Inside Update

Reflections on a decade of leadership
With his presidency winding down at the end of this week, president Gregory Geoffroy reflects on his 10-plus years of leading Iowa State University and what's ahead for him.

The Knoll, Beardshear offices nearly ready for the Leaths
Construction work on The Knoll and 1750 Beardshear Hall is nearing completion, just as incoming president Steven Leath is set to arrive for his first day on the job (Jan. 16). Despite delivery delays and renovation "surprises," virtually all of the work will be done by Feb. 1.

Reminder about 2012 flexible spending accounts
Human resource services reminds employees that 2012 flexible spending account reimbursements are handled by a new administrator, ASIFlex, and claims cannot be processed until February.

Campus benefiting from warm winter temps
Campus services crews took advantage of unseasonably warm weather to catch up -- and get ahead -- on many outdoor projects.

More news: Inside Iowa State

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Classes won't meet, offices closed for King holiday Jan. 16
-- Faculty asked to complete survey as part of senate review of provost office
-- 2011 W-2 forms are available online
-- Workspace hosts dressmaking sessions Jan. 14-16 to benefit Little Dresses for Africa
-- Open forums scheduled for writing help center candidates
-- Women's and diversity grant proposals are due March 1
-- OPPTAG offers summer teaching opportunity
-- Women's center interim director to speak at Thursday's P&S Council open forum
-- Get healthy with Live Healthy Iowa
-- Student team leaders sought for August's Destination Iowa State
-- Recognition event for academic advisers is Jan. 19
-- Next Swim & Gym session begins Feb. 7
-- Volunteer judges needed for science and technology fair, March 30-31
-- Nominations for homecoming awards are due Feb. 1

See: Announcements

CELT programs
Register via AccessPlus (click on Employee > HRS Training > Courses).
-- Introduction to Blackboard (Bb) Learn, Jan. 17 (1:10-2:10 p.m., 1230 Communications)
-- Bb Learn: Developing Your Course, Jan. 17 (2:10-3:40 p.m., 1230 Communications)
-- Academic Writing for Graduate Students and New Faculty: An Introduction to Academic Writing, Jan. 19 (3:10-4 p.m., 2030 Morrill)
-- Spring semester teaching assistant seminar, Jan. 20 (10-10:50 a.m., 2030 Morrill)
-- Teaching and Learning Circle, From Simple to Sophisticated: Assessment Techniques for the College Classroom, Tuesdays: Jan. 24 and 31, Feb. 7 and 14 (1:10-2 p.m., 2030 Morrill)
-- Respondus: Creating Test Pools, Quizzes, Surveys for Bb Learn, Jan. 25 (10-11 a.m., 1230 Communications)
-- Panel: Engaging Undergraduates as Teaching Assistants, Jan. 25 (12:10-1:30 p.m., 2030 Morrill)
-- Bb Learn: Creating and Managing Groups, Jan. 25 (1:10-2:10 p.m., 1230 Communications)

See: Descriptions and times

-- Mark Rasmussen, microbiologist with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, Md., to director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, effective by June 1
-- Brian Larson, ISU Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, to director of career services, College of Engineering

Invaluable to Iowa
The winter issue of the alumni association's VISIONS magazine highlights some of the many ways that Iowa State University makes life better for the people of Iowa. This issue is available online for all to read.

University Museums
In the January/February issue of eInterpretations (PDF): Learn about spring semester's exhibitions, "Day Without Art," visual literacy and learning, and the newest University Museums publication.

This week
-- Reception: Unveiling of the Catt Center's 2012 Women Impacting ISU calendar, Jan. 12 (3:30-5 p.m., MU Campanile Room)

Next week
-- Reception: "Relationships: Spheres of Influence" exhibit, Jan. 19 (4:30-6 p.m., Brunnier Art Museum, Scheman, program at 5:15 p.m.)
-- Opening reception, "Style Tribes: Fashions from the 1960s," Jan. 19 (5-6 p.m., Mary Alice Gallery, 1015 Morrill)
-- Service recognition reception: Carla Espinoza, associate vice president for human resources and director of equal opportunity and compliance, Jan. 20 (3-5 p.m., program at 3:30 p.m., first floor atrium, Beardshear)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

ISU events will honor Martin Luther King Jr.
The life of Martin Luther King Jr. will be celebrated with campus and community events beginning Jan. 16.

LEGO competition welcomes 72 teams to campus
Swarms of 9- to 14-year-olds will descend on campus Saturday, Jan. 14 (9 a.m.-5 p.m., Howe Hall) for the Iowa FIRST LEGO League Championship. Teams will show judges how to clean up the food chain (this year's theme is "Food Factor") using LEGO robots. The event is free and open to the public.

A comedic quest
Monty Python's Spamalot, a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, brings a hilarious version of King Arthur's search for the Holy Grail to Stephens Auditorium Jan. 14.