Inside Update

May 10, 2012
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

Wickert named senior vice president and provost
Jonathan Wickert, dean of the College of Engineering, has been tapped to become senior vice president and provost. He'll assume his new post July 30.

Reducing the impact of insects and viruses on food security
Protecting Iowans and their soybeans from aphids is the job for a small, elite cadre of scientists based at Iowa State.

Laptops, video game design lab, other tech projects receive funding
Loaner laptops, cameras to help veterinary students improve their client skills, a computer lab tailored for video game design -- these are some of the technological improvements that will be funded with $421,000 in student technology fees.

More news: Inside Iowa State

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Summer session I begins Monday; session II begins June 11
-- Sensible portion sizes is topic of May 23 wellness talk
-- Bike to Work Week begins Monday
-- ISU Memorial Day ceremony is May 28
-- ISU Retirees spring picnic is May 22
-- Campus food drive is May 14-24
-- Get free admission to Reiman Gardens May 11
-- Be kind to seeded grass areas along Osborn Drive

See: Announcements

The following conference was added this week:
-- Plant Breeding Lecture Series, June 28-29, 004 Scheman Building

Iowa State will serve as hub for statewide STEM efforts
Iowa State will serve as the north central hub for the new Governor's STEM Advisory Council. The goal of the six regional hubs is to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and economic development across Iowa.

Reminder: Registrar evaluation forms due May 14
The campus interviews for five finalists for university registrar wrap up this week (see below). A downloadable form with which to evaluate the finalists is on the VP for student affairs website; all evaluation forms should be returned by 5 p.m. Monday, May 14, to Rose Wilbanks, 2350 Beardshear.

ISU Dining adjusts service hours for the summer
Smaller student and employee numbers this summer bring schedule changes at many of ISU Dining's locations.

Special Olympics events will impact parking lots, campus roads next week
The Iowa Special Olympics Summer Games return to campus May 17-19. Events will impact roads and some parking lots near sports venues.

Live Green!
Green roofs, WeCar, LEED-Gold certification: The Live Green! (PDF) newsletter recounts a school year's worth of sustainability at Iowa State.

This week
-- University registrar finalist: Earl Hawkey, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, May 10 (3-4 p.m., MU Gold Room)
-- University registrar finalist: Karen Jarrell, University of Texas, Dallas, May 11 (3-4 p.m., MU Gold Room)

Next week
-- Dean's Research Initiatives, College of Engineering, May 15 (2-3:30 p.m., Howe auditorium)

This week
-- Retirement: Steve Jones, ISU Extension and Outreach, May 11 (2-4 p.m., 220 Scheman)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

Newest season at Stephens announced
Musicals, international orchestras, dance, drama and more are part of the 2012-13 performing arts series at Stephens Auditorium, announced last week. "Subscriber" tickets (for three or more events) are on sale now; single event tickets will go on sale July 16.

Get your garden growing
A large selection of house plants, nursery stock plants, annuals, hanging baskets and perennials will be for sale at the Story County Master Gardener's Association (SCMGA) spring plant sale on May 12 (8 a.m.-2 p.m., Reiman Gardens parking lot). Proceeds from the sale support the Story County library book program, horticulture scholarships and grants, summer interns at Reiman Gardens and the Iowa Arboretum, community gardens and various community projects.