Welcome back to campus
Day One of "spring" semester typically is a misnomer, and this week followed that pattern. Man Basnet (right), associate teaching professor in information systems and business analytics, instructs his students in MIS 3070, Intermediate Business Programming, on the first day of in-person class Wednesday in the Gerdin Business Building. Dangerous wind chills Tuesday morning compelled university leaders to move the first day of the semester to virtual learning. Photo by Christopher Gannon.
A worldwide commitment to recruiting Cyclones
Morrill Professor Don Sakaguchi takes a selfie with high school students during an I-FiT presentation in Goiania, Brazil, in 2023. About 70 students attended the event. Photo by Don Sakaguchi.
Jorge Calderon traces the current success of Iowa State's international recruiting team to 2020, when the office of admissions and enrollment management moved from student services to academic affairs.
"The provost's office identified international recruitment as one of three priorities. Our budget and staffing expanded, allowing us to do several important things," said the director of international recruiting. Things like more in-person interactions and more admitted student receptions around the world.
Iowa State went from two full-time international recruiters to five -- two based in India -- and now has 32 recruitment partners – recruiters not employed by the university – across the world. Calderon spent eight months recruiting internationally last year, and two full-time staff members each spent at least six months abroad. Recruiting took place primarily in Africa, Asia, Middle East and South America.
"We are one of the universities that travels the most to recruit students," Calderon said. "We are at every big event that makes sense for us as an institution."
International undergraduate admission offers have gone from 1,160 in 2020 to 2,423 in 2024 while enrollment nearly doubled, from 132 to 254, over the same period. Calderon expects both numbers to increase for fall 2025 with student admission acceptance in January up 123% over the same time a year ago.
The international recruitment team uses different events and approaches to pitch Iowa State to prospective students. The Association of International Enrollment Management recently recognized the team with the 2024 Institution of the Year award for its recruitment efforts and admitted student events.
I-FiT challenges
Innovation Fellows in Training (I-FiT) challenges first occurred during the pandemic to attract students to Iowa State when virtual interaction was the only option. Calderon expanded the idea and held the first in-person challenge in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2021. The ninth was completed this month in Seoul, South Korea. High school students attend the two-day innovation workshops with a theme -- ranging from animal health to business concepts focused in STEM -- and include an initial presentation by faculty or other ISU experts. Students who complete the workshop receive an innovation certificate and T-shirt.
"We host two to three of these a year in various countries around the world," Calderon said. "We don't run these events on themes that are highly popular, for example computer science or mechanical engineering. When we go to these large student fairs, 50% are interested in computer science, 35% in engineering and we might meet one or two students looking for design or life sciences at these fairs."
Calderon uses time in front of students and their families to promote entrepreneurship, animal science, life sciences, design and more. The university still receives interest from dozens of students pursuing the more popular majors.
High school students taking part in the I-FiT challenge earlier this month in Seoul, South Korea, where Morrill Professor Don Sakaguchi presented "Healthy Animals, Healthier World." After his presentation, students worked on a project. Photo by Don Sakaguchi.
Connecting with students
Judi Eyles, Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship director, has led virtual and in-person I-FiT programs. She traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2023 for an in-person event. Eyles focused on team building, problem solving and pitching with students.
"The problems students face in Kuala Lumpur are the same problems our students face," she said. "They are worried about sustainability, mental health and social media. We talked about how to innovate and problem solve, with fun activities sprinkled in, and by the end of the second day they pitched a presentation."
Eyles said Calderon sat in the back of the room. During a break, one by one students approached him to sign up for admission to Iowa State.
"During one of our stops, we went into an admissions office where there were banners hanging of universities from across America. It shows how these students are inundated with literature and brochures every day," she said. "When you can connect them with people and show them an experience they can have at Iowa State, they become active and start to see what they can do."
Don Sakaguchi, biology and genetics undergraduate program director and Morrill Professor, led the I-FiT in Seoul this month, his third in-person event. ISU students who work in his lab interact virtually with the high school students during his presentation.
"Many of these students haven't had the opportunity to interact with professors before, and they really enjoy interacting with the Iowa State students," he said. "They learn what it's like to be a college student and what kind of experiential learning opportunities our students are involved in."
Sakaguchi praised Calderon for his behind-the-scenes work to set up events, making the experience easier for the presenting faculty and staff.
"The international recruitment team's organizational and planning skills, along with their energy, just make it something I'm happy to be involved in," he said.
Admitted student receptions
The additional resources for international student recruitment also made Iowa State a national leader in admitted student receptions hosted across the world. Forty-seven events will be held in 18 countries this spring, giving international students another chance to meet faculty, staff and potential classmates.
"We don't compete just with other universities, we compete with other countries for students, and most universities only host these events in their top markets," Calderon said. "It's so important that we are present so students will consider us as an option."
About 65% of students who attend a reception commit to Iowa State, Calderon said. He said the post-pandemic trend of colleges and universities making admissions exams optional led to students submitting more applications -- from two or three to as many as 20.
"Instead of just being one of many to send an email or letter, this is our extra bit to get into a room with the student," Calderon said. "If you are not there when the student comes with their parents, then you are not on their list."
Members of a 2022 familiarization trip pose with Cy while visiting campus to learn more about Iowa State and central Iowa. Submitted photo.
FAM trips
Yearly familiarization trips (FAM trips) bring 15-20 guests from across the world for a week at Iowa State and surrounding areas, giving them a better idea of what is available to prospective students.
"These are key people from recruitment partners and high school counselors and advisors," Calderon said. "Some of these people have never been to the U.S. What they know is East Coast and West Coast, not the Midwest."
Visitors have opportunities to speak with representatives from the undergraduate colleges and also experience central Iowa culture, for example, Ames restaurants, bowling at the Memorial Union or the National Balloon Classic in Indianola. They learn about campus job and internship opportunities for students.
"FAM trips are important because these people are talking to and advising the students we hope to recruit," Calderon said.
January paychecks reflect several Jan. 1 changes
Employees should anticipate that their January paychecks may look a little different from their December paychecks. Salary increases, insurance premium increases and more changes to state income tax policy all are contributors. Employees may compare their pay slips in Workday to verify the impact to their take-home pay.
The first piece, increases to employee premiums for medical and dental insurance for the 2025 plan year, showed up in December paychecks since those are paid in advance. This month, several other variables may influence employees' take-home pay:
- Performance-based salary increases, effective Jan. 1
- Lower flat tax rate on Iowa individual income for 2025
- New withholding formula for Iowa income tax for 2025
Salary increases
Performance-based pay increases for faculty, professional and scientific (P&S) and contract staff and postdocs, based on fall performance evaluations, took effect on Jan. 1. This is a timing shift from the previous spring performance evaluations and July pay increases. For employees with satisfactory performance evaluations this year, the salary adjustment range was 1%-3%. Higher increases were possible for exemplary performance.
For merit staff, the new timeline doesn't impact their positions. Their performance review window remained the same and their pay increases follow the state's collective bargaining agreement (PDF) with the Iowa Council of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the Iowa Board of Regents' merit system rules. The most recent contract increase (3%) occurred on July 1, 2024. Merit employees not at the top of their pay grade could receive a 1% performance-based increase their anniversary date.
Income withholding
To accommodate a lower income tax rate and other directives in a 2024 law, the state Department of Revenue has issued new tax withholding tables for 2025 based on pay frequency, withholdings requested in an employee's Iowa W-4 form and, for the first time, which of three marital status options an employee selects on that form: head of household, married filing jointly or other (which includes single and married filing separately).
Employees who want to confirm enough Iowa income tax is being withheld to meet their tax liability may use the state revenue department's updated withholding estimator to calculate their 2025 state withholdings. If they need to make changes to align with that estimated amount, employees should update their Iowa W-4 form in Workday (select "Benefits and Pay," then "Withholding Elections" and "State Elections"). Employees may complete a new Iowa W-4 as often as needed; instructions are in a knowledge base article.
Staff in the ISU payroll office can't provide tax advice. Employees should contact a tax professional for help with their tax-related questions.
Annual Carver celebration also will honor Patterson
The university community is invited to celebrate two accomplished alumni, George Washington Carver and Frederick Douglass Patterson, on Monday, Feb. 3, during the third annual George Washington Carver Day event. The 75-minute program begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall (registration opens at 5 p.m.), followed by an ice cream reception in the South Ballroom. Online registration is requested by Monday, Jan. 27. Leaders from the colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture and Life Sciences planned the event.
In addition to studying at Iowa State about 30 years apart, Carver and Patterson built distinguished careers in science at Tuskegee University in Alabama -- where they knew each other -- and each has a building named for him on Iowa State's campus.
About Carver
Carver
Carver received bachelor's (1894) and master's (1896) degrees in agriculture from Iowa Agricultural College. He was Iowa State's first Black student and faculty member before leaving for a lifelong career at Tuskegee (1896-1943), developing hundreds of food products from peanuts, sweet potatoes and about a dozen other plants native to the southern United States.
Jewel Bronaugh, who serves as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and president and CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation, will present the main talk on Carver's life and legacy. Since 2016, the foundation has built partnerships and mobilized resources in support of the 19 historically Black land-grant universities, which includes Tuskegee. She is a former dean of agriculture at Virginia State University, Petersburg, also one of the 19.
Bronaugh's talk is part of the Lectures Program series, and students can scan their ID cards for class credit as they leave.
About Patterson
Dan Grooms and Ruby Perry, deans of the veterinary medicine colleges at Iowa State and Tuskegee, respectively, will share remarks on Patterson.
Patterson
During a yearlong celebration (2022-23) of the 100th anniversary of Patterson's graduation from Iowa State in veterinary medicine, the college named its main building for him. As president of Tuskegee (1935-53), Patterson founded the school's colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Engineering and created the commercial aviation program that morphed into the World War II fighter squadron, the Tuskegee Airmen. In retirement, he founded the United Negro College Fund, an organization that has raised billions of dollars for scholarships for African American students.
The program also will include brief remarks from Kenneth Quinn, emeritus president of the World Food Prize Foundation, Des Moines; and Simon Estes, F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Artist in Residence and adjunct professor of music. The duo had a pivotal role in the 2022 legislation that made Feb. 1 George Washington Carver Day every year in Iowa.
Student contributions
Cantamus, a 60-voice ensemble directed by assistant teaching professor of voice Jennifer Rodgers, will perform two songs, including the premiere of "ISU Carillon Call," a spirit song that blends pieces of "Bells of Iowa State" and "Hail Iowa State," arranged by May 2024 music alumna Madison Mayfield.
Student winners of a creative poster competition also will be announced during the program. Students from any ISU college were invited to design a poster that promotes the lasting impact of either Carver or Patterson's accomplishments in the world today. The 10 submissions will be displayed in the South Ballroom; the top poster about each alumnus receives a $750 cash prize.
Related stories
- Iowa State community remembers an accomplished alumnus, Feb. 2, 2023
- Feb. 1 will be George Washington Carver Day in Iowa, June 23, 2022
Reminders for university employees about political advocacy
As the 2025 Iowa legislative session got underway last week, President Wendy Wintersteen shared Iowa State's policies about political advocacy with the campus community.
Advocacy efforts on behalf of the university are led by the Iowa Board of Regents in coordination with the president's office.
As citizens, all university employees may participate in the political process on their own behalf, using personal time and personal resources. Employees who advocate for political issues (for example, through letters to the editor, opinion articles or social media posts) should take care to note they are speaking as an individual citizen, and their views are not the views of the university.
In support of, or opposition to, a political candidate or measure, employees can't do so during their university working hours or using university resources and equipment, including email account, telephone, letterhead, social media channel, etc.
Additional guidelines regarding political activities on campus are posted on the university's Federal and State Relations website.
Employees should direct their questions to these members of the president's team:
- State legislative matters: Carolann Jensen, state relations officer, 515-250-2585 or cjensen3@iastate.edu.
- Federal legislative matters: Sophia Magill, senior advisor to the president, 515-294-2320 or smagill@iastate.edu.
- Employee political activity: Michael Norton, university general counsel, 515-294-5352 or mnorton@iastate.edu.
Related story
ISU hosts meat competition
Iowa State's Meats Laboratory will host the American Association of Meat Processors competition for sausage and ham Jan. 27-30 in the Kildee Hall atrium. More than 30 processors from the U.S. and Canada will bring more than 630 registered products to the competition. Four of the competitors are from Iowa, including animal science program coordinator Matthew Wenger. Faculty, staff, students and the public may watch the competition, and samples will be offered throughout it.
Every three years, the German Butchers Association (DFV) holds an international competition in Frankfurt, Germany, as part of International Food Fair, the world's leading trade fair on technology for meat. American companies struggle to participate, so DFV judges come to the U.S. to judge products. Meat will be judged on appearance, consistency, smell and taste, with awards presented at the international competition in Frankfurt in May.
Six judges will be on campus on Monday (10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.), and Tuesday and Thursday (8 a.m.-4 p.m.) with a lunch break at noon each day. No activities are scheduled on Wednesday.
