Inside Update

Jan. 7, 2010
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

News

Spring semester opens Jan. 11
It won't feel like spring, but classes for spring semester begin Monday, Jan. 11. Spring commencement events take place May 7-8.

Quiet campus, conservation efforts yield energy savings
Iowa State saved an estimated $117,500 in energy costs during the partial university-wide shutdown.

Slightly darker Pammel part of pilot program
A late-night streetlight experiment on Pammel Drive may point the way to tens of thousands of dollars in energy savings.

New provider selected for employee assistance program
Des Moines-based Employee and Family Resources will become Iowa State's new employee assistance program provider, beginning Feb. 1. The change means more support and resources for employees.

2009 'flu by' for ISU swine expert in media spotlight
As president of a national swine association last year, Dr. Rodney "Butch" Baker made good use of the work in ISU's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to educate people about the H1N1 virus.

Winter winds generating electricity for community
The city and university recently began buying wind-generated electricity from a farm north of Zearing.

More news: Inside Iowa State

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Next Osborn Club lecture is Jan. 11
-- Undergrad researchers have chance to present work this spring
-- Next MBA informational lunch is Jan. 15
-- Maximum mileage rate reduced on Jan. 1
-- Mentors sought for PWSE summer internship program
-- Seasonal flu vaccines still available
-- Nominate alums, faculty/staff for 2010 Homecoming awards
-- Reiman Gardens volunteer form, scheduling process is now online
-- Nominate an outstanding online course for a STTAR
-- Office of the CIO announces improvements to its web site

See: Announcements

Teaching

CELT programs
Register via AccessPlus (click on Employee > HRS Training > Courses). All workshops are in 1230 Communications.
-- Multiple training sessions on TurningPoint (clickers): Jan. 15, 19, 20, 21, 22 (12:10-1 p.m.)
-- Spring 2010 programming schedule (pdf)
   CELT web site

ComETS seeks Moodle users
A pilot program using Moodlerooms, a hosted Moodle solution, will continue spring semester. Faculty interested in using Moodle as a course management system alternative are welcome to participate. For more info, contact Jim Twetten, or see the ComETS web site.

Appointment

-- John Lawrence, ISU economics professor and extension livestock specialist, to associate dean of extension and outreach for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources, effective Feb. 1

Around campus

CALS associate dean visits ag colleges in Iraq
Gerald Miller, associate dean of extension and outreach in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, joined six agriculture college deans from across the country in early December for a visit to Iraqi agriculture colleges.

Physicists begin to see data from collider
ISU physicists who took winter trips to the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland, are starting to see real data from the planet's biggest science experiment.

Departmental newsletters

ISU Extension
In the January issue: More 4-H options; disaster preparedness for businesses; new working K9 handler academy; the potential for biochar; Iowa land values decline; and a grateful farewell to 83 retirees.

Student Affairs
The 2008-09 annual report for the division of student affairs is available as a pdf file on the vice president's web site.

Open houses/receptions

This week
-- Retirement: Marcia Clendenen, ISU public safety, POSTPONED from Jan. 7 (2-4 p.m., Cardinal Room, MU) to sometime the week of Jan. 11

Next week
-- Retirement: Jan Breitman, ISU Alumni Association, Jan. 15 (2-5 p.m., program at 4 p.m., Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center)
-- Retirement: Sedahlia Crase, ISU human development and family studies, Jan. 15 (3:30-6 p.m., program at 4 p.m., Campanile Room, MU)
-- Retirement: Rod Berryman, Al Christian, Dan Johnson and Randy Petersohn, ISU animal science, Jan. 15 (3:30-5 p.m., program at 4 p.m., Kildee Hall atrium)

Upcoming
-- Dedication: Col. Pride Veterans' Lounge, Jan. 20 (10 a.m.-noon, program at 10:15 a.m., north of Great Hall desk, MU)
-- Retirement: Myrt Hanson, ISU Extension, Jan. 22 (3:30-5 p.m., 2150 Beardshear)
-- Retirement: Chloris Williams, ISU apparel, educational studies and hospitality management, Jan. 29 (2-4 p.m., program at 3 p.m., 23 MacKay)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

Arts and events

MLK events begin Jan. 13
A series of lectures, concerts and celebrations will honor Martin Luther King Jr. into February.

Happy birthday, Elvis
The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists tour brings "The King" to life in Stephens Auditorium on Jan. 15.

Gymnastics home opener is Jan. 8
The Iowa State gymnastics team opens its season Friday, Jan. 8, in Hilton Coliseum (7 p.m.), hosting the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for youth, or purchase admission to all four home meets for $20. Order tickets online, at the athletics ticket office, or by calling (800) 478-2925.

More campus events
Talks, performances, athletic contests and other campus events are listed on the university calendar. Also, see the Arts and Entertainment page.

Submitting your news
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by the Office of University Relations. Send Update news to inside@iastate.edu. For questions, call 4-7958.