Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Dec. 7, 2023
Inside news
For the first time, colleges and departments have an on-campus option for purchasing Iowa State-themed clothing for their employees. The selection includes polos, plaid shirts, fleece vests and more.

As part of a leadership transition in the division, Heather Paris is serving as interim senior vice president for operations and finance and university controller Amy Tetmeyer as interim associate vice president for finance. 

Associate professor of education Ben Van Dusen's next-generation, artificial intelligence-powered assessment tool will be piloted in a key introductory physics course this spring. The intent is to improve student success rates by collecting useful data for instructors about what skills their students have mastered -- or need more help with.

The primary service offers a shuttle to or from the Des Moines airport at scheduled times on key dates in the university's academic year. But students -- individually or in groups -- may reserve a ride to the airport for personal travel any time of the year.

Iowa State has begun its once-a-decade institutional reaccreditation process through the Higher Learning Commission. Much of the work will occur during the 2025-26 academic year, leading up to a site visit scheduled for that March.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Dec. 8 ISU wine sale includes sampling
  • Final fall edition of 'Inside' is Dec. 14
  • Recycle the fronts of greeting cards through January
  • Commute from the north on I-35? North Ames Exit closing Dec. 11
  • Study-away application window opens for 2024-25
  • ISU Creamery hosts butter-making workshop
  • Tearoom offers cook-at-home foods this month
Around campus
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recently named 11 faculty to its second Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellows cohort for their proposals to incorporate innovation in their teaching, research or extension activities.

Consumer horticulture specialist Aaron Steil provides tips to protect trees and shrubs from damage done by animals, snow and salt as winter arrives.

Rural sociology and sustainable agriculture Ph.D. student Joe Hollis explains three ways artificial intelligence can benefit human health, the environment and food security in an essay for The Conversation.
Retirements
This week
  • Jeff Ames, Diane Bugeja and Jay Newell, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, Dec. 8 (4:30-6 p.m., Cardinal Room, MU), RSVP requested by Dec. 4 (share stories, photos in the form)

Upcoming
  • Robin McNeely, GIS Support and Research Facility, College of Design, Dec. 18 (2:30-4:30 p.m., 206 Durham)
  • Mike Stahr, Seed Science Center, Dec. 20 (2-4 p.m., Seed Science Center)
  • Sue Reimers, Student Counseling Services, Dec. 29 (no public event)
  • Kathy Weaver, undergraduate academic advising, Ivy College of Business, Dec. 29 (no public event)
  • Antonio Mallarino, agronomy, Dec. 31 (no public event)
  • Vince Dahl, facilities services, Ames National Laboratory, Jan. 2, 2024 (no public event)
  • Ann Wilson, communications and marketing, College of Engineering, Jan. 2 (no public event)
  • Henrietta "Dutch" Elliott, facilities services, Ames National Laboratory, Jan. 3 (no public event) 
  • Mike Holtzbauer, Meats Laboratory, Jan. 4 (9-10 a.m., 133 Meats Laboratory)

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
The final midday carillon concert of the semester will use the campanile-carillon model for a "Carol of the Bells" on Friday, Dec. 8 (12:30 p.m., Sukup Hall atrium). Carillon students will perform seven holiday favorites. If you can't make it to the Biorenewables Complex, enjoy the livestream at your desk.

The Cyclone men's and women's track teams will host the ISU Holiday Invitational Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8-9 (Lied Recreation Center). Women's pentathlon, four of the men's heptathlon events and field events compete Friday (noon-5:45 p.m.). Saturday features field events and running events (10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.). Spectators are welcome; admission is free.

Cyclone basketball is back at Hilton Sunday
On the heels of their CyHawk games this week, the Iowa State men's and women's basketball teams host non-conference opponents at Hilton Coliseum Sunday, Dec. 10. The men play Prairie View (Texas) A&M at noon, and the women face North Dakota State at 5 p.m. Tickets are available for both contests.
Learning opportunities
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

ISU WellBeing programming
  • Training, Mental Health First Aid, how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults, lunch provided, offered twice, register
  • Jan. 8 (8 a.m.-4 p.m., MU Cardinal Room)
  • Jan. 11 (8 a.m.-4 p.m., MU Oak Room)
Previous Inside coverage
About us
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions? Email inside@iastate.edu or call 515-294-7065.