Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Feb. 1, 2024
Inside news
Hundreds of preregistered students, professional staff and faculty are completing tasks in Workday Student as part of the "mock semester" exercise happening daily this week. Inside asked a few about the experience.

About 1% of the 8,709 dependents on a 2023 university medical, dental or vision plan were found to be ineligible during the verification process that began last March and concluded after November's benefits open enrollment.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Nominations due March 1 for 2024-25 leadership academy
  • One-hour training for suicide prevention is Feb. 9
  • Workspace hosts pop up Valentine sale
  • Symposium considers standards, meanings of beauty
  • Charcuterie workshop is Feb. 9
  • Reminder: Nominate a student employee or student employee supervisor by Feb. 1 
  • Personal finance workshop series starts in February
Around campus
January 2024 marks 50 years of live music and events at the Maintenance Shop, the performance space on the ground floor of the Memorial Union. Music legends and beloved theatrical productions have performed in the orange glow of the M-Shop's stained-glass window.

Since its launch in 2019, Read Across Iowa has helped children discover the joy of books and learn about food and agriculture. The program offers educators free kits with books and complimentary lesson plans during March. Organizers estimate more than 72,000 young Iowans in all 99 counties were impacted last year.

Some of the issues ISU Extension and Outreach's 2023 Iowa Farm and Rural Life poll inquired about were climate change, soil and water conservation, markets for non-GMO corn, rented land and (new this year) woodland ownership and management. It also asked participants what they like to be called: terms such as farmer, farm operator, producer or grower, and 75% said "farmer."
Appointments
Retirements
Upcoming
  • Janell Meyer, Team Birch, finance service delivery, Feb. 16 (no public event)
Arts and events
A reminder that the university community will celebrate the second annual George Washington Carver Day in Iowa at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, in the MU Great Hall (registration and beverages are available at 5 p.m.; an ice cream reception follows the program). Alumnus Paxton Williams will perform a one-man play about Carver's legacy he wrote as an ISU honors project.

Members of the student organization Orchesis I, will give two presentations of Barjché, the annual modern dance performance, this weekend, Friday and Saturday (7:30 p.m., Fisher Theater). Tickets are $12 (students $10) via Ticketmaster or the Stephens box office. 

The Cyclone track teams will host the Iowa State Classic on Saturday (Lied Recreation Center). Field events begin at 11 a.m. and runners will take to the track starting at noon. Admission is free.
Learning opportunities
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming
Register.
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About us
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.