Inside Update

March 3, 2011
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

News

Keeping Hilton and Scheman dry
Flood mitigation strategies selected for various water-vulnerable locations on Hilton and Scheman should be installed by mid-May. They include more concrete walls where now there is metal or glass and a series of quick-install barricades in front of doors.

Oliver will fill interim LAS dean post
David Oliver, associate dean for research in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will serve as interim dean beginning July 1 when dean Michael Whiteford retires from the university.

Smiley returns to campus to discuss Atanasoff biography
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and former ISU Distinguished Professor of English Jane Smiley will return to campus March 3 to talk about her most recent nonfiction book, The Man Who Invented the Computer: The Biography of John Atanasoff. Atanasoff was an ISU physics and mathematics professor who invented the first electronic digital computer in the late 1930s. Smiley's talk begins at 8 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall.

Change expert will start discussion on preparing for higher ed's next era
A one-hour March 9 presentation will kick off a university-wide effort to prepare for dramatic changes coming in higher education. Donald Norris, a national expert on change, will help start the discussion with a presentation on "The Future of Learning, Research and Collaboration -- Implications for Facilities" from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in 1148 Gerdin Business Building.

More news: Inside Iowa State

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Informational session on services at Laboratory Animal Resources is March 9
-- Registration still open for ISCORE events this Friday
-- Agenda, presenters set for March 25 student success summit at ISU
-- Apply by March 31 for 2011-12 undergrad research funding

See: Announcements

Teaching

CELT programs
Register via AccessPlus (click on Employee > HRS Training > Courses). All workshops are in 1230 Communications.
-- What You Need to Know to Convert Your WebCT Course to Blackboard Learn, March 7 (2:10-3:30 p.m.)
-- How Do I Make Blackboard Learn's Grade Center Work for Me? March 9 (10-11:30 a.m.)
-- How Can I Expand My Online Assessment Offerings through Blackboard Learn's Tests, Surveys and Pools? March 10 (2:10-3:30 p.m.)

See: Descriptions and times

CELT SoTL Institute
CELT invites applications for a year-long Scholarship of Teaching and Learning institute for faculty and staff. The institute begins in May and runs through the 2011-12 academic year. Up to $1,250 in professional development funds are available to participant groups. Contact Jen Leptien for details and application materials. Send questions about the program to Steve Freeman.

Seminars and conferences

The following conferences were added this week:
-- Stupka Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 7-8
-- Voorhees Supply Chain Conference, April 8

See: Announcements

Appointments

-- Nicole Carroll, Carroll; Katie Mulholland, Marion; and Bruce Rastetter, Hubbard; to the state Board of Regents, for six-year terms, effective May 1 (pending final approval by the Iowa Senate)
-- Zhi Wang, associate chair for research of aerospace engineering and professor of mathematics, to Wilson Engineering Professor, effective immediately

Around campus

View the VP for extension candidate forums online
Videotaped open forums with the five candidates who interviewed for the position of vice president for extension and outreach can be viewed online. Evaluations of the candidates are due by 5 p.m. March 4 to pabryant@iastate.edu; the form is available on the search website.

New radio program podcast examines 'science' of parenting
The Science of Parenting, a new monthly radio program podcast from ISU Extension, offers research-based parenting advice from experts across the country. Program co-hosts are Doug Gentile, associate professor of psychology, and Mike Murray, a mechanical engineer with facilities planning and management. Gentile brings the science to the program, while Murray provides a "parent-on-the-street" perspective.

Arts and events

Stephens offers weekend of entertainment
Tickets for the following events may be purchased at the Iowa State Center ticket office or through Ticketmaster.
-- Bus Stop, Friday, March 4 (7:30 p.m.). Performed by Montana Repertory Theatre. Tickets are $37 and $33 ($25 youth, $20 students).
-- "An Evening with Joe Bonamassa," Saturday, March 5 (8 p.m.). Bonamassa is an award-winning blues rocker, guitarist and singer-songwriter. Tickets are $69, $56 and $36.

Some of the nation's best wrestlers at Hilton Saturday
Hilton Coliseum is home to the 2011 Big 12 Conference wrestling championships on Saturday, March 5. All-session ($20 adult, $15 youth) and individual session tickets are available. The early session ($10, $5) begins at 10 a.m., and the evening finals ($20, $15) start at 7 p.m. Live coverage will be available on the championship website.

Laws about gun ownership: A student debate
The ISU Democrats will debate the College Rupublicans March 7 (7 p.m., MU Sun Room) to claim the Caucus Cup. This year's topic is enacting laws to limit gun ownership. Tom Beell, professor in broadcast journalism, will serve as moderator.

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.

Update Archives