A bi-weekly newsletter for faculty and staff in the College of Human Sciences.
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • This Week's Wellbeing Events: This schedule outlines a number of live events focused on wellbeing.

  • Benefits Open Change Period Ends Nov. 19: If you're planning to make changes to your benefits, be sure to do so by 5 p.m. on Nov. 19. Read more here.

  • Nov. 26, WorkFlex Closes: The first employee application window for WorkFlex closes on Friday, Nov. 26. Learn more about WorkFlex and the process to apply here.

  • Nov. 29, Parenting: It's a Life Open House: From 2 to 4 p.m., CHS faculty and staff are invited to stop by Palmer 0321, meet the team and learn more about the outreach efforts Parenting: It's a Life provides to youth across Iowa. Room 0321 is on the ground floor near room 0331. Be sure to stop by!

  • Silent auction open through Dec. 1: The Culinary Food Science, Food Science, Dairy Product Evaluation Club and the Student Dietetic Association's annual club silent auction is open through Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.

  • By Dec. 1: All students, faculty and staff received an email on Nov. 9 from Iowa Board of Regents President Michael Richards and Regent Greta Rouse with a link to a five-minute survey on free speech. Please check your email and complete the survey by Dec. 1. View ISU leaders' announcement about the survey here.

  • Vaccine information in Workday: As outlined in a Nov. 10 memo, employees can voluntarily submit their vaccine record or request a vaccine waiver in Workday.
SCHOLARSHIP & INNOVATION
Investigating the association between sitting and symptoms of depression
During the initial COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, a lot of people suddenly became more sedentary as they adhered to stay-at-home orders or opted to self-isolate.

Recently published research found people who continued to spend a higher amount of time sitting in the weeks following were likely to have higher symptoms of depression.

A closer investigation into this association could play a role in helping people improve their mental health. Jacob Meyer, assistant professor of kinesiology, is the lead author of the paper. Read more here.
Grant will support work to improve PPE for health
care workers
A multidisciplinary team of researchers received a $1.8 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve PPE for health care workers by developing biological self-decontaminating fabrics to protect against live pathogens. 

Guowen Song, professor and Noma Scott Lloyd Chair in Textiles and Clothing; James Lang, an assistant professor of kinesiology; and Li-Shan Chou, department chair of kinesiology, are members of the team.
Photo by Christopher Gannon
Researcher issued patent for poultry gut bacteria health

Melha Mellata, an associate professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, was recently issued a U.S. and International patent for Gut Bacterium-based Treatment to Increase Poultry Gut Health and Food Safety.

RESOURCES & TIPS
Registration open until Nov. 30 for 2022 Winter Course Design Institute

The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching is hosting the 2022 Winter Course Design Institute (CDI) Jan. 4-7. The CDI is open to 40 faculty or staff with teaching responsibilities and all disciplines are encouraged to participate.

If you want to learn more about building community, effective assessment, active learning techniques and course design, consider applying! You'll also have the time and space to design or substantially revise your online/hybrid courses.

Each day offers a 90-minute session from 9 to 10:30 a.m. followed by an optional 30-minute guided discussion and individual, scheduled consultations. A session about building community and reducing anonymity will be led by Dr. TJ Stewart, assistant professor in the School of Education. Find the full schedule here.

Selected candidates who fully engage in the four-day CDI and complete a self-evaluation of their course will receive a $500 professional development stipend from the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost.
Technology Tips: How to use the default grade tool in Canvas
The "Default Grade" tool allows an instructor to quickly fill in assignment scores in a variety of situations and can be used to do the following:

  • Assign all students the same base score (e.g., attendance)
  • Assign a score of zero to students who did not turn in an assignment after those assignments are graded

To use the Default Grade tool:

  1. Go to the grade book in Canvas
  2. Hover over the selected assignment's header cell
  3. Click the three dots to display the option menu
  4. Select "Set Default Grade"
  5. Enter the default point value and indicate whether the default score should override existing grades

Check that there are no ungraded submissions to ensure that other students are not assigned the default grade as well. To check for ungraded submissions, look at your "To Do" list on the course home page. If you are using this tool to fill a default score for all students, apply the default score so all students receive the same total points. Then go into an individual student's grade cells and revise their score as appropriate.

For more tips on how to use the grade book, click here
Sign up for free health coaching with CYdekicks
Are you interested in being more physically active? The CYdekicks program is here to help. CYdekicks provides free health coaching to ISU students, faculty and staff through the ISU ExerCYse is Medicine initiative in the Department of Kinesiology. The project is coordinated by the ISU Wellness Works team as a research study to evaluate and refine programming over time. Student leaders are trained in health coaching to help you build and sustain motivation for regular physical activity. You will also have the option of using a wearable device (e.g. FitBit) during the four-week study to help you monitor your progress and reach your goals. Click here to sign up for the CYdekicks Health Coaching Study or contact the CYdekicks team at cydekicks@iastate.edu for more information!
OPPORTUNITIES: to help others
$5 can provide 70 meals
How can your donation to United Way of Story County help others?

  • A $5 cup of coffee could provide 70 nutritious meals for Heartland Senior Services
  • A $10 app for your phone could buy 104 Read to Succeed books at Raising Readers of Story County
  • A pair of $20 movie tickets can give five people in the Women United program the opportunity to receive customized financial education.

As a college, we're about 65% of the way toward our $15,000 goal. Consider donating through payroll deduction today! Watch this video to learn more about the work of United Way.
Support students during the holidays
You can make an ISU student's holiday season a little brighter this year! Support students who have experienced foster care, homelessness or similar situations with extraordinary challenges by providing a gift for them! Learn more about the program and how to donate here.
Share Your News!
Happenings is a bi-weekly e-newsletter for faculty and staff in the College of Human Sciences. Submit ideas, events and other noteworthy items using the resources on this page. Our next edition publishes on Nov. 30! Contact Brittney Rutherford with questions.