Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
Feb. 22, 2024
Inside news
The March 21 conference features three keynote guests who interact with AI in different ways. Campus experts will lead 20-minute breakout sessions around the keynotes to discuss AI's impact at Iowa State. Attend as much of the day as your schedule allows.

Many of the function and process changes rolling out in Workday Student arose from the opportunity to remedy limitations in Iowa State's decades-old legacy systems. Read about a few examples: room change requests, course section edits and the switch to four-digit course numbers.

Also on the agenda when the state Board of Regents meets Feb. 28 in Urbandale: Expansion plans for the large animal hospital, DEI directives update, funding for a Scheman renovation and several annual presentations.

The annual Symposium on Sustainability, spread over two evenings Feb. 26-27, includes a keynote address by the first CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council and loads of practical reuse and repurpose ideas at Sustainapalooza.
Announcements
The following announcements were added this week:
  • ISCORE registration is open through Feb. 26
  • You're invited: Black History Month celebration
  • Abstract deadline extended to Feb. 27 for undergraduate research event at Capitol
  • Annual Business Analytics Symposium is April 2
Around campus
As part of its 2024 "Living Landscape" theme, 11 life-size, custom playhouses will be in Reiman Gardens for the summer season, June 1 through Sept. 30. Hobbit house, anyone?

Associate professor in human development and family studies Amie Zarling has a new class about evidence-based behaviors that can boost happiness and well-being. Studies suggest about 40-50% of our happiness is based on genetics; 10% is related to circumstances. The rest we can manage with practice.

Iowa State students recently spent a week studying soybean supply chains in person, from Midwestern processing plants to Pacific Northwest ports. It was a firsthand look at the path soybeans might take when they leave the local elevator.
Appointments
  • Theresa Windus, Distinguished Professor of chemistry, to chair of the chemistry department, since Jan. 1
Receptions
This week
Events
New veterinary facility featured on radio show
Listen in to WHO Radio's The Big Show on Friday, Feb. 23 (AM 1040, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.). Leaders at the almost-open first phase of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory will be interviewed during a live remote broadcast, at approximately 11:20 a.m., 11:35 a.m., 11:50 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. A dedication event is planned for early April.

Hoops doubleheader at Hilton
The Cyclone basketball teams are back in Hilton on Saturday, Feb. 24, as the Big 12 Conference regular season begins its last weeks. The sixth-ranked men host West Virginia at 1 p.m. and the women take on Brigham Young University at 6 p.m. Tickets (men's resale, women's general admission) are available. The squads are holding their CyCans food/cash drives at both games.

The Iowa Statesmen, a low-voice student vocal group known for its exceptional musicality, will perform on Sunday, Feb. 25 (1:30 p.m., Tye Recital Hall, Estes Hall). Tickets ($5, cash or check) are available at the door 30 minutes before the concert begins. 

As part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, renowned thought leader in weight science, weight stigma and health Ragen Chastain will give a campus lecture on Thursday, Feb. 29 (6 p.m., MU Great Hall). "Fatphobia and Capitalism" is free and open to the public.
Learning opportunities
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming
Register.
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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.