Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Oct. 3, 2019
Inside news
Iowa State joins national degree completion initiative
Degrees When Due helps member schools identify and reengage adults who started college degree programs but stopped before finishing them. The goal is to help more students complete their studies and compete for new kinds of jobs.

Change to federal overtime law will impact some ISU workers
Recent revisions to federal labor regulations will increase the number of workers eligible for overtime pay and will impact some Iowa State employees.

Student assistance helps students through a range of issues
Students dealing with a personal crisis, mental health issue, academic problem or another challenge can find help at the office of student assistance. Students can reach out themselves or others can make a referral.

In simulation, business students learn by doing
For the hundreds of students each semester who take Business Administration 250, a game can be serious business. Their grade, in part, depends on it. The introductory business course devotes a significant portion of the class to an online corporate simulation.

Information booth will come down this month
The victim of technology and self-sufficient travelers, the University Boulevard stop wasn't serving its intended purpose anymore.

Rare tree hybrid identified on campus
It took a couple days and a network of experts to determine the classification of a large fir tree near the Forker Building.

More news
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Tickets are on sale for Oct. 11 Iowa Songwriters Showcase
  • Library announces fall workshop topics
  • Retirement checkup seminar for mid-career employees is Oct. 10
  • Open forum on The Conversation is Oct. 16
  • Design studios are part of citywide art tour Oct. 12-13
  • Reiman Gardens seeks volunteers for big October tasks
  • You're invited: arts entrepreneurship education conference
  • Oct. 27 gala concert celebrates carillon and Stephens anniversaries
  • Cyclone open basketball practices are Oct. 4, 6
  • Volunteers sought for ISU family weekend, Oct. 11-13
Around campus
A low-risk way to explore high-tech manufacturing
The Center for Industrial Research and Service has opened a digital manufacturing lab at the ISU Research Park, offering Iowa manufacturers a risk-free place to experiment with cutting-edge automation -- including collaborative robots, 3D scanners and advanced vision systems.

Striking a pose: Don't bother
An Iowa State professor found that striking a power pose before an important meeting or interview will not boost your confidence. Previous studies were poorly designed and lacked comparisons to normal poses.

Diversifying math programs by studying successes
Associate professor of mathematics Michael Young obtained a $1.5 million NSF grant to study the successful experiences of mathematics doctoral students from underrepresented populations. He hopes to identify best practices for diversifying math programs.
 
Student turnout spiked in 2018 midterms
Iowa State's student voting rate for the 2018 midterm elections was 40.6%, according to the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement. That's higher than the national average and a significant jump from the university's 2014 rate.

Appointments
  • Barb Neal, interim director of CyRide, to director, effective Oct. 1
  • Myron Rees, superintendent, Southeast Research Farm, Crawfordsville, to operations manager for the Southeast and Muscatine Island research farms
  • Cody Schneider, agricultural specialist, Southeast Research Farm, Crawfordsville, to crops and research manager
  • Dominic Snyder, agricultural specialist, Muscatine Island Research Farm, Fruitland, to crops and research manager
Open houses and receptions
This week
  • Reception and artist talk, Susan Chrysler White exhibit opening, Oct. 3 (4:30-6:30 p.m., Campbell Gallery, Christian Petersen Art Museum, Morrill)
  • Reception, "Rebellious Rendezvous" exhibit closing, Oct. 3 (6:30-8 p.m., preceded by talk with artist Kristin Nowlin at 6 p.m., 3228 Memorial Union)
Next week
  • Retirement, Pat Dobelis, student affairs (Hickory) finance team, Oct. 9 (2-4 p.m., second-floor meeting room, Thielen Student Health Center)
  • Reception, arts and humanities faculty, Center for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities and the research office, Oct. 9 (4-6 p.m., first floor rotunda, Beardshear)
Upcoming
  • Retirement, Margie Tabor, facilities planning and management, Oct. 18 (2-4 p.m., atrium, Hach Hall)
  • Retirement, Connie Harris, Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, Oct. 23 (3-5 p.m., atrium, Economic Development Core Facility)
Details about these events are on the university calendar.

Upcoming seminars and conferences
  • Workshop, Essentials of ArcGIS, Oct. 10-11 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily, ISU Extension and Outreach office, ISU Research Park), half-price ($250) for ISU faculty, staff and students, register online
  • 19th annual Iowa Organic Conference, hosted by ISU's organic agriculture program, Nov. 24-25, Iowa Memorial Union, University of Iowa, registration $100 through Nov. 17; $120 after
Arts and events
'Theatre Action' to inspire hope, urgency on climate crisis
Performances are planned in three locations Oct. 4-13 as part of ISU Theatre's participation in the global initiative.

United Way fundraising events
Colleges and other campus units are hosting fundraising events this fall to help meet their United Way campaign goals. Inside staff will try to keep a current list of ways employees can participate -- and pick up some cool stuff along the way.

More campus events
Talks, performances, athletic contests and other campus events are listed on the university calendar.

Professional development
Provost office programming
Register via Learn@ISU.
ISU has an institutional membership with the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. To register, sign in if you already are a member or click "Become a Member," select "Iowa State University" and create your profile.
Previous Inside coverage
Submitting your news
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by University Strategic Relations and Communications. Send Update news to inside@iastate.edu. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.
Update archives

Inside Iowa State, 2420 Lincoln Way, Suite 201, Ames, IA 50014