Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Oct. 7, 2021
Inside news
Under the new WorkFlex program announced to supervisors this week, staff will have options for flexible work arrangements should they make sense for their job duties and the university's mission.

Teaching professor Alan Constant said "yes" when a student groom and bride-to-be asked him to officiate their wedding.

Limiting system changes will be a top priority during the next four years, the implementation window for WorkCyte Phase II. Help is available to assess the impact of your proposed changes.

Providing on-demand fitness videos went from a supplement for in-person exercise to a necessity during the pandemic for recreation services. The subscription service has 36 videos led and directed by students and available to anyone with a Net-ID.

A new vendor is handling all requests for sign language interpretation for faculty and staff who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • COVID-19: By the numbers
  • 'Dancing with the Stars' tickets go on sale Oct. 8
  • Respectful discussion about a public issue is focus of Catt Center conference
Around campus
The flu vaccination clinic for university employees runs through Friday, Oct. 15. Free seasonal flu shots are available weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the south courts of State Gym.

In a Sept. 30 ceremony, ISU and other leaders dedicated the Student Innovation Center, the multidisciplinary hub for collaboration President Wendy Wintersteen called "a bright beacon for all of those innovators and entrepreneurs captivated by creativity and yearning to bring their new ideas to life." 

Constructed of can't-miss-it blue milk crates, a temporary sculpture on the College of Design lawn has served several Design teams in different ways around the state. Banners on the structure share those stories.

A study underway by ISU economists examines how lake-based recreation and tourism are affected by water quality in rural and lower-income Iowa communities, a project funded through a grant program designed to encourage research on the social dimensions of the state's water quality.

A team of interdisciplinary researchers is studying ways to use digital teaching technologies, including extended reality solutions, to increase interest in STEM career paths among rural students and their families.
Appointments
  • Shelby Doyle, associate professor of architecture, as the Stan G. Thurston Professor in Design Build, College of Design
  • Dr. Marc Kinsley, Michigan State University, East Lansing, to executive director of the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, effective Jan. 3
Seminars and conferences
  • Workshop, Tips to Writing a Lot of Words in a Short Time, Rachel Mans McKenny, Writing and Media Center, part of National Novel Writing Month, Oct 21 (7-8 p.m., Ames Public Library or via Zoom), registration required
  • Annual conference, Iowa Lean Consortium, hosted by CIRAS, Oct. 26-27, five in-person locations and livestream option, registration required
  • 21st annual Iowa Organic Conference, Managing Climate Change with Organic Practices, hosted by ISU organic agriculture program, Nov. 28-29, Iowa Memorial Union, Iowa City, registration $100 through Nov. 16; $125 after
Arts and events
Iowa State's Symphonic and Concert bands will present a 3 p.m. concert Sunday, Oct. 10, in the Ames city auditorium, 520 Sixth St. Tickets are $7 (seniors and students $5).

Award-winning author and designer for accessibility and aging Cynthia Leibrock will present a free public lecture, "Residential Design for Health and Longevity," Monday, Oct. 11 (6-7:30 p.m., 2245 Coover). She remodeled her Livermore, Colorado, home with more than 200 green and universal design elements that foster "visitability, adaptability and healthy aging-in-place."
Learning opportunities
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

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