Cyclones at the capitol

March 06

Chris Hill (left), director of engineering services and the technology assistance program for the Center for Industrial Research and Service, guides Iowa Rep. Tom Jeneary through a test run with a 3D scanner at ISU Day at the Capitol on March 4. On the front page: agricultural and biosystems engineering professor Matt Darr (left), Digital Ag Innovation Lab; and Iowa Nitrogen Initiative project director Melissa Miller (right) visit with Iowa Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer about their programs. Photos by Christopher Gannon.

It was an intentionally cardinal environment for a few hours in the rotunda of the State Capitol Building Tuesday morning. Faculty, staff and students were there in force. They visited with leaders, legislators and their staff members about 17 Iowa State programs that demonstrate how the university's innovation serves Iowans by building the state's economy, supporting its ag industry and preparing students for high-demand careers. Video story.

Senior marketing major Zackry Brannen (left), with Perfect Plantista, demonstrates his houseplant protection spray to President Wendy Wintersteen and Iowa Rep. Bob Kressig, Black Hawk County, at ISU Day at the Capitol March 4.

The rotunda space of the State Capitol was awash in cardinal March 4 for ISU Day at the Capitol.

Employees can use new valuable voluntary benefits this month

By Anne Krapfl
March 06

As announced last month and shared in Feb. 28 and March 4 emails, benefits-eligible* employees gain access this month to several more voluntary benefits. Two are purchasing programs and three are insurance coverage for homes or apartments, vehicles and pets. Employees who use them pay for them, and employees who choose to not use them incur no additional cost. They're available year round, and employees don't need to wait for an enrollment window to begin using them.

The Everyday Marketplace site for Iowa State employees went live Tuesday morning. University human resources selected the employee marketplace portal through a request-for-proposals process. Benefits director Ed Holland said the benefit selections in the portal respond to three expressed needs that emerged from the 2022 benefits survey of Iowa State employees:

• Increase their financial wellness
• Reduce their financial stress
• Access benefits that meet their needs

"Employers are looking for ways to differentiate themselves, especially in the area of benefits. At the same time, employees want benefits that address their needs and meet them where they are at that point in their life," Holland said. "So, we wanted to add offerings that begin to address those three things for our employees."

Aon, which offers Everyday Marketplace, negotiates the contracts with vendors and operates the portal sites for its clients, like Iowa State, who select from a menu of benefits for their employees.

"Employees benefit from these offerings because Aon is able to negotiate preferred pricing due to its significant purchasing power on behalf of hundreds of employers," Holland noted.

Five new voluntary benefits

Four of the new voluntary benefits are available now. The fifth becomes available on March 31, and employees will receive an email reminder about it. The five are:

• Insurance for a home or apartment and its contents, with additional discounts possible for bundling and security protection. Employees request quotes online for the coverage levels they select; seven insurance companies currently provide coverage in this program.
• Insurance for cars, watercraft, motorcycles, RVs and mobile homes, with additional discounts possible for bundling and a safe driving record. Employees request quotes online for the coverage levels they select; seven insurance companies currently provide coverage in this program.
• Insurance for a pet's common illnesses, injuries, accidents and hospitalization, including specialized care. Participants pay their veterinarian for care, submit a claim and receive 50%-70% of their money back, depending on the plan they choose. They may select other services such as access to a 24/7 vet helpline, emergency kennel fees or a death benefit. Participants may keep their current veterinarian.
• Perkspot, a website (or app) on which employees receive immediate discounts on their everyday retail purchases and services -- in more than 25 categories -- with options to shop locally or nationally. The item could be as small as a movie ticket or as large as a vehicle. Participants set up an account, log in to browse and customize their categories, and complete the purchases with a preferred payment method.
• (Available March 31) Purchasing Power. It's not a discount program, but a buy now, pay in segments option that doesn't require a credit card. With it, employees purchase national-brand products and pay for them over time, interest-free, through payroll deduction. It's different from the lay-away model because it doesn't require a down payment and the shopper receives the item at purchase time, not when it's paid for. Employees select their payment plan for items such as furniture, appliances, electronics, travel packages, jewelry, fitness equipment, tires and more.

* Benefits-eligible: Faculty and staff who work at least 20 hours/week may access and enroll on the Everyday Marketplace portal.

Five questions with our extension leader

By Jeff Budlong
March 06

Jason Henderson. Photo by Christopher Gannon.

Jason Henderson, vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach, has been in his position for nearly two years and has extension's impact on Iowans. During the last fiscal year, extension delivered more than 10,000 educational programs reaching more than 950,000 participants. It had 3,920 partnerships statewide and saw 6,950 volunteers support extension learning opportunities. The hundreds of thousands of hours provided an estimated $7.4 million benefit to Iowans.

Henderson talked with Inside about extension's positive impact in Iowa and its future.

Extension recently released its 2024 Impact Report. What are some programs you are proud of?

We are helping farmers adopt the latest technology through the Planter University program, working with [agricultural and biosystems engineering professor] Matt Darr's Digital Innovation Lab to make agriculture more productive, efficient and profitable. Talking with farmers -- some who have been doing it for 50 years -- they told me that implementing these ideas it can help them save thousands of dollars in their operation.

The Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program is helping businesses grow, build profits and create jobs. This past year, more than 100 farms and businesses have received technical assistance through the program that has led to new investments, more jobs and larger profits.

Housing is another major issue in our state with homes, especially in rural areas, aging. We have issues with availability and affordability, too. The Rural Housing Readiness Assessment program helps communities self-assess their housing needs and guides them in the decision-making process when addressing those needs. This program allowed some communities to implement multimillion dollar housing investments.

What are some key areas where ISU Extension and Outreach can make a difference for Iowans?

One area we are focusing on is economic development and how we can help grow Iowa's economy. Iowa is known as an ag state, but how do we become a food state? We are blessed to be surrounded by states with large populations who all want to eat. How do we turn Iowa's ag commodities into food products for them? How do we add jobs and income on Iowa's main streets while creating healthy food for the Midwest? 

Second, extension can contribute to a healthy and productive workforce for Iowa by creating a pipeline that begins with 4-H when they are kids, working with them through high school and at the university and then making them lifelong learners, ready to make an difference in Iowa.

We also are helping communities engage with disaster preparation and recovery with the changing weather patterns. We are working to help farmers, families and communities deal with those impacts.

What's the challenge to remaining impactful for Iowans?

Funding. With all the questions about funding at the state and federal levels, extension must step back and strengthen our foundation and position ourselves for future opportunities. We have to find ways to diversify our funding to support our mission. That might include more fee-based activities because the public subsidy is shrinking, more donor-funded activities or more partnerships with philanthropic entities. Regardless, our mission is the same because we impact lives and livelihoods to make a strong Iowa.

What role do extension faculty and staff play in that reset process?

They can consider what core impact they want from their extension program and work back from that: Identify the tangible differences they want to make in our communities, families and farms, and then identify what we need to get that done. For example, who are the partners we need to have at the table? Finally, what level of financial support do we need to make it happen?

What do you focus on to measure the success of extension programming?

It's about measuring the impact in Iowa communities. We want to show:

• The knowledge gain people experience by attending our programs and how they change their behaviors as a result.
• How we are changing conditions for people -- whether it's increased profitability, improved water quality, better soil health or new housing developments. How has extension made life better for Iowans?

Tjaden named to acting leadership role for alumni association

By Kirsten Kraklio, ISU Alumni Association
March 06

Alumnus Kurt Tjaden ("JAY-din") was named the ISU Alumni Association's acting Lora and Russ Talbot president and CEO, effective March 1.

Jeff Johnson

Jeff Johnson, the Lora and Russ Talbot ISU Alumni Association Endowed President and CEO, is taking a temporary medical leave of absence to address treatment plans in management of his recent Parkinson's disease diagnosis.

"Peggy and I are grateful to the association's board and staff, and President Wintersteen and Kurt, for supporting us during this time," Johnson said. "I'll miss interfacing with staff and constituents during this time, but I know the association is in good hands."

Tjaden retired in 2022 as President – International at Muscatine-based HNI Corp., where he led the company's international operations. He is a proud Cyclone who has stayed engaged with the university in many ways since earning his accounting degree in 1985. Tjaden was on the association's board of directors from 2016 to 2019, serving on its finance and governance committees and strategic plan task force. He is involved with the ISU Foundation's Board of Governors, serving on the board of directors and the audit committee and previously chairing the awards committee. He also serves on the Ivy College of Business Dean's Advisory Council and taught in the college as a professor of practice.

Kurt Tjaden

"It is an honor and a privilege to support ISU, the alumni association board, staff and members during Jeff's medical leave of absence," Tjaden said. "Cyclones everywhere look forward to Jeff's return and renewed health."

Tjaden and his wife, Kristyn, also a 1985 graduate in speech communications, are members of the foundation's Order of the Knoll and the Cyclone Club. They were recipients of the Order of the Knoll Emerging Philanthropist Award. They endowed the alumni association's Tjaden/Cassidy Senior Class Council Scholarship and scholarships in the Ivy College of Business and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Bookstore, library leaders discuss student savings with senators

By Jeff Budlong
March 06

ISU Book Store manager Bryce Jacobson and library dean Hilary Seo spoke to the Faculty Senate about Immediate Access One and instructors' role in keeping the cost of course materials low for students during the March 4 meeting.

Immediate Access ONE -- launched last fall -- provides one course materials price ($259 for fall and spring, $69 winter and summer) for all undergraduate students. On the first day of class each semester, students can access their required course materials by logging into Canvas. Students automatically are enrolled in the program.

"We are asking for timely adoptions of materials so we have time to negotiate the best price for our students and ensure instructors can use the materials they want," Jacobson said. "We are seeing about two-thirds of all departments submit adoptions with about 90% of those before the start of classes. That is fantastic, and now we are trying to see how we can work with faculty to improve the other third."

At the beginning of each semester, Jacobson said students can compare individual prices of course materials with other vendors against the book store's flat-fee cost. Bookstore staff work with students to determine the best option for them.

The bookstore and the library partner to further bring down prices through course reserves and open educational resources (OER). The library provides course reserves -- which can include digital or print books, book chapters, journal articles, videos and more -- to students by supplying access and paying copyright fees. OER are free teaching materials adopted as-is or for specific class needs. OER have saved students more than $2 million.

"Faculty seem to think they have to create OER themselves, and that can be true, but the first step is working with librarians to find OERs that are already out there," Seo said. "Faculty can adopt them to best serve their classes."

Faculty salary policy and procedures

Senators will vote at the next meeting on replacing the Faculty Handbook section on salary policies and procedures (PDF) with revisions that bring it into alignment with current university practices. They are the first suggested updates since 2000. In addition to suggested updates, three new sections are proposed:

• "Other salary increases" describes options beyond performance-based and meritorious adjustments.
• "Salary assessment" documents a new process for faculty to request a salary review.
• "Definitions" provides institutional definitions of terms used to talk about faculty salaries.

The section on "Funding for term research appointments" would be moved under the rubric "Research faculty title and ranks" for clarity.

Other business

Senators approved:

• An addition to the Faculty Handbook's annual review (PDF) process. During their annual review, faculty on the tenure track will receive documentation from the department chair on their progress toward promotion and tenure.
• An undergraduate minor (PDF) in sports media communication to complement the major the senate approved last spring, also in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Students will gain an understanding of the processes that shape how sports are portrayed, promoted and analyzed.
• Heather Greenlee (biomedical sciences) and Doug Smith (School of Education) were re-elected as Faculty Senate representatives to the Athletics Council.

Senators will vote at the April 8 meeting on:

• A proposed 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, will help students identify the program and reflects the name employers increasingly are using for job titles in the field.
• Proposed changes to the membership of the faculty compensation committee bylaws (PDF) to ensure that term, tenure-track and tenured faculty are more equally represented. Voting members would be one faculty member per college and one at-large member. The voting membership should include both tenure and term faculty when possible, but voting members do not need to be faculty senators. There also no longer would be any non-voting members of the committee.
• 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, the 2024 law that restricts diversity, equity and inclusion programming at the regent universities.
• The removal (PDF) of the committee on equity, diversity and inclusion from the Faculty Senate bylaws in the council on faculty development and administrative relations to comply with changes to state law.
• Updates to the Faculty Handbook section on administrative structure (PDF) to reflect the current configuration. Changes include the set of institutions governed by the Iowa Board of Regents and the departments, units, divisions and services overseen by the vice presidents within the president's division.

Regents approve revised strategic plan, more changes may follow

By Anne Krapfl
March 06

The Iowa Board of Regents approved changes to Iowa State's 2022-31 strategic plan, as well as the strategic plans for the universities of Iowa and Northern Iowa, during its Feb. 27 meeting. Regent David Barker said he would suggest additional changes for the board staff to discuss with the universities.

The most notable change to Iowa State's strategic plan is a reworking of the second of the plan's five aspirational statements: To be the university that cultivates a welcoming and respectful environment where all students, faculty and staff flourish.

The board had directed the review to comply with a 2024 state law prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices at the regent universities as well as DEI work broadly defined by the law. Board president Sherry Bates acknowledged Feb. 27 that "significant progress" has been made to comply with the law, but she said "we have more to do," particularly with the universities' websites.

She directed the universities (PDF) to remove current or archived web pages referencing DEI and to work with board office staff to determine pages that may need to be revised.

Bates also referenced a Feb. 24 letter from Gov. Kim Reynolds that directs each regent university to identify its contracts with the federal government that includes DEI provisions. The list should include the dollar amount of each contract and a percentage estimate of the work yet to be completed. The universities' lists are to be completed by March 6.

Bates also noted that several current bills in this spring's Legislature would direct the board to review programs for how they fit with high-demand jobs and workforce needs. She directed the board office staff to work with the universities to begin this review and complete it by the board's November meeting.

Later in the meeting, the regents approved an updated list of approximately 255 academic majors across the three universities eligible for the Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive Program for academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27, for their capacity to train students for high-demand jobs (as provided by Iowa Workforce Development). Grant sizes depend on projected participants and available funds, but in-state juniors and seniors may receive a grant for up to four semesters, plus an additional incentive payment if they accept a high-demand job and work full time for 12 months. In the first year of the program (2023-24), 3,393 students received a total of more than $6.6 million in awards, distributed by the Iowa College Aid Commission. Last year, the high-demand jobs filled most frequently with grant recipients were elementary teachers (351 grants) and computer occupations (148 grants).

Regent Jim Lindenmayer, who worked in the state's community college system for 34 years and chairs the regents' academic affairs committee, noted the three universities have closed 67 programs and developed 88 new academic programs since 2015, with a handful currently pausing admissions while they're reviewed.

"I appreciate the universities looking inward and making these tough decisions. That takes work, introspection and dedication," he said.

Third 'degree of the future'

The regents gave final approval to an interdisciplinary bachelor of science degree in integrated health sciences, led by the departments of genetics, development and cell biology and food science and human nutrition and the third approved degree program in a 2022-31 strategic plan-funded initiative, Degrees of the Future.

Lot parking permit rates aren't increasing

The regents completed a first reading of proposed parking permit rates for the fiscal year that begins July 1, and will vote on them at the April meeting. Campus parking permit prices and parking fines would not change. All outstanding bonds on the ISU parking system are paid off. Permit rates for the Memorial Union (MU) parking ramp, which is operated by the MU separately from ISU's parking division, would go up 3%, as proposed. Hourly rates in the ramp would not change in FY26.

Memorial Union parking ramp: Proposed permit rates

New regents committee

The board approved a new standing legislative committee that will be active during the legislative season to propose the regents' official position on pending legislation. On average, the board registers a position on more than 300 bills each year. Regent Christine Hensley will chair the committee. Other members are the board president and president pro tem (regents Sherry Bates and Greta Rouse, respectively) and regent JC Risewick. Executive director Mark Braun and the universities' state relations officers will staff it. The committee will hold weekly public meetings, and the committee chair will give reports to the board at its February and April meetings. 

Student housing rates for next fall

The regents took a first look at Iowa State's proposal to raise residence hall and apartment rates an average of 6.5% for the year that begins July 1, and will vote in April. That ranges from a $208 annual increase (to $3,408) for a two-bedroom unfurnished University Village apartment to a $512 annual increase (to $8,386) for a single suite in Eaton, Martin and Geoffroy residence halls. Academic year meal plans and flex meal plans (25-, 50- and 100-meal packages) all would go up 5%, as proposed.

When combined, the proposed rate for a standard double room (without air conditioning) and the unlimited dining center meal plan is $10,880, a 5.8% increase over this year.

From 2021 through 2024 the residence department intentionally kept increases below inflation as families recovered from the COVID pandemic. Last year, residence leaders announced a new strategy in order to make needed facility improvements and reduce deferred maintenance costs.

Residence leaders are projecting an overall occupancy rate of 96% over the next five years -- or about 10,360 students in on-campus halls and apartments. Director of university housing Amelia Cepeda told the board that to help meet that demand, they'll add 250 spaces this fall by converting most of the current single rooms in Wallace Hall to double occupancy.

Change to the admissions application

On Feb. 13, the gender selection box in Iowa State's application for admission was reduced to three options: Female, male, prefer not to answer. Members of the Legislature sent a communication (PDF) to the board last month requesting the change to align with the Trump administration's two-gender policy. Braun clarified that applicants to the regent universities' common app portal will still see multiple genders since a vendor operates the site.

Other Iowa State requests

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

• Award two honorary Doctor of Science degrees at spring graduation ceremonies. The first is to Larry Buss, alumnus, western Iowa farmer and retired chief hydrologic engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, in recognition of extraordinary achievements in engineering and agriculture and his work as a staunch advocate for farmers and rural communities. Faculty in the agricultural and biosystems engineering department submitted Buss' nomination. The second is to Creston native and Grammy Award winner John "JR" Robinson, the music industry's most recorded drummer (his discography includes more than 10,000 recording sessions for the music, television and film industries), in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the music industry. Faculty in the music and theatre department nominated Robinson for the honorary degree.
• Begin planning to renovate an estimated 12,000 square feet in Black Engineering Building for the mechanical engineering department. The space will be vacated this summer by the industrial manufacturing and systems engineering department's move to the Therkildsen building. The renovation will focus on research labs, offices and support spaces, and private gifts will cover its estimated $12.6 million-$14.2 million cost.
• Renovate three parking lots, including underground utility and lot lighting improvements and new sidewalks, this summer. The three lots are north of Black Engineering (lot 8), east of Atanasoff (16) and east of Physics (36). The combined $2.75 million projects will be paid for with parking and utility system funds.
• Renovate six second-floor teaching labs in the Human Nutritional Sciences Building for the Textile Science Teaching Lab, which is located temporarily in Bessey Hall during the LeBaron Hall replacement. The $2.35 million project, funded with private gifts, will locate the teaching lab next to the newly renovated Textiles Science Research Laboratory. Work begins later this spring.
• Suspend admission to the Ph.D. program in rural, agricultural, technological and environmental history, for history department budget reasons, and as the first step of a five-year sunset plan for the program.
• End the interdisciplinary master of science in transportation program, College of Engineering, due to declining student interest. The program's last graduates were in spring 2020. Future students could apply to the civil engineering major and specialize in transportation engineering.

New degree in integrated health sciences addresses demand for health care professionals

By Stacey Maifeld
March 06

An innovative new degree will prepare students for health care professions through a unique blend of coursework. The Iowa Board of Regents approved the Iowa State undergraduate degree -- bachelor of science in integrated health sciences -- during its Feb. 27 meeting. Enrollment in the on-campus program will open this fall.

The program is the first undergraduate degree in Iowa to offer a fully integrated, interdisciplinary approach to health sciences. Unlike traditional pre-health majors, the comprehensive program focuses on health and wellness from multiple angles, with classes in life sciences, behavior and social sciences, data sciences and the humanities.

Graduates with the degree will be equipped for broad career opportunities, such as genetic or medical counselor, physician assistant, health care data analyst, medical doctor, insurance company specialists, public health officials or health policymaker. By learning about the complex factors in health care, evidence-based solutions and community service, they'll also be prepared to address Iowa-specific challenges in rural health care and caring for an aging population.

Professor and chair Yanhai Yin and teaching professor Karri Haen Whitmer of the department of genetics, development and cell biology; and Elizabeth McNeil, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition, teamed up to develop the degree with collaboration from 12 other academic departments in three colleges.

One of the strengths of the degree is the flexibility it provides as students explore their academic and career goals.

"What excites us most about this new degree is its adaptability and student-centered approach. It directly addresses a longstanding gap in health care education by giving students the freedom to explore multiple pathways without using the usual financial or academic penalties of switching majors," Yin said. "The integration of sciences such as anatomy, genetics and nutrition, and the humanities is a standout feature, allowing for a more holistic approach to health care education that reflects the real-world complexity of the field."

Five tracks for students to personalize their path

The program offers students five specialized tracks, allowing academic flexibility to tailor their education to their unique career goals:

• Science of health and disease
• Human health and nutrition
• Data science and human studies
• Public policy, ethics, communications and human health
• Behavioral and mental health studies

Students will complete 31 required core credits as well as a combination of required and elective courses from their chosen track. They also must complete nine credits they select from any of the other tracks. They will learn to apply knowledge from biology, chemistry, genetics, nutrition, health and wellness, statistics, social sciences and more. If a student's goals change, they can transition to a different track without sacrificing time or credits.

"Instead of forcing students into rigid, traditional tracks, it empowers them to refine their interests while staying within health care, which is something many pre-med and health-focused students struggle with," Yin said. "The fact that this program was co-developed with student and parent input makes it even more meaningful. It's built for real people with real goals.

"This degree could redefine how we prepare future health care professionals making education more accessible, resilient, and aligned with workforce needs. That's an exciting shift in higher education," he added.

Growing demand for health professionals

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care occupations are projected to grow by 15% between 2021 and 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Iowa faces a critical shortage of health care professionals. According to the 2021 Iowa Physician Workforce Profile from the Association of American Medical Colleges, Iowa ranked 44th out of 50 states in health care provider-to-patient ratio.

Iowa Workforce Development reports (January 2023) show health care professions will experience high to moderate annual growth in Iowa in positions such as nurse practitioners, medical and health services managers and physician assistants. Employers also are seeking job candidates with skills in clinical research, public health and data analysis, all of which will be taught in the new degree curriculum. 

In addition to student and parent feedback, Iowa State faculty sought insight from area health professionals and providers while developing the degree.

"We have talked with doctors, medical assistants and physical therapists, and they all liked the interdisciplinary nature of the major and believe that it will train well-rounded professionals in human health," Yin said.

He said the program is now part of a new health care collaboration committee at Mary Greeley Medical Center, an initiative designed to strengthen connections between academia and health care to address workforce needs, enhance education and drive research innovation. Program leaders also hope to establish future partnerships with medical schools and other health care institutions to create a pipeline for students seeking advanced training after completing their bachelor's degree.

Integration: academics and experiential learning

The program draws upon expertise from across the university, with a focus on experiential learning, community engagement and evidence-based practices. Examples include job shadowing, internships with local and regional providers and businesses, undergraduate research ranging from biomedicine to health policy, participation in student organizations and project-based capstones. It will be managed by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with collaboration from the colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Health and Human Sciences.