Sit back, relax, and read about some of this year's University retirees


	A University of Iowa windsock flies from the flag halyard of Wind Instrument, the boat belonging to professor emeritus Myron Welch, in the South Benjamin Islands in Lake Huron. Photo by Myron Welch.

Some 172 UI employees entered the next stage of their lives during the 2008–09 academic year, which is to say they retired from the University.

Some will stay busy enjoying good books, others will find plenty to do around the house, and still others will enjoy the summer waters on a boat.

Four retirees recently told fyi about their plans.

UI faculty working with wonder of wikis

Gerry Wickham, a curriculum coordinator in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, and his team are creating the narrative of Sid Stolic’s life, which will be used to introduce third-year med students to teamwork clinical procedures before they begin their clinical experience.

Sid has actually been around for a few years, but this year the team is using a form of social media technology called a wiki—a central location where documents can be easily stored and modified—to develop his health history and case details. It’s one example of an innovative social media tool that’s being used at The University of Iowa to improve classroom learning and curriculum development.

Break room posters: Motivational or mockable? UI business professor says big picture more important

They decorate the walls of break rooms across America, lush, awe-inspiring color photos of landscapes or athletes or wildlife, with pithy nuggets of wisdom urging us onward and upward to accomplish things we’ve never thought possible and make life the best we can make it.

“Determination: It is the size of one’s will that determines success.”

“Never, ever give up.”

Some might be inspired by them. Others will mock them. Many won’t even notice they’re there. But do motivational posters work? One UI faculty member says it all depends on how they’re used.

Eligible employees have two new options to consider when applying for retirement

Prompted by the need to address budget shortfalls at The University of Iowa, the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, recently approved two new retirement programs to complement two existing plans. Eligible UI employees can apply for consideration until Sept. 30, 2009.

The new plans—Early Retirement and Alternative-Phased—will be implemented in a different manner from the Regular and Phased Retirement programs. fyi spoke with Richard Saunders, senior associate director of UI Human Resources, about the new plans, who is eligible, and how the plans differ from existing programs.

News in brief

University to hold public forum on relocating Hancher, Voxman, Clapp

The University of Iowa will host a public forum on relocating the Hancher Auditorium/Voxman Music Building/Clapp Recital Hall complex, as well as the original Art Building complex, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, July 9, in Macbride Hall on the UI campus.

AROUND CAMPUS…

New episode of Iowa Insights podcast available
UI Libraries digitizes collection of historic scores
Iowa again earns "Best Buy" designation in new Fiske Guide
UI Children’s Hospital program is ranked by U.S. News & World Report
Faculty members receive Collegiate Teaching Awards
College of Public Health honors Chaloner for community engagement
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle selected for “One Community, One Book” project
Writers’ Workshop alum Albert Goldbarth to read July 10
Elevenses Hour opens the Iowa Summer Writing Festival to the public
We'll drink to that: UI water quality report sparkles
State Fair booth needs volunteers
Holden Cancer Center monthly cancer tip: Understanding sunscreen SPF ratings
See which Learning and Development courses are right for you

(Full details)

DISCOVERIES…

UI anthropologist: Fossil may be from mystery ape rather than early human
Survey reveals health effects of 2008 floods on UI students
Increased household endotoxin associated with poverty, people, pets
Report examines racial disparities in children’s health care in Iowa

(Full details)

TRANSITIONS…

Yarrow is named programming director for Hancher Auditorium
Krajewski named director of new Iowa Flood Center
UI Division of Student Services announces administrative changes
Whiteman named interim director of Institute for Economic Research
McGuire to lead UI College of Public Health Board of Advisors
Recent deaths

(Full details)

Photo feature: Music camp jazzes things up around campus

Throughout the week of June 22–26, things seemed a little jazzier around the University, and with good reason—the UI School of Music was hosting its jazz summer music camp. Students capped off a busy week with a performance at the Friday Night Concert Series on the downtown pedestrian mall.

See the photos...

Profile

Michael Harker

Michael Harker has seen many things through the lens of a camera. But the inspiration for his favorite projects came to him during a hunting outing. While scanning the Iowa countryside for pheasant, his keen eye noticed an old barn. He traded firearm for camera, and started shooting. This led Harker up and down Iowa’s gravel roads to document these iconic structures, which became the subject of his first book, Harker’s Barns: Vision of an American Icon, published by University of Iowa Press in 2003. fyi spoke with Harker about his books, how he’s adapted to photography’s evolving technology, and what it’s like to photograph inside someone’s eye.

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"I am the one that would do the after-school program with the biology teacher, cataloguing plants and insects. I was that geeky kid."

David Drake, professor of endodontics in the College of Dentistry and president of the UI Faculty Senate
(Iowa City Press-Citizen, June 14)

More quotes...