Inside Iowa State for faculty and staff
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Operations, renovation funding requests go to legislature
For the fiscal year that begins July 1, Iowa State has two requests to the state for additional operations support and a request for a two-year state investment in the renovation of Atanasoff Hall.
Tax withholding updates for 2026
Tax changes in last summer's One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act compelled the IRS to update its Form W-4, the employee's withholding requests, and withholding tables. Iowa, which largely follows federal tax law, has done the same. Employees are encouraged to review their W-4s in Workday and complete a paycheck checkup.
Five questions with the senate's administrator
At every Faculty Senate meeting, Patrick Determan is greeting senators, distributing nameplates and running PowerPoints for presenters. But that's a small piece of the support he provides to senate operations.
MU café closes to make way for national brand
The MU Market & Café, which opened in 2008 on the first floor across from the ISU Book Store, has closed. The space will be renovated this spring and summer for another food option.
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The following announcements were added this week:
- Responses due Feb. 13 to regents' free speech survey
- Jan. 19 is a university holiday
- Learn more about lifelong learning though OLLI at Iowa State
- Find WorkFlex information on employee benefits website
- Volunteers sought for campus FIRST LEGO youth events on Feb. 7
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Building batteries to store wind energy
Materials science and engineering faculty Steve Martin and Patrick Johnson are using Iowa-sourced materials to build "ultra-low-cost, ultra-high-performance" batteries capable of storing Iowa wind energy.
Tool shows leaders how zoning rules shape housing development
A new Online Guide to Iowa Zoning assembles zoning maps and housing-related zoning regulations for 243 Iowa cities in an interactive platform. The snapshot, from Dec. 31, 2024, lets users explore zoning districts city by city and compare key housing-related standards across similar communities. An ISU Extension and Outreach team developed it with funding from the Iowa Finance Authority.
The impact of the words we use when writing about AI
Iowa State researchers are studying the impact of using words that assign human traits to non-human things when writing about artificial intelligence (AI). Their findings can help technical and professional communication practitioners reflect on AI technologies, both as tools in their writing process and in how they write about AI.
Make this the winter for awesome African violets
When you get the light, watering and fertilizer just right, African violets can bloom almost continuously, making them one of the few houseplants that provide color year-round, according to consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil. He shares a few tips.
| | - David Schmitz, Iowa Arts Council, to interim academic engagement coordinator, university museums (since December)
| | Open houses and retirements | | |
Employees, their colleagues or supervisors are invited to use our online form to submit retirements, departures and receptions. Inside doesn't receive this information from a central source.
Upcoming
- Open house, meet new members of the Occupational Medicine team, Jan. 27 (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., G11 TASF)
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Retirement, Denny Richards, facilities, ISU Dining, Feb. 2 (no public event)
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Retirement, Vicky Thorland-Oster, student services advising, electrical and computer engineering, Feb. 4 (2:30-4:30 p.m., 1133 Student Innovation Center), post well wishes to her Kudoboard
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Cyclone track and field indoor season continues
The men's and women's squads host the Bill Bergan Classic on Friday afternoon, Jan. 16 (Lied Recreation Center) with field events beginning at 11:20 a.m. and running events at 1 p.m. Admission is free.
Artist installs glass sculptures
Glass artist Norwood Viviano was back on campus last week to install an exhibition that opens Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the Brunnier Art Museum and includes a new two-piece sculpture, Recasting Ames, commissioned by university museums for its permanent collection.
Save the date: MLK lecture is Jan. 29
In celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday on Jan. 19, the university's annual commemorative lecture is Thursday, Jan. 29 (6 p.m., MU Sun Room). Bettina Love, Columbia University faculty member and author, expands King's legacy by highlighting the roles of women and queer individuals in the civil rights movement. The 2026 recipients of Iowa State's Advancing One Community awards will be recognized prior to Love's talk.
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Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) programming
Register in advance.
Extension and Outreach programming
Register in advance.
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Webinar, Leadership Style, part of the Twelve Essential Skills for Managers and Supervisors series, Jan. 26 (2-3 p.m., via Zoom)
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Workshop, Grant Proposal Boot Camp, Jan. 27 (1-4 p.m.) and Jan. 28 (9 a.m.-noon), ISU Economic Development Core Facility, registration $120
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Webinar, Using Generative AI in the Workplace, Jan. 29 (1-3 p.m., via Teams)
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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.
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