Inside Update

July 19, 2012
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

Leath will testify before Senate committee July 19
President Steven Leath will testify Thursday before a U.S. Senate committee on the importance of making college more affordable. Leath will speak to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, chaired by Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin. The committee is scheduled to convene at 9 a.m. (CST); the meeting will be live-streamed on a Senate website.

Federal funds stimulate energy savings
Facilities officials are beginning to see some savings from energy-efficient projects that were partially funded by government stimulus funds. Jeff Witt, director of utilities, estimates that Iowa State will save some $460,000 in energy costs annually as a result of these projects.

License plates with a story
Iowa Staters on campus share the stories behind their one-of-a-kind Cyclone vehicle plates.

Wohlgemuth named interim director of admissions
Longtime enrollment services staff member Darin Wohlgemuth has been named interim director of admissions.

External funding surpasses $360 million in FY12
External funding at Iowa State reached $360.2 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, an increase of $17.9 million over last year and the second highest total achieved by the university.

More news: Inside Iowa State

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Submit requests for fall library reserve materials now
-- Local agencies accepting donations for fire victims

See: Announcements

Plastics workshop is Aug. 13-15
Iowa State will host three days of networking and doing business in the plastics and bioplastics industry Aug. 13-15 at the Memorial Union and Food Sciences Building. You may register online for one day or all three; registration is reduced for those who attend two or more days.

Solar car team climbs to 2nd place
After five days of racing in a New York-to-Minnesota collegiate solar car competition, Iowa State's Team PrISUm will depart from Normal, Ill., Thursday morning in second place. The team's car performed better than most in stifling heat Wednesday.

University Museums
A preview of fall exhibitions opening in late August and a feature on taking art out of the museum and into ISU classrooms are included in the July/August issue of University Museums' Interpretations e-newsletter (PDF).

Next week
-- Retirement: Annette Forbes, Iowa State Daily, July 26 (2-4 p.m., Hamilton Hall seminar room)

Upcoming
-- Farewell: Julie Snyder-Yuly, Carrie Chapman Catt Center, July 31 (2:30-4 p.m., 302 Catt)
-- Retirement: Dorothy Pimlott, Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Aug. 2 (2:30-4 p.m., 3150 Beardshear)
-- Retirement: Karen Jacobson, ISU Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Aug. 6 (2-4 p.m., MU Campanile Room)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

Carillon concert series continues July 24
The music department's guest carillon series continues Tuesday (7 p.m., central campus) with a performance by Sue Bergren, who plays the Millenium Carillon in Naperville, Ill. Have you ever heard Don Gato on the bells? Bring your own chairs or blankets to the central campus lawn; the campanile is open for tours following Bergren's concert.

Ames hosts baseball world series July 24-28
Sixteen teams of visually impaired athletes from around the country -- and another from Taiwan -- will compete in the 2012 Beep Baseball World Series at Iowa State's southeast athletics fields (east of Jack Trice Stadium) next week. Pool play begins Tuesday morning, with double-elimination bracket play starting on Wednesday. The championship game begins at 11 a.m. Saturday; all games are free and open to the public.

Wine down at the gardens
Iowa wineries will offer samples as visitors stroll the gardens during the Midsummer Wine Fest on Friday, July 20 (6-8:30 p.m., Reiman Gardens). Music and food also will be part of the evening. Tickets are $12 for members and $15 for the public in advance, or $20 for all at the door.