 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
News in Brief
AROUND CAMPUSIn case you didn’t see the information about this vision discount program… University of Iowa faculty and staff enrolled in Delta Dental of Iowa have access to a vision discount program through EyeMed Vision Care at no additional cost.
Voluntary vision insurance plan open enrollment runs through Feb. 28 The annual open enrollment period for the voluntary vision insurance plan is now through Feb. 28. The effective date for all changes is April 1.
Provost Loh posts open letter to campus regarding academic vision for next five years Wallace Loh, executive vice president and provost, has written a letter that sets forth the academic vision and priorities for the University over the next five years, given current economic and budgetary realities.
University to present Celebrating Cultural Diversity Festival Feb. 21 The University of Iowa will host the Celebrating Cultural Diversity Festival (CCDF) from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 21, in the UI Field House. Since 1990, the CCDF has given people from the University and surrounding communities an opportunity to learn about each other through food, games, dance, music, literature, storytelling, arts, and crafts. Every year, anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 people attend the festival, making it the second-largest nonathletic event sponsored by the University. It is free and open to the public. Live music, dance performances, and sports demonstrations are planned, and food from various countries will be available for purchase. Vendors offer handmade goods for sale, such as clothing and arts and crafts. In the Kid’s World area, children will have an opportunity to learn about international cultures with crafts, face painting, a dress-up time, and music. The festival is partnering with Associate Residence Halls to sponsor a canned food drive; attendees can bring canned food items that will be distributed to community shelters and food banks. The goal of the event is to bring people from different foreign and domestic cultures together to learn about, from, and with each other. It was designed to interest more Iowans in learning about cultures different than their own and to widen their cultural horizons, and also gives students and scholars from underrepresented cultures the opportunity to share new and different aspects of their culture with members of the University and surrounding communities. For further information, and for updates on performances and vendors, visit www.uiowa.edu/~ccdfest.
Recreational Services hosts open houses at Beckwith Boathouse The University of Iowa Recreational Services is offering two open houses at the new P. Sue Beckwith, M.D., Boathouse: 3–5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13; and 5:30–7:30 p.m., Sunday, March 7. Attendees can meet with community rowers and UI coaches and tour the $7.2 million LEED-certified building. They can participate in a brief clinic to learn basic rowing technique on a rowing machine and in the new state-of-the-art rowing tank. Visitors can also learn about new “Learn to Row” opportunities being offered to the public this winter, spring, and summer through the Recreational Services Rowing Program. For more information, visit www.recserv.uiowa.edu/programs/Rowing/index.htm or call LlynnAnn Luellen at 319-384-1292.
Marilynne Robinson will present 2010 UI Presidential Lecture Feb. 14 Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson, a faculty member in the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, will present the 27th annual University of Iowa Presidential Lecture, “Being Here,” at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 14, in the Fourth Floor Assembly Halls of the Levitt Center for University Advancement. The event is free and the public is invited to attend. UI president Sally Mason will introduce Robinson and a reception will follow in the Wyrick Rotunda. The program will include a musical prelude by the Matisse Trio—UI School of Music faculty members Ksenia Nosikova, piano; Katie Wolfe, violin; and Anthony Arnone, cello—performing a movement from the Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor by Robert Schumann.
Community invited to Benefit for Haiti fund-raising event at Englert Feb. 22 A celebration of Haitian people, history, and culture titled Benefit for Haiti will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 22, in the Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St. in Iowa City. The fund-raising event will feature a vibrant mixture of live music, dance, readings, and tributes, and is presented by International Programs at The University of Iowa; the UI Caribbean, Diaspora, and Atlantic Studies (CDA) Program; the UI Chief Diversity Office; and the Englert Theatre. Many other UI entities, local businesses, and community groups will help cosponsor this University-community collaborative fund-raising event. “This is truly an opportunity for everyone to come together to raise funds for two established organizations that can provide significant support to those in Haiti through providing health expertise and helping rebuild libraries,” says Loyce Arthur, codirector of the CDA Program and associate professor and head of design in the UI Department of Theatre Arts in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “But it’s also a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and help educate people about the rich history and culture of Haiti.” General admission tickets for the event will be $5 for UI students and youth up to age 18, and $15 for adults. For those who wish to donate more, there are $25, $50, and $100 ticket options available. Tickets will be available in advance at the Englert Box Office from 1 to 6 p.m., Monday–Friday, and the night of the event at the box office and through the Englert web site at www.englert.org. Proceeds from the event will be split evenly between Partners in Health and Libraries Without Borders. For more information on Partners in Health, visit http://standwithhaiti.org/haiti. For more information on Libraries Without Borders, visit http://lwb-online.org/.
UI students collect items through Hope for Haiti Disaster Relief Drive Haitian students at The University of Iowa have united to launch a “Lespwa Pou Ayiti” (“Hope for Haiti” in Creole) Disaster Relief Drive that will run through Thursday, Feb. 11. Students will collect supplies for Project Medishare (http://projectmedishare.org) to support victims of the earthquake that took place in Haiti Jan. 12. Items including medical supplies, hygiene products, and baby products are desperately needed, according to organizers Lucy Joseph and Fabienne Bertrand. Drop boxes can be found at the following locations: the International Programs office, 1111 University Capitol Centre in the Old Capitol Town Center, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and at the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. For more information, contact Joseph at lucy-joseph@uiowa.edu, Bertrand at fabienne-bertrand@uiowa.edu, or diversity@uiowa.edu. For more information or to see a list of suggested supplies, visit the UI Haitian Aid web site: www.uiowa.edu/homepage/haitian-aid.
University announces launch of new Exhibitions Calendar Information about University of Iowa art and other exhibitions may now be To view exhibitions, visit http://calendar.uiowa.edu/exhibitions. The UI Information Technology Services, working with University Relations, Events must be sponsored by a UI program, department, or recognized group to
Robert F. Ray Staff Scholarship available University of Iowa staff members who wish to begin or continue their undergraduate education can apply for funding support from the Robert F. Ray Staff Scholarship, offered through the Division of Continuing Education. The scholarship fund was established in honor of the late Robert F. Ray, former dean of continuing education. Dean Ray was a recognized leader in distance education, regional accreditation, forensics, and intercollegiate athletics. The Robert F. Ray Staff Scholarship for University employees was established to honor the contributions and vision of this inspirational leader. The recipient will be awarded up to $1,500 to cover the cost of valid educational expenses at The University of Iowa over the course of one year. Applicants must be employed by the University at least half-time, for not less than one year from the date of application, in a position classified as office and clerical, service, technical, or professional and scientific, and must remain employed by the University during the period of the award. While this award is not need-based, applicants must not be receiving tuition reimbursement or other grants (with the exception of staff tuition grants) in order to be considered. The deadline for application is April 1. For an application or more information, please go to www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/ccp/media/pdf/rayscholarapp.pdf. If you have any questions, contact Laura Sinn at the Center for Credit Programs, 319-353-2656, laura-sinn@uiowa.edu.
UI seeks nominations for 2009–10 Diversity Catalyst Awards The University of Iowa Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity invites members of the UI community to submit nominations for this year’s Diversity Catalyst Awards. The Diversity Catalyst Awards honor UI community members and organizations that have engaged in diversity initiatives during the previous academic year that promote the development of an inclusive, diverse campus community. Criteria for the nominations are:
Nominations are invited for the following categories:
Each recipient will receive an award to be presented at the 11th annual Diversity Catalyst Awards reception from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, in the Second Floor Ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union. Forms to nominate outstanding and innovative contributions to diversity and inclusiveness are available at www.uiowa.edu/~eod/diversity/catalyst-awards. For more information, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 202 Jessup Hall, at 319-335-0705 (voice) or 319-335-0697 (text).
Improving Our Workplace Award nominations sought Many faculty and staff continue to focus on improving practices, processes, patient/student/customer satisfaction and safety in their area—IOWA (Improving Our Workplace Awards) looks to recognize them for their efforts. Nominate individuals or teams for using initiative and innovation to achieve lasting results in your workplace. Nominations are welcomed until March 15. Visit www.uiowa.edu/hr/iowa/index/html for nomination forms, tips for nominating, and descriptions of past winning efforts. Contact Nancy Noyer at nancy-noyer@uiowa.edu or 335-0560 for assistance.
Staff members encouraged to apply for committees The UI Staff Council encourages staff members to apply for staff member openings on University charter and noncharter committees. The deadline is Friday, Feb. 19. Committees with openings for staff members include:
Terms will begin in September. Learn more about all of the committees and apply at http://survey.uiowa.edu/wsb.dll/staff/1011cocapp.htm. Contact the Staff Council office at 319-335-3600 or staff-council@uiowa.edu with any questions.
Spectator@IOWA features up-close looks at campus life, plus the latest UI headlines Hungry for more news and information about The University of Iowa? The Office of University Relations has teamed up with the UI Alumni Association and the UI Foundation to create Spectator@IOWA, a web site that includes original online-only content as well as articles from the print edition of Spectator, the University’s publication for alumni published twice a year. The web site, http://spectator.uiowa.edu, is updated monthly and includes articles, photos, and multimedia features about students, faculty, staff, and alumni; links to timely UI news; and an opportunity to read about and share remembrances of University history. Content from Spectator@IOWA and the print edition of Spectator is archived on the site. Readers can sign up to receive a monthly e-mail with links to Spectator@IOWA and other UI web sites at http://spectator.uiowa.edu/subscribe.html.
See which Learning and Development courses are right for you UI Learning and Development, a unit of Organizational Effectiveness, provides professional development services to faculty and staff. There are many learning opportunities that will support your professional development and growth. Look for classroom instruction on leadership issues for managers, frontline supervisors, human resource professionals, and office professionals. Check out the following links:
DISCOVERIESDespite recalls, UI researcher thinks Toyota will escape long-term damage to reputation For years, Toyota was the model of production efficiency, its Lean manufacturing processes copied by companies around the world to make great products at low cost. Now, millions of Toyotas are being recalled with accelerator or brake problems. What happened? From all that Barrett Thomas has seen, he doesn’t think the company’s vaunted manufacturing process is at fault. “From what I’ve read, the problem seems to be a design flaw, not a mistake in the manufacturing,” says Thomas, associate professor of management sciences in the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. As an expert in manufacturing processes, he’s studied Toyota’s principles of Lean manufacturing and continuous quality improvement for years. That improvement plan was pioneered by Toyota in the 1950s and focuses on each step of the manufacturing process, no matter how small, and empowers every person in the plant—from manager down to assembler—to stop the line and fix whatever problems they might find. But Thomas says it’s not likely the Camry’s accelerator problems or Prius’ brake issues could have been seen on the assembly line. “A problem like this needs to be caught in the testing phase,” he says. “It’s not going to be seen during manufacturing.” Like other analysts, Thomas suspects the design flaw was the result of the company growing too big, too quickly in its quest to become the largest car company in the world. He says the company’s replacing its CEO in the last year is one sign that even Toyota officials realized something was amiss. Read the full University News Services story at http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2010/february/020510toyota-researcher.html.
Study: Iowa’s publicly funded family planning is cost-effective A recent study of Iowa’s publicly-funded family planning services found that costs for such services to eligible women is considerably less than the cost of public assistance associated with an unintended pregnancy. The results of the study by the University of Iowa Public Policy Center show that publicly funded family planning services are cost-effective for women who would use Medicaid and other public assistance programs if they became pregnant and gave birth. “With the prevention of an unintended pregnancy, a significant amount of future public funding expenditure can be avoided,” says lead researcher Belinda Udeh, assistant research scientist at the Public Policy Center. The study based on data collected in 2009 also concluded that publicly funded family planning is most cost-effective for women under the age of 30. When considering forecasting the avoided expenditures for just one year for this age group, over $3 could be saved for every $1 spent on family planning services, Udeh says. The probability of averting a pregnancy need only be 2 percent for this age category for family planning services to be considered cost effective, she added. Read the full University News Services story at http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2010/february/020210studyfamilyplanning.html.
Bone marrow transplantation finding provides idea on treating degenerative diseases A University of Iowa study suggests that cells derived from bone marrow transplantation, a treatment commonly used for blood-based cancers such as leukemia, could potentially be used to prevent transplanted organs from being rejected. Cells produced by the approach might also be adapted to treat diseases caused by cell death, such as heart disease and liver failure, the researchers report in the February 2010 print issue of The FASEB Journal. Based on laboratory studies in test tubes and animal models, the team found, for the first time, that transplanted bone marrow cells not only produce new, healthy bone marrow cells but also can fuse with existing cells in organs such as the kidney and heart. These hybrid cells—part donor, part recipient—do not trigger rejection from the recipient’s immune system and thus may offer ways to protect transplanted organs from rejection. Read the full University News Services story at http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2010/february/020210bonemarrowtransplant.html.
UI study finds abusive bosses don’t suffer for their behavior, if they produce Steve Jobs is one of America’s most famous CEOs, praised for leading Apple and fostering a culture of innovation that few companies can match while making lots of money for lots of people. Steve Jobs is also regarded as one of Corporate America’s biggest tyrants, known for throwing temper tantrums and dressing down employees in humiliating fashion. Why is Jobs allowed to get away with his abusive behavior? A new study by University of Iowa researchers lends credence to the idea that supervisors who are productive have a long leash when it comes to bad behavior. The study, “Perpetuating Abusive Supervision: Third Party Reactions to Abuse in the Workplace,” examines how third parties reacted to bad behavior on the part of supervisors. While many past studies have shown how the targets of the abuse react, this is the first scholarly effort at determining the reactions of others who see it or hear of it. The study team was led by Jonathan Shaffer, a doctoral student in the UI Tippie College of Business, and included Amy Colbert, assistant professor of management and organizations, and doctoral student Stephen Courtright. The study found that those third parties tend to accept the abuse if the supervisor is seen as productive and effective and they don’t feel like they’re the next target. “When a supervisor’s performance outcomes are high, abusive behavior tends to be overlooked by third parties when they evaluate a supervisor’s effectiveness,” the researchers wrote. “In contrast, abuse plays a predominant role when parties judge the personal appeal of the same high-performing abusive supervisor.” Read the full University News Services story at http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2010/february/020410abusivebosses.html.
Study explores impact of jealousy on intimate relationships A new study suggests married couples are less likely than other couples to fight about jealousy—but when they do, it’s much more damaging. Researchers at the University of British Columbia and The University of Iowa found that without jealous conflict, three-fourths of the married individuals surveyed were extremely satisfied with the emotional aspects of their marriage. The chances of having that same level of satisfaction dropped to less than half if jealousy entered the equation. For unmarried cohabiting couples, the probability of being highly emotionally satisfied only fell about eight points with jealousy. A similar contrast was observed for physical satisfaction. “We associate certain rewards with marriage, but there are risks to it as well,” says Anthony Paik, assistant professor of sociology in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “The advantages to marriage include deep commitment and trust. But when jealousy occurs in a marriage, that tension can have devastating effects on emotional and physical satisfaction. It’s not a straightforward story that marriage produces happier relationships.” Paik authored the study, published online in the Journal of Sex Research, with Mariana Gatzeva of the Department of Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia. Read the full University News Services story at http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2010/february/020210jealousy-study.html.
Super buzz not as loud for Super Bowl ads There was a time once when millions of people tuned in to the Super Bowl mostly to watch the ads, when companies let the creativity flow and casual fans ignored the usually forgettable game and talked instead about the frogs or the football-playing, cartoon, beer bottles or the little boy whose life’s ambition is a brown nose. But that’s changed the last few years, and only in part because the games have been unusually thrilling. That’s also because the ads are not as often the theater they once were, with campaigns scaled back, production costs reigned in and the zaniness tempered. Tom Gruca, a marketing professor in the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, says not as many companies put as much of their advertising eggs in the Super Bowl basket anymore, so fewer of them focus on spending big money on a commercial they hope will produce the next pop culture catch phrase. A poor economy and increasingly fragmented media universe have combined to create a situation where today, with the Super Bowl just a few days away, the only commercial to generate any significant pre-game buzz is an anti-abortion issues spot featuring former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. “Advertising on the Super Bowl is still a big deal, but not in the way it was during the economic bubble years, when we had marching bands attacked by wolves,” says Gruca. He says the fragmentation of media audiences and the rise in importance of social media to reach consumers is making the game less necessary. Read the full University News Services story at http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2010/january/012910SuperBowlads.html.
TRANSITIONSRecent deaths
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
