Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Oct. 1, 2020
Inside news
The five-week session will run weekdays from Dec. 14 to Jan. 21, with four days off for university holidays. A course list will be shared in the coming weeks, and registration opens Oct. 26.

President Wendy Wintersteen endorsed a five-year Strategic Plan for Sustainability in Operations that outlines objectives in five areas, all intended to move the university toward carbon neutrality.

A small information technology services team is outfitting every general university classroom in use this fall with a video system to record or livestream in-person teaching.

In a slot on the food court's perimeter last occupied by a self-serve cooler, a new ISU Dining restaurant serves poke, a Hawaiian dish featuring raw fish tossed with seasonings.

Faculty, staff and students struggling to navigate the scheduling challenges of children remotely attending elementary school soon will have support available on campus.

Negotiated with the buying power of all three regent universities, the service is best suited for recorded videos more than 20 minutes in length.

ISU Extension and Outreach is getting information to Iowans through the "Tips from an Expert" Facebook Live series. The live events give anyone a chance to get questions answered by extension experts.

Employees have a new option for socking away retirement savings via payroll deductions, as a 457(b) plan has been added to the university's voluntary retirement savings program.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Hours adjusted Oct. 2-3 at COVID-19 testing site
  • Quarantines no longer needed if face coverings were worn
  • Reiman Gardens moves to fall hours, opens conservatory complex
  • Employee flu shot clinic ends Friday
  • Wintersteen, Estes to take part in 'great ideas' online panel Oct. 1
  • Annual financial aid conference for employees is Oct. 9
  • P&S seminar focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion
  • Instructor assistance requested to help students vote
  • Celebrate CALS week through Oct. 2
  • Registration is open for girls STEM conference
  • Study Abroad Center moves to MU third floor
  • FEMA is operating Ames derecho recovery center through Oct. 10
Around campus
To recognize the many contributions of Distinguished Professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Pat Thiel, the university will name the north and south lobbies of Hach Hall in her honor. Thiel died on Sept. 7.

By using better models, Iowa State researchers determined the scattering of stars from their orbits by the gravity of massive clumps within galaxies leads to a common look in galaxy disks.

A west Ames project by College of Design alumni and faculty to provide a community gathering space, artist studios and venue for live performing arts has weathered a pandemic shutdown and received a local entrepreneurship award.

A $12.8 million research award has helped the Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics, housed at Ames Laboratory, in its work to transform discarded single-use plastics into more valuable products.

Some Iowans have been offered early retirement packages, some may consider early retirement due to job challenges or health concerns and others face involuntary retirement. A 45-minute online workshop helps them evaluate the benefits and consequences of retiring early or withdrawing retirement savings.
Retirements
This week
  • Randy Compton, facilities planning and management, Oct. 1

Next week
  • Cheryl Conover, IT services, Oct. 9
  • Mike Vaclav, Ames Laboratory, Oct. 9
Seminars and conferences
  • Webinar, Diversity and Women in Higher Education, with Gailda Davis, American Council on Education, Oct. 2 (9-10 a.m., via Zoom), hosted by Iowa Network for Women in Higher Education, register to receive the free link
  • Webinar, Know Your Rights: Harassment 101, with ISU police officers, office of equal opportunity staff and Story County assistant attorney Ben Matchan, Oct. 6 (noon-1 p.m., via Webex), register online
Arts and events
Several Iowa State Homecoming traditions will be done virtually this year, including painting Victory Lane. Plenty of activities are set for next week leading up to the football game against Texas Tech on Oct. 10.
Professional development
Provost office programming
  • Webinar: Five Secrets to a Super-Productive Semester, National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, preview of its 12-week Faculty Success Program, Oct. 15 (1-2 p.m., online), Iowa State has an institutional membership to the center, to register, activate a free faculty membership ("Become a member") and locate the events page

Vice president for research programming
  • Brownbag lunch, for researchers considering proposals for the internal Presidential Interdisciplinary Research Initiative, Presidential Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant Program, Presidential Cost-Sharing Program for Research Tools or Bridging the Divide seed grant, Oct. 6 (noon-1 p.m., via Zoom)
  • Web talk, IRB Basics: Protecting Human Research Subjects, part 2 in a three-part series, Oct. 8 (11 a.m.-noon, via Zoom)

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

Student Innovation Center programming

Center for Communication Excellence 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.