Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Aug. 24, 2023
Inside news
The large enrollment and new instructor communities aim to create connections, help instructors learn from each other to overcome challenges they encounter in the classroom and celebrate successes.

The changes are intended to strengthen how units work together to better serve the campus and are consistent with best practices in higher education.

Inspired by research mentors who showed you can give back from a research lab as easily as a doctor's office, Alexis Campbell stuck with her love for research and mentoring young students.

Over the last year, Iowa State has added programs that support faculty in response to artificial intelligence's impact on teaching courses and student learning. Here's a summary of some options.

The police department provides an officer -- usually a public safety officer -- for each of three eight-hour shifts, and Mary Greeley Medical Center covers the cost. The officer's primary responsibility is the safety of employees and patients in the emergency department.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • Workday Student awareness survey #4 is open through Sept. 1
  • Residence team collects cool suggestions for a really hot week
  • Cardinal Women* personal/professional development is underway
  • Wynonna concert tickets on sale Aug. 25
  • Ivy Digital Strategy Symposium is Sept. 21
  • Humanities grant writing workshop is Sept. 27
  • Organic farming training day is Sept. 12
  • Smile and Write resumes in early September
  • Business clothing donations sought
  • Nicely done, garage sale pros
  • Environmental health shares tips for staying safe in the heat
  • Creek cleanup nets 500+ pounds of trash
  • Annual quilt show is Aug. 25-27 at Reiman Gardens
Around campus
Information systems assistant professor Cheng Nie's study found specific features on Zillow influence people's decisions during home buying. Using descriptions that signal the aesthetic and less tangible benefits of a property and more photos can boost offers and sale prices.

The National Football League adopted the Rooney Rule 20 years ago as part of an effort to address racial disparity in top coaching positions. But new research suggests the gap will persist unless it's closed with lower-level coaching staff.

Yan Zhao's research group is building nanospheres that act as super enzymes to break down the plant fibers in biomass such as crop residues. The new catalysts could make biomass a practical source of sugars that can be converted into fuels and chemicals.
Appointments
Retirements and receptions
Next week
  • Retirement, Sarah Carlson, College of Human Sciences administration, Aug. 29 (3-4:30 p.m., Student Services Welcome Center, 118 MacKay), post well wishes to Sarah's Kudoboard
  • Retirement, Sherri Paul, service desk, facilities planning and management, Aug. 31 (2-4 p.m., program at 2:30 p.m., 168 General Services Building)
  • Fall open house, Student Innovation Center, Aug. 31 (3-6 p.m.)
  • Retirement, Brad Dye, treasurer's office, Sept. 1, post well wishes to Brad's Kudoboard
  • Retirement, April Franksain, civil, construction and environmental engineering, Sept. 1, post well wishes to April's Kudoboard

Upcoming
  • Last lecture, Greg Miller, agricultural education and studies, Sept. 5 (3 p.m., 0013 Curtiss), reception follows (4-5 p.m., Harl Commons, Curtiss Hall), post well wishes to Greg's 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
Sponsored each semester by the Student Union Board, Cyclone Cinema is back with 13 recent feature films this fall. A new movie is screened each weekend (Thursday-Sunday, 7 p.m., 101 Carver), and admission is free. Opening tonight is "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3" which hit theaters in May.

More than 200 living arthropods will be on display during a free open house on Saturday, Aug. 26 (11 a.m.-2 p.m., Advanced Teaching Research Building). Later, entomology graduate students will lead an "Insect Collecting 101" session, and insect identification will take place under the glow of blacklights at Carr Park Saturday evening. 

Members of the music faculty will celebrate a new academic year with their "Faculty Fanfare" concert Sunday, Aug. 27 (3 p.m., Tye recital hall, Simon Estes Music Hall). Come early to enjoy a display of theatrical lighting and set designs in the building's lobby. Admission is free.

David Christensen, carillonneur at the University of California, Riverside, visits campus Tuesday, Aug. 29, for the final installment of ISU's summer concert series (7 p.m., central campus, bring your own chairs or blankets). His performance will include carillon arrangements from George Handel's "Messiah" and selections from popular 20th-century artists and stage musicals.
Learning opportunities
WorkCyte Phase II programming
Workday Wednesdays webinars, highlights of Workday Student functions, register online
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.