Teacher and chief booster

April 03

Photo by Christopher Gannon.

Human resource management freshman Izzy Phillips takes a selfie with mathematics Morrill Professor Steve Butler outside Parks Library last Thursday, a campuswide exam day for students in calculus 1, 2 and 3. Butler began his "Good Luck" sign tradition last semester to wish students well and offer calculus help on the spot to passing students each exam day. Phillips is not a current calculus student but confessed her boyfriend is a regular watcher of Butler's popular YouTube video series, "Beard Meets Calculus," which has more than 12,000 subscribers. 

On the eve of Admitted Student Day, enrollment signs are encouraging

By Inside staff
April 03

If you're on campus Friday, April 4, keep an eye out to lend directional help. More than 2,000 visitors are expected for the fourth spring Admitted Student Day (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). The event is for prospective students with an admission offer to Iowa State, some of whom have accepted their offer. Many of them are visiting campus with family members for the first time -- or again -- to decide if Iowa State will be their school.

Katharine Johnson Suski, assistant vice president of enrollment management and executive director of admissions and new student programs, said fewer are undecided this spring than a year ago.

"We are seeing more students accept their offers earlier this year because financial aid packages have already gone out to first-year students. That was not the case a year ago," Suski said. "We don't know if that will continue, but we are ahead and looking good for the fall 2025 class."

She said comparing the size of the incoming first-year class to a year ago is difficult because of the delay caused by problems with the revised Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form last year. But she described applications, offers and acceptance to the university as "strong."

The day gives students and families the chance to solidify their choice before the May 1 national college decision day.

"We really encourage students to make their decision on or before May 1 because we are growing," Suski said. "[Making the decision this month] allows them to manage all of their enrollment steps and ensures the best chance at getting their top choices."

Smoother path for FAFSA filers

Director of student financial aid Chad Olson concurred that student FAFSA submissions and the U.S. Department of Education's processing of them has gone much smoother this year. The FAFSA form became available several days before the announced Dec. 1 date, and within five business days, his office was receiving student data, he said. Iowa State's first financial aid offers -- a large batch of 16,000 letters -- left campus March 11, well ahead of last spring's April 26 first mailing of the same size. Including about 1,000 financial aid offers to transfer students this week, his team has processed and mailed about 19,000 offers. He said his team will continue to prepare financial aid offers as applications come in.

As anticipated, Olson said more ISU students are eligible for the need-based, federal Pell grant under the revised FAFSA formula. In fall 2023 -- the final academic year with the old FAFSA -- 4,892 (19.5%) Iowa State undergraduates were supported by a Pell grant. In fall 2024, 6,039 (23.6%) undergraduates' financial aid package included a Pell grant.

By law, the FAFSA form for the 2026-27 year will be live this fall by Oct. 1, a return to the timeline prior to the FAFSA revision project in 2023.

No cliff here

Strong enrollment numbers this fall would continue a trend in which Iowa State has not seen the "enrollment cliff" that has impacted some neighboring states. Suski said planning and targeted efforts have kept Iowa State appealing to prospective students.

"Iowa's high school graduating classes are staying pretty steady compared to other states, and we took very specific actions to insure against any demographic drops in some markets," Suski said. "Beginning in 2019, we began talking about how to prepare for any shifts, and we are seeing the results."

Important day

Suski said Admitted Student Day provides students and families an opportunity to learn about and make connections at Iowa State in a low-stress environment. Campus visits coordinator Brylee Groskreutz works with about a thousand faculty, staff and student volunteers to provide a personal experience.

The day begins with a welcome session and a set of college open houses to help visitors connect with college representatives and student support services. After lunch, four 45-minute blocks let students visit their areas of interest, from a college to a department, research lab or even a specific faculty member. Suski said the colleges developed overview sessions of the different majors in their colleges specifically for students still deciding on a major. She said Admitted Student Day "really is all about the experience" and less transactional than campus visits at other times of the year.

"It seems to fit the needs of most students, whatever those needs might be," she added.

At a signing day table in the ISU Book Store (9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), admitted students may sign their non-binding "certificate of intent" to enroll at Iowa State and share the experience on social media.

Changes to TIAA plan take effect this month; learn more

By Anne Krapfl
April 03

In mid-April, several previously announced enhancements to Iowa State's retirement plan with TIAA will take effect. In the lead-up week, TIAA participants are invited to learn more about the changes at one of six in-person or virtual general information sessions. There also will be a 10-day window (April 14-25) for one-on-one sessions with a TIAA professional to discuss individual plans.

The basic design of the retirement program with TIAA will remain the same, as will contribution rates and eligibility requirements. And consultations with TIAA representatives, virtual and on-campus options, will remain free. The changes are intended to make the plan more attractive, for both current and prospective employees.

An overview

The general information sessions will cover topics such as:

• Investment funds being removed from and added to the menu for ISU participants. The number will go from 45 to 28 funds.
• The new self-directed brokerage account, an option not offered previously.
• The new default option, Iowa State RetireOnTrack. For participants who don't select from the above options, their account balance will go into this portfolio.
• Instructions for accessing and tools for managing your account
• Timeline for the transition, including deadlines

General information sessions*

*Employees are asked to not use the general information sessions to ask questions unique to their portfolios.

Individual help

Employees who participate in the TIAA plan who'd like a discussion about their account specifically have several options to get individual help:

1. Stop at an on-site information desk prior to and following all three in-person information sessions.

2. Schedule an in-person or virtual session during the April 14-25 window at www.tiaa.org/schedulenow or by phone, 800-732-8353 (weekdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m.). Campus buildings designated for in-person meetings are:

• Beardshear Hall
• General Services Building
• Memorial Union
• Parks Library
• Patterson Hall (College of Veterinary Medicine)

Related story

• April enhancements coming to TIAA retirement plan, Feb. 20, 2025

P&S CYtation recipients recognized for exemplary service

April 03

At a March 25 breakfast and ceremony, 39 professional and scientific (P&S) employees received the P&S Council's CYtation Award for their outstanding work and contributions during calendar year 2024. More information about the recipients -- 16 individuals and five teams -- is on the council's website.

Council president Jason Follett, president-elect Jennifer Schroeder and awards committee chair Christine Reinders presented the awards.

CYtation award nominations open in October. Individual awards recognize an achievement within the last two years, and team nominations recognize achievement within the last year.

Professional and Scientific Council Woodin CYtation Award recipient

Created in memory of former council member Dan Woodin, this award recognizes a career of dedication and service to Iowa State. Recipients receive a framed certificate and a gift donated by one of the council's ISU partners: ISU Book Store or Reiman Gardens.

• Krista Klocke, instructor development, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching

Professional and Scientific Council CYtation Award recipients

• Wendy Borja-Diaz, administration, College of Ag and Life Science
• Travis Brace, student counseling services
• Heather Bruno, Child Development Laboratory School
• Lesya Hassall, course design and quality, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
• Mitchell Hein, hall director, department of residence
• Tess Howard, customer relations, Seed Science Center
• Jessica Ji, software development, Information Technology Services
• Shalika Khindurangala, career services, College of Engineering
• Jeff Nelson, student counseling services
• Susheel Nethi, department of chemical and biological engineering
• Heather Sauer, communications, College of Design 
• Samantha Smith, department of ecology, evolution and organismal biology
• Tracey Stewart, office of biotechnology
• Allen Tierney, ITS Solution Center

Professional and Scientific Council CYtation Team Award recipients

• Iowa 4-H Computer Science: Beth Bunkers, Alexa Groff, Katie Lubbert, Katie Peterson, Mary Tagg and Brenda Welch
• Testing Center: Kenya Arrants, Joel Hochstein, Carly Nekvinda and Marla Wilfawn
• Team Institutional Review Board (IRB): Kerry Agnitsch, Roxanne Bappe, Deirdre Rosenfeld, Kristie Romsdahl and Raeann Ritland
• Career Services, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Tessa Brow, Callie Craig, Hannah Hoffman, Anne Nelson, Heidi Seegers and Rosalie Vos Tulp
• Marketing and Communications Services, Ivy College of Business: Michele Appelgate, Emily Bowman, Spencer Feinberg, Suzanne Lyndon and Cindy Robertson

Professional and Scientific Council Outstanding Counselor Award recipient

• Sara Everson, customer relations, department of public safety

Innovate 1858 offers opportunity to more than just students

By Jeff Budlong
April 03

Innovate 1858 student employee Julia Stoll, an apparel marketing and design major, works with inventory inside the shop in the Student Innovation Center on Monday afternoon. Photos by Christopher Gannon.

Iowa State's commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship is on full display at Innovate 1858, the student-run retail store on the first floor of the Student Innovation Center. Shelves and racks are stocked with Iowa State-themed products designed and produced by students, faculty, staff and alumni.

"We are rare," said Emily Worrall, entrepreneurship Ph.D. candidate and Innovate 1858 store manager. "Other universities have tried this concept but have not been successful. A big part of that is the environment of our university and how it sees Innovate 1858 with a long-term vision."

Worrall said the experience led graduates to land jobs at Dior, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ulta and more.

Monthly pitches

Monthly product pitch events have occurred since Innovate 1858 opened in 2020. More than 50 makers have partnered with the store to sell their items, which range from T-shirts and baby clothes to honey and keychains. Innovate 1858 staff buy the items at wholesale price -- ensuring makers receive profit upfront -- and sell them at retail price in the store.

Students, faculty, staff and alumni pitch the merchandise team on their products, which range from the beginning of an idea to developed prototypes ready to begin production. The pitch sessions stay positive with feedback focusing on strengths of the product and areas to improve. During pitches, the team focuses on certain questions for makers:

• Why do you want to sell at Innovate 1858?
• Who is the product for?
• What is the material and labor cost of the product?
• How will you scale up production?

A faculty advisory board from the College of Health and Human Sciences helps determine which products are purchased and a sale price. Store sales and assistance from the college are used to purchase products to sell in the store.

"Whether they have a fully developed product or just a concept, we guide them through development, branding and marketing," Worrall said. "Once their products are in our store, we showcase them through social media, our website and in-store promotions to highlight the creators behind the products."

Worrall said a strong relationship with the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship allows Innovate 1858 staff to direct makers to the center if the idea is better suited for a different market. Several CYstarter businesses have sold products in the store.

Learn by doing

Worrall designed and teaches an experiential, four-credit course for all students who work in the store. The course can be repeated, with students taking different tracks each time, advancing from assistant to manager and director. Topics include entrepreneurship, e-commerce, small business management, public relations and more.

"Anything that happens in the store I have a lecture on, and students are taking what they are learning directly to the store," she said.

Students choose what part of the business they want to operate in -- for example, merchandise, product development, inventory management, marketing, human relations, social media, etc. -- and receive frequent opportunities to learn about other departments to see where their interest lies. They work up to 20 hours a week in the store.

Innovate 1858 student employee Julia Stoll, straightens merchandise on a display table.

Continued support

Worrall makes a concerted effort to connect with and continue to sell products of Cyclone alums. Each month features a different "Maker Chat" to introduce the people behind the products, and student employees visit businesses and owners to learn about the product and hear directly from the entrepreneur.

"We do a lot of social media outreach to alumni who have businesses or faculty who have a side hustle, to add them to our space," she said. "The tagline 'For Cyclones by Cyclones' doesn’t just apply when you are a student at Iowa State."