Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Sept. 3, 2020
Inside news
Iowa State's fall enrollment of 31,825 students includes an academically strong class of first-year students with a record GPA of 3.71.

Prior to the Sept. 20 go-live date, professional and scientific employees and their managers can learn more about the compensation portion of the university's new classification/compensation system.

Because COVID-19 may have wreaked havoc on personal budget plans, a temporary policy change will allow employees affected by the pandemic to adjust contributions through December for flexible spending accounts for health or dependent care.

Senior leaders and public health experts discussed a targeted testing strategy for COVID-19, additional testing sites, effectiveness of mitigation efforts, the new COVID-19 data dashboard and more in an Aug. 31 town hall with faculty and staff. 

Though the semester is well underway, faculty continue to have flexibility in deciding the best mode for delivering their courses.

ISU Extension and Outreach has pivoted more programming online because of the coronavirus, but it has allowed for a wider audience to get information and the help it needs during this time.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Update on fall food truck lineup and rules
  • ClubFest will have a hybrid format
  • Sept. 8 P&S seminar focuses on staff engagement
  • Harvest, Bookends cafés close for the semester
  • FAQ released for student off-campus gatherings policy
  • Dairy science club cancels fall ice cream sales
  • Gardens' fall plant sale moves online
  • Counseling sessions for employees to be offered weekly on campus
Around campus
An Iowa State storm expert said researchers will take a good look at why the violent, straight-line winds from the Aug. 10 derecho didn't show up in forecasts.

New study shows lack of habitat and not a change in the migration success of monarch butterflies has led to their steep decline over the last few decades.

The Iowa Nutrient Research Center will fund more than $1.3 million in water quality and nutrient management projects in the upcoming year -- 11 projects led by researchers at Iowa State and the University of Iowa.

Hives moved from the horticulture farm to a prairie area on the north side of campus created a classroom for this fall's beekeeping course.
Retirements
This week
  • Mark Edelman, economics, Aug. 31
  • Marcia McDowell, office of the registrar, Sept. 1

Next week
  • Dan Crim, IT services, Sept. 9
Arts and events
Students will work on finishing touches for the portable, playable campanile/carillon model.

"What IF," a weekly virtual event (Fridays, noon-1:30 p.m.) will feature conversations with leaders around the globe whose innovation experiences differ in scope and scale.
Professional development
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming
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Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.