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Inside Update

March 11, 2010
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff



News

Senators debate revised policy for faculty eliminations
At the March 9 Faculty Senate meeting, senators debated revamped policy changes outlining the specifics for handling faculty and academic program eliminations.

New EAP provider offers help, information online
From money management concerns to eldercare services, Iowa State's new employee assistance program provider, Employee and Family Resources, gives employees and their immediate family members online access to a wide range of information.

Teams wrap up cross-unit reviews
As part of the budget development process, the five teams working since December to review broad, cross-unit areas of programs and services have completed their assignments. Their reports are posted on the provost's FY11 budget development web site.

Building bridges between practice and education
Assistant professor of architecture and ISU Extension architecture and community design specialist Nadia Anderson and her Bridge Studio students are designing sustainable projects, including low-income housing solutions.

Hoffman responds to council's budget concerns
Executive vice president and provost Elizabeth Hoffman fielded many budget-related questions at the March 4 P&S Council meeting. The status of the new P&S compensation structure also was discussed.

New system speeds search for funding opportunities
Finding funding opportunities is easier under a new one-stop online system. The funding opportunities web site pulls together numerous funding sources and features versatile search options.

Understanding our freshmen
Results of the annual, national freshman survey coordinated at the University of California, Los Angeles, are out. Iowa State freshmen tend to be more conservative, socially and politically, than their peers.

More news: Inside Iowa State



Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:
-- No Inside Update during spring break; next edition is March 25
-- ISU ADVANCE March 29 workshop focuses on associate-to-full professor advancement
-- Middle/high school science fair still seeks judges on March 26-27
-- Reminder: Daylight-saving time begins Sunday, March 14
-- Register now for TIAA-CREF seminars after spring break
-- Check out current wellness activities for employees
-- Vote for P&S Council members through Friday
-- Registration requested for March 26 EH&S lab safety summit

See: Announcements



Teaching

CELT programs
Register via AccessPlus (click on Employee > HRS Training > Courses).
-- Teaching and Learning Circle: How to Talk about Hot Topics, March 24 (12:10-1 p.m., first of four weekly sessions, 2030 Morrill)
-- eLearning Interest Group, March 29 (12:10-1:30 p.m., 1230 Communications)
   Descriptions and times.

Blended learning practices are part of CELT spring programming
Blended learning is a hybrid of face-to-face classroom and online or distance learning with beneficial outcomes. The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching is incorporating blended learning practices and strategies into its spring programming to encourage faculty and staff to think and plan differently in these changing times at Iowa State. Read more or contact Allan Schmidt, CELT assistant director.



Appointments

-- Barbara Ching, University of Memphis, to English department chair, effective July 1
-- Sue Crum, ISU Extension, to ISU Extension director of planning and budget, effective March 1



Around campus

Outlook is positive for commodity trade and prices
The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute projects that an economic turnaround and bioenergy mandates will grow demand for food, feed and fuel, stimulating trade and price recovery over the rest of the decade.

ISU horticulture grads get high marks from employers
In a survey of employers that hired Iowa State horticulture graduates, 95 percent of responding companies reported they feel ISU students are prepared for the field.



Departmental newsletters

Your Library
A research guide on sustainability; spring seminars on mobile technologies, copyright and plagiarism; and a new collection featuring an Iowa farm family are among items in the March 10 issue of Your Library.



Open houses/receptions

Upcoming
-- Reception: To honor YWCA Ames-ISU Women of Achievement award and scholarship recipients, March 25 (5:30 p.m., ISU Alumni Center)
-- Retirement: JoAnn McKinney, LAS student academic services, March 30 (2-4 p.m., 302 Catt)
-- Retirement: Martha Olson, ISU IT Services, March 31 (2-4 p.m., 1020 Youth/4-H Building, program at 3 p.m.)
-- Retirement: Neil Nakadate, ISU English, April 1 (3:30-5 p.m., MU Campanile Room)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.



Arts and events

Sesame Street, all grown up
The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Avenue Q stops for a show at Stephens Auditorium March 23. A cast of people and puppets tackle adult-themed topics with humor.

Behind the scenes at Reiman Gardens
Learn what goes on behind the scenes at Reiman Gardens during "Art in the Garden" March 16 (10-11 a.m., Reiman Gardens). Cost is $10 (free for CoHorts, ISU students and volunteers).

Hunger banquet
Experience the realities of global poverty and hunger at the Hunger Banquet March 23 (5-7 pm., Campanile Room, MU). Participants will receive a meal that's in line with the income level they are assigned by a random drawing. Tickets are $5 (discounts for groups and nonperishable food donations); proceeds go to Oxfam America.

March Madness at Hilton
Iowa State is hosting first- and second-round games of the NCAA women's basketball championship March 21 (6 and 8:30 p.m.) and March 23 (8:30 p.m.) at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones will be one of the four teams playing at this site. Tickets for both days are $27 for adults and $22 for youth. Single-session tickets ($16 adults/$11 youth) go on sale March 16.

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.