Employees interested in learning more about improved service delivery roles in finance and human resources are encouraged to attend the job showcase.

Finalists will interview next week for top positions in the improved service delivery structure.

Focus groups of front-line finance staff are helping map out in more detail what tasks will remain local and what will be handled by specialists under the improved service delivery reorganization.

For the second straight year, the Professional and Scientific Council is considering recommending an average salary increase of 3 to 5 percent in FY 2020 for P&S staff.

Semester break serves multiple purposes

A partial shutdown over the holidays could provide up to an 11-day break for faculty and staff while also helping the university save money.

A list of reduced hours for buildings, offices and services around campus.

Reviewing your flexible spending account balances is a good addition to your end-of-year to-do list.

Olivia De Kok came to Iowa State as an uncertain freshman, but graduates Saturday with a degree in biological and pre-medical illustration. Iowa State is one of a handful of universities to offer the major where De Kok found her calling.

A first-generation student was indifferent to school until a little success helped him realize the possibilities. Now, Alejandro Martinez is set to graduate from Iowa State and is readying for graduate school.

A study by Iowa State doctoral student Victoria Pocius may help efforts to restore monarch butterfly populations by identifying plants female monarch prefer for egg-laying.

• Open house, Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence, Dec. 13 (2-4 p.m., 195 Durham)
• Retirement, Jerilyn Rasmusson, university human resources, Dec. 14 (2:30-4:30 p.m., no formal program, 3150 Beardshear)

• Retirement, Rhonda Hill, Ames Laboratory, Dec. 18 (2:30-4 p.m., no formal program, 140 TASF)

• Retirement, Debra Pospisil, ISU Extension and Outreach finance, Dec. 31 (no public event)
• Retirement, Phil Quick, facilities planning and management custodial team 11, Jan. 2, 2019 (no public event)
• Retirement, Lynne Baldwin, IT services, Jan. 4 (2-4 p.m., 1230 Communications)
• Retirement, R. Samuel Houk, chemistry and Ames Laboratory, Jan. 10 (2-3:30 p.m., Hach Hall lobby)

• Workshop, Essentials of ArcGIS, Jan. 10-11, 2019 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily, 2321 N. Loop Dr., Suite 121), half price ($250) registration fee for ISU staff, faculty and students, register online

Candidate names will be announced one day prior to their interviews.

• Dec. 17, 11 a.m.-noon, 2019 Morrill
• Dec. 18, 1:30-2:30 p.m., MU Gallery
• Dec. 19, 1:30-2:30 p.m., MU Gallery

Candidate names will be announced one day prior to their interviews. Forums will be held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. in 2019 Morrill and livestreamed.

• Dec. 19, Candidate 1
• Dec. 20, Candidate 2

Commencement ceremonies Friday evening and Saturday afternoon will honor more than 2,300 graduate and undergraduate students completing degrees this semester.