Inside Update

April 21, 2011
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

News

Faculty conduct changes get senate approval
Changes approved at the April 19 Faculty Senate meeting add unacceptable performance of duty to the list of misconduct items in the Faculty Handbook.

Budget memo sets preliminary reduction targets, salary increase parameters
In her latest budget planning memo to campus leaders, executive vice president and provost Elizabeth Hoffman sets salary increase parameters, writes about strong enrollment in the fall and lays out possible funding scenarios from the state for next year's budget.

ISU seeks extension for phased plus retirement program
ISU administrators are requesting an application extension from the state Board of Regents for the phased plus retirement program. The board will consider the proposal at its April 27-28 meeting in Ames.

Distinguished, University Professors named
Five Iowa State faculty members have been awarded the title of Distinguished or University Professor.

Share your ideas on presidential qualities with regents
Share your views on the desired qualities in Iowa State's next president during a regents-hosted open forum April 27.

Catastrophic leave program lets employees help each other
Learn how Iowa State's catastrophic leave program benefits employees who need extended time off for medical reasons, and how you can help.

More news: Inside Iowa State

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Mechanical engineering's spring design expo is April 26
-- ISU Dining will host Mother's Day brunch in MU
-- Online voting secures rain garden grant for Reiman Gardens
-- Library's Quick Search will do it all, succeeds library catalog
-- Former ISU provost Milton Glick dies
-- Teen buying habits, attitudes are topic of marketing summit
-- VRAC, HCI to host networking event, "Ignite Ames"
-- Memorial service for Marty Graham is April 22
-- Ames is 15th on 'Smartest College Towns" ranking

See: Announcements

Teaching

Seminar addresses effective ways to teach biology
William Wood, co-director of The National Academies Summer Institute on Undergraduate Education in Biology, will give a seminar on campus April 22 (4:10 p.m., Molecular Biology auditorium). "Changing the Way We Teach: Why We Should and How We Can" is open to the university community. Wood is a Distinguished Professor emeritus at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Seminars and conferences

The following conference was added this week:
-- Origins of Obesity: Maternal, Epigenetic and Lifestyle Factors, May 9-11

See: Announcements

Around campus

ISU will operate DNA sequencer with the NADC
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Center has agreed to install a next generation DNA sequencer in Iowa State's DNA Facility in the Molecular Biology Building. University scientists will operate the sequencer for both NADC and on-campus researchers.

Virtual control room helps teach students about biofuel production
Iowa State's Interactive Biorefinery Operations Simulator in the Food Sciences Building is based on real Iowa biorefineries that are producing ethanol and biodiesel. In addition to teaching students about biofuel production, it could be used by the industry to help train employees to operate a biorefinery.

More cousins than you can imagine
An ISU researcher is one of a team of scientists who recently researched the fly family tree, one of the most complicated in the animal world. (Houseflies have more than 152,000 cousins. And those are just the ones we know about.)

Open houses/receptions

Next week
-- Reception: Gender equity and scholarship awards, April 25 (3:30-5 p.m., MU Campanile Room)
-- Reception: Spring 2011 Honors student poster presentations, April 27 (3-5 p.m., MU Great Hall)
-- Reception: Science with Practice student poster presentations, April 27 (3:30-5 p.m., Kildee atrium)
-- Retirement: Michael Whiteford, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences administration, April 29 (3-5 p.m., Hach Hall lobby, program at 4 p.m.). Colleagues are invited to email best wishes for a book the college will compile to Laura Engelson.

Upcoming
-- Retirement: Walter Trahanovsky, ISU chemistry, May 5 (3-4:30 p.m., Hach lobby)
-- Reception: Post-commencement, for all graduates and their families, May 7 (following commencement for 2 hours, ISU Alumni Center)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

Arts and events

Earth Day 2011 celebration is in full swing
Earth Day is Friday, April 22. Find out how you can get involved in earth-friendly activities on campus.

Benefit concert at Stephens will feature Simon Estes
An April 29 benefit concert at Stephens Auditorium will feature Simon Estes and his South African children's choir, the ISU Wind Ensemble, Ames Piano Quartet and Ames Children's Choir. Tickets ($10 adults, $5 children) for the 7 p.m. show are on sale now.

John Mellencamp brings his "No Better Than This" tour to campus
Fans will hear a mix of classic rock and new tunes from John Mellencamp when he stops by Stephens Auditorium April 28 for a 7 p.m. performance. Tickets range from $47.50 to $125 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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