Inside Update

August 9, 2012
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

Regents approve new master's programs, give first green light to more student apartments
Also approved were naming requests for athletics facilities, FY13 salaries for regent university presidents, purchase of YMCA property north of campus.

Iowa State at the fair
ISU's Smithsonian Folklife exhibit, on display on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., only a few weeks ago will be part of the university's state fair exhibit. Other Cyclone fare at the fair: Tattoos, trophies, 4-H robot designers and chefs, a scavenger hunt and ISU veterinarians and students tending all those animals. Wear your Cyclone colors Aug. 11.

Enrollment growth compels employee growth in FY13 budget
About one-fourth of the new revenues and reallocations in the university's FY13 operating budget will be used to hire additional faculty and staff to strengthen students' Iowa State experience. Another one-fourth will cover compensation increases for current employees.

Big energy savings anticipated from light swap
In a multiyear project, facilities staff will upgrade old fluorescent lights with more energy-efficient lights in about 50 university buildings. The light replacement project is expected to yield substantial energy savings.

Professional development is council priority
The Professional and Scientific Council kicked off the academic year at its Aug. 8 meeting. Work on professional development opportunities -- one of the council's top five priorities -- is well under way.

More news: Inside Iowa State

The following announcements were added this week:
-- ISU joins service-oriented Iowa Campus Compact
-- Comments welcomed on policy draft: Youth activities, precollegiate programs and camps
-- Aug. 30 welcome event planned for black faculty and staff
-- Discrimination/harassment prevention training is free
-- ISU Extension and Outreach schedules five town hall meetings (one at the MU)
-- Reminder: Register for Aug. 14-15 new faculty orientation events
-- Traffic congestion likely during student move-in Aug. 14-17

See: Announcements

CELT programs
Register via AccessPlus (click on Employee > HRS Training > Courses).
-- Blackboard (Bb) Learn: Creating and Managing Groups in Blackboard Learn, Aug. 13 (11 a.m.-noon, 1230 Communications)
-- Bb Learn: Developing Your Blackboard Learn Course, Aug. 13 (1:10-2:40 p.m., 1230 Communications)
-- Bb Learn: Open Lab, Aug. 15-17 (8 a.m.-5 p.m., 1151 Communications)

See: Descriptions and times

-- Clifford Bergman, professor of mathematics, to the Jansen Professorship in Mathematics

Getting ready for fall semester, one book at a time
A small but diligent army is preparing for fall semester at University Book Store this week, packaging textbook orders for more than 5,900 students. They'll be ready to hand out the boxes by Aug. 15.

No silver lining in drought for livestock producers
Crop insurance doesn't help cattle or swine producers, and the drought-induced high corn prices make it more expensive for them to feed their herds, notes an ISU Extension grain markets specialist. Making matters worse, this is the second consecutive year drought has slammed the livestock industry.

Iowa State Library
Improvements to the interlibrary loan program, a library guide for new faculty, and 1,000-plus documentaries available for classroom use are part of what's in the latest edition of Your Library - Newsletter.

Two finalists will interview for student leadership development post
Campus forums will be held (2-3 p.m., MU Maintenance Shop) for two finalists for the position of leadership and service coordinator in the Student Activities Center, Memorial Union. A third candidate withdrew after accepting another position. The two finalists are:
-- Kevin Merrill, ISU College of Human Sciences, Aug. 10
-- Jessica Wilke, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Aug. 13

This week
-- Farewell: Scott Maas, ISU Memorial Union, Aug. 9 (10:30 a.m.-noon, MU Campanile Room)
-- Retirement: Elaine Jackson, ISU Thielen Student Health Center, Aug. 10 (2-4 p.m., Patterson library, Student Health Center)

Next week
-- Open house: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Aug. 16 (1:30-2:30 p.m., Reiman Ballroom, Alumni Center)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.