Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
March 24, 2022
Inside news
Iowa State is sending both its men's and women's basketball teams to the second weekend -- the Sweet 16 -- of the NCAA national tournament.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences dean Beate Schmittmann was reappointed to a third five-year term. She received high marks for initiatives to strengthen and expand student learning.

The registration site remains open for Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week -- a list of experiences March 28-April 1 selected to express appreciation to employees for their efforts and dedication during the pandemic.

Moving after 20-plus years in the Memorial Union, the goal is to capture more drop-in traffic and raise interest among students for a study-abroad experience.

Virtual labs, demonstrations, course shells and training sessions are some of the offerings for instructors in the coming months to help transition their courses from Classic Quizzes to New Quizzes in Canvas.

Numerous work teams across campus are striving to learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion in discussion groups focused on relevant books or films. Members of one such club, for College of Engineering academic advisors, recently shared their experiences. 

Eight tents, six on central campus and two at the Vet Med campus, were erected last week and will remain in place through finals week.        
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • COVID-19: By the numbers
  • Webinar is for managers of student employees
  • Reminder: Research Day is March 30
  • Extension's 'Money Smart' series begins April 4
  • Plan ahead for severe weather season
  • Extension workshop on retirement is free for ISU employees
  • Alumni graphic design competition underway
  • Stafford Lecture on banking is April 7
Around campus
Cyclone band members donned an unfamiliar color and played a freshly learned fight song last week when they volunteered to serve as DePaul's pep band for the March 16 play-in game at the NCAA women's basketball tournament at Hilton Coliseum.

The 30 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students in the first class of LAS' Innovation + Entrepreneurship Academy are nearing the halfway point of the two-year program. Year one focuses on developing innovation skills. In the second year, they'll implement their ideas and connect with industry mentors.

Amid an outbreak of avian influenza across Iowa and the nation, here are some common questions and answers about the virus from ISU Extension and Outreach.
Retirements and receptions
Last week
  • Retirement, Dave Swenson, economics, March 18

Next week
  • Retirement, David Popelka, office of the CIO, IT services, April 1
  • Celebration of Life for Mark Engelbrecht, professor emeritus of architecture and Design dean emeritus, April 1 (4-6 p.m., College of Design atrium)
  • Ribbon-cutting ceremony, National Pan-Hellenic Council Plaza, April 3 (1-2:30 p.m., MU Great Hall and MU northeast lawn)

Upcoming
  • Retirement, Randy Larabee, utilities distribution, facilities planning and management, April 8 (no public event)
Seminars and conferences
Open forums
  • Martha Alexander, University of Kentucky, March 24 (3 p.m., Campanile Room, Memorial Union), third of three finalists
Arts and events
The Ames Student Association for Malaysians will host a cultural event of foods and performances of its culture Sunday, March 27 (5-9 p.m., MU Great Hall). Tickets are $12 (ISU students $8) and may be purchased online.

William Gutowski, climate scientist and professor of meteorology, will deliver the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Distinguished Lecture on March 31 (7 p.m., MU Great Hall). The lecture, "Climate Change in Iowa: How We Got Here, How We Can Choose a Better Future Together," also will be livestreamed.

Students from the chemistry learning community and Society of Chemistry Undergraduate Majors will present a show highlighting the beauty and power of chemical reactions on Tuesday, March 29 (7 p.m. 1002 Gilman). At 8 p.m. the same day, the ISU chapter of the American Meteorological Association will show the 1996 movie "Twister" in 1001 Troxel.

Monday Monologues, the lunchtime performance series at Parks Library that highlights campus voices, is back with several events over the next month.
Learning opportunities
Provost office programming 
  • Faculty development workshop, The Public Classroom, the current environment and its implications for freedom of speech and academic freedom, with university counsel Michael Norton, March 31 (9:30-11 a.m. via Zoom), register

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

ISU WorkLife programming
Emotional Intelligence workshop series, led by Employee Assistance Program staff, register via Learn@ISU
  • Rediscovering our Why, March 30 (9-11 a.m.) 
  • Leverage Your Stress with Emotional Intelligence, April 13 (9-11 a.m.)

Center for Communication Excellence programming
  • Workshop series, Writing with Advanced Technology, March 29-April 12, register online
  • Seminar series, Job Application Materials, March 24-April 5, register online
  • Seminar series, Interpersonal Communication, March 24-April 12 (3:30-5 p.m.), register online
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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.