Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
July 20, 2023
Inside news
Faculty across campus are adjusting to the questions AI chatbots raise for their classrooms. Some are looking to limit their use to ensure students achieve learning objectives; others will use the advantage to enhance learning opportunities.

Michael Harwood, director of fiscal and facility operations for housing at the University of Montana, Missoula, will start Aug. 11 as ISU's associate vice president for campus life and director of residence.

Carl Wells, director of equal opportunity and Title IX coordinator since May 2022, will leave Iowa State Aug. 1 for a new position as associate dean for campus life at Newberry College in South Carolina.

Jeremy Paul is the new director of transportation services, on the heels of more than 20 years as an operations logistics expert for the U.S. Army.

The ISU Internal Careers Hub in Workday is a one-stop shop for employees looking for new roles at the university.

Parks Library will add single-person booths this fall to offer faculty, staff and students a unique place to study or work. It's the latest effort to update library spaces and accommodate the way today's patrons use them. 

Eligible employees now can request a WorkFlex arrangement or work with their supervisor to modify an existing agreement at any time.

Senior vice president for operations and finance Shawn Norman summarized findings from a division assessment at the July 6 Professional and Scientific Council meeting.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • MU's art rental open house is Aug. 1-3
  • Fringe benefit rates confirmed for new fiscal year
  • SHOP food pantry seeks summer staff, faculty volunteers
  • Consider FedEx, U.S. Postal Service until UPS contract is resolved
  • It's the final week to enjoy current museum exhibitions
  • City-university rummage sale runs July 29-Aug. 5
  • Iowa State joins network focused on first-gen student success
  • Tickets on sale July 21 for fall medium show at Stephens
  • City increases rate at its electric vehicle charging stations
  • Cyclone volleyball seeks game helpers for home matches
  • Celebration of life is July 22 for former faculty member Cal Lewis
  • Bulk pricing for ISU photo calendars
  • Second mental health response training scheduled for July 21
Around campus
ISU researchers attracted $301.3 million to support their experiments and projects during the fiscal year that ended June 30. That's a 6% increase -- $17.1 million -- above the previous research funding record.

Iowa State was named Entrepreneurial University of the Year for the Americas -- a 33-country region -- in a competition hosted by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities. The award recognizes excellence in incorporating entrepreneurial initiatives throughout the university and prioritizing entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education.

In an essay for The Conversation, two faculty members explain how converting empty office space into residential buildings is possible -- but may carry a significant price tag.

Managing retail returns is an enormous task -- and it's hard on the environment. In an essay for The Conversation, researchers advise retailers to help customers make choices that limit the need for a return or minimize a return's impact on the environment (and the retailer's bottom line).
Appointments
  • President Wendy Wintersteen to secretary/treasurer on the Big 12 Conference board of directors, a two-year term through June 2025
  • Kristin-Yvonne Rozier, associate professor of aerospace engineering, to the department's Dennis and Rebecca Muilenburg Professorship 
  • Ossama Abdelkhalik, professor of aerospace engineering, to the department's Vance D. Coffman Faculty Chair 
  • Jonathan Kelly, professor of psychology and human computer interaction, and director of graduate education, to chair of the psychology department, effective July 1
  • Kotaro Nakamura, San Diego State University, California, to chair of the interior design department, effective July 1
Retirements and receptions
Upcoming
  • Retirement, Kendall Clark, facilities and engineering services, Ames National Laboratory, Aug. 1 (no public event)
  • Retirement, Cheryl Mather, quality systems, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Aug. 1 (no public event)
  • Retirement, Libby Franke, kinesiology, Aug. 4 (no public event)
  • Farewell, Kristen Clark, student wellness, Aug. 7 (2:30-4 p.m., 2030 Student Services Building)

Employees, their colleagues or supervisors are invited to submit retirements and departures to inside@iastate.edu. Inside doesn't receive this information from a central source.
Arts and events
University museums docent Rick Bartosh will lead the last Sunday tour of the summer on July 23 (2 p.m., Brunnier Art Museum, Scheman Building). The tour lasts 30 minutes and is free.

Jim Fackenthal, the carillonneur at St. Chrysostom's Church in Chicago and member of the Naperville Park District's carillon performance team, visits campus Tuesday, July 25, for the third installment of ISU's summer concert series (7 p.m., central campus, bring blankets or lawn chairs). His performance will include carillon arrangements for three Scottish folk melodies.

Ames is the overnight stop on Tuesday, July 25, Day 3 of the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. The route into Ames terminates at the east end of the Cyclone pedestrian bridge over University Boulevard, and cyclists have the option to loop through Jack Trice Stadium (concourse level). Downtown Ames is the entertainment district; riders will camp throughout town. Volunteers still are needed, including housing hosts.
Learning opportunities
University human resources programming 
Leadership Skills certificate series for supervisors, register in Workday Learning (topic: Managers at ISU)
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About us
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions? Email inside@iastate.edu or call 515-294-7065.