Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
April 6, 2023
Inside news
Jason Henderson began his role as the next vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach on April 3.

All of the 800-plus students visiting campus Friday have an admissions offer from Iowa State. More than half -- about 450 -- have yet to make their college decision.

Iowa State received a Gold ranking from the Military Friendly survey, the longest-running comprehensive review of university commitments to serving military and veteran students. 

Vice president for research Peter Dorhout and James Morris, the lab's chief research officer, will co-chair a 15-member committee tasked with identifying the successor to director Adam Schwartz.

A complement to the Extra-Meritorious Performance Pay Program, the Spot Award offers better flexibility, less restrictive eligibility requirements and a simplified approval process.

The Streamlyne Research proposal development and routing system will replace the GoldSheet, Cardinal Sheet, Liquid Office and Cayuse systems. A phased implementation begins in July.

The U.S. Diversity Course Requirement Committee determines whether submitted undergraduate courses satisfy the updated requirements for learning outcomes. So far, 82 courses have been approved and can be used by students who enroll on the 2023-24 catalog.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Get ready now for Out of the Darkness walk on April 29
  • Department exhibitors sought for picnic at Destination Iowa State
  • Strange Road reconstruction begins April 10; expect delays
  • Reserve seats for April 20 wearables design show
  • Celebrate student employment April 10-14
  • Register for symposium on campus youth programming
  • Memorial service for Steve Caryl was April 1
Around campus
A research group is working to invent better materials for batteries so we all have more powerful, longer-lasting, safer and quicker-to-recharge batteries for our phones, vehicles and other applications. Read more in a spring series by news service writers that highlights new approaches Iowa Staters are taking to the discovery process. An entry will post every Tuesday through April 25.

The office of the vice president for research has awarded $150,000 in Presidential Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant program funds to scholars exploring novel approaches to a trio of human health challenges. Three teams received $50,000 each.

CYtation Awards recognize professional and scientific employees who go beyond the call of duty, do something extraordinarily well and make a real difference in the institution. Meet the 2022 honorees.

All four of Iowa State's nominees for the prestigious Goldwater undergraduate scholarship for mathematics, natural sciences and engineering received a 2023 award, underscoring the academic strength of this year's pool.

Anthropology associate professor Matthew Hill helped publish findings of the first sabertooth cat skull found in Iowa. The research helped determine what it hunted and when it died.

Sociology professor David Peters' report found inflation impacted rural household budgets throughout much of 2022, but its effects were similar in rural and urban areas by the end of the year. Inflation has left rural families with less financial cushion.
Appointments
  • J. Arbuckle, professor in sociology and criminal justice, and Matthew O'Neal, professor in plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, to a joint appointment as Henry A. Wallace Chairs for Sustainable Agriculture, effective May 15
Retirements
Upcoming
  • Randy Fiscus, carpentry shop, facilities planning and management, April 26 (2-3:30 p.m., maintenance break room, 168 General Services Building)

Employees, their colleagues or supervisors are invited to submit retirements and departures to inside@iastate.edu. Inside doesn't receive this information from a central source.
Seminars and conferences
  • P&S Council seminar series, Effective Negotiation Skills, with Ryan Bhattacharyya, management, Ivy College of Business, April 11 (2-3 p.m., 3580 Memorial Union)
Arts and events
In celebration of the Nepalese new year April 14, the Nepalese Students Association is organizing its first "Nepali Night" on Saturday, April 8 (program 5 p.m., social begins at 3:30 p.m., MU Great Hall). Admission is free, but registration is required and limited to 350. The evening includes a performance of culture and music, followed by dinner (7:30 p.m., Howe Hall).

The Cyclone softball team hosts No. 9 Texas for a three-game series April 6-8 at the Cyclone Sports Complex. First pitch is at 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

A week of events on campus (April 10-14) will spotlight the First Amendment and educate the community on its importance. Events include a symposium, free meal and student-led art displays.
Previous Inside coverage
About us
Inside Update is published Thursday mornings by Strategic Relations and Communications. Questions? Email inside@iastate.edu or call 515-294-7065.