Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff

Aug. 21, 2025

Inside news

ISU summer in review

Welcome back to faculty and staff who were off campus for significant portions of the summer. Here's a quick summary of what you may have missed.


Regents refine their academic freedom policy

The Iowa Board of Regents policy on academic freedom now includes language that "faculty may teach controversial subjects when they are relevant to the course content. Instruction should be presented in a manner that fosters critical thinking and avoids indoctrination of one perspective."


Cyclone band has a job to do in Dublin, too

The Iowa State and Kansas State bands are collaborating on the halftime performance at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic Saturday in Dublin, a first for this annual college event.


Tuition, enrollment fuel budget growth

Projected fall enrollment growth and tuition increases and are fueling an increase in the general university operating budget. For the fiscal year that began July 1, the budget is expected to grow about $41.4 million (5.7%), to $766.8 million. 


Apply by Aug. 31 to new professional development program

The in-person program, six midday workshops between October and April, is open to any employee "interested in making their career the best it can be."


An update on summer road projects

A wetter-than-average summer repeatedly delayed road projects on or adjacent to campus. Here's a quick summary of the new project timelines.


Opening events for faculty and staff

Gather with your college colleagues to launch the new academic year. And join the campus community Sept. 24 to celebrate the 2025 recipients of faculty and staff university awards.

Announcements

The following announcements were added this week:

  • Fall poster sale runs through Aug. 29 at the Memorial Union
  • A few reminders about university travel
  • Student organizers seek volunteer judges for Homecoming events
  • Research project managers' next meeting is Sept. 9
  • Innovation lunch club meets Aug. 22
  • Enrollment and student success reports now available
  • Annual community rummage sale does the job
  • Undergraduate research assistantships available for 2025-26
  • Mindfulness sessions resume for fall

Around campus

Images from new student move-in

An estimated 450 returning students arrived early in Ames to help families move their first-year students into the residence halls Tuesday and Wednesday.


New facility is coming to the BioCentury Research Farm

A new biomanufacturing scale-up facility will help move biobased solutions and products from the lab to commercialization. BioMADE, a U.S. Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institute, will partner with the ISU Research Park and Iowa State on this multimillion dollar collaborative to install a multi-use fermentation facility at the BioCentury Research Farm.


Produce donations exceed 10,000 pounds

Ames High students and missionaries have joined Reiman Garden volunteers in the gardens' Grow and Give program to grow, harvest and deliver fresh produce to 13 local food pantries.


Student experiences at the feed mill

Agricultural and biosystems engineering professor Gretchen Mosher gives students in the Feed Safety, Ingredient Quality and Analytics course a chance to test their textbook learning at the Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex. Students conduct tests, record outcomes, make adjustments to the feed and ensure its safety.

Appointments

Retirements

Upcoming

  • Timothy Burgess, student information systems; and Dave Brotherson and Jim Hurley, mainframe, database and applications; IT Services, Sept. 5 (noon-3 p.m., Maple Shelter, Brookside Park, 1325 Sixth St.), the three colleagues all started at Iowa State on the same day 40 years ago
  • Jeff Johnson, ISU Alumni Association, Sept. 5 (3-6 p.m., remarks at 4 p.m., Alumni Center), post well wishes to Johnson's Kudoboard

Campus events

Cyclones host Bulldogs on the pitch

The Iowa State women's soccer team continues its pre-conference season Sunday, Aug. 24, when it hosts Drake (6 p.m., Cyclone Sports Complex). Admission is free.


Early start for Tuesday guest carillon performance

The final guest carillon concert in the 2025 series is Tuesday, Aug. 26 (5:30-6:30 p.m., campanile), and features Jesse Ratcliffe, associate carillonneur at the Joseph D. Baker Carillon, Frederick, Maryland. His planned music program (PDF) is online. The start time was moved up 90 minutes due to evening activities on central campus. Bring your lawn chair or blanket.


Who are our titans?

University museums' first Art Walk of the new academic year is Wednesday, Aug. 27 (noon-1 p.m.) and features central campus art that honors the university's "titans" -- individuals known for their research and leadership. Meet in the plaza between Carver and Beardshear halls.

Learning opportunities

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming

Register online. 

Previous Inside coverage

About us

Inside Update, the companion email to Inside Iowa State, is sent Thursday mornings during the academic year by University Marketing and Communications. Questions may be directed to 515-294-7065.

Inside Iowa State | 2420 Lincoln Way Ste 201 | Ames, IA 50014 US