Inside Update

Feb. 10, 2011
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

News

Dean Whiteford to retire June 30
Michael Whiteford, a faculty member of 39 years who has served as dean of the Liberal Arts and Sciences college since September 2003, shared his plans this week to retire from Iowa State June 30 and move to Oregon to be near family members.

Geoffroy: Continued cuts would jeopardize progress
President Gregory Geoffroy reaffirmed Iowa State's commitment to its land-grant mission and the people of Iowa, but told legislators that continued budget cuts are jeopardizing the university's progress. Geoffroy testified before the Iowa Legislature's education appropriations subcommittee at the State Capitol Feb. 9.

Revised sports complex plan topic of public meeting
At a Feb. 15 public meeting, ISU officials will discuss the latest plan for a new outdoor sports complex in the vicinity of the Towers residence halls. Planners revised the site plan in response to concerns expressed by neighbors in the area. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Knapp Storms Dining Complex.

Public forum part of athletics NCAA certification process
Groups engaged in a six-month study of the athletics program will discuss their findings and seek input during a Feb. 28 public forum (5:30-7:30 p.m., Campanile Room, Memorial Union). The self-study and forum are part of the NCAA Division I certification process currently under way at Iowa State.

Faculty policies stall in senate
Discussion of proposed changes to the faculty conduct and post-tenure review policies continued at the Feb. 8 Faculty Senate meeting, but decisions on both measures were tabled until next month. An early promotion and tenure review policy also will be considered in March.

Regents take first look at proposed 2011-12 tuition rates
During the Feb. 3 state Board of Regents meeting, Iowa State officials proposed a tuition increase next year of 5 percent for resident students and 3.5. percent for nonresidents. The regents are expected to make a decision on the tuition request at their March 23 meeting.

Estimate on flood, wind damage drops
The estimated costs of recovery from summer floods and windstorms on campus is lower than $40 million and perhaps closer to $30 million. Vice president for business and finance Warren Madden recently updated the state Board of Regents on the new estimate, down from the original $50 million.

More news: Inside Iowa State

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Registration open for science/tech career conferences in April for girls
-- Feb. 11 entrepreneur forum features Ames' GlobalVetLink founder
-- Town and Gown annual Musicale is Feb. 19
-- Take a peek at Extension's new website
-- Registration is open for 12th annual ISCORE, March 4
-- Free wellness assessment opportunities begin Feb. 16
-- Free informational lunch on MBA program is Feb. 22
-- Michael Cho to give Feb. 14 Osborn Club lecture
-- Outdoor Rec: Sea kayaking in Alaska this June
-- Women's center seeks nominations for gender equity award, student scholarships

See: Announcements

Teaching

CELT programs
Register via AccessPlus (click on Employee > HRS Training > Courses). Workshops are in 1230 Communications, unless noted.
-- What You Need to Know to Convert Your WebCT Course to Blackboard Learn, Feb. 15 (10-11:30 a.m.)
-- Back to the Basics: Blackboard Learn's File Management Options, Feb. 16 (10-11:30 a.m.)
-- How to Develop Effective Formative Course Assessment Systems, Feb. 16 (12:10-1:30 p.m., 2030 Morrill)
-- Graduate Student Programming: Going on the Academic Job Market, Feb. 16 (3:10-5 p.m., 280 Town Engineering)
-- How Do I Make Blackboard Learn's Grade Center Work for Me? Feb. 17 (2:10-3:30 p.m.)

See: Descriptions and times

Seminars and conferences

The following conferences were added this week:
-- Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE), March 4
-- Taking the Road Less Traveled, April 14, 21 and 28
-- Risky Business Conference, April 26

See: Announcements

Appointments

-- Neal Iverson, ISU geology, to geological and atmospheric sciences department chair, effective July 1

Around campus

Extension VP candidates named
Five finalists for Iowa State's Vice President for Extension and Outreach post include interim VP Gerald Miller and alumni Michael Gray and Cathann Kress. Campus interviews for the five begin next week.

Global comprehensive health organization locates to ISU
The One Health Commission, a globally focused organization dedicated to promoting improved health of people, animals, plants and the environment, is locating at the Iowa State University Research Park.

Departmental newsletters

IPRT News
Read about researchers boosting solar cell efficiencies, checking anhydrous ammonia tanks for flaws, and running a machine that etches truly tiny features on materials.

Your Library
Historical ISU films on YouTube, free online resources for finding music scores and the week an iceberg came to campus are just some of the topics included in this month's Your Library-Newsletter.

Search forums

Next week
-- Open forum: Gerald Miller, Iowa State, ISU vice president for extension and outreach candidate, Feb. 15 (3-4:30 p.m., 1951 Food Sciences)
-- LAS dean search discussion forum, Feb. 17 (8-9 a.m., 302 Catt)
-- Open forum: A. Scott Reed, Oregon State, ISU vice president for extension and outreach candidate, Feb. 17 (3-4:30 p.m., 1951 Food Sciences)

Upcoming
-- Open forum: Michael Schmitt, University of Minnesota, ISU vice president for extension and outreach candidate, Feb. 22 (3:30-5 p.m., 1951 Food Sciences)
-- LAS dean search discussion forum, Feb. 23 (4-5 p.m., 302 Catt)
-- Open forum: Michael Gray, University of Illinois, ISU vice president for extension and outreach candidate, Feb. 24 (3-4:30 p.m., 1951 Food Sciences)
-- Open forum: Cathann Kress, Office of Family Policy, Children and Youth, U.S. Department of Defense, ISU vice president for extension and outreach candidate, March 1 (3-4:30 p.m., 1951 Food Sciences)

Arts and events

Indoor facility is site for Cyclone softball tournament
The Cyclone softball team opens its season this weekend, playing host to an indoor tournament at the Bergstrom Indoor Training Facility Feb. 11-13. Creighton, South Dakota State, Valparaiso and Western Illinois round out the tournament field. ISU will play two games on Friday (5 and 7:30 p.m.), Saturday (2:30 and 7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. and 1 p.m.). Admission is free; fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs due to limited bleacher seating.

Varieties semifinals are this weekend
The semifinals for Varieties 2011, Iowa State's student talent competition, are Feb. 11-12 (6 and 9 p.m. both days, Great Hall, MU). Tickets are $8 ($6 for students); prices go up $1 the day of the show. Purchase tickets at the Maintenance Shop box office (Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.) or call 4-8349. All semifinal acts will be judged, with the three top skits and top three vignettes moving on to the finals Feb. 25 (6 and 9 p.m.) and Feb. 26 (8 p.m.).

'Monologues' performances are Feb. 10-11
The women's center will sponsor three performances of Eve Ensler's award-winning play, The Vagina Monologues, Feb. 10 (5:30 p.m.) and 11 (6 and 9 p.m.) in the MU Maintenance Shop. Tickets are $15 ($12 for students) at the M-Shop ticket office; the price goes up $2 at the door. Proceeds will benefit ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support Services) in central Iowa, and women in Haiti.

Orchid Fest is Feb. 12-13 at Reiman Gardens
Escape winter for a few hours at the annual Orchid Fest at Reiman Gardens Feb. 12 (10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) and Feb. 13 (11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). Learn a few things about orchids and purchase some if you like. Orchid Fest-goers pay the usual gardens admission (member and ISU students admitted for free).

Smooth sounds of Sweet Honey
Hear the inspirational harmonies of Sweet Honey in the Rock live Feb. 17 (7:30 p.m., Stephens). Tickets range from $33 to $37 (youth $25; students $20), and are available at the Stephens ticket office or through Ticketmaster.

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.

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