It's fashion week on campus
Freshman marketing student Angel Toluwalase (left) preps fabric shapes for the front of her T-shirt during a decorating event Monday afternoon at the Student Innovation Center multipurpose space. T-shirt decorating started off a fashion week lineup that highlights student innovation and creativity and culminates with the Fashion Show Saturday evening at C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. Toluwalase is a member of the design committee for the fashion show. Photos by Christopher Gannon.
Phased phone migration to Microsoft Teams Voice begins next month
Over the next 12 months, all employees will transition from Cisco Webex to Microsoft Teams (MS) Voice for their phone service. As part of that change, most of us also will switch from using a physical desk phone to the Voice software on our computer or mobile device, a mode known as softphone. Employees will keep their phone numbers.
This change in phone service is part of the university's ongoing adoption of communication and collaboration options in Microsoft Teams. Iowa State's contract for Webex meetings, webinars and voice will end in June 2026.
"The way Iowa State employees work is changing. From some of the statistics we've seen, more and more use Teams for meetings and chatting," said project manager Kori Spengler, collaboration services team, Information Technology Services (ITS). "We think people who migrate to a softphone will have a positive work experience."
Project website:
Campus phone migration
Includes FAQ, migration schedule and links to how-to articles and Workday Learning course
Everyone will switch to a softphone unless there's a compelling reason not to, she said. For example, her team is investigating solutions for a help desk number not assigned to an individual and used by multiple people, including student employees.
Her team has been using and testing Teams Voice since July. The rest of ITS employees and other early adopters were added from December through last month.
Migration for the rest of campus will occur over time. From this May through April 2026, employee groups will make the switch. The impacted employees will receive an email from ITS as their phase approaches. Spengler said the subsequent training will vary according to an employee's current and future phone mode:
- Desk phone users who will migrate to Teams Voice softphone
- Webex softphone users who will migrate to Teams Voice softphone
- Desk phone users who will receive a different desk phone
Microsoft Teams: Audio vs. Voice
Unlike Teams Audio, in which employees select the name of another person on the same Teams site for a conversation (audio or video), Teams Voice users "dial" on a keypad to make a call. Teams Voice has services like voice messaging and call back. Other benefits:
- Call phone numbers that are on or off campus
- No need to dial "8" prior to dialing an off-campus number
- No need to dial "1" for long distance calls; the system normalizes these calls
- Place and receive phone calls from anywhere you're using MS Teams, such as a campus desktop, laptop at home, or in the MS Teams app on your smartphone
- In the case of a 911 call, ITS has integrated campus physical locations to the Teams Voice software
- For Teams Voice users in softphone-only mode, the cost to your department/unit is lower ($10/month vs $17/month to include a physical phone)
When it's your turn
Phone users will receive an email message from ITS prior to their migration that includes information about the project, timeline and invitation to a learning session, which Spengler's team will host throughout the migration period. In addition, employees may complete a 30-minute course in Workday Learning, Introduction to Microsoft Teams Phone. The project website includes how-to articles for specific functions in Teams Voice, for example, setting up a conference call or setting up an out-of-office message in voicemail.
What to do now
Spengler said leading up to their unit's migration window, employees should complete a few tasks:
1. Clear out voicemails in their Cisco Webex software (whether physical phone or softphone). There is no capacity to carry over voicemails to Teams Voice, so any messages that need to be saved should be moved to another location. A knowledge base article can help with this: How to save your Cisco voicemails.
2. For those who will use a softphone for the first time and who use the phone frequently for their work, investigate and purchase a good headset with a quality microphone. A knowledge base article includes information about Microsoft-certified headsets: What headset is recommended for video conferencing and calling?
Some brands of ear buds could serve the same purpose as a headset. Employees are encouraged to assess variables such as comfort, battery life and microphone quality (for good audio quality) if they plan to use ear buds with their softphone.
25-Year Club turns 90 this spring
Iowa State's 90th 25-Year Club celebratory banquet will be held Monday, April 14, at the Gateway Center and Conference Center. This spring, the club welcomes 74 new members and honors 45 other faculty and staff for additional service to the university -- 10 employees who completed 45 years of service in 2024 and 35 who completed 35 years of service. Fifty years is another milestone to celebrate, but no employees hit that mark last year.
New members of the 25-Year Club have completed at least 25 years of consecutive service by Dec. 31 of the given year, in this case, 2024.
Laura Helmus, student support specialist at the Memorial Union who's serving as club president, said this year's honorees collectively have provided 3,525 years of service to Iowa State.
President Wendy Wintersteen, who speaks at the dinner each spring, also will be recognized this year among the 45-year honorees. She began her career in 1979 as one of ISU Extension's first female associates in integrated pest management. After completing her doctorate in entomology, she rose through the faculty ranks before stepping into administrative roles in Extension and Outreach and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, including college dean (2006-17).
An Iowa State tradition
Informally founded in 1915, the 25-Year Club was formally organized in 1934 under the Iowa State College Alumni Association. Harold Pride, who served as secretary of the alumni association that year, wrote to the club's charter members:
"Staff members who have served the college as long as you have come to personify the college to her alumni. Buildings and land do not make a college, it is the men and women of the staff who make any college."
Congratulations, honorees
Below is the roster of employees who reached an employment milestone in 2024, many of whom will be present at the 25-Year Club celebration April 14:
For 45 years of service (10)
- Jeff Braland, Horticulture research station, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Lynn Clark, Ecology, evolution and organismal biology
- Richard Cruse, Agronomy
- Garry Greenlee, Recreation services
- Steven Niebuhr, Animal science
- Nancy Qvale, Civil, construction and environmental engineering
- Richard Schultz, Natural resource ecology and management
- Mack Shelley, Political science, statistics
- Warren Straszheim, Office of biotechnology
- Wendy Wintersteen, Office of the president
For 35 years of service (35)
- Peggy Auwerda, Animal science
- Tess Balsley, Veenker Memorial Golf Course
- Jane Blair, Pine team, Finance service delivery
- David Brenner, North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Margaret Carter, Office of biotechnology
- Vinay Dayal, Aerospace engineering
- Rhonda Deshong, Ames National Laboratory
- Susan Elsner, Ames National Laboratory
- Mary Finch, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Ann-Marie Fiore, Apparel, events and hospitality management
- Beth Foreman, Student recruitment, College of Health and Human Services
- John Hoffman, Information technology services
- Jennifer Holdredge, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Mitchell Hoyer, Youth 4-H, Extension and Outreach
- Mark Huss, Capital projects, facilities planning and management
- Albert Jergens, Veterinary clinical sciences
- Kristen Johansen, Biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
- Steven Kawaler, Physics and astronomy
- Diana Keech, Redwood team, Finance service delivery
- Renee Knosby, Budget and finance, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Kris Kohl, Agriculture and natural resources, Extension and Outreach
- Richard McColley, Environmental health and safety
- Kristina Miles, Veterinary clinical sciences
- Jennifer Newman, Mathematics
- Lesia Oesterreich, Human Sciences Extension and Outreach
- Jacob Petrich, Chemistry
- Stacey Poling, Office of admissions
- Ronald Roberts, Center for Nondestructive Evaluation
- Marva Ruther, Office of sponsored programs administration
- Hal Sailsbury, Ames National Laboratory
- Julie Schrader, Aspen/Sycamore teams, Finance service delivery
- Wayne Stevens, Campus services, facilities planning and management
- Julie Stewart, Communications, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Kim Vo, Budget and finance, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Curtis Youngs, Animal science
For 25 years of service (74)
- Brenda Allen, Strategy and operations, Extension and Outreach
- Craig Anderson, Psychology
- Michel Baker, Office of biotechnology
- Ashraf Bastawros, Aerospace engineering
- Joydeep Bhattacharya, Economics
- Lora Bierbaum, Office of sponsored programs administration
- Kaela Black, Office of the senior vice president and provost
- Terri Boylston, Food science and human nutrition
- Mary Brunotte, Residence
- Helle Bunel, Economics
- Nolan Christensen, Campus services, facilities planning and management
- Amy Chriswell, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
- Jason Curry, Information technology services
- Dwight Dake, Information technology services
- Domenico D'Alessandro, Mathematics
- Samuel Demarie, Management and entrepreneurship
- Kelley Farrar, Residence
- Carmen Flagge, Student services, College of Health and Human Services
- Glen Galvin, Virtual Reality Applications Center
- Michale Golemo, Music and theatre
- Paul Gormley, Center for Industrial Research and Service
- Manimaran Govindarasu, Electrical and computer engineering
- Heather Greenlee, Graduate College
- Nancy Grudens-Schuck, Agricultural education and studies
- Kamel Harrata, Instrumental services, chemistry
- Kirk Haugland, ISU Dining
- Pol Herrmann, Management and entrepreneurship
- Dwight Hinson, Office of equal opportunity
- Andrew Hochstetler, Sociology
- Joan Howard, Veterinary clinical sciences
- Hiroyuki Iino, Iowa State Online, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
- Yan-bin Jia, Computer science
- Jeff Johnson, ISU Alumni Association
- Doug Jones, Veterinary pathology
- Lenard Kluck, University library
- Marina Kraeva, Information technology services
- Lesley Lackore, Procurement services
- Michael Lohrbach, Information technology services
- Michael Lowe, Facilities, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Richard Martin, Biomedical sciences
- Clarke McGrath, Iowa Soybean Research Center
- Angela McGuigan, Ames National Laboratory
- Kenneth Meeder, Residence
- Tina Mercer, parking office, Public safety
- Terrasa Mouw-Grewell, ISU Dining
- Cathy Owen, Grants Hub, office of the vice president for research
- James Pepper, Campus services, facilities planning and management
- James Reecy, Office of the vice president for research
- Karen Rodekamp, ISU Dining
- Aaron Rogers, Information technology services
- Sarah Ryan, Industrial and manufacturing systems engineering
- Kevin Schalinske, Food science and human nutrition
- Kevin Scholbrock, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences administration
- Jeff Schreck, Campus services, facilities planning and management
- Camille Schroeder, Grain Science Complex, Agricultural and biosystems engineering
- David Schweingruber, Sociology and criminal justice
- Brent Shanks, Chemical and biological engineering
- Jacqueline Shanks, Chemical and biological engineering
- Erik Sjoblom, ISU Dining
- William Spratt, Logistics specialties and services, facilities planning and management
- Sri Sritharan, College of Engineering administration
- Brian Steward, Agricultural and biosystems engineering
- Mark Storlie, Iowa Pork Industry Center
- Mike Stueckradt, Information technology services
- Brent Swanson, University library
- Lezlie Tate, Fir team, Finance service delivery
- Wallapak Tavanapong, Computer science
- Kristin Taylor, Human Sciences Extension and Outreach
- Shelley Taylor, Global engagement, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Lucas Tibbits, Information technology services
- Ann Torbert, County services, Extension and Outreach
- Larry Tranel, Agriculture and natural resources, Extension and Outreach
- Alex Tuckness, Political science
- Mary Wiedenhoeft, Agronomy
Faculty Senate prepares for busy conclusion to the semester
The Faculty Senate discussed 10 pieces of new business and gave final approval to several other items up for a second reading during the April 8 meeting. New business items receive a second reading at the next meeting prior to a vote.
The College of Design proposed a bachelor's of fine arts in illustration (PDF) to help students communicate ideas through images that educate, inform and explain. The proposal said the college's recruitment team received significant interest from prospective students over the years for a major in illustration. Graduates could work in fields such as publishing, advertising, animation or gaming. The major -- requiring 128 credits -- expands on a minor of the same name that has been offered for five years.
Senators heard about proposed changes to three policies and processes:
- Approving a student request to repeat a course (PDF) for which the course number or number of credits change because of the move to Workday would be determined by the department offering the repeat. A student's advisor no longer would approve the request.
- Resolving a course incomplete (PDF) would occur when a student either completes the requirements in an incomplete contract or the resolution date passes. The new grade no longer would require a notation that it resolved an incomplete. The grade would become part of the student's term and cumulative GPA.
- Eliminating the requirement that concurrent bachelor's and master's degree programs (PDF) be approved by the Faculty Senate. The degrees already have been approved by the Faculty Senate, senior vice president and provost, ISU president and the Iowa Board of Regents. Both the Faculty Handbook and the Graduate Handbook would be updated.
Other new business included a series of proposed undergraduate minors:
- In art (PDF) from the art and visual culture department. The minor would focus on studio art methodologies in several media areas for students with little or no experience with hands-on artmaking.
- In art history (PDF) from the art and visual culture department. Students would learn about art created by ancient to contemporary cultures around the world in the minor. It would allow non-majors to explore art, architecture and culture across time periods and regions.
- In paleontology (PDF) -- a first for a regent university -- primarily in the department of earth, atmosphere and climate. It's designed for science, Technology, engineering, arts and mathmatics majors to learn about ecosystems, environments and climates, and how fossil evidence benefits their majors.
- In photography (PDF) from the art and visual culture department and the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. It would combine the fine art and photojournalistic approaches to photography to make majors in either more well-rounded in the job market. Students would develop skills in shooting for fine arts, design, journalism, marketing and public relations.
The School of Education requested a name change for the master of education specialization (PDF) in curriculum and instructional technology, to educational technology. The new name aligns with current trends and emphasizes the program's integration of technology into teaching and learning.
Other business
Senators approved:
- A name change (PDF) in the College of Design for the department of community and regional planning to the department of urban planning and development. The new name is the standard in the field, helps students identify the program and reflects the name employers increasingly are using for job titles in the field.
- Changes to the membership of the faculty compensation committee bylaws (PDF) to ensure that term, tenure-eligible and tenured faculty are more equally represented. Voting members are one faculty member per college and one at-large member.
- Updates (PDF) to the Faculty Handbook sections on faculty evaluation and review, honorary degrees, the faculty pool for review boards and major sanction committees, the office of equal opportunity, and the appointment of ad hoc investigative committees to comply with Senate File 2435, passed into law last spring.
- Also to comply with the 2024 law, an update to the Faculty Senate bylaws (Article VI, Section 4) regarding committees of the Council on Faculty Development and Administrative Relations.
- Updates to the Faculty Handbook section on administrative structure (PDF) to reflect the current configuration.
- The College of Health and Human Sciences' request to rename the kinesiology department (PDF) kinesiology and health. The change brings ISU in line with peer universities and makes it more identifiable to students. Senators approved both a motion to wave the second reading and the name change itself.
Proposed revisions to the Faculty Handbook section on salary policies and procedures (PDF) that would bring it into alignment with current university practices were sent back to the resource policies and allocations council for more discussion.
Stephens Auditorium, Reiman Gardens partner for summer concert series
Stephens Auditorium and Reiman Gardens will cosponsor five shows in the Goldfinch Room's songwriter showcase at Reiman Gardens this summer. This partnership brings together singers and songwriters from the Midwest in the Goldfinch Room tradition of storytelling and the beauty of Reiman Gardens. Performances will take place on Tuesdays in the gardens' Catalpa Courtyard.
Both a season pass ($50) and tickets to individual shows ($15) may be purchased online now. Individual concert tickets are $20 on the day of the show. Passes and tickets include free admission to Reiman Gardens on the afternoon of the performance. Reiman Gardens members will receive free admission to the performances.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be hosting the Goldfinch Room songwriter showcase at Reiman Gardens this summer. It's an incredible opportunity to welcome such a talented lineup of artists to our space, and we can't wait to share this unique experience with our community, said Christine Prescott, director of Reiman Gardens. "The fusion of beautiful music and stunning surroundings of the gardens promises to be an unforgettable event for all who attend."
Audience members are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets since the concert seating area is a lawn. If weather threatens on a concert day, the performance will move inside to the Garden Room. At each songwriter showcase a local food truck will be on site, and beverages will be available for purchase. Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed in the gardens.
"The Stephens staff is excited for our Goldfinch Room singer/songwriter series to move to Reiman Gardens this summer," said Stephens Auditorium executive director Tammy Koolbeck. "We've been without a true outdoor space since Iowa State Center's parking lot projects started a few years ago. We look forward to introducing our Goldfinch Room artists and audience members to Reiman Gardens."
Songwriter showcase schedule:
- May 27, The Bird Hunters
- June 24, David G. Smith and Carol Montag
- July 15, Wolfskill & The Wild
- July 29, Joshua Sinclair and Luke Fox
- Aug. 12, Lojo Russo and Abbie Sawyer
