Colorful world

April 28

Students may be too on-task to notice, but the last few weeks of spring semester are among the loveliest on campus. Adding to the color this year are 8,700 flower bulbs -- all but 200 of them daffodils -- planted in a handful of locations last fall by campus services teams. The perennials are another piece of President Steven Leath's beautification initiative.

Jolly selected as the next Human Sciences dean

By Rob Schweers, Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost
April 28

Laura Dunn Jolly, professor of textiles, merchandising and interiors at the University of Georgia, Athens, has been appointed the next dean and Dean's Chair of the College of Human Sciences, effective July 5.

"Laura is an accomplished leader with outstanding experience in teaching, research, and extension and outreach," said President Steven Leath. "I am confident she will build upon Iowa State's excellent reputation in the human sciences, broaden the range of interdisciplinary experiences available to our students and faculty, and expand the college's impact in every corner of the state and beyond."

Since joining the University of Georgia in 2007, Jolly served three years as dean and associate director of cooperative extension and experiment station in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and five years as vice president for instruction. Her administrative assignments include six years as chair of interior design, merchandising and textiles at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. Her academic career includes faculty appointments at Texas Tech University, Oklahoma State University and the University of Tennessee.

"I am honored to serve as dean of the College of Human Sciences," Jolly said. "It's a great and diverse college with an exceptional history and a bright future. I look forward to working with faculty, staff and alumni to help our programs reach new heights, and equip our 5,000 students with the skills and cultural literacy necessary to improve the human condition."

Jolly earned a bachelor's degree in vocational home economics education from the University of Mississippi, Oxford; and master's and doctoral degrees in clothing, textiles and merchandising from Oklahoma State.

She succeeds Pam White, a faculty member in food science and human nutrition for more than 40 years, who has served as college dean since 2009 and as interim dean several times prior to that. Last fall, White announced she would retire this summer.

Task force will develop policies to support nontenure-eligible faculty

By Rob Schweers, Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost
April 28

The Faculty Senate and office of the senior vice president and provost have created a task force to provide greater support for nontenure-eligible (NTE) faculty.

The task force is charged with identifying and examining a range of issues related to NTE faculty appointments, including:

• Hiring and appointment processes 
• Professional development 
• Advancement 
• Role of NTE faculty in department, college and institutional governance 

The task force also will review rank-only appointments, including those for professional and scientific staff who have teaching roles.

"Nontenured faculty play a very important role in carrying out Iowa State's land-grant mission, particularly in educating and serving students," said senior vice president and provost Jonathan Wickert. "The task force will emphasize the value of those contributions and make recommendations to better support the careers of nontenure-eligible faculty."

Wickert noted that the task force builds on other recent initiatives to support NTE faculty, including an increased emphasis on multiyear contracts, enhanced professional development opportunities and a grant program to help defray the cost of attending conferences.

NTE at Iowa State

NTE faculty represent approximately 30 percent of Iowa State's faculty. While the majority hold positions as lecturers and clinicians, they also include research, visiting, collaborator or affiliate professors; and adjunct professors at the assistant, associate or full professor rank.

"The task force represents an opportunity to develop consistent policies and standards for NTE faculty across the university, including their role in faculty governance at the department, college and institutional levels," said Rob Wallace, Faculty Senate president and chair of the task force.

The task force will gather data during the summer, and conduct focus groups and public forums during fall semester. The final report and recommendations will be submitted by Dec. 15 to associate provost for faculty Dawn Bratsch-Prince.

Members of the task force are:

• Rob Wallace (chair), associate professor, ecology, evolution and organismal biology
• Jeanine Aune, senior lecturer, English
• Cinzia Cervato, Morrill Professor, geological and atmospheric sciences
• Mark Chidister, associate dean, College of Design
• Ann-Marie Fiore, professor, apparel, events and hospitality management
• Mark Looney, senior lecturer, world languages and cultures
• Cullen Padgett-Walsh, senior lecturer, philosophy and religious studies
• James Pritchard, adjunct associate professor, natural resource ecology and management, and landscape architecture
• Martha Selby, adjunct assistant professor, materials science and engineering
• Jacquelyn Rees Ulmer, professor and chair, supply chain and information systems
• Bianca Zaffarano, clinician, veterinary clinical services

Questions regarding the task force and its charge may be directed to Brenda Behling, director of academic personnel and policy in the provost's office, 294-8236.

Welcome

April 28

Margo Foreman arrived on campus April 25 as Iowa State's director of equal opportunity. She will manage equal opportunity, affirmative action, discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct programs and serve as the university's Title IX coordinator.

Foreman comes to Iowa State after 17 years in the equal opportunity office at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, where she started as executive secretary to the director and advanced to serve as associate director of the office.

Foreman's office is in 3350 Beardshear. She can be reached by phone at 294-7612, and by email at mrforema@iastate.edu.

Class designs playable carillon model

By Erin Rosacker
April 28

A two-year project that will involve students and faculty from several departments was unveiled April 26 at mechanical engineering's spring semester design expo. Students in a senior capstone course presented their concept design that would make possible a fully functional -- and portable -- one-fifth scale model of ISU's iconic campanile and carillon.

"Something exactly like this has never been done before, so it's difficult to benchmark it," said James Heise, senior lecturer in mechanical engineering and capstone coordinator. "There's a lot of engineering left to be done yet, but I think they've got a very strong concept here."

Tin-Shi Tam, Cownie Professor of Music and university carillonneur, served as the project client. The students were given a set of requirements, which included easy assembly, good acoustics and indoor/outdoor use. Tam also requested visible mechanisms, allowing viewers to see the bells being struck as the instrument is played.

Teams worked on different elements of the design, including a 16-foot custom hydraulic trailer and a tower lift system. A pallet jack would transport the model, with sections small enough to fit through double doors and on elevators.

The carillon's 27 bells would be distributed among three detachable sections that form the base of the design, which also includes the playing console. A collapsible tower framework and detachable panels would create the campanile's likeness. When assembled, the model would measure 20 feet high and weigh about 1,600 pounds.

Next steps

The mechanical engineering students will hand off their designs and recommendations to the next capstone class. Students in civil engineering, industrial design and music also will be part of the project as it moves forward.

"If everything goes smoothly, and all the work has been done, we are looking at the spring of 2018," Tam said.

A fundraising campaign also is underway. Based on their design, the students anticipate the total cost of the project to fall within the $225,000 budget.

The teaching and learning process for the project's design and construction also will be part of the finished project's purpose. Tam said plans for the model include outreach demonstrations, music education and performances.

Regents approve faculty P&T, receive salary comments

By Anne Krapfl
April 28

Meeting April 21 in Council Bluffs, the state Board of Regents approved faculty promotions and tenure applications for the 2016-17 academic year, including 58 cases at Iowa State. The promotions and new titles take effect July 1 for A-base (12-month appointment) faculty and in mid-August for B-base (nine-month) faculty.

Post-tenure review

The annual faculty report to the board noted that last year (2014-15), 87 tenured ISU faculty members were reviewed under the university's post-tenure review policy, about 9 percent of all tenured faculty. An estimated 67 reviews have been conducted during this academic year.

Salary increase requests

At its June 9 meeting, the board is scheduled to vote on salary increase proposals for regent employees. Ahead of that discussion, board members received comments from representatives of non-unionized employee groups at the three universities, including Faculty Senate president Rob Wallace and Professional and Scientific Council president Tera Lawson from Iowa State.

Wallace asked the board to give ISU administrators "maximum flexibility" in adjusting 2016-17 tuition rates in the coming month "to provide meaningful and well-deserved salary increases for faculty at Iowa State," which he described as a very loyal group of professionals.

"Tuition freezes and diminishing legislative support, coupled with increasing costs of operation, collectively present an unsustainable situation for our university," Wallace said. He noted that faculty have waited patiently for some catch-up years following the recession of 2008-09, which resulted in furloughs. "We have not yet rebounded or recovered from that situation, and as salaries at other academic institution increase around us, we fall further behind."

Wallace told board members that faculty feel demoralized and unappreciated, but he asked what messages faculty could send to legislators and the governor about the importance of their work toward creating a better life for Iowans.

Lawson cited numerous examples of P&S positions at Iowa State and their key role in the university's research, teaching and outreach missions. P&S staff teach courses, oversee laboratories, supervise student employees, manage externally funded research programs, advise students and provide other process and support services, she said.

"While not as visible as faculty or students, this employee group is of vital importance and incredible value to our university and regents system," Lawson said. "There is a real need to value the professional and scientific employees, not just with words but with actions."

In the last five years, P&S salaries have increased 6.92 percent, an average of 1.4 percent per year, she noted. She asked board members "to make any efforts possible to acknowledge, recognize and value professional and scientific employees and their contributions to our institutions, to help us retain and attract highly productive and engaged professional and scientific employees, and to continue to invest in the regents institutions."

Board election

Board members unanimously re-elected president Bruce Rastetter and president pro-tem Katie Mulholland to two-year terms (through April 30, 2018) in their leadership posts.

Parking, dining, housing rates

The board approved parking, dining and residence system rates for the 2016-17 academic year.

As those who have renewed their permits already have noticed, parking permit prices have been raised, on average, about 3.5 percent. Permits for the Memorial Union ramp, which is not managed by the ISU parking division, are up, on average, about 2.5 percent.

ISU parking permit rates

Permit type	Current	Approved for FY17	Increase (%)
Reserved	$515	$533	3.5
24-hour reserved	$890	$921	3.5
General staff*	$164	$170	3.7
Departmental	$164	$170	3.7
Vendor	$203	$210	3.4
Motorcycle	$56	$58	3.6
Memorial Union ramp
Annual	$522	$534	2.3
Fall or spring	$226	$232	2.7
Winter (Nov.-Feb.)	$220	$226	2.7
Summer	$182	$187	2.7

*Includes residence and Ames Lab staff

Students have many variables in choosing a residence hall, for example, number of roommates, traditional or suite-style room, presence or absence of air conditioning. Depending on their selections, room rates will increase 2 to 3.5 percent (between $119 and $217) for the academic year. Apartment rates in Frederiksen Court and off-campus buildings leased by the department from private developers will go up about 3.5 percent (between $153 and $269) for the academic year. Rates in Schilletter/University Village will go up 2 percent ($95-$114, depending on the size).

Semester meal plan options for students -- various combinations of meals and Dining Dollars -- will go up 3.2 to 3.8 percent ($97 to $157) next year. Meal blocks of 25 to 100 meals will go up approximately $10 for each 25 meals, or about 4 percent. The door rate for guests at any campus dining center will go up 25 cents, to $9.25 for breakfast and $11.25 for lunch or dinner.

Other ISU agenda items

In other business, the board approved Iowa State requests to:

• Change the name of the Bachelor of Design degree in the College of Design to Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary design, to meet accreditation recommendations from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
• Merge two departments, anthropology and world languages and cultures, effective July 1. The department's name will be world languages and cultures, and anthropology will be a program within it, still offering B.A., B.S. and M.A. degrees and an undergraduate minor in anthropology.
• Negotiate land easements with Dakota Access for the installation of a crude oil pipeline across university property in Story and Buena Vista counties. Senior vice president for business and finance Warren Madden said tile lines running across ISU research fields will be relocated, likely in July and August, at Dakota Access' expense. He said the company, which hopes to get the work (statewide) done in one growing season, has been cooperative, even to the point of paying to relocate several research plots.
• Lease from Dickson and Luann Jensen a yet-to-be-constructed practice facility containing two courts for the Cyclone tennis team immediately south of the Sukup basketball complex. The lease is for five years at $540,000 per year, with the option to purchase for $1 after five years. The tennis team will continue to host its indoor matches at Des Moines facilities.

Warren Madden reception set for June 24

April 28

The university reception to recognize senior vice president for business and finance Warren Madden for his 50 years of service to Iowa State will be held on Friday, June 24, in the Scheman Building. A program begins at 4 p.m. in Benton Auditorium, followed by a reception until 7 p.m. in the second floor lobby and Brunnier Art Museum. The event is open to the public.

In February, Madden announced his plans to retire at the end of June. A 1961 graduate of the Engineering college, Madden worked in industry for several years before returning to Iowa State in the summer of 1966 as the contracts and grants officer. He has held the vice president post since 1984 and was promoted to senior vice president in 2012.

A book of appreciation letters will be compiled for Madden. Letters (unfolded, please) should be sent by June 1 to Judy Hankins, 1350 Beardshear.

In lieu of gifts, contributions in Madden's honor may be made to the ISU Foundation. An announcement about how those gifts will be directed is forthcoming.

Pammel Drive to be resurfaced, striped as two-lane road this summer

By Anne Krapfl
April 28

When Pammel Drive is resurfaced this summer, it will be striped as a two-lane road with center turn lanes and painted medians. Campus planners' intent is that the changes improve pedestrian safety and help Pammel Drive function more like a campus road.

"Pammel Drive has always been a campus road, but it functions as a city arterial," said project manager Angie Solberg, facilities planning and management. "With the development on the north edge of campus, we want to change the character of the road so it's not an east-west cut-through for the community. One goal is for Pammel Drive to be similar to other campus roads."

She noted that traffic counts on Pammel aren't enough to require four traffic lanes. She also confirmed that the street won't be narrower, just striped differently, and that other traffic variables will remain the same, including the posted speed limit and existing traffic lights and crosswalks. The CyRide Gold bus route will continue to use the eastbound lane of Pammel Drive. It passes through three times an hour only on days classes are held. The restriped road won't include a bicycle lane so bicyclists will keep their current options: ride in the road with traffic or on the dedicated north sidewalk.

Pedestrian safety is a focus of the new layout, Solberg said. Pedestrians should be safer in several ways:

• They'll have two traffic lanes to cross instead of four
• They'll be able to predict vehicle movement more consistently: A vehicle in the (outer) traffic lane is passing through; a vehicle in a center turn lane is slowing to make a left turn
• They'll have a painted center median, varying in width from 8 to 16 feet, that gives them a safe spot to pause and reassess traffic, if needed

This isn't the university's first use of striped (and thus flat) center medians. Several painting changes were made to Beach Road nearly a decade ago.

Years in the making

Pedestrian safety along the Pammel corridor has caused concern for many years. An Iowa State student died in 2005 when he stepped around a stopped bus and was hit by a moving vehicle in the adjacent lane. Solberg said this improvement plan has its roots in a 2009 Pammel Drive study that called for more extensive changes. Because of funding limitations, planners developed the striping alternative, for which Institutional Roads dollars were approved last fall.

Solberg's FPM team has involved others in planning for the changes, including public safety, traffic engineers and specialists from the Institute for Transportation. For more than a year, they've shared information with ISU's Transportation Advisory Council, department representatives and building supervisors along Pammel Drive.

Project timeline

The anticipated start for the project is in early June. Repairing the road, improving its drainage system and replacing curb between Stange Road and Bissell Drive will take the majority of the project's five-week window, Solberg said. Two lanes at a time will be closed, leaving one lane of traffic open in each direction. The final part of the project, laying two inches of asphalt and striping, will close Pammel Drive for an estimated three days. Solberg said the intent is to schedule most of the closure over a weekend when traffic is lighter.

Assessment

Earlier this month, three video cameras and traffic tubes along Pammel Drive captured 24 hours of data on vehicle counts, vehicle speeds and pedestrian-vehicle interactions at marked crosswalks. That data capture will be repeated to assess the impact of this summer's changes.

"We'll continue to monitor Pammel Drive and evaluate what's working," Solberg said.

High-tech learning

April 28

Iowa State education majors are learning teaching methods and techniques in one of the most high-tech classrooms on campus.

The Lagomarcino Hall classroom features four media stations, each of which accommodates up to six students at a semicircular table. In the center of the tables are cable connections; an LCD monitor stands at one end.

"The semicircle tables position students in a way that allows for dialogue and teamwork," said Lisa Norris, senior lecturer in the School of Education. "The technology allows the students to literally plug in their own laptops and share lesson plans as they are being created."

Cameras and microphones placed throughout the classroom let students collaborate with other classrooms via Skype and similar online tools.

"The cutting-edge technology in this classroom demonstrates for the students a new way to present information, and encourages collaboration in their future classrooms," Norris said.

The family of Terry Peterson Denny, an ISU elementary education graduate (1972) who died in 2014, helped fund the classroom, which bears her name. Denny worked for more than 20 years teaching children in the Shawnee Mission school district in Kansas. Her focus was helping children overcome learning disabilities. Photo by Ryan Riley.

Open forums planned for finalists for student affairs position

By Paula Van Brocklin
April 28

Five candidates for a new director of student affairs assessment and research position in the division of student affairs will interview on campus in the coming weeks.

The director will design and implement assessment and research projects for student affairs programs and services, as well as oversee and direct the division's assessment, research and evaluation of programs and services. The successful candidate will report to the office of the senior vice president for student affairs.

The candidates, with links to their résumés, are:

• Becki Elkins, registrar and director of institutional research and assessment, Cornell College, Mount Vernon
• Aurelia Kollasch, senior research analyst, department of residence, Iowa State
• Matthew Pistilli, director of assessment and planning, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
• Ekaterina Ralston, research manager, office of admissions, Iowa State
• Denise Williams-Klotz, assistant director, office of multicultural student affairs, Iowa State

Interviews will include open forums, which the campus community is encouraged to attend. All forums will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Memorial Union's Cardinal Room, unless indicated. An evaluation form is available online. The open forum dates are:

• Tuesday, May 3, Williams-Klotz (MU Campanile Room)
• Thursday, May 5, Ralston
• Tuesday, May 10, Elkins
• Wednesday, May 11, Kollasch
• Thursday, May 12, Pistilli

ISU Theatre season concludes this weekend

April 28

ISU Theatre will conclude its 2015-16 season with four performances of The Birds this weekend in the Memorial Union Maintenance Shop.

This production of The Birds was adapted by music and theatre assistant professor Amanda Petefish-Schrag and spouse Ben Schrag from the comedy by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. Petefish-Schrag also directs.

The story follows Athenians Pisthetaerus and Euelpides, who are guided by two birds as they leave their city, weary of daily arguments about laws, to look for a better life. Pisthetaerus lights upon the idea that birds (as the original gods) should create a city-state between heaven and earth and reestablish their supremacy over both humans and the gods.

"From both the adapter and director perspective, I think one of the great challenges and opportunities of working with a classical text is making sure it stays relevant -- connected -- to a contemporary audience," Petefish-Schrag said. "This is especially true of something like The Birds because, even though the original text was written in the fifth century, it would probably have struck the ancient Greeks much like [Saturday Night Live] or It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia strikes us today. So in the adaptation and production process, we're constantly striving to capture that kind of energy and comedic relationship with the audience."

The Schrag adaption includes a character named Donald Trump.

The production features performing arts juniors Adam Kroksh and Keegon Jackson as Pisthetaerus and Euelpides, respectively. Epops, the king of the birds, is played by senior philosophy major Adam Mellerup. Senior performing arts major Angela Burg serves as stage manager.

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 28-30, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1. Seating is limited due to the size of the M-Shop. Tickets are $18 ($16 for seniors, $11 for students) and available at the Maintenance Shop box office (weekdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m.), Midwestix or at the door if a performance isn't sold out.