Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Aug. 20, 2020
Inside news
The research financial report sets -- called workbooks -- will be delivered to every ISU faculty member. They can read their workbook in Workday's Drive option and download it as an Excel or PDF document.

Iowa State's senior VP for student affairs' first day coincided with the start of fall semester.

One-hundred and fifty days after in-person instruction was suspended at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, students returned to campus this week for a first day of class unlike any other. 

In response to feedback from users, a campus team has made several improvements to the daily survey since Monday.

University Library has reopened with several new features and services to help its visitors while keeping the safety of everyone at the forefront.

This year's Miller Open Education Minigrants will fund nine open educational resources projects, creating free course content tailored for use in Iowa State classes and available to instructors around the world. 

Iowa State's Committee to Establish Principles on Renaming began its work earlier this month by reviewing similar policy efforts at a handful of large universities. The group plans to complete its work by semester's end.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Share what’s brightening your workday
  • Reiman Gardens' gift shop to start weekday hours next week
  • Student food pantry relocates to Beyer Hall
  • Toolkit available for student well-being support
  • Biotechnology Council has three new members
  • MU poster sale runs through Aug. 28
  • Spring Honors seminar proposals requested by Sept. 11
Around campus
Athletics director Jamie Pollard's Aug. 14 update announced new plans for football games, including a tailgating hiatus, mandatory face coverings, limited stadium concessions and three capacity options. The NCAA canceled championships for soccer, cross country and volleyball, but the Big 12 conference hasn't decided if those sports will compete this fall.

During the two weeks (July 31-Aug. 16) of COVID-19 testing of students living in the residence halls and apartments, 8,094 students were tested. Of those, 175, or 2.2%, tested positive, and 7,919, or 97.8%, tested negative.

Professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology Nicole Valenzuela was part of a global team that studied the tuatara genome to provide insight on the genomic structure of a range of species, including humans.

An ISU grad took a chance on herself. It paid off with an art installation in Chicago's Millennium Park and the opportunity to work with artist Hebru Brantley and singer and entrepreneur Dolly Parton.
Appointments
Arts and events
The Student Union Board's fall film season opens this weekend with a few COVID-induced changes. Because studios released few films in the last six months, the series will rely on 13 throwbacks, including this week's "The Breakfast Club" (1985), starring Brat Pack members. Films will be shown once a night (7 p.m.) Thursday-Sunday in 101 Carver, which is set for 50% capacity (001 Carver is an overflow option Friday-Sunday.) Sunday screenings will include captions. Admission is free, face coverings are required and the concession stand will offer bottled sodas and water. The room(s) will be sanitized before each screening.

The ISU Creamery, an experiential educational component in the department of food science and human nutrition, will have its grand opening Friday, Aug. 21 (11 a.m.-3 p.m.). Located in 2953 Food Sciences, the retail store will be open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays -- except Wednesdays. Ice cream can be purchased by the scoop ($3-$5) or carton ($12 for 32 ounces). Six traditional flavors are available, with college-themed flavors coming in October. Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted.
Professional development
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

Center for Industrial Research and Service 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.