Briefs

Here's one to see What’s filled with primary colors, unusual shapes, flying balls, and funny clattering sounds that keep children—and parents—occupied before an appointment? It’s the autokinetic sculpture by artist George Rhoads in the second-floor clinic at the Center for Disabilities and Development. Photo by Tom Jorgensen.

President to be installed

An installation ceremony for David J. Skorton, who will become the University’s 19th president, has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, March 1, in Hancher Auditorium. A reception will follow in the Hancher lobby.

The program was still in planning stages at press time.

The installation is open to students, staff, faculty, and administration. (For a related story, see Teamwork eases presidential switch).

Chautauqua is coming

A group of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty members is bringing a piece of the 19th century to 2003 Iowa with “A Chautauqua on Public Universities, Citizenship, and The Liberal Arts and Sciences” on Feb. 26 in the IMU Main Lounge.

The event starts at 2 p.m., with music by the Iowa Brass Quintet at 2:30 p.m. At 3 p.m., president-designate David Skorton will share his vision of the future of the university as the first speaker on a panel that includes faculty members Amitava Bhattacharjee, Jeff Cox, and Philip Kutzko; Charlotte Westerhaus, director of the Office of Affirmative Action; Gina Patnaik, a senior in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and Rod Hise, a University alumnus. The afternoon also includes music, refreshments, displays, and a slide show of Chautauqua materials held by the University Libraries.

The 19th-century Chautauquas were a way for people to gather for several days of education, inspiration, enlightenment, and enjoyment and to engage in open forums for the discussion of public issues, literature, music, and science.

Organizers hope to continue Chautauqua events throughout the semester to focus attention on the value of public higher education. More information is available on-line at www.clas.uiowa.edu/events/chautauqua/index.shtml.

Award nominations invited

The committee organizing the Celebration of Excellence Among Women is accepting nominations for the 2002-03 Distinguished Achievement Award, which is given to a staff or faculty member who has distinguished herself or himself and the University through specific accomplishments or a lifetime of service and achievement.

The award will be given at the annual Celebration of Excellence and Achievement Among Women at 4 p.m. March 31 in the IMU Main Lounge.

The committee has distributed a nomination form via e-mail. To get a faxed copy, call (33)5-6148. Forms are due to Jan Warren, Belin-Blank Center, 210 LC, or by e-mail to jan-warren@uiowa edu.

Hawk ID plan implemented

Over winter break, many information technology services were converted to EnterpriseAuthentication—using the Hawk ID and Hawk ID password as a standard means of logging in to computing services. These changes allow individuals to use computer services in a simpler, more secure, and more reliable manner.

Use of the Hawk ID and Hawk ID password is the key to several campus services. To verify a Hawk ID, visit http://hawkid.uiowa.edu and use the “Hawk ID Lookup” tool. Services that require the new system include the human relations self-service and workflow sites, Blue e-mail, UI Remote Access, and Instructional Technology Centers.

More information is available at www.uiowa.edu/~fyi/issues2002_v40/12062002/id. The ITS Help Desk or college or department IT support persons also can help.

Group seeks faculty, staff presentations during State Fair

Continuing the focus on statewide outreach, the University’s booth at the 2003 Iowa State Fair will showcase service to the state with the theme, “Iowa: Your University.” Organizers of the University booth are seeking people, groups, centers, and departments to demonstrate their work at the fair, which runs Aug. 7-17.

A selection committee will be recruiting volunteers and accepting nominations for people and activities to highlight at the fair. Presentations should be visually stimulating, interactive, easy to understand, and portable. Each presentation will be scheduled for one day or part of a day during the fair.

Proposals should be submitted no later than March 1. An on-line proposal submission form is available at www.uiowa.edu/statefair/exhibitors. Contact chad-ruback@uiowa.edu for more information.

15 committees seek members

Staff members may apply for openings on University charter and non-charter committees. The deadline is March 14.

Committees with openings for staff members include Campus Planning, Family Issues, Financial Aid Advisory, Funded Retirement and Insurance, Hancher Auditorium,
Human Rights, Information Technology, Lectures, Parking and Transportation, Recreational Services, Research Council, University Libraries, University Safety and Security, Faculty-Staff Parking Appeals, and Board in Control of Athletics.

Terms will begin in September. Application forms and committee information are available on the Staff Council web site at www.uiowa.edu/~stafcnsl/committeeapplication.pdf.

Hardin Library site to help in emergency

Hardin Library for the Health Sciences has received a grant of more than $47,000 to design a web site that helps the state’s local public health agencies prepare for public health emergencies and find needed information quickly.

The Iowa Access for Public Health Information site will gather local and state public health information together in one easy-to-use resource, says Jean Sayre, director of the Hardin Library and lead investigator for the grant. Although numerous government agencies and grant-funded projects provide information and training for local public health officials, none bring together state and local resources or emphasize training for searching medical databases.

“The goal of the Iowa Access project is to create a stable, enduring information resource for public health professionals in Iowa,” Sayre says.

Hardin librarians plan to promote the site and train public health officials around the state to use it.

Apply now for international research funds

Faculty members in all colleges are invited to propose major international research projects. Funding is for one year beginning July 1.

Proposals should describe how the project will make a major contribution to current scholarly debates and exchanges on international and global issues.

Four projects will be funded for $10,000 each.

Deadline for submission is March 1. Details are available at www.uiowa.edu/~ipgrants/faculty/faculty_maj_proj.html.

Gfeller to give presidential lecture

The 20th annual Presidential Lecture will be delivered by Kate Gfeller, F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professor in the School of Music and the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Her lecture on “Beauty and Meaning in Music: Lend Me Your (Bionic) Ears,” will be given at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in LCUA.

Faculty awards to recognize dedication

Nominations are being accepted for the Marion L. Huit and James N. Murray Faculty Awards, presented yearly to recognize dedication and service to students.

Sponsored by Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board, the Huit award honors a tenured faculty member. The Murray award honors an untenured faculty member. Anyone may submit a nomination.

Nomination forms are available at www.uiowa. edu/~honors. The deadline for submission is Feb. 28 at 202 JB.

Staff awards program seeks nominations

University Staff Council invites nominations for two awards:

• The Board of Regents Staff Excellence Award goes to persons whose contributions extend to state, regional, and national arenas.

• The Outstanding Staff Award is open to merit, special services, and P&S employees for contributions to the University, colleges, or departments beyond requirements of the position.

Nomination forms are available at www.uiowa.edu/~stafcnsl. All are due by noon April 4 at 608 JB.