Announcements

Aug. 31

High marks for ISU in Washington Monthly's college rankings

Iowa State ranks 68th among 258 colleges and universities in the 2011 national university and college ranking by Washington Monthly. The just-released rankings rate schools on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: improving social mobility, producing research and promoting public service.

ISU is one of the best in the country (no. 4) for federal work-study funds spent on service. The university also gets good marks for science and engineering doctoral degrees awarded (no. 36), ROTC (no. 66), research expenditures (no. 71) and faculty in national academies (no. 88).

Aug. 31

Show off your pet at a home football game

The College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa Veterinary Specialties and the Blank Park Zoo are sponsoring a football season campaign, Cy's Pets of the Week. Iowa State fans can submit a photo of their pet decked out in Cyclone gear for a chance to have it shown on the new high-definition screen at Jack Trice Stadium during home games. Online entries are due by noon on Thursdays.

Aug. 31

Foundation celebrates gifts' effects on ISU

The ISU Foundation celebrates the value of philanthropy at Iowa State in a new marketing campaign "Give Forward." Through promotional spots, one of which will be aired at Saturday's football game, the campaign will show how gifts are influencing students and society.

Aug. 31

ROTC program collecting food, other items for overseas care packages

Iowa State's ROTC program is in a head-to-head competition with the University of Iowa's program to collect donations for the Iowa Troop Pantry, which sends care packages to deployed soldiers. A list of troop-requested items is online; items should be taken to 132 Armory by the end of the day Sept. 8.

Aug. 31

Auditions for holiday ballet are Sept. 11

Auditions (PDF) for the 31st-anniversary production of the Nutcracker Ballet at the Iowa State Center will take place Sunday, Sept. 11 (noon-7 p.m., Stephens Auditorium). Performance dates this year are Dec. 10-11. To participate in this year's ballet, dancers must be at least 6 years old by the audition date. All dancers should wear leotards, tights and ballet or pointe shoes to their audition. Registration begins at 11:15 a.m.; audition forms are available online now. Dancers should be registered and warmed up at their scheduled audition time.

Aug. 30

Open forum to discuss School of Education proposal is Sept. 1

All faculty and staff are invited to an open forum Sept. 1 (4:10-5 p.m., 0102 Science Hall) to exchange ideas, questions and concerns about a proposed ISU School of Education.

Aug. 29

Summer hours at Reiman Gardens end Labor Day

Reiman Gardens will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 3-5 to celebrate the Labor Day weekend. This also will be the final three days to see artist David Rogers' larger-than-life bug exhibition throughout the gardens. Regular hours at the gardens (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) resume Sept. 6.

Aug. 29

Engineering study and work abroad fair is Sept. 6

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend "Tour the World," an engineering study and work abroad fair Sept. 6 (5:30-7 p.m., Howe Hall atrium). ISU faculty coordinators representing more than 30 engineering international partnerships will be on hand to answer questions. Former study-abroad students also will share their experiences. Contact Shannon Miner, 4-9917, with questions.

Aug. 26

STEM education coffee is Sept. 8

The Center for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education will host its first STEM education collaboration coffee, open-house style, on Sept. 8 (9-10 a.m., N047 Lagomarcino). Anyone with STEM education interests is invited; meet interim center director Frankie Laanan and other professionals from around campus with an interest in STEM education and learn about the center's goals for this year. RSVPs are requested to Tracie Miller.

Aug. 26

Honors program seeks seminar proposals

The University Honors Program invites faculty to submit proposals for one- and two-credit seminars for the spring 2012 honors program. Send proposals to the honors office by Sept. 14.

In addition, the honors program seeks senior lecturers and tenure-eligible faculty to teach a grant-supported seminar called Socrates' Café. Six such seminars are planned for spring 2012. The honors program will allocate $1,000 to instructors teaching a Socrates' Café section and $500 to those teaching other honors seminars. Contact Susan Yager, 4-4372, to submit a proposal or with questions.

Aug. 26

Search committee conference call Aug. 30

The Presidential Search Committee will meet via conference call on Tuesday, Aug. 30, beginning at 1:30 p.m. To dial in to the conference, call (866) 390-5250 and use this participant code: 9026659. Those on or near campus also can monitor the meeting in the Krieger Board Room (room 2200) in the Gerdin Business Building. The committee will conduct a private "executive session" during a portion of the meeting.

Aug. 26

Study Abroad Fair is Sept. 15

Students are encouraged to attend the Study Abroad Fair Sept. 15 (10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., MU Great Hall) to learn about Iowa State's numerous study abroad opportunities. Program directors will be available to answer questions and help students compare programs.

Aug. 25

ISU is No. 2 in 'Best Universities to Work For' ranking

Iowa State came in second in a recent ranking of the "Best Universities to Work For." The ranking comes from Glassdoor, an online career community where employees and interviewees provide reviews of their jobs and companies. The ranking is based on reviews posted anonymously on the website by employees at 100 universities. University of Kansas held the No. 1 spot and Iowa State tied for second place with Brigham Young University and Georgia Tech. President Gregory Geoffroy received a 95 percent approval rating in the rankings. ISU reviews.

Aug. 25

After-school "Swim & Gym" begins Sept. 13

The kinesiology department's "Swim & Gym" program, for 5- to 12-year-olds, begins Sept. 13 and will run Tuesdays and Thursdays (4-5:30 p.m.) through Nov. 17. The program is held in the Forker Building and staffed by students majoring in physical education. Each meeting provides an hour of gym time and 30 minutes of swim lessons; cost is $75. More information, including registration, is online.

Aug. 24

Honors program seeks mentors

The University Honors Program is seeking faculty and other researchers to mentor first-year honors students during spring semester. Faculty may mentor the students directly, or designate a research team member to supervise them. Those interested in the program should complete the mentor information form by Sept. 16. Contact Dana Schumacher, 4-0172, for more information.

Aug. 24

Poster sale continues through Sept. 2 at MU

The annual poster sale hosted by ISU's Student Activities Center continues daily (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) through Sept. 2 in the MU Cardinal Room. Most are priced between $8 and $12; proceeds support art programs at the Memorial Union.

Aug. 24

First P&S Council open forum of semester is Sept. 1

Vice president for research and economic development Sharron Quisenberry will discuss the reorganization of the Office for Responsible Research (ORR) at this semester's first Professional and Scientific Council open forum Sept. 1 (noon-1 p.m., MU Gallery). She also will introduce Jerry Zamzow, acting program manager of ORR. All are welcome to attend. Feel free to bring your lunch.

Aug. 24

Tickets for Sept. 2 dueling pianos show are on sale

Tickets for a Sept. 2 performance (8 p.m., Knapp-Storms Dining Complex) by the Dueces Wild dueling piano duo are on sale at the ISU/Ames visitor information booth (University Boulevard), Golf USA (South Duff Avenue), Coe's Flowers and Gifts (Somerset) and Gallery 319 (downtown). Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door. This event is a fund-raiser for the Ames Foundation's ongoing beautification projects in Ames and is part of the All American Weekend lineup.

Aug. 24

Widespread Panic concert is Oct. 27 at Stephens

Tickets for an Oct. 27 concert by Widespread Panic at Stephens Auditorium go on sale Aug. 26 through Ticketmaster and at the Stephens ticket office. Tickets are $39.50. The concert is part of the band's 25th anniversary tour.

Aug. 22

Ethics hotline reminder

Iowa State contracts with a third-party hotline vendor, EthicsPoint, to allow anonymous reporting of activities that may involve criminal, unethical, noncompliant or unsafe behavior impacting ISU. You may submit a report online or by calling (toll-free) 866-384-4277. The website is hosted on EthicsPoint's secure servers; it is not part of the university's website.

Aug. 22

Request MTAs and CDAs online beginning Sept. 1

Faculty and staff may request material transfer agreements (MTA) and confidentiality (or nondisclosure) agreements (NDA/CDA) through the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (OSPA) website beginning Sept. 1. To access the MTA/CDA request page, click here.

Aug. 19

MU Underground offers $50 semester pass

The Memorial Union Underground is offering a semester pass for $50 to faculty and staff ($30 for additional passes for family members). A pass gives you unlimited bowling, shoe rental and billiards for the semester (Aug. 22-Dec. 16). Passes may be purchased at the Underground counter (MU basement level) or through AccessPlus (click on the "employee" tab and "campus org events").

Aug. 17

Sports medicine and physical therapy center moves to Thielen facility

ISU Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine has moved from the Lied Center to 2015 Thielen Student Health Center, effective Aug. 18. Patients arriving at the new location for therapy or sports medicine services should stop at the health center's front desk to request a parking pass before proceeding upstairs. Parking is available outside the Thielen center in designated patient parking spots.

ISU Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine serves people of all ages with a written referral from a health care provider (at Thielen Student Health or elsewhere). The staff includes director Jim Nespor, a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer; Dabney Larson-Hargrafen, physical therapist, sports certified specialist and certified athletic trainer; and Brent Bowser, physical therapist's assistant. All phone numbers remain the same.

Aug. 17

OLLI fall open house is Aug. 25

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is holding an open house Thursday, Aug. 25 (10-11 a.m., Reiman Ballroom, ISU Alumni Center) for those 50 and older interested in meeting with instructors and learning about fall classes. Class registrations and annual membership fees ($25) will be accepted at the open house. Class fees vary. Contact Jerilyn Logue, 4-3192, for more information.

Aug. 16

Ames makes 'geekiest city' list

Ames, Iowa, is included on Forbes magazine's list of America's 20 Geekiest Cities. Forbes based the list on a National Science Foundation report that ranked the top U.S. cities by the percentage of workers with jobs in science, technology, engineering and math.

Ames is 13th on Forbes' list, with 10.7 percent of its workers employed in science and technology jobs. At the top of the list is the Silicon Valley area (San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara), where 18.2 percent of workers have science and technology positions.

Aug. 16

Recycle your old cell phones, cameras, ink cartridges to benefit Wildlife Care Clinic

Your used cell phones, digital cameras and printer ink cartridges can be converted to cash to help purchase equipment for the Wildlife Care Clinic, a non-profit organization located in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Staff in the clinic are collecting the items all fall for recycling. Drop boxes are at the clinic, the small animal hospital and in 124 Science II (natural resources ecology and management office). Boxes also are at Jax Outdoor Gear, West Lincoln Way; and Brekke's Town and Country off Highway 30 (east of I-35). Questions may be directed to Jacie Garden at the clinic, 4-4009.

Aug. 14

Post P-T jobs for students via AccessPlus

Students are back on campus and they are looking for work. Post your part-time jobs on the Student Job Board via AccessPlus. The split for work-study funded positions for the 2011-12 academic year will be 60/40 (employing department is responsible for 40 percent of the student's wages). Call the Student Employment Center, 4-JOBS, if you have questions.

Aug. 14

Women's center book club will start up in September

The Margaret Sloss Women's Center will host a women's book club, beginning Sept. 7 (7-9 p.m.). Prior to that date, the group will choose a book that focuses on women's issues and supports the mission of the center, with the intent of discussing the first chapter on Sept. 7. For details and to help select a title, contact Suzanne Reinhardt.

Aug. 12

English class for adults offered fall semester

The Intensive English and Orientation Program will offer a course fall semester for international visiting scholars, faculty, staff and graduate students. It will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays Sept. 1-Dec. 8 (5-6:30 p.m.). The first half of the course will focus on professional academic oral skills; the second half on conversational skills, cross-cultural comparisons and current events. An information meeting will be held Aug. 25 (5 p.m., 174 Carver). For more information and registration details, contact Joan Chamberlin.

Aug. 11

First Cyclone Central tailgate is Sept. 3

The ISU Alumni Association will host its first Cyclone Central tailgate of the football season Sept. 3 (3-5:30 p.m., Alumni Center). Admission is free for all, but the meal (Valentino's Italian buffet) must be purchased by Aug. 31 ($17; alumni association members $12). Activities include a kids corner, Wheel of Fun (win prizes), bar service by Olde Main Brewing Co., merchandise sales, and a visit from members of the Cyclone women's basketball team (4-5 p.m.). Questions may be directed to Deanne Stewart, 4-9171.

Aug. 11

Congratulations, 867 summer graduates

As of Aug. 11, 867 Iowa State students completed their degrees during the summer sessions. The breakout includes 511 bachelor's degrees, 245 master's degrees and 111 doctoral degrees. Students finishing during the summer who want to participate in a commencement ceremony have the choice of the May or December graduation events.

Aug. 10

Brunnier Art Museum closed for exhibition installations

The Brunnier Art Museum in the Scheman Building is closed through Aug. 22 for exhibition installations. The Farm House Museum on central campus and Christian Petersen Art Museum (Morrill Hall) are closed Aug. 6-21 for semester break.

Aug. 8

Watch for traffic congestion in residence areas

Students living in ISU's residence halls this year will be moving to campus Aug. 16-19. The residence department suggests that faculty and staff avoid areas where traffic congestion may occur, including Beach Road on the east side of campus and Union Drive in the southwest corner of campus.

Aug. 8

Hawthorn Market and Café reopening delayed to Aug. 25

Due to construction delays, Hawthorn Market and Café will reopen Thursday, Aug. 25. The ISU Dining location originally was slated to open before students begin arriving on campus this month.

Aug. 1

Regents universities earn state's top environmental award

Iowa's three state universities have collectively won Iowa's premiere environmental honor, the Governor's Enviromental Excellence Award. Iowa State and the universities of Iowa and Northern Iowa were cited for a variety of green activities, including using wind, solar and biomass power; composting; reducing waste; buying more local foods; and teaching and doing research on sustainability issues. See release. (PDF).

Aug. 1

Golf benefit by Dance Marathon is Aug. 29

Iowa State Dance Marathon will host its second annual "Swinging for Miracles" golf tournament Monday, Aug. 29, at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny (9 a.m. shotgun start). All proceeds will directly benefit the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. The tournament is open to all.

Aug. 1

VanDerZanden named interim CELT director

Ann Marie VanDerZanden, professor of horticulture, Faculty Senate president-elect and associate director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), was appointed interim director of the center, effective Aug. 1. She succeeds Steve Mickelson, who became chair of the agricultural and biosystems engineering department on Aug. 1. An internal search for a permanent director of CELT will be conducted during fall semester.