Get it done

November 17

Sophomore kinesiology major Matt McIlrath (seated) concentrates on a sociology project earlier this week at Parks Library. Students will arrive at a long-awaited fall break Friday afternoon, with many heading home for the week to celebrate the national Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. When they return, fall semester winds down with a week of classes, Dead Week and finals week.

University statement on immigration concerns

November 17

We understand that many members of the Iowa State community are concerned about potential changes to the country’s immigration laws and the impact on undocumented students. We recognize this is causing fear and anxiety among many people on campus, and our top priority is the safety and well-being of everyone in the Iowa State community. We will continue to offer support and resources to anyone who is concerned about their status at Iowa State. Iowa State University Police do not gather information about the citizenship or immigration status of the people who have interactions with police officers and have no jurisdiction or role in enforcing United States immigration laws. The university has no plans to change this practice. President Leath and university administration do not have the authority to declare the campus a sanctuary and must operate within the policies and guidelines established by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.  

We have heard nothing from federal or state authorities to suggest there will be any changes impacting the status of undocumented students’ relationships with the university. As a land-grant institution, Iowa State will continue to adhere to its long-standing practice of providing a high quality, affordable education to all students. As we work through these issues, we encourage all Iowa Staters to embrace the Principles of the Iowa State Community: respect, purpose, cooperation, diversity, freedom from discrimination, and the honest and respectful exchange of ideas.

We urge anyone with concerns to reach out. The university has a number of resources that offer support, guidance and additional information: 

Office of Multicultural Student Affairs	515-294-6338
College Multicultural Liaison Officers
Agriculture and Life Sciences	515-294-1701
Business	515-294-8300
Design	515-294-9555
Engineering	515-294-0690
Human Sciences	515-294-6466
Liberal Arts and Sciences	515-294-4831
Veterinary Medicine	515-294-0391
International Students and Scholars	515-294-1120
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion	515-294-8840
Student Assistance and Outreach, Dean of Students Office	515-294-1020
Student Counseling Service	515-294-5056

 

New app boosts night riders

By Diana Pounds
November 17

SafeRide ISU, the new Uber-like service that provides free night transport on campus is off to a busy start. During its first six weeks of operation, more than 2,400 passengers caught a ride in the one of the public safety department's SafeRide cars.

"We provided 1,809 rides from Aug. 19 to Oct. 1 this year," said interim chief of police Aaron DeLashmutt. "That's a 139 percent increase over the 758 rides provided during the same period with the old safety escort program."

The new twist on last year's program is the SafeRide ISU smartphone app that allows someone requesting a ride to summon a car, get its ETA and watch the car's progress on a real-time map view.

While rides still can be requested with a call to a dispatcher, most passengers are using the app, DeLashmutt said. The app has several advantages. A rider can wait in a building or other protected area until the car arrives. Rider and driver can communicate directly without involving a dispatcher. And the app uses GPS, which provides a very accurate pickup time.

The service

The ride service is available to anyone concerned about walking on campus between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Cars carry riders to and from central campus and other university areas, such as ISU leased residence apartments, Greek houses and the basketball practice facility.

ISU students trained as community service officers for police drive the three SafeRide vehicles. Up to three riders can be transported at a time. A driver arriving at a pickup destination sends a notification to the requester's phone.

The app

The ISU SafeRide app, available through the Google Play and Apple stores, can only be used by students, faculty and staff (ISU Net-IDs are required for signon). Visitors can call dispatch at 294-4444 for a ride.

SafeRide numbers (Aug. 19-Oct. 1)

Rides provided	1,809
Passengers	2,433
Average response time, request to pick-up	14 min.
Average ride time, pick-up to drop-off	6 min.
Active SafeRide app accounts	1,142
SafeRide app downloads	993

Related story

Safe travel on campus: There's an app for that, Aug. 18, 2016

FLSA: Employee numbers, training and tools

November 17

Two weeks before the U.S. Department of Labor's Dec. 1 deadline to implement new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime regulations, Iowa State continues to move forward with employee training and tools development. Following is a summary of the university's progress, including the number of employees impacted by the change, training totals and available tools.

Employee numbers

Iowa State notified all employees and their supervisors impacted by the new overtime regulations. The chart below details the types and total of notifications sent.

By the numbers: FLSA notices

P&S employees, nonexempt notices	592
P&S employees, exempt notices with no pay increases	129
P&S employees, exempt notices with pay increases	87
Total P&S notices	808
Post-doc, nonexempt notices (part-time)	26
Faculty notices	3
Total employee notices	837

Training summary 

Training continues for employees who will become eligible for overtime pay (nonexempt) beginning Dec. 1 and their supervisors. Visit Learn@ISU to sign up for FLSA training. As of this week:

• 60 percent of impacted employees and 54 percent of their supervisors have completed the required online training
• 69 percent of time entry staff have completed the required online training and have attended, or are enrolled in, the in-person work sessions
• 25 additional supervisor work sessions have been added to the training lineup, Nov. 21 through Dec. 2. Go to Learn@ISU to enroll in one of these sessions.

Tools update

• University human resources (UHR) released a new version of the Nonexempt Wage and Hour Report  earlier this week; future enhancements are planned
• UHR is developing a video for nonexempt employees and their supervisors that will help explain how to complete the Nonexempt Wage and Hour Report; the video should be available Nov. 18
• Those who want to learn more about Tracy Time, another university-approved timekeeping system, are encouraged to attend one of two informational sessions scheduled for Dec. 8; sign up at Learn@ISU
• Additional updates have been released to the Guide for FLSA and Timekeeping Responsibilities for Nonexempt Employees
• A guide for Understanding Pay Detail in AccessPlus for Nonexempt Employees has been developed to help nonexempt employees understand how to read their future pay statements

Next steps

UHR and the university counsel staff continue to develop procedures to comply with FLSA.  Currently they are evaluating processes for new hires, reclassification, annual salary adjustments and full-time equivalent (FTE) changes. Many of these procedures and others likely will require modification to maintain FLSA compliance. Look for additional information about these changes in December. 

Questions, comments or concerns about the FLSA changes may be emailed to FLSA@iastate.edu.

Related stories

• Online, in-person training helps answer FLSA questions, Nov. 10, 2016
• FLSA-impacted employees receive letters, training underway, Nov. 3, 2016
• Training sessions for FLSA-impacted employees begin Nov. 1, Oct. 27, 2016
• Key FLSA dates, timelines established, Oct. 20, 2016
• ISU leaders continue FLSA discussions, decisions, Oct. 13, 2016
• Where to find out about more FLSA changes, Oct. 6, 2016
• New overtime regulations go into effect Dec. 1, Sept. 29, 2016

Surplus liquidation auction is set for Nov. 30

By Anne Krapfl
November 17

To prepare for a temporary relocation next door in the central receiving facility, ISU Surplus will hold a liquidation auction on Wednesday, Nov. 30 (5 p.m.). Ames-based Lynch Auction Co. will conduct the auction; viewing and auction numbers will be available at 4:30 p.m. in ISU Surplus' current location, 1102 Southern Hills Dr.

In addition to the typical items on the surplus sales floor -- office furniture, computer hardware, classroom teaching hardware, research and laboratory equipment, appliances -- the auction will include a few not-so-typical surplus items:

• Upright piano
• Band instruments (drums, trombones)
• Industrial band saw
• More than 200 antique vacuum tubes (40-plus years old, numerous sizes and designs)

Auction-goers may use cash, check or credit card to pay for their purchases. They may pick up their items until 9 p.m. that evening or 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. the next day, Dec. 1.

December move

ISU Surplus needs to vacate its current location by Jan. 1. The university has a new 10-year lease with the ISU Research Park for the entire warehouse building. It will be used by research park tenant Merck and Co., which had been leasing the south half of the building. Last year, Merck purchased Ames-based Harrisvaccines. The building is valuable to Merck because it has been licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For now, ISU Surplus will set up shop in the south end of the university's receiving facility at 925 Airport Rd.

Here's a quick look at the near future in ISU Surplus:

• Nov. 30: Liquidation auction of remaining merchandise
• December: No weekly department or public sales; other ISU Surplus services continue
• Jan. 3-4, 2017: First department and public sales in the new location

Setting up house at Geoffroy Hall

By Anne Krapfl
November 17

Keeping with an Iowa State tradition, students who move into the brand new Geoffroy residence hall in early January also will make their home in one of 14 "houses" -- the east or west half of seven floors named for individuals we're proud to call Iowa Staters.

The 14 individuals were selected last spring; five by the residence department's leadership team and nine by a task force of residence staff and Inter-Residence Hall Association (IRHA) students. Both teams started with the same list of about 35 possibilities, culled from sources that include the university's residence and student affairs histories and an index of retired house names from former residence halls.

It's a list of "really fantastic people on various levels of outstanding," said junior Wes Elias, 2015-16 IRHA vice president and a selection team member. "If we could have given a floor to all of them, we would."

Forced to make choices, he said the group sought some balance in gender, ethnicity, cultural diversity and time periods. The oldest honoree, Scotsman and acting college president James Geddes, died in 1879. Recently retired faculty members Dan Robinson and Larry Ebbers also are honored.

Susan Presto, a hall director for the residence department who will be reassigned to Geoffroy Hall, also served on the committee.

"A student's identity is very much tied to the house, and they take a lot of pride in their houses," she said. "A pop culture comparison is the house system at Hogwarts [of 'Harry Potter' fame]."

She explained that each house -- approximately 50-60 students -- has its own leadership team, funds and programming.

"I was very honored to be part of this group. We wanted to be sure the people we chose were individuals our students would look up to," Presto said.

As part of the assignment, Presto, Elias and their colleagues suggested a graphic for each house sign that represents that individual. A student in the department's marketing unit developed and refined the signs over the summer, and they were produced and installed in September. For example, the puzzle pieces on the Ebbers sign speak to his ability to connect people and resources. The front page look to the Mack sign reminds us of professor Barbara Mack's expansive career in journalism as reporter, lawyer and educator. Alas, attempts to paint Kellogg employee Mildred Day's name as Rice Krispie treat letters washed out and the team settled instead on images of baking tools.

The Geoffroy houses

Following is a nugget about the lives of the 14 house honorees at Geoffroy Hall. The boldfaced name is illustrated on the exterior house signs:

• Dorothy Bean (1912-99), first Iowa State library curator and founder of the university's history collection
• Clifford Berry (1918-63), alumnus, as an electrical engineering graduate student, co-invented the electronic digital computer with faculty member John Atanasoff
• Lauro Cavazos (b. 1927), alumnus, Texas Tech University president (1980-88) and U.S. Education Secretary (1988-90)
• Mildred Day (1903-96), alumna, recipe tester for the Kellogg Co., and co-creator of the Rice Krispie treat
• Vine Deloria Jr. (1933-2005), alumnus, author, history and law professor, and a leading Native American spokesperson
• Larry Ebbers (b. 1941), alumnus, spring 2016 faculty retiree (School of Education), former coordinator of ISU residence life and University Professor who led initiatives that strengthened community college education
• James Geddes (1827-87), Scotland native, Civil War veteran, war song lyricist and holder of numerous Iowa State titles (1870-87): steward, professor, acting president, treasurer, recorder and land agent
• Elizabeth Hoyt (1893-1980), economist, social scientist, faculty member (1925-80) and creator (1915) of a cost of living index that later developed into the Consumer Price Index
• Ted Kooser (b. 1939), alumnus, poet who served as U.S. Poet Laureate (2004-06) and recipient of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for poetry
• Barbara Mack (1952-2012), alumna, newspaper reporter, attorney, journalism faculty member (1986-2012) and assistant to the ISU president (1991-94)
• Samuel Massie (1919-2005), alumnus, member of the Manhattan Project research group at Iowa State, premier chemist, first black professor at the U.S. Naval Academy
• Dan Robinson (b. 1947), alumnus, diversity advocate, Cyclone offensive lineman and summer 2015 faculty retiree (School of Education), first African American at Iowa State to earn the titles of department chair, assistant dean and University Professor
• Charlotte Roderuck (1919-2007), food and nutrition faculty member (1948-88), associate dean of home economics (1975-78) and director of the former World Food Institute (1977-88) who paved the way for women scientists
• Lois Tiffany (1924-2009), alumna, faculty member (1950-2002) and first female Distinguished Professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, informally known as "The Mushroom Lady" for her research focus

Let them entertain you

By Erin Rosacker
November 17

Give thanks, Cyclone fans. Several Iowa State teams have home games over the next two weeks and some of the tickets are available at reduced prices.

The Cyclone football team wraps up its season with games in Jack Trice Stadium on the next two Saturdays. Faculty and staff can purchase $15 tickets for the Nov. 19 matchup with Texas Tech, and $10 tickets for the Nov. 26 season finale against West Virginia -- available at the athletics ticket office (Olsen Building) or through Ticketmaster by using the "CAMPUS" offer code. All fans can purchase $10 tickets for the West Virginia game during a 24-hour "flash sale" that begins at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 21.

ISU and other college students can show their university IDs at the athletics ticket office to purchase $5 tickets for student section seating at either game.

Limited tickets are available for the Nov. 20 men's basketball game vs. The Citadel, but the Dec. 1 game against Cincinnati is sold out. Fans can check the Ticket Exchange website for authorized ticket resales. 

Tickets are available for all three women's basketball games, including the Nov. 20 matchup with intrastate rival Drake. Discounted general admission tickets ($3) are being offered for the Nov. 22 and Nov. 27 contests. The Cyclone volleyball team, currently riding a six-game win streak, closes out its season at home Nov. 26 against Oklahoma. Fans can use their Cyclone football tickets for $2 admission to the match.

Upcoming Cyclone athletics home games

• Nov. 19, Football vs. Texas Tech (2:30 p.m., Jack Trice Stadium), $15-$65
• Nov. 20, Men's basketball vs. The Citadel (1 p.m., Hilton Coliseum), limited tickets available
• Nov. 20, Women's basketball vs. Drake (6 p.m., Hilton Coliseum), $5-$12
• Nov. 22, Women's basketball vs. Savannah State (7 p.m., Hilton Coliseum), $5-$12
• Nov. 26, Football vs. West Virginia (2:30 p.m., Jack Trice Stadium), $10-$65
• Nov. 26, Volleyball vs. Oklahoma (8 p.m., Hilton Coliseum), $5
• Nov. 27, Women's basketball vs. Arkansas State (2 p.m., Hilton Coliseum), $5-$12
• Dec. 1, Men's basketball vs. Cincinnati (8 p.m., Hilton Coliseum), sold out