Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Sept. 10, 2020
Inside news
To encourage students to use outdoor space, thinning indoor crowds that are a coronavirus transmission risk, ITS is extending Wi-Fi service outside in more than a dozen campus locations. 

Seasonal clinic sets up this year in the Stephens Auditorium lobby, where physical distancing is achievable and nearby parking is plentiful.

With eight testing stations, the new location expands Iowa State's testing capacity -- and provides indoor convenience as the weather cools off.

Five questions with associate director of the Thielen Student Health Center Sara Parris, the 2020-21 Professional and Scientific Council president. 

Five questions with associate professor in graphic design Carol Faber, the 2020-21 Faculty Senate president.

Faculty new to Iowa State have some added challenges because of the pandemic. Meeting fellow faculty, teaching and finding a successful work-life balance have all been altered.

Thanks in part to paper towels and sanitizer wipes -- common supplies for employees cleaning their own work areas -- mitigating the risk of the coronavirus is bound to increase the amount of campus garbage. Keep these tips in mind for limiting the surge in waste.

As we begin our seventh month as a university community operating in a global pandemic, Inside asked faculty and staff to share bright spots in their daily lives.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Senior VP Younger urges students to hold safe football parties
  • How to cite presentations at canceled conferences
  • Webex updates intended to improve user experience
  • Same daily symptom checker, new look
  • Caribou Coffee returns to campus at MU location
  • 'Women Impacting ISU' calendar nominations due Sept. 25
  • Student study spaces designated in campus buildings
  • Date is set for a virtual fall commencement
  • Faculty mentors: Register for spring Honors research program by Sept. 15
Around campus
With in-person tours suspended this fall, the utilities staff created two options suitable for class or student organization audiences.

Beginning with a think-outside-the-laptop virtual mentoring experience this summer, a group of Iowa State researchers is helping high school STEM teachers tackle the challenges of combining in-person and virtual learning in their classrooms.   


Since March, the ISU Theatre costume shop’s faculty, staff and student assistants have sewn more than 600 face masks to send to hospitals and nonprofits across the country, from New York to California.

Most changes are systemwide and improve function on both sides -- finance/planning and human capital management -- for Iowa State users. A few impact one or the other.

Iowa State's rural smart shrinkage project has received a $1.5 million National Science Foundation grant to build on its pilot study examining whether Iowa towns can lose population without impacting their quality of life.
Retirements
Next week
  • Marlin Clemens, IT services, Sept. 15
Arts and events
The lectures program begins a fall lineup of online events Sept. 14 (7 p.m.) with a lecture from the Story County Mental Health Expo. Mental health advocate Jessi Beyer will share nine natural therapies for releasing mental trauma.

September series on Stephens lawn features Iowa musicians
The Goldfinch Room will feature Iowa singer/songwriters this month in Tuesday performances on the Stephens Auditorium north lawn: Matt Woods on Sept. 15, J. Jeffrey Messerole on Sept. 22 and Rob Lumbard on Sept. 29. Entry starts at 5 p.m., music at 5:30. Tickets are $5 (no advance sales). Food and beverages will be available, but outside food and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets for physically distanced designated spaces on the lawn. 
Professional development
Provost office programming
Registration requested by Sept. 22 via Learn@ISU (SVPP: Faculty professional development)
  • ISU ADVANCE fall speaker, Advancing Talent Management in Academia: A Conversation About Attracting, Retaining and Developing Women and Persons of Color, Deidra Schleicher, John and Deborah Ganoe Professor and chair, management department, Sept. 24 (3:30-5 p.m., via Zoom)

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

Center for Communication Excellence programming
Register here.
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Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.