not meet and university offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of the national Labor Day holiday.
Registration is open for Iowa Lean Consortium conference in October
Registration is open for the 2024 Iowa Lean Consortium's (ILC) annual conference, to be held Thursday, Oct. 24 (9 a.m.-5 p.m., Meadows Conference Center, Altoona). ILC is a program of Iowa State's Center for Industrial Research and Service or CIRAS. Join continuous improvement professionals from all sectors of the economy to exchange insights, explore innovative strategies and advance your continuous improvement practices during keynote presentations and breakout sessions. ISU faculty and staff receive complimentary ILC membership and register at the discounted member rate.
Cyclone Cinema's free movies start this week
The Student Union Board's Cyclone Cinema fall titles list has been posted. The 13 feature films were released in theaters in the last six months. Each is shown four times (Thursday-Sunday, 7 p.m., 101 Carver). All Sunday shows include open captions. Admission is free, and the public is welcome. Concessions are available ($2-$3). The film series begins with "Dune" Aug. 29-Sept. 1.
Back-to-school extracurricular fairs start this week
The Memorial Union is hosting these annual, free, back-to-school events in September. Students are the target audience, but all are welcome:
- Welcome Fest, Aug. 28 (5:30-8:30 p.m., MU Great Hall), learn about campus resources and Ames-area businesses, enjoy giveaways and free snacks
- Club Fest, Sept. 11 (11 a.m.-4 p.m., MU), browse a sampling of the hundreds of clubs and organizations at Iowa State to get involved on campus
- Volunteer Fair, Sept. 11 (11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Campanile Room, MU, part of Club Fest), visit with representatives from local non-profit agencies to learn aboutservice opportunities in the community
MU east loop driveway opens Aug. 28; ramp north entrance remains closed
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, the driveway loop on the east side of the Memorial Union will open. However, the north entrance to the MU parking ramp will remain closed in preparation for a roof project that begins in April. All drivers using the parking ramp are asked to continue using the ramp's south entrance on Lincoln Way.
Visitors and building guests -- for example, individuals going to the Workspace -- may use the east loop for drop-offs, but parked vehicles or standing vehicles aren't allowed in this area and will be ticketed and towed.
Goldfinch Room alums to play reunion festival Sept. 28-29
The first-ever Goldfinch Room Reunion Festival, a two-day event with 16 solo artists and three duos in 11 performances, will be held Sept. 28-29 in the Stephens Auditorium courtyard and west parking lot (noon-9 p.m. Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday). Some artists also will lead 20-minute songwriting process sessions indoors in the Celebrity Cafe between stage performances. Festival passes, ranging in price from $30 to $160, go on sale online at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Woodshop orientation offered Sept. 10, Oct. 3
The Workspace in the east basement of the Memorial Union will offer an orientation session on its woodworking equipment on two dates: Tuesday, Sept. 10, or Thursday, Oct. 3 (5:30-8:30 p.m. each date). Learn the fundamentals of the equipment and which tool to choose for the job at hand. Practice using the machinery while making a key rack you can take home. Orientation is required to use the woodshop on your own. Cost is $35; register online.
Study Abroad Fair is Sept. 5 in the MU
The Study Abroad Center will hold its annual Study Abroad Fair on Thursday, Sept. 5 (10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., MU Great Hall). Learn about interning, studying and volunteering abroad in experiences lasting from one week to one year. Students may enter their names for a chance to win study-abroad scholarships. Students, faculty and staff can apply for a U.S. passport at the fair; make an appointment by contacting Johanna Hill at the U.S. Postal Service. Appointments are recommended, but walk ins are welcome.
ISU Spirit Squad fundraiser is T-shirt sale
Iowa State's Spirit Squad is selling short-sleeve T-shirts for the 2024 football season. Funds raised benefit the operations of the Spirt Squad, including their participation in the national cheer and dance competitions next spring. Shirts are $20 plus shipping.
Faculty, staff need to request access to use CyHire system
Campus job information, previously found on the AccessPlus job board, is now integrated into CyHire, a dedicated student employment system maintained by ISU Career Services. All student job opportunities -- internships, co-ops, post-graduation professional roles, part-time campus jobs -- are now located in one place. To access CyHire, faculty and staff need to request an account for the platform. They'll receive an email with login instructions. An account gives faculty and staff access to listings for student jobs, internships and post-graduation roles, plus career fairs, information sessions and workshops important to student career development. To post student job opportunities in CyHire, faculty and staff need to take one more step and create an employer account (positions can only be posted by employer accounts). More information about CyHire for faculty and staff is online. Questions about the CyHire platform can be directed to cyhire@iastate.edu.
Single-show tickets for Stephens series go on sale Aug. 23
On Friday, Aug. 23, the Iowa State Center will begin selling individual tickets to nine of the 13 events in the 2024-25 Performing Arts Series at Stephens Auditorium. Previously, these were available in event packages.
Memorial Union's fall poster sale runs Aug. 21-30
The Memorial Union will host its annual fall poster sale Aug. 21-30 in the Campanile Room. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and noon-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Find a selection from classic posters to fresh-off-the-press artist prints among the hundreds of choices. Most posters are priced between $8 and $15; cash and credit cards are accepted. Proceeds from the sale support the Memorial Union Art Gallery. The public is welcome.
So long, summer office hours
Iowa State offices that implemented summer office hours (7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. with a shorter lunch break) in May are reminded the practice concludes at least one week before the start of fall semester classes, or by Friday, Aug. 16. Office hours policy.
Success center offers workshops for your classroom
The Academic Success Center offer workshops for the classroom. In addition to a brief "Intro to Services" workshop, there are 45-60-minute workshops that cover a variety of writing, communication and academic skills topics including public speaking, bullet journaling, study skills and more. New this semester is an AI-Prompt Writing workshop to tie into assignments where instructors would like their students to use AI in the pre-writing process. To submit a workshop request, use the center's webform.
Register for Aug. 21 new faculty orientation
New faculty orientation, an in-person meeting, will be held Wednesday, Aug. 21 (8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Garden Room, Reiman Gardens). All faculty (term and tenure-eligible) new to Iowa State since February are invited. Attendance is recommended; registration is required.
External demo of LeBaron Hall to begin
Significant external demolition of LeBaron Hall will take about two weeks, beginning Aug. 19. Demolition will begin on the east side of LeBaron and move toward the south end of the building. Those who use the Human Nutrition Sciences Building (HNSB) should expect the two weeks of external demo to be loud and potentially disruptive. Facilities planning and management has installed a construction webcam on HNSB.
Morrill Road to close for six days for water connection
Morrill Road will be closed Thursday, Aug. 15, through Tuesday, Aug. 20, so crews can connect a new fire hydrant south of the Carver Hall lot entrance (lot 19) to a domestic water line on the east side of Morrill Road. If the work progresses as planned, Morrill Road will reopen on Aug. 21. In the case of an emergency along Morrill Road, response vehicles will be allowed through the LeBaron Hall construction zone at the north end of Morrill Road. All deliveries to the Hub and Morrill, Beardshear and Carver halls also may go through the construction area.
Comedian Matt Mathews announces January date at Stephens
Comedian and social media sensation Matt Mathews will bring his new national stand-up comedy tour, "Boujee On A Budget," to Stephens Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Tickets, starting at $33.50, go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16, online via Ticketmaster and at the Stephens ticket office.
Avoid heavy traffic next week in residence neighborhoods
New students living in the residence halls will be moving in Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 20-21. The residence department suggests that faculty and staff avoid areas where move-in congestion may occur, including Union Drive and Beach Road.
Visitation for former Vet Med faculty Ghoshal is Aug. 13
A visition will be held Tuesday, Aug. 13 (4-7 p.m., Adams Funeral Home, 502 Douglas Ave.) for Dr. Nani Ghoshal, professor emeritus of veterinary medicine, who served on the faculty from 1963 until his 2009 retirement. He died Aug. 7 in Ames. Obituary.
Celebration of Life for Frankee Oleson is Aug. 15
A celebration of life for former Iowa State Center and ISU Alumni Association staff member Frankee Oleson will be held Thursday, Aug. 15 (4 p.m., ISU Alumni Center, visition begins at 2 p.m.). Olson lost her battle with leukemia July 12 in Ames. She was 75. She left the alumni staff in 2000 to serve as president and CEO of United Way of Story County until her retirement in 2010. Obituary.
CIRAS director featured at August innovation lunch
The August edition of the Innovation Lunch Club will feature Michael O'Donnell, director of the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS), on Friday, Aug. 23 (11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., executive board room, ISU Economic Development Core Facility, 1805 Collaboration Pl.). The free series is hosted by ISU's office of economic development and industry relations especially for its faculty and staff partners but open to all. RSVPs are requested to Stacy Dreyer.
Nominate a student for student affairs advisory board
Senior vice president for student affairs (SVPSA) Toyia Younger seeks undergraduate and graduate students to serve on the 2024-25 SVPSA Student Advisory Board. Members provide Younger with critical feedback on campus events, programs and policies impacting the student experience at Iowa State. Student board members meet monthly with Younger and also engage in online discussions. Nominate a student by Aug. 23 or encourage students to apply by Aug. 30.
Members sought for student affairs advisory board
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs (SVPSA) Toyia Younger invites you to apply to serve on the SVPSA Student Advisory Board. This unique opportunity allows you to share your opinions and perspectives directly with a senior leader on an ongoing basis to help improve the student experience at Iowa State. Members are undergraduate and graduate students, represent all academic colleges and embody varying experiences. Students meet once per month with Younger and respond to inquiries and provide feedback to questions online. Learn more and apply by Friday, Aug. 30. This is a paid, ongoing leadership experience.
Faculty, staff can purchase $35 football tickets
The Iowa State athletics department is offering faculty and staff $35 tickets for home football games against the University of North Dakota (Aug. 31) and Arkansas State (Sept. 21). Purchase online while supplies last.
Register for laboratory safety orientation
Environmental Health and Safety will host in-person orientation sessions on Aug. 20, 22, 27 and 29 (select one) for new faculty, staff and graduate and undergraduate students who will work in campus laboratories. Returning lab workers are welcome, too. Participants receive hands-on experience in chemical storage and spill cleanup procedures, proper disposal of laboratory waste and fire extinguisher use. Before attending, learners must complete the Safety Data Sheets online training (30 minutes), in Workday Learning for employees, in Canvas for students.
City-university rummage sale wraps up at noon Saturday
The 8th annual Rummage RAMPage, a city-university community garage sale designed to keep reuseable household items out of the local waste stream, concludes at noon Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Ames Intermodal Facility, 129 Hayward Ave. The event coincides each summer with apartment leases ending on July 31. A list of accepted items (and not accepted items) is online. Payment is via Venmo or cash; no credit cards or personal checks. Remaining days are:
- Thursday-Friday, Aug. 1-2, noon-6 p.m., sale and drop-off
- Saturday, Aug. 3, 8 a.m.-noon, half-price sale only (no drop-offs)
Arts and events
'Die Fledermaus' is a farce of mistaken identity, flirtation and a practical joke with unanticipated consequences. It opens Nov. 7 in Fisher Theater.
