Announcements
Submit online help ticket for Workday questions
Faculty and staff seeking help with Workday for Student tasks can use the Workday Get Help form, available on the WorkCyte website. The form connects you with the campus specialists who support your specific issue. Currently, about a dozen common topic areas populate the form -- or you can fill in your own. You'll receive notifications about changes in your ticket status as team works to resolve your issue. Changes to the form, including topics supported by various teams, are added as Workday for Student users' post-implementation needs change. Remember, Workday for Student training resources, organized by role and by topic, are organized on single website.
New VPR site will provide 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 new 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.
Judges needed for high school state science fair in March
ISU Extension and Outreach seeks judges for the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa, Thursday and Friday, March 27-28, at Hilton Coliseum. An anticipated 650 students in grades 6-12 will present an estimated 500 projects in 17 categories during the exhibition. Judges will evaluate the projects and provide constructive feedback to the students. Lunch and refreshments are provided. Individuals can sign up to judge in the junior high or senior high divisions. No special training is required, but an advanced degree or industry experience is preferred for judging senior high projects. Fair organizers will determine judges' assignments based on their category preference(s), level of education, field of study and professional experience. The first step is to sign up online.
Gymnastics tickets $3 for faculty, staff
Iowa State faculty and staff can purchase $3 tickets for the gymnastics team’s Big 12 Conference opener against Arizona State on Friday, Jan. 31 (6:30 p.m., Hilton Coliseum). All tickets are general admission.
Hort Club's Valentine bouquet sale is Feb. 13-14
The Horticulture Club's floral bouquet Valentine's Day sale returns Feb. 13-14 (9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily while supplies last, Union Drive Community Center lobby). Preorders can be made through Feb. 7. Select from roses, carnations and spider mums ($3-$4.50 per stem) and various fillers and greens ($5). Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted payment.
Mushroom certification class offered this spring
ISU Extension and Outreach's Wild-harvested Mushroom Certification Class will return this spring. The class, led by plant disease diagnostician Chelsea Harbach, includes an online lecture (via Zoom) and a mandatory in-person workshop (where the certification exam occurs) offered three times: March 15, March 29 and April 12, all in Ames. Participants receive the link for the Zoom lecture when they register for a workshop. The class costs $60 and is particularly relevant for those hoping to sell wild-harvested mushrooms, since sellers in Iowa are required to complete a certification workshop to sell eight varieties of wild-harvested mushrooms.
P&S research project managers will gather Feb. 11
The Research Project Management Council, supported by the office of the vice president for research, will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11 (2 p.m., 1116 Sweeney, light refreshments provided). Registration is requested. The council is open to all P&S staff who manage sponsored research projects or programs. Connect with fellow research project management professionals and learn more about how the council can support you.
The council is a collaborative forum to recognize and enhance the role of research project management at the university. It brings together project management professionals to share best practices, address common challenges and foster a supportive network that advances the success of research initiatives. The group's direction is guided by the needs and priorities of its members, ensuring that the council remains responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities. Contact Nicole Scott or Stacy Renfro with questions.
Fall Honors seminar proposals due Feb. 21
The University Honors Program invites proposals for Honors seminars in Fall 2025. These one- or two-credit courses, offered for a half or full term on a pass/fail basis, allow Honors students to examine topics of current or special interest. Enrollment is usually limited to 17 students. Honors allocates $500 per seminar for the professional development (e.g. professional subscriptions, membership fees, travel) of the instructor(s). Proposals are due Friday, Feb. 21. Details and guidelines are on the Honors website; the proposal form also is online. Questions may be directed to Laurie Smith Law.
Feb. 4 fair emphasizes consent in relationships
ISU's Green Zone team invites students, staff and faculty to stop by the Green Zone Fun Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 4 (10 a.m.-2 p.m., Great Hall, Memorial Union). Grab a snack, play a game and win some prizes. Most importantly, learn how consent in relationships is connected to well being, how to practice consent across different kinds of relationships, and how to build communities into green zones where consent is normalized.
Nominate an individual or team for a sustainability excellence award
Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 12 for the 2025 Live Green! Excellence Awards in sustainability. Recognize an individual, team, organization, initiative, department or college that impacts campus sustainability through initiatives that focus on teaching, research, outreach or operations. A nomination must include a letter of support from project partners, collaborators or beneficiaries. Selection criteria (PDF) are online; download and complete the nomination form and email it to mrankin@iastate.edu.
VPN update coming soon
Service for emeritus faculty member Howard Shapiro is Feb. 2
A memorial service for emeritus faculty member and former administrator Howard Shapiro will be held Sunday, Feb. 2 (1 p.m., Temple B'nai Jeshurun, 5101 Grand Ave., Des Moines). Shapiro died Jan. 17 in Des Moines. He was a member of the mechanical engineering faculty from 1975 to 2005 (when he received emeritus professor status) and returned as a lecturer from 2013 through spring 2024 semester. He held several administrative roles during his first span, including assistant dean for undergraduate programs in the College of Engineering (1997-98) and the inaugural vice provost for undergraduate programs (1998-2004), where he helped advance initiatives such as Project LEA/RN, learning communities, WiSE and the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. Obituary.
Student club taking orders through Jan. 31 for Valentine fudge
Members of the Food Science Club are making and selling fudge by online preorder in time for Valentine's Day. The group will accept preorders for 250 pounds of fudge through Friday, Jan. 31, or until it has sold out. This year's six flavors are: chocolate, peanut butter, cookies 'n cream, chocolate mint, orange cream and Cardinal & Gold (formerly Cyclone: chocolate fudge with peanuts and mini marshmallows, topped with Cyclone M&Ms). Prices for a half-pound container are: $7 each, two for $12, $6 for each container after two. Orders can be picked up on Tuesday-Wednesday, Feb. 11-12 (10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily, 206 MacKay). Any extra fudge will be sold on Thursday, Feb. 13 (10 a.m.-1 p.m., same location). Proceeds will help cover club expenses and industry trips.
Get help for your ISU Sites faculty website
ISU faculty members in all colleges can get support for their free ISU Sites faculty website at two walk-in workshops in 206 Durham Center:
- Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2-3 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 6, 10-11 a.m.
Whether you're establishing your website from scratch or enhancing your existing one, staff can guide you through creating an accessible and effective digital showcase of your research, teaching and achievements. Drop in at your convenience and leave with a polished, professional website hosted on the ISU Sites platform. These workshops offer:
- Personalized support to build your site, whether it be simple, advanced or full-scale.
- Guidance on accessibility standards so your site reaches all audiences.
- Strategic content planning to improve your potential reach.
- Professional templates optimized for academic profiles.
For more information contact websupport@iastate.edu.
Funeral is Friday for former Extension leader Barbara Woods
The funeral service for former longtime Extension and Outreach employee Barbara Woods will be held Friday, Jan. 24 (11 a.m., First Baptist Church, 200 Lynn Ave., Delta Sigma Theta sorority's Omega Omega service begins at 9 a.m.). Visitation will be held Thursday, Jan. 23 (4-6 p.m., Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way). Burial will be Jan. 30 in Flint Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Alexander City, Alabama. Woods died on Jan. 19 at Israel Family Hospice House, Ames. She retired (PDF) from the university in October 2023 after a 42-year career with ISU Extension and Outreach in a range of leadership, communications and programming postions. Obituary. Her family encourages memorial donations to area organizations such as ISU Human Sciences Extension and Outreach (ISU Foundation), Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa, Reiman Gardens or Brunnier Art Museum, and Delta Sigma Theta's Research and Educational Foundation.
Employee W-2 forms for 2024 are available in Workday
The payroll staff announces that Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) for calendar year 2024 is available in Workday. Employees need this document to prepare and submit their 2024 income tax return to the Internal Revenue Service. To access your W-2:
- Log in to Workday and click on the Benefits and Pay application.
- Select "My Tax Documents" under "Tasks and Reports" at the top of the page.
- Click the view/print button to see your W-2.
For additional information, see the W-2 Knowledge Base Article.
Nominations due Feb. 15 for annual alumni awards
The ISU Alumni Association is seeking nominations by Feb. 15 for four awards to be presented during Homecoming 2025 that honor alumni. Award descriptions and nomination forms are online. Questions may be directed to Katie Lickteig. The awards are:
- Alumni Medal, recognizes long, loyal service to the university through alumni-related activities
- Alumni Humanitarian Award, recognizes humanitarian efforts that transcend professional accomplishments and bring honor to the university
- Outstanding Young Alumni Award, recognizes alumni age 40 years and younger who excel in their profession and provide service to their community
- James A. Hopson Alumni Service Award (2023 merger of the former Hopson and Alumni Service awards), recognizes alumni and friends whose volunteer activities and service support the work of the ISU Alumni Association in connecting alumni, students and friends to each other and the university
Smile and Write dates are set for spring semester
Smile and Write is an online program open to faculty and staff, designed to leverage peer accountability and help participants carve out space in their schedules to work on curriculum, manuscripts and other writing projects. Smile and Write connects peers across disciplines as they work together toward their writing goals to aid in career progression. During spring semester, the fixed time is Tuesday (11 a.m.-1 p.m., Jan. 21-May 6); 17 sessions on the other four days of the week also are scheduled. The Smile and Write format is:
- Register ahead of time for as many sessions as you want. Upon registration, you'll be sent a Zoom link for each session.
- Once logged in, keep your video turned on. Doing this helps assure accountability and prevent distraction.
- At the start of each session participants state their goals, and at the end of each session they briefly share the progress they made.
Register for February civics conference for all employees
Registration has opened for Civics Across the Curriculum and Co-Curriculum, a professional development conference for faculty, staff and administrators on Wednesday, Feb. 19 (noon-4:30 p.m., Memorial Union). Participants will hear from national experts and campus practitioners on ways to narrow gaps in civic literacy, skills and disposition among Iowa State's students. Registration, which will remain open through Feb. 3, is free and includes lunch.
