Fountain work keeps 'Seasons' dry

By Erin Rosacker
May 31

Fountain of the Four Seasons. Photo by Bob Elbert.

Conservation work dried up Iowa State's iconic Fountain of the Four Seasons last summer, and the final phase of the rehab project will require the campus landmark to remain turned off this summer.

Memorial Union director Richard Reynolds said installation of an upgraded water treatment system is the last step in the conservation and restoration project. Barring any further delays, he said the fountain should be operational by the start of the fall semester.

"A new water treatment system has been designed for installation in the basement of the Memorial Union for easier maintenance access," he said. "The installation requires running water pipes between the basement of the Memorial Union and the fountain, which will be done as part of a north lawn landscaping project."

Tuition set aside, FY13 salaries are on regents agenda

By Anne Krapfl
May 31

Budgets for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and a discussion on the decades-old practice of setting aside tuition revenue for student financial aid are on the agenda when the state Board of Regents meets June 6 at the University of Iowa. Following committee meetings, the full board session is expected to convene around 10:45 a.m. A live audio stream will be available from the board's website.

Early look at FY13 budget

The board will approve detailed institutional budgets at its August meeting. Iowa State will provide this overview next week:

Revenue increases of $5.2 million (state operating appropriation) and an estimated $23.3 million (tuition)
Budgeted cost increases of $1.5 million (for inflationary adjustments including library acquisitions), $1.5 million (employee medical and dental benefits) and $5.4 million (student financial aid)

The largest cost increase will be for employee salaries. Iowa State will use an estimated $1.8 million next year to honor the state's contract with AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) that covers merit employees. The contract calls for a 2 percent increase on July 1 and a 1 percent increase on Jan. 1, 2013. Those merit employees not at the maximum of their pay scales will receive up to a 4.5 percent step increase on the anniversary of their hire dates. The estimated average increase among ISU's merit employees next year is 4.34 percent.

Salary increases for faculty and Professional and Scientific staff will be between 0 percent and 4 percent, with the anticipated average increase at 2.5 percent. Increases above 4 percent for exceptional performance would have to be approved at the vice presidential level and, ultimately by board executive director Robert Donley.

No adjustments to the P&S pay matrix are proposed for FY13.

Tuition set aside

At the board's March 21 meeting, president Craig Lang asked for time at the June meeting for an extended discussion on tuition set aside. In Iowa, the practice of using a portion of tuition revenues for student financial aid goes back to the 1960s. Since FY03, board policy has required the three regents universities to set aside a minimum of 15 percent of tuition revenue for financial aid. In the face of state funding cuts and the resulting tuition increases, the actual practice typically has been more generous than that. In recent years, Iowa State has set aside 22 to 23 percent of tuition revenue for aid. In the current fiscal year, Iowa State has budgeted $55 million in tuition set aside for undergraduate financial aid.

Critics of the practice don't like the idea of students subsidizing other students' educations. Proponents argue the funds help assure access to a college education for students in need and help attract high-achieving students -- who may or may not have a financial need.

At the March meeting, Sandy Baum, a policy analyst with the not-for-profit College Board, told board members that between 26 and 35 percent of tuition set-aside dollars to undergraduates at the three schools go to students without financial need.

More Iowa State items

Other requests for which Iowa State will seek board approval are:

Add $1.2 million to the budget of the Curtiss Hall renovation project. The increase reflects the need to add central air conditioning to rooms with window units (required by window replacement) and difficulties encountered in modernizing a 104-year-old building. The proposed revised budget is $14.3 million; the increase would be covered by university funds.
Name the department of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology for the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, in recognition of the trust's latest gift to the department — $7.5 million to support new initiatives in the area of biomolecular structure. The name change would be effective immediately.
An initial 10-year lease between Ames area developer Dickson Jensen and the athletics department for a yet-to-be-constructed indoor golf practice facility on South Duff Avenue. Jensen would pay to build the facility; the department would pay about $235,000 a year to lease it for the men's and women's golf teams. The source of the funds would be athletics operating revenues and private gifts.
A 50-year lease with the city of Ames for a small parcel of land in the southwest corner of the city's Moore Memorial Park, north of Veenker golf course. Iowa State would build a golf maintenance building there, out of the Squaw Creek flood plain. The existing building has sustained flood damage numerous times in the last 30 years. Flood insurance reimbursements and FEMA funds would pay for the relocation. In lieu of lease payments, the city would be allowed to store maintenance equipment in the building and, if it has a basement, have a public access storm shelter included in the lower level.

Leath makes key changes in administration

By Diana Pounds
May 24

Administrative reorganization by President Steven Leath has resulted in several key changes and moves in university administration. The changes, most of which are subject to Iowa Board of Regents approval at the June 6 meeting, include the following:

VP promotions

Hill

Madden

Vice Presidents Warren Madden and Tom Hill have been promoted to senior vice presidents. Madden is now senior vice president for business and finance, and Hill is senior vice president for student affairs.

"These promotions recognize the critical roles these two leaders play in the advancement of this fine university," Leath said. "Warren Madden's breadth of responsibility -- business services, facilities planning and management, human resource services, public safety, museums and more -- is amazing, and the good work of his units is evident in every corner of the campus. Tom Hill's equally strong leadership in student life -- residence, admissions, dining, academics, recreation, health -- manifests itself in an outstanding student body and record enrollments.

"I greatly value the counsel of these senior VPs," he added.

Hira to senior policy adviser

Hira

Tahira Hira's title has changed from executive assistant to the president to senior policy adviser to the president. With Miles Lackey joining the president's office as Leath's chief of staff, Hira will oversee a number of special initiatives. For example, she will develop strategies to increase Iowa State’s national prominence, manage rising enrollment and recruit top faculty. She will also continue to lead and serve on a variety of university committees on behalf of the president.

"Tahira’s counsel has been vitally important through the presidential transition process," Leath said. "I look forward to continuing to work with Tahira in her new capacity as she addresses critical challenges facing the university."

Financial planning, budgeting to president's office

Biedenbach

Dave Biedenbach, director of university budgets in the office of the executive vice president and provost, will move to the president's office June 1 and serve as the assistant vice president for university financial planning and budgeting. The move returns coordination of budget planning to the president's office; that function had been transferred to the provost's office in 2006.

"Dave Biedenbach will play a central role in the university's budget planning activities," Leath said. "Specifically, he will work in concert with university leadership to ensure our budgets are aligned with our mission and our goals."

Rippke to university counsel

Rippke

Policy administrator Sheryl Rippke now reports to the office of university counsel, rather than the office of the president. “It's a natural alliance for the policy administrator to work out of the office that is very involved in drafting policies,” Leath said. "I greatly appreciate the contributions Sheryl has made to the president’s office and to this university – I know the counsel’s office is excited to have her joining their team."

Basement bookends

May 31

Construction season has spurred progress on two new projects on opposite sides of campus. (Top) Excavation continues north of Howe Hall on the Biorenewables Complex second phase -- two wings and an atrium that will hug the existing Biorenewables Research Laboratory (left edge of the photo), and be the new home of the agricultural and biosystems engineering department. Phase 2 should be ready for use just prior to fall semester 2014. Access to the BRL is from the east and northwest doors for the duration of the project.

On the east side of campus between Horticulture and Agronomy halls, footings and foundation walls are being poured (bottom) for Troxel Hall, a 400-seat teaching auditorium that will hold state-of-the-art classroom technology. Troxel Hall is scheduled for completion next April. Photos by Bob Elbert.

Class of 2012 bequeaths scholarships

By Diana Pounds
May 31

Benches, plaques, art, fountains -- these are typical class gifts. Tangible things you can sit on, gaze upon, drink from.

Cognizant of the growing financial pressures on college students, Iowa State's class of 2012 opted to leave something different to the alma mater. The class set up an endowment that will fund scholarships for upperclassmen.

Thus far, more than 600 recent graduates have pledged $45,400 to the scholarship fund.

Record breaker

The students who work the phones, seeking gifts to Iowa State from alumni and friends, have raised a record $3.75 million this fiscal year.

"That's an average of $74 per graduate," said Sarah Johnson, a program manager in the ISU Foundation. "And we expect the endowment to grow in the next couple of weeks as student fundraisers finish making contacts with the graduating seniors."

As is traditional, the class of 2012 selected its gift from a list of three ideas presented by the Student Alumni Leadership Council. The new endowment is intended to fund scholarships for students who have reached their senior year of school.

"Other than the stipulation that the recipients be seniors, there's no other restrictions on who can receive a scholarship," Johnson said. "Those decisions will be left up to ISU's financial aid office."

Why seniors?

Johnson said seniors statistically have the fewest opportunities to receive scholarships. "This is a way for the graduating class to give to the next class."

She added, "We hope that future classes will add to this worthy endowment so that it continues to grow."

New record for student callers