Inside Update

March 31, 2011
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

News

Legislative update
State relations officer Ann McCarthy updates the university community on the latest possibilities for state funding to Iowa State for the year that begins July 1. Redistricting also will command legislators' time and attention in these last weeks of the 2011 session.

News you can use from HRS
A pair of April 30 deadlines for flexible spending account claims and inclusion in the phased plus retirement program are among two of the news items from human resource services this week.

More lenses on risk management
Following a trend in higher education, Iowa State is adopting a broader, less "siloed" approach to identifying, assessing and managing risk -- physical, financial or reputational. It's called enterprise risk management.

More trash talk
Another 23 BigBelly solar trash compactors have been installed on campus this week, thanks to the residence department. Seven more are waiting in the wings.

Photostream of (campus) consciousness
In just a couple of weeks, the new ISU Photostream website has become a beautiful reflection of campus, as framed by student, faculty and staff photographers.

More news: Inside Iowa State

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:
-- 2011 Veishea buttons for sale online, at University Book Store
-- Nominations sought for Veishea student, faculty awards
-- Autism awareness is topic of April 5 talk
-- Take a walk with ISU students April 6
-- P&S Council nominations are due April 15
-- P&S staff appreciation event is April 7
-- Nolan to speak at April 25 reception
-- Submit requests to library now for summer, fall course reserve
-- Last Osborn Club lecture of the semester is April 11

See: Announcements

Teaching

CELT programs
Register via AccessPlus (click on Employee > HRS Training > Courses). Workshops are in 1230 Communications.
-- How Can I Expand My Online Assessment Offerings through Blackboard's Tests, Surveys and Pools? April 5 (10-11:30 a.m.)
-- Beyond Bullets: Being Creative in the Classroom with PowerPoint, April 6 (9 a.m.-noon)
-- What You Need to Know to Convert Your WebCT Course to Blackboard Learn, April 7 (10-11:30 a.m.)
-- Blackboard User Group: Blackboard Show and Tell, April 8 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)

See: Descriptions and times

Seminars and conferences

The following conferences were added this week:
-- Nutrition and Wellness Research Center symposium, May 9-11

See: Announcements

Around campus

Kepler spacecraft gives ISU professor look inside red giant stars
ISU's Steve Kawaler, professor of physics and astronomy, is part of research collaborations that have used data from NASA's Kepler spacecraft to see into the core of red giant stars. The teams' findings have been published in Science and Nature.

Cookbook rock star stops on campus April 4
Chris Young, co-author of Modernist Cuisine, a popular new mega cookbook, will speak at Iowa State April 4 (8 p.m., MU Great Hall). His 2,400-page cookbook comes in six volumes.

Open houses/receptions

This week
-- Retirement: Donna Flanagan, ISU enrollment services, April 1 (2-4 p.m., 314 Enrollment Services Center)
-- Retirement: David Otis, department of natural resource ecology and management, April 1 (a reception is being planned for May, MU Campanile Room)

Next week
-- Reception: Phi Kappa Phi honor society, initiation ceremony and reception, April 3 (2 p.m., MU Gallery)
-- Retirement: David Block, ISU architecture, April 8 (4:30-6:30 p.m., 3215 Greenwood Cir., Ames)

Upcoming
-- Open house: Office of Student Financial Aid (National Student Employment Week), April 13 (9-11:30 a.m., Beardshear ground floor)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

Arts and events

First Amendment celebration starts April 3
Organizers moved the Greenlee School's annual First Amendment Day celebration a week ahead of Veishea to focus on a full slate of lectures and events. The celebration kicks off April 3, with most events planned for April 6-7.

Bring your own blood
The annual student-run spring blood drive runs through Thursday, March 31, in the Memorial Union's Great Hall. No appointment is necessary; open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Edible book fest is Friday
Parks Library will host its first edible book festival April 1 (11 a.m.-2 p.m., Bookends Reading Room). The festival is one of many scheduled around the world on this date. Winners will be announced at 2:15 p.m.

See the Golden Dragon Acrobats for free
Student Union Board is hosting a free performance of the high-flying Golden Dragon Acrobats on Monday, April 4 (8 p.m., Stephens). This event is appropriate for the whole family.

It's time for the annual SCAVMA Scamper
The 28th annual SCAVMA (Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association) Scamper 5K/10K run and walk is slated for Saturday, April 9 (9 a.m. race time, Vet Med campus). Entry fees are $20 ($25 day of race, $15 for students). Register by 12:01 a.m. April 7. Dogs on leashes are welcome to run, too. More information is online.

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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