Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
April 30, 2020
Inside news
Faculty and staff time spent on implementation of emergency protective measures during the COVID-19 response may be eligible for cost recovery through federal, state or local programs. Employees are being asked to track their efforts via an online form.

Assistant vice president for student health and wellness Erin Baldwin will serve as interim senior vice president for student affairs, beginning June 5. She is the director of the Thielen Student Health Center.

A committee will consider how to mitigate the risks of reinstating teaching, research and student support on a residential campus -- a complex situation that will require innovation, analysis and expertise.

In the first year of a new classification system for Iowa State's term faculty, the 60 individuals who advanced represent all seven academic colleges.

Joining five new Distinguished Professors, three University Professors and five Morrill Professors are more than 40 other faculty and staff whose awards celebrate excellence.

The pandemic may keep students away from campus, but virtual visits for prospective, admitted and transfer students allow them to learn more about the university, get their questions answered and connect with representatives in their chosen academic field.

An ISU negotiation team reached an agreement this spring to end a “big deal” with the largest publisher of scholarly journals, instead subscribing to hundreds of individual journals to lower costs significantly.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • No change right now to university operations
  • Survey will collect feedback on transition to virtual instruction
  • Vet Med faculty are offering public webinars
  • Barks at Parks goes online
  • Wintersteen sets May 4 virtual town hall for faculty and staff
  • Workspace expands 'Art-2-Go' offerings
  • Food pantry sets up in West Side Market; open to all
  • Nominations for Research Collaboration Catalysts due May 15
  • Deadline extended to May 15 for reACT exhibition proposals
  • Recruiting, hiring restriction extended to June 30
  • Regents to hold budget update meeting April 30
  • Applications for fall Cardinal Women are due May 29
Around campus
Paul Canfield, who designs and discovers new materials and properties, and has appointments at both the university and Ames Laboratory, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is the third Iowa State faculty member elected to this national academy.

University library and the Public Library of Science (PLOS) completed a three-year open access agreement that allows ISU researchers to publish in PLOS' suite of journals without incurring article processing charges. 

RoAD (Robotic Assay for Drought), developed by two ISU faculty members, studies how drought conditions affect plant development. In the Carver Co-Lab, the robot waters hundreds of plants and measures their performance with a series of sensors -- and little human intervention.

School of Education students are learning an entrepreneurial mindset can help them solve classroom issues.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has renewed support for the Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence based at Iowa State. The renewal adds five years and up to $20 million of support for the center.

ISU GivePulse has taken on an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic, linking volunteers with needs in the local community.
Retirements
This week
  • Sue Ackerman, payroll office, May 1
  • Bruce Allen, LAS College student academic services, May 1
  • Dee Erickson, custodial services, facilities planning and management, May 1
  • Lt. Deb Larkin, public safety, May 1

Next week
  • Sue Dekkers, travel/allergy department, Thielen Student Health Center, May 5

Upcoming
  • Steven Herrnstadt, industrial design, May 15
  • Connie Ringlee, speech communication program, English, May 15
Open forums
  • Virtual town hall for university employees, with President Wendy Wintersteen and other senior leaders, May 4 (2-3 p.m., via Webex), join online and register with name and email address
Arts and events
Several campus units have developed Zoom backgrounds that add a splash of Iowa State to web conferences.

Iowa State Center staff will announce the content of the 2020-21 Performing Arts Series at Stephens Auditorium April 30 (7 p.m., on the Stephens Facebook and YouTube sites). Ticket packages will go on sale shortly after the announcement concludes. Subscribers will have added flexibility this year for refunds or credits due to COVID-19 concerns.

The weekly lineup features Sunday and Thursday videos and several Wednesday broadcasts on Facebook Live.

Unable to host exhibitions scheduled after spring break in its galleries, the College of Design created a virtual gallery instead -- and borrowed a beloved name.
Professional development
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming
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About us
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.