Inside Update

Sept. 20, 2012
Announcements and news for ISU faculty and staff

Leath: Think big, innovate, be bold
President Leath announced a goal to raise $150 million in private gifts for student financial aid over five years. Among other goals unveiled in his installation remarks: Provide students with a high-quality, broad-based, affordable education and develop partnerships that strengthen the economy and make other positive differences in Iowans' lives.

Employees will be honored at Friday ceremony
All are invited to attend the 2012 university awards ceremony on Friday, Sept. 21 (3:15 p.m., MU Sun Room), where several faculty and staff members will be honored with the university's most distinguished awards.

Five Questions for Katie Baumgarn
Iowa State's chief classroom scheduler talks about "prime time," and juggling and finding homes for 5,000-plus course sections.

Partial shutdown again approved for semester break
Iowa State will be partially closed for 11 days during semester break again this winter. The Dec. 22-Jan. 1 period includes three university holidays, four weekend days and four workdays. Employees who don't work on the four workdays should use paid or unpaid leave. This is not a mandatory closing.

Council learns more about professional development program
At their Sept. 13 meeting, members of the Professional and Scientific Council were updated on efforts to create a professional development program, including a spring conference for employees.

More news: Inside Iowa State

The following announcements were added this week:
-- Library announces fall workshop series
-- Creative dance class for kids runs through November
-- Campus walk is Oct. 3; choose from seven routes
-- Learn how to use a fire extinguisher Sept. 21
-- Register for CyServe Day by Sept. 20
-- Catt Center calendar nominations due Sept. 28

See: Announcements

CELT programs
Register via AccessPlus (click on Employee > HRS Training > Courses). All workshops are in 1230 Communications.
-- Blackboard (Bb) Learn: Developing your Blackboard Learn Course, Sept. 24 (9-10:30 a.m.)
-- Bb Learn: Using the Assignment Tool, Sept. 24 (2:10-3:10 p.m.)
-- Class Climate (CC): Users Group, Sept. 25 (8-9 a.m.)
-- CC: Refresher on Class Climate (Midterm), Sept. 25 (9-10:30 a.m.)
-- Bb Learn: Using Tests, Quizzes and Surveys, Sept. 26 (9-10:30 a.m.)
-- CC: Introduction to Class Climate, Sept. 27 (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
-- Mobile Learning Opportunities, Sept. 27 (1:10-2:40 p.m.)
-- Bb Learn: Grade Center Part I, Sept. 28 (9-9:50 a.m.)
-- Bb Learn: Grade Center Part II, Sept. 28 (10-11:30 a.m.)

Start a learning community
Doug Gruenewald and Ann Marie VanDerZanden, co-directors of learning communities, will discuss the process of starting a new learning community, including applying for funding, during an information session on Oct. 3 (4-5 p.m., 2030 Morrill). To register, contact Jen Leptien. More information about learning communities is available online.

The following conferences were added this week:
-- Third annual Iowa Statewide Veterans Conference, Nov. 15 (Memorial Union). Faculty, staff and students are invited to learn how best to support our student veterans. Registration is free, but required.
-- 12th annual Iowa Organic Conference, Nov. 18-19 (University of Iowa Memorial Union)

-- Denny Schrock, Meredith Corp., to Iowa Master Gardener coordinator, ISU Extension and Outreach

Design opens satellite facility on Main Street
The College of Design's newest venture -- Design on Main -- occupies part of a former antiques mall in the Main Street Cultural District and provides space for classes, exhibitions and community outreach. An open house will be held Sept. 23.

Engineering team to partner in $48 million project
A team from industrial and manufacturing systems engineering is working on a rapid manufacturing component of a $48 million research project to help streamline U.S. Department of Defense systems.

Iowa Water Center
An update on the work of the EPA's Gulf of Mexico hypoxia task force and details on a campus rainwater design competition for college teams are included in the Iowa Water Center's September issue of News Flow.

Next week
-- Engineering, Sept. 25 (noon-6 p.m., Hilton and Scheman)
-- Business, Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Sept. 26 (noon- 6 p.m., Hilton)

Upcoming
-- Agriculture and Life Sciences, Oct. 16 (9 a.m.-3 p.m., Lied Rec Center)

This week
-- Exhibition reception: "Fresh Fotos: My First Year Experience," Sept. 18 (4 p.m., MU Gallery)
-- Open house: University Book Store, Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day, Sept. 21 (7:45 a.m.-5 p.m., MU bookstore)
-- Reception: Following university awards ceremony, Sept. 21 (3:15 p.m. ceremony, MU Sun Room)
-- Open house: Design on Main (College of Design), Sept. 23 (10 a.m.-5 p.m., 203-205 Main St., Ames)

Next week
-- Farewell: Jenn Plagman-Galvin, Greek affairs, Sept. 24 (2:30-4:30 p.m., program at 3 p.m., MU Campanile Room), Plagman-Galvin is transitioning to the College of Human Sciences
-- Open house: Child Welfare Research and Training Project, Sept. 26 (1-3 p.m., first floor, northwest corner, Elm Hall)
-- Retirement: Warren Ahrens, U.S. Department of Energy Ames Laboratory, Sept. 27 (2-4 p.m., Ames Lab Maintenance Shops Building, Kooser Drive)
-- Exhibition reception: "Post-Pop Redux," Sept. 27 (7-8 p.m., Christian Petersen Art Museum, Morrill)

Upcoming
-- Retirement: Vicki John, IT Services, Oct. 5 (2-4 p.m., 206 Durham Center, short program at 3 p.m.)

Details about these events are on the university calendar.

Happy Anniversary, Catt Center
The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics celebrates 20 years of service this month. An open house event on Sunday, Sept. 23 (3:30-5 p.m., Catt Hall), will include cake and refreshments, and remarks by former Liberal Arts and Sciences dean and executive vice president and provost Elizabeth Hoffman. It's free and the public is invited.

'Science Guy' to kick off Engineers Week
Scientist, comedian and Emmy Award winner Bill Nye, the "Science Guy," will kick off Engineers Week 2012 with a free public lecture, "You Can Change the World," on Friday, Sept. 21 (7 p.m., Stephens Auditorium).

Sun Come Up showing is Sept. 25
An Academy Award-nominated film that shows the human face of climate change will be presented on Tuesday, Sept. 25 (7 p.m., MU Sun Room). The 38-minute Sun Come Up chronicles the relocation of 2,500 Carteret Islanders forced to move from their South Pacific home, which is expected to be overrun by the rising sea by 2015. A discussion about climate change will follow.