Inside Update

Dec. 15, 2011
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

Fall commencement begins at 2 p.m. Saturday
Northern Iowa president and former ISU provost Ben Allen will receive an honorary degree and give the address during fall commencement Saturday (2 p.m., Hilton Coliseum). Tickets are not needed; all are welcome.

Google-approved
This master map maker and web cam czar responds to five questions about his work and a recent honor from Google.

VanDerZanden named CELT director
Horticulture professor Ann Marie VanDerZanden will take over as director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and co-director of the learning communities program on Jan. 3.

It's time to make winter break preparations
Earlier this fall, university officials approved a partial university shutdown over winter break, Dec. 23-Jan. 2. Here's a checklist to help you prepare for the optional extended leave.

Break schedules
Here's a list of closures and holiday hours for some popular campus facilities over winter break.

Next Update will be Jan. 5
Inside Update and its companion publication, Inside Iowa State, will take a break for the winter holidays. Our next issue is scheduled for Jan. 5. In the meantime, watch the faculty/staff announcements website for news updates.

More news: Inside Iowa State

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Participants selected for 2012 Emerging Leaders Academy
-- Chemistry Stores sets holiday hours
-- Recycle your old phonebooks; collections are this week

See: Announcements

2012-13 Miller Faculty Fellowship proposals due Feb. 1
The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching's faculty advisory board invites applications to the Miller Faculty Fellowship program, to support innovative projects that enhance undergraduate programs at Iowa State. The deadline for proposals for the 2012-13 academic year is Feb. 1, 2012. Program details are online. Questions may be directed to CELT faculty intern Jan Thompson.

-- Kimberly Zarecor, associate professor of architecture, as the first director of the Bachelor of Design program in the College of Design, through June 2014

Graduating senior speaks with a new voice . . . literally
When Kevin Neff stands at the lectern in his cap and gown Friday, he'll speak to his fellow College of Business graduates with a new voice. For three and a half years, his vocal cords were silenced. Neff said he believes it all happened for a purpose.

ISU study: Iowa farmland values up 32 percent over last year
Average Iowa farmland value is estimated to be $6,708 per acre, an increase of 32.5 percent from 2010, according to results of the Iowa Land Value Survey conducted in November by Iowa State extension farm management economist Mike Duffy and released Dec. 14. This is the highest percentage increase ever recorded by the annual survey.

School of Education clears final hurdle
Meeting telephonically Dec. 8, the state Board of Regents approved tuition and fee rates and faculty professional development assignments for 2012-13, and gave the final green light to the College of Human Sciences' School of Education.

Your Library
In this issue of Your Library newsletter: Access more than 6,000 SpringerLink Ebooks; research art on the web; track citation metrics through Google Scholar; and more.

This week
-- Reception: Commencement, Dec. 17 (following ceremony, Alumni Center)

Upcoming
-- Retirement: Beverly Fowles, ISU veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, retiring Dec. 28 (reception held previously)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

Mannheim Steamroller stops by Stephens Dec. 20
Mannheim Steamroller, one of America's favorite holiday groups, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 in Stephens Auditorium. Tickets range from $49 to $80 and are available at the Stephens ticket office or through Ticketmaster.

Story time at the bookstore
University Book Store is hosting a free story time for kids on Saturday, Dec. 17 (10:30-11 a.m.). Stories and activities will focus on holidays from around the world.

Holiday events at Reiman Gardens
-- Stocking Stuffer Night, Dec. 15 (5-7 p.m.). Enjoy wine, treats and finish up your holiday shopping at the gift shop.
-- Release a Butterfly, Dec. 17 (8-9:30 a.m.). Release your own butterfly in the Gardens' Butterfly Wing. Cost for butterflies is $5 for one, $8 for two, $12 for three and $3 for each additional butterfly. Preregister by calling 4-2710.
-- Wrapping up the Holidays, Dec. 17 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.). Enjoy holiday music, food and beverages while your gift shop purchases are wrapped for free.
-- Open late on Thursday nights, Dec. 15, 22 and 29 (until 8 p.m.). Admission is free 4:30-8 p.m.; donations will be accepted for Youth and Shelter Services' Holiday Giving Program.

Get out of the house; there's lots of basketball over the break
The Cyclone men's and women's basketball teams play a combined six games at Hilton before the new year. Coach Bill Fennelly's team plays Dec. 20 (Northern Iowa, 7 p.m.), 29 and 30 (Cyclone Challenge tournament, 5 and 7:30 nightly). Coach Fred Hoiberg's team plays Dec. 18 (Central Michigan, 1 p.m.), Dec. 21 (Lipscomb, 7 p.m.) and Dec. 31 (Mississippi Valley State, noon). Special ticket offers are available for the men's games. Women's single-game tickets are $12 (reserved) or $10 (general admission).

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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