Announcements
Monday Monologue series resumes on library steps
Three spring events have been added to the university library's Monday Monologues series, a free lunch-hour series to highlight Iowa State performing talent. Events begin at 12:15 p.m. on the front steps of Parks Library:
- April 14: Student vocal ensembles Cantamus, Lyrica and Count Me In
- April 21: Jubilee Gospel Choir, a student organization
- April 28: Favorite Poem Project (a National Poetry Month event), everyone is invited to read a cherished published poem and share why it's personally important, books of poetry will be on site
Volunteers sought for Cy's Finals Frenzy during prep week
The division of student affairs will host the third Cy's Finals Frenzy at the beginning of prep week: Sunday-Tuesday, May 4-6. Volunteers are needed to help the event run smoothly, and faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for a shift (or two) to interact with students. This once-a-semester event is designed to promote healthy study habits and personal wellness as students prepare for final exams. All events are free for Iowa State students and take place in and around the Memorial Union.
Fan-favorite offerings are back, including Bingo, movie night, free snacks and wellness activities. Academic support programs, including exam prep and supplemental instruction sessions, will be available, too. The first Cy's Finals Frenzy in May 2024 drew more than 900 students. The second iteration in December served more than 1,310 students who said they most appreciated the quiet study rooms in the MU, free food and organized activities that offered a break from studying.
Celebrate: ISU Extension and Outreach Week is April 7-12
Throughout Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Week (April 7-12), Iowa's 100 county extension offices will host "I Spy Cy" activities and educational events to thank Iowans across the state for their support of ISU Extension and Outreach.
Conflict management training scheduled for June
Seats are available at a summer training for faculty and staff leaders on conflict management. It's offered by Iowa State ombuds Laura Smythe over three half-days, June 9-11 (8:30 a.m.-noon daily). The training is interactive and designed to address scenarios that participants find occur repeatedly, yet they approach with uncertainty or discomfort. Participation is limited to 25 individuals, and registration is first come, first served; contact Kay Mwanza, 515-294-0165, to register. Each day builds on the prior day, so registrants are asked to commit to attending all three days.
Confirm summer, fall teaching assignments, then submit course material requests
Faculty who will teach a summer session or fall semester 2025 course are asked to submit all materials needed for class -- textbooks, courseware, eBooks, course packets, subscriptions and supplies (Design, lab, protective equipment, technology, etc.) as soon as their teaching assignment is confirmed. Include courses for which there are no textbook requirements or when open educational resources (OER) will be used. These lists should be submitted to your department academic coordinator, or instructors can submit their own materials via Verba Collect. Contact Emma Hartman, 294-0362, with questions, or visit the ISU Book Store's Course Material Adoptions website. The bookstore team provides custom book lists to students after course registration. Published textbook and course material requirements are online.
For undergraduate courses, most required textbooks, eBooks, courseware and course packets will be part of Immediate Access ONE, a one-price, day-one access program where students receive their required books for one flat rate. For more information about this program, contact immediateaccess@iastate.edu.
Financial aid office announces annual award recipients
The office of student financial aid announced the recipients of its annual awards:
- 2025 Student Employee Supervisor of the Year (in partnership with university human resources): Lauren Schalinske, divisional communications lead, division of operations and finance
- 2025 Student Employee of the Year: Zara Babinat, senior in computer science, and shelter coordinator at Ames' Bridge Home, a non-profit organization and partner employer in Iowa State's student employment program (students work at a local non-profit as community service employees but are paid as ISU student employees)
2nd annual AI event is April 16
The Translational Artificial Intelligence Center team is hosting its second annual TrAC Day on Wednesday, April 16 (2-6 p.m., first floor of the Student Innovation Center). The free event includes a series of 5-minute flash talks from students, short presentations from industry collaborators about how they use AI in their work, student poster presentations about how artificial intelligence is being applied to various sectors such as agriculture and healthcare, and networking opportunities. Faculty, staff, students and the public are welcome. Register to receive more information closer to the event date.
Northbound Stange Road traffic will be detoured to Grand Avenue
The next phase of the work on Stange Road in the north part of campus will begin on Wednesday, April 2. Northbound traffic will be detoured east to Grand Avenue via 13th and 24th streets. Southbound traffic will continue to travel in the outside lane currently being used. This closure is required for the contractor to demolish the old road surface up to the center line. Access to University Village will be available, either via Blankenburg or Bruner drives (one of these entrances must remain open during this phase). The closure has required detours to three CyRide bus routes: #6 Brown, #14 Peach and #25 Gold, including closed and temporary bus stops. Weather-dependent, this phase of the work is expected to be completed by the first week of May. The detour to Grand Avenue will inconvenience many drivers, but this lane closure and detour is the only way the work can be completed safely. Map of detour.
Vet Med, Ag and Life Sciences colleges ranked sixth among U.S. peers
The College of Veterinary Medicine was 12th in the world and sixth among 33 U.S. veterinary schools in a 2025 ranking of best veterinary schools by the British higher education analytics firm, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). Iowa State is the highest ranked Big XII school. 2025 marks the fourth straight year of the college's rise in the QS ranking, up from 13th overall and seventh among U.S. veterinary schools last year.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences also was ranked sixth among U.S. peers and 12th among global peer universities in the same QS rankings. 2025 marks the 12th consecutive year Iowa State's agriculture and forestry programs have been among the top 4% worldwide.
The QS organization's ranking measures academic and employer reputations and the number of times faculty research papers have been cited by other researchers.
Procurement services' Quote Desk has new email address
The Quote Desk in procurement services has a new email address: supplierservices@iastate.edu. Any emails sent to its previous addresses (quotesdsk@iastate.edu and quotedesk@iastate.edu) automatically will generate a bounce-back message with the updated contact information. The Quote Desk is how departments promptly and accurately can get answers to various supplier-related inquiries and documentation needs, for example, supplier notifications, change of address, bank notifications, updated W9 forms or certificates of insurance.
Anniversary calendar will honor impactful women in ISU history
To mark the 20th anniversary of its publication, the Carrie Chapman Catt Center's 2026 "Women Impacting ISU" calendar will feature women who left Iowa State before the first calendar was created. Any woman who graduated from or left employment with Iowa State before 2007 is eligible. Nominations of women not already widely recognized on campus for their contributions are especially welcome. Nominations are due by Sept. 28, and a campus vote will follow in early October to select the 2026 calendar honorees. Instructions and a link to the nomination form are on the Catt Center website.
ISU receives second Platinum Bell Seal for workplace mental health efforts
For the second year in a row, Iowa State University has been awarded the Platinum Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health by Mental Health America, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health, well-being and illness prevention. Since 2019, the Bell Seal has recognized employers striving to create mentally healthy workplaces for their employees, and recognizes employer advances by awarding Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum seals. Just two in five employers meet the standards for Bell Seal certification. Iowa State underwent a rigorous evaluation of its policies and practices in four areas: workplace culture, benefits, compliance and wellness programs. Iowa State's Platinum certification reflects work in the following areas:
- Expansive employee growth opportunities.
- Competitive and mental health-friendly benefits packages.
- An emphasis on and commitment to work-life balance and employee well-being.
Innovative student work sought for IGNITE showcase in May
The Student Innovation Center is looking for groups, classes and organizations to showcase their innovative student work at the IGNITE Innovation Showcase May 5-9. Exhibits, presentations, activities or celebrations are welcome in this showcase of the innovative work of Iowa State students. The priority deadline for submissions is April 9 (for the first round of space assignments), but submissions will be accepted through April 23. The submission form is online.
Project LEAR/RN workshop set for May 20-21
Faculty, staff and graduate students are invited to participate in the annual Project LEA/RN workshop on Tuesday-Wednesday, May 20-21 (9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, 1022 Agronomy). Participants will uncover what many already know about human learning, share insights about the brain based on current research and its implications, engage in strategies that promote interaction and deep thinking, and apply their new understandings in situations where they facilitate learning -- classes, orientation sessions, extension meetings or any other learning situations they lead. This introductory workshop will not directly address the technology involved with remote and online learning. Enrollment is limited to 20; contact project director Jan Wiersema, associate teaching professor of agronomy, to RSVP or for more information.
Voorhees Supply Chain Conference is April 24
Registration is open through April 16 for the annual Voorhees Supply Chain Conference, hosted by the department of supply chain management, on Thursday, April 24 (9 a.m.-3:30 p.m, Gateway Hotel and Conference Center). Learn from industry leaders who will talk about enhancing supply chain management through artificial intelligence. Featured speakers include alumnus Chad Nelson (2007 degree in economics), associate director of intake, damage and returns reduction at Best Buy. Four credits of continuing education are available.
Suicide awareness walk is April 19
Student Health and Wellness is organizing a suicide awareness walk, "Out of the Darkness," on Saturday, April 19 (registration begins at 9 a.m., campanile south lawn). A 10 a.m. pre-walk program will feature members of the Triangle fraternity and the parents of former fraternity member Jeremy Onyango, who died in October 2022. Teams of walkers are encouraged; volunteers may register to walk or make a donation in support of suicide awareness.
Session presenters sought for extension technology conference in June
ISU Extension and Outreach will host the 2025 conference of the National Extension Technology Community June 2-5 in Ames and is seeking session presentation proposals. At this conference, technology professionals, educators and communicators explore innovative solutions in Extension and beyond. As host institution, the university has a unique opportunity to showcase the work happening in Extension and Outreach and across the university. Employees who have implemented a new technology, creative digital solution or innovative approach in their work are encouraged to submit a proposal by April 18. More information, including the proposal form, is online. The conference is open to all; Iowa State's institutional membership provides a discounted registration fee.
VPR site provides updates on federal funding changes
The office of the vice president for research (VPR) will provide guidance, updates and links to relevant resources to help Iowa State's research community navigate the evolving landscape for federal funding. The VPR team created a federal funding page on the VPR website, which it will update and date-stamp as agencies share more direction and guidance with their research partners. Researchers are encouraged to check this page frequently in the weeks ahead. Changes potentially could impact both awarded projects and those awaiting funding from federal agencies or sponsors.
