Quiet spot
Ghani Ebrahimi, a December graduate of Iowa State with a master's degree in industrial engineering, takes advantge of some solitude in the Parks library reading room Monday, the official start of summer session. Ebrahimi is gearing up to pursue a Ph.D. in industrial engineering.
Orienting 6,000
Liz Kurt and her new student programs team are preparing to welcome about 6,000 admitted students, and their family members, to campus during 22 orientation sessions next month. Most of the students are would-be members of this fall's freshman class; an estimated 400-500 are transfer students. They'll come from as far away as California and New York to launch their college careers -- or, in some cases, to continue to ponder their options.
"Coming for orientation doesn't mean they're enrolling at Iowa State," Kurt said. "Some of these students are still looking at multiple schools."
Relocations to note
Orientation students may be looking for these services, which recently moved:
- IT Services' Solution Center, 192 Parks Library (Net-IDs, email accounts, student computers)
- Residence staff, 136 Union Drive Community Center, for the summer (housing contracts, meal plans)
Of the 5,800 prospective freshmen attending last summer's orientation sessions, Kurt said 32 percent hadn't previously made an official campus visit. Some of those "have always known they wanted to come to Iowa State" -- and a campus tour wouldn't change that. For others, it adds some weight to their orientation visit.
And can the campus community help persuade them?
"Yes. Be helpful, be kind," Kurt said.
When they'll visit
Transfer students participate in a one-day orientation on Monday, May 23, or Friday, July 1. Incoming freshmen, in groups of about 300, participate in a two-day orientation. The first of 20 sessions begins Tuesday, May 31; the last one concludes on Thursday, June 30. Two sessions begin on Sunday this year, June 5 and 26.
What they'll get done
Orientation students will receive an introduction to their home colleges, meet their academic advisers and register for fall classes. They'll get their ISU Cards, Net-IDs and email accounts; learn about financial aid options and how their U-Bill works; and get lots of advice from current ISU students on transitioning to college life. Several student affairs offices hold open houses and ISU choir and marching band representatives are on hand in Music Hall. Numerous tours are available to them, including campus, residence halls, sorority or fraternity houses and Parks Library.
Locations they'll use
Orientation families will park at the Maple-Willow-Larch residence complex and check in at the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center. Those spending the night on campus will stay in Maple Hall. The colleges will use auditoriums in Hoover, Design, Troxel, LeBaron, Gerdin and Kildee halls for their large group afternoon events. Other locations that will receive heavy use include the Curtiss auditorium (financial aid and university billing sessions), Solution Center in Parks Library (Net-ID and email registration), Beardshear (ISU Card processing and financial aid appointments) and the Memorial Union (resource fair, day sessions for family members, housing tours, meals, shopping and evening sessions). Visitors will take their evening meal in the Union Drive Community Center and breakfast in either the MWL Commons or the Memorial Union.
Orientation families will move about campus on foot and on the CyRide orange shuttle. As in the past, you'll recognize orientation students by their red string bags; family members will have oatmeal-colored canvas bags bearing the university nameplate.
Strategic plan headed to regents for final OK
With President Steven Leath's recent approval, Iowa State's next strategic plan is one step away from official status. The plan also must be approved by the Iowa Board of Regents, which is expected to take action this summer.
The FY2017-22 plan was eight months in the making.
"The university community really came through," said Steve Freeman, chair of the strategic plan steering committee and University Professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, "Some 100 faculty, staff, students and external stakeholders put in busy months on the committees that drafted sections of the plan.
"And many others in the community provided valuable input throughout the process -- participating in open forums, sending ideas and, finally, reading the public draft with a critical eye and offering concrete suggestions."
Areas of focus
Freeman noted that the plan runs from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2022, and is built on four areas of focus:
- Ensure that students receive an exceptional education
- Conduct high-impact research
- Improve the quality of life for all Iowans
- Enhance the university climate for both the ISU community and visitors
Living document
"This strategic plan is viewed as part of the continuum of moving the university forward, not a stand-alone plan with a specific start and end," Freeman said. "It will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that it is a living document that is guiding the university forward."
Leath named to NCAA board of directors
President Steven Leath has been named to the Division I board of directors of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as the representative of the Big 12 Conference.
Leath
He will begin serving his four-year term June 1.
"I would like to thank Dr. Leath for his willingness to serve the Big 12 membership and represent the conference on the council," said Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. "His understanding of the dynamics of intercollegiate athletics within the context of higher education and engagement on addressing its challenges will be amplified in this leadership position."
The NCAA is a voluntary organization through which colleges and universities govern their athletics programs. Division I comprises nearly 350 colleges. Collectively, these schools field more than 6,000 athletics teams with more than 170,000 student-athletes.
Visitors keep campus busy during summer
Many events -- from local to global -- will bring thousands of visitors to campus this summer. The following is a look at the groups (expecting 100 or more participants) that Iowa State will welcome over the next couple months.
Tracking a freshman class
Meeting this week in Cedar Falls, the state Board of Regents' education and student affairs committee received the regent universities' annual report on student retention and graduation.
This chart tracks the progress and decisions of three freshman classes.
What they do
ISU freshman class entering:
|
|
Fall 2009 |
Fall 2007 |
Fall 2005 |
|
Left after 1 year |
14% |
16% |
17% |
|
Left after 2 years |
8% |
8% |
7% |
|
Left after 3+ years |
5% |
5% |
6% |
|
Subtotal |
27% |
29% |
30% |
|
Graduated after 3 years |
2% |
1% |
1% |
|
Graduated after 4 years |
39% |
36% |
32% |
|
Graduated after 5 years |
27% |
26% |
30% |
|
Graduated after 6 years |
3% |
5% |
5% |
|
Subtotal |
71% |
68% |
68% |
|
Returned for 7th year |
2% |
3% |
2% |
|
Total |
100% |
100% |
100% |
All percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number
Source: Annual Report(s) of Student Retention and Graduation Rates to the state Board of Regents
Colorful facade
Photo by Christopher Gannon.
(Pictured) Workers lift a section of knitted panels into place on the facade of Design on Main May 10 in downtown Ames. More than 1,000 knitted and crocheted squares sewn into 37 larger panels will blanket the building front through June 1. "Intertwine," coordinated by Jennifer Drinkwater, assistant professor of art and visual culture in the College of Design and a community art extension specialist, was a project to encourage more people to participate in "public art" and to build connections among communities. Volunteers from dozens of Iowa towns -- and communities in 13 other states -- took her up on her invitation last fall. More photos.
Memorial Day ceremony is May 30
Iowa State employees, retirees, spouses, alumni and friends who died during the past year will be remembered at the university's annual Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 30. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in the Reiman Ballroom at the ISU Alumni Center, 420 Beach Ave.
The ceremony will include:
- An invocation by Matthew Martens, pastor at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Ames
- Prelude by Collegiate Brass of Collegiate United Methodist Church, Ames
- A reading of the names
- A time for family, friends and colleagues to share memories of loved ones
Individuals who aren't available to speak can share comments about loved ones through an online form. The comments will be printed and displayed the day of the event and included the following week with all obituaries on the ISU Retirees website.
In addition to ISU employees, retirees and spouses, the ceremony will recognize individuals who have passed away in the past two years and whose names appear on the Wall of Alumni and Friends at the ISU Alumni Center.
Parking is available on the east side of the Alumni Center. The ceremony is hosted by the ISU Retirees Association. For information, contact Jerilyn Logue, 4-3192, or Angie Schaper, 4-5790.
Arts and events
"Intertwine," an outdoor exhibition created with assistance from volunteers in 14 states, runs through June 1 at Design on Main.
Employees, retirees, spouses and ISU alumni and friends will be remembered.
