Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
April 27, 2023
Inside news
Under several of President Wendy Wintersteen's initial investments in the new strategic plan, six degree programs and 16 faculty positions have received funding.

Faculty, staff and students from the universities will be included in the review process. Tentatively, findings and recommendations could be presented in November.

Quick customer transactions, efficient operations and risk mitigation are the motivation behind dining services' decision to eliminate its cash payment option on May 15.

Also approved at last week's meeting: Parking permit and student housing/dining rates for next year and two new degree programs.

What do glass firing, dessert-making, engineering presentations and entrepreneurship have in common? You can find them all and more at the IGNITE Innovation Showcase.

Recreation services' Adventure Program aims to get the university community outside. Whether they choose equipment, games or trips, faculty and staff have plenty of options for outdoor fun year-round.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Entrepreneurial visionary John Pappajohn has died
  • Open house at Central Stores is May 4
  • Bookstore to host several special events
  • One receipt form for giveaways replaces three
  • An update on the dependent eligibility verification process
  • April 29-30 is stash-your-trash weekend
  • Classrooms reserved for evening study during prep week
  • May 4 meeting for interested summer rummage sale volunteers
  • Volunteers, vendors, sponsors sought for July 25 cycling stop in Ames
  • Start Something LAS I+E Academy showcase is May 2
  • University Honors spring poster presentation is May 3
  • Cyclones reveal throwback uniforms for fall legacy game
  • Funeral Mass for MU director Steve Winfrey is April 28
  • 'Forever True Day' tally is in
Around campus
The Memorial Union's two associate directors, Kristine Heflin and Brad Hill, are serving as interim co-directors, following director Steve Winfrey's death last week.

The impact of research and human creativity at Iowa State is measured through external funding support for those efforts, patents, startup companies and revenue for business and industry from ISU technologies. This is the final entry in a spring series by news service writers that highlights new approaches Iowa Staters are taking to the discovery process.

Following a first round of projects that focused on sustainable infrastructure for low-cost and no-cost course materials, the library has announced a second round of funding for projects to develop affordable course content. Proposals are due Sept. 8.

Ecology, evolution and organismal biology Distinguished Professor Jonathan Wendel was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences' 2023 class, the fourth ISU faculty member to join this academy. Wendel's research focuses on how genome doubling shapes the evolution of plants.
Appointments
  • Mitchell Hoyer, assistant director and senior manager for 4-H youth development, ISU Extension and Outreach, to interim state program leader, effective April 22
  • Manjit Misra, Seed Science Center director, to director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, effective May 8
Retirements and receptions
Next week
  • Retirement, Pete Englin, residence department, student affairs administration, May 1 (no public event)
  • Retirement, Chris Patton, residence department, May 1 (no public event)
  • Retirement, Jonathan Sturm, music and theatre, May 3 (4:30-5:30 p.m., lobby, Simon Estes Music Hall) 
  • Open house, Central Stores, May 4 (10 a.m.-2 p.m., 192 General Services Building)
  • Retirement, Roberta Johnson, student financial aid, May 5 (2-4 p.m., program at 2:15 p.m., first floor rotunda, Beardshear Hall), post well wishes to her Kudoboard
  • Retirement, Tim Borich, community and regional planning, May 5 (4-5:30 p.m., remarks at 4:30 p.m., 130 College of Design)

Upcoming
  • Retirement, William Meeker, statistics, May 11 (3:45-5:15 p.m., via Zoom) 
  • Retirement, Bob Currie, facilities services, facilities planning and management, May 12 (no public event)
  • Retirement, Barbara Haas, English, May 15
  • Retirement, Donna Niday, English, May 15 
  • Retirement, Alric Rothmayer, aerospace engineering, May 15, post well wishes to his Kudoboard
  • Retirement, Martha Selby, materials science and engineering, May 15, post well wishes to her Kudoboard

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.
Arts and events
The ISU Foundation and ISU Alumni Association will present the university's highest awards to alumni and friends during the Distinguished Awards Celebration Friday, April 28 (2 p.m., reception follows, Reiman Ballroom, Alumni Center, and livestreamed). The event is open to the public.

Iowa State's inaugural Student Fringe Festival features 12 student productions at five locations over four days, April 27-30. Admission is free to all of them.

Enjoy the music of the Symphonic Band at its spring concert on Friday, April 28 (7:30 p.m., Tye Recital Hall, Simon Estes Music Hall, and livestreamed). Admission is $5 at the door. The band will perform Frank Ticheli's "An American Elegy," composed in memory of those who died at Columbine (Colorado) High School on April 20, 1999, and to honor the survivors.

The Baylor Bears come to town for three Big 12 Conference softball games this weekend (4 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday, noon Sunday), and the Cyclones will host Drake Wednesday, May 3 (4 p.m.) in their regular season home finale. All games are at the Cyclone Sports Complex, and admission is free.

CyRide will host an open house Saturday, April 29 (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) to show off its two new battery electric buses. A short program and ribbon cutting begin at noon. Guests can park at CyRide (601 N. University Blvd.) or ride an electric bus from the CyRide stop on the south side of Ames City Hall (departing every 20 minutes beginning at 11:06 a.m.).
Learning opportunities
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming
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.