WELCOME TO IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY...2019/02/27  · WELCOME TO IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY We’re pleased to welcome you to Iowa State for the February meeting of the Board of Regents. Even

We’re pleased to welcome you to Iowa State for the February meeting of the Board of Regents. Even blanketed in snow, we still have one of the most beautiful campuses… and one of our students took advantage of the especially snowy season to cross country ski across campus. But many of us are ready for some warmer temperatures and signs of spring. On the right is a look inside one of Iowa State’s “year-round” tropical locations, the greenhouse atop Bessey Hall. Environmental science senior Kennady Lilly has the task of watering the plants and enjoys this place as a nice escape from the frigid temperatures.

Even with the snow and cold, construction crews are hard at work in the heart of campus on the new Student Innovation Center. This is a look inside at the first-floor. This facility will serve as the central hub for entrepreneurial and innovative collaboration. We are excited to bring more students together from different majors and with diverse interests to advance science, solve real-world problems, and spark new business ideas. It will feature design studios, fabrication labs, a demonstration kitchen, and many other spaces for students to collaborate and create. Jim Oliver, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, was recently named director of the Student Innovation Center. He will coordinate academic programming for the Center and foster engagement with students and external partners to elevate the ISU student experience. As you know, the Student Innovation Center is being made possible through a wonderful partnership with the state and generous ISU donors. Recent gifts include a $6 million commitment from Boeing that will largely support this facility as well as undergraduate research, and a $1 million gift from HNI Corporation. [next slide]

Earlier this month, the College of Veterinary Medicine opened the doors of its new radiation therapy facility. This is the only one of its kind in Iowa and one of only a few in the Midwest that offers treatment options for pets with cancer. It features advanced technology – stereotactic radiation therapy or SRT – which allows for more precise radiation treatments, and therefore, reduces the number of treatments needed and side effects. This facility meets a growing need as the nearest SRT sites are at Colorado State University and a private practice in Milwaukee.

We’re very grateful for the extraordinary support recently received by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust to advance innovative research and learning opportunities at Iowa State. We just announced this morning a more than $3.5 million commitment from the Carver Trust that will allow ISU to acquire a cryo-electron microscope. This cutting-edge instrument will elevate the exceptional work of the Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, and put Iowa State in the national spotlight for contributions to this emerging technology. Cryo-EM technology is revolutionizing structural biology and will help advance the second phase of our Initiative in Biomolecular Structure. A $745,000 gift will support the construction of a new zebrafish research facility in the Advanced Teaching and Research Building for the biosciences. This facility will have a transformative impact on ISU disease research – as zebrafish have emerged as a powerful system to model human disease. A $200,000 commitment will support renovations at Parks Library – which is our top legislative capital priority this year. This private gift will help transform the library’s first floor into a hub for student services, while expanding collaboration and study space. As you know, we’re requesting a $26 million commitment from the state over two years to support major renovations and improvements that will ensure the library can continue to be the center for our active academic and research community, while serving more than 11,000 students each day and more than 2.2 million visitors each year. And a $161,000 grant from the Carver Trust will support the acquisition of a wavelength-dispersive (WD) spectrometer for our Office of Biotechnology. This high-resolution instrument helps in the process of analyzing new materials that could be used to improve the safety and performance of buildings, vehicles, computers, medical implants and other materials science innovations.

Iowa State researchers are constantly finding new and innovative ways to leverage state support and provide an excellent return on the state’s investment. Our faculty are partnering for innovation at the federal, state, and institutional levels. First, a $1.3 million grant from the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease will support Iowa State’s groundbreaking work to combat a global public health threat. Balaji Narasimhan and his team at ISU’s Nanovaccine Institute will leverage this investment toward the production of a universal vaccine that will protect against two strains of the influenza A virus. Next, two researchers in our Department of Human Development and Families Students are collaborating with Early Childhood Iowa with support from a $1.1 million grant from the Iowa Department of Management. They’re developing an integrated data system to accelerate the state’s momentum toward a fully coordinated, mixed delivery system of care and education for young children (from birth through age five) and their families. And finally, Eliot Winer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is working with the University of Florida, with support from a $777,000 grant to develop a data-driven irrigation system called SmartPath. This system aims to help reduce risks - such as pathogen contamination – that could occur from using alternative irrigation water sources.

February is career fair time! This photo captures the packed floor of Hilton Coliseum during the Business, Industry, and Technology Career Fair on Feb. 13 – one of six career fairs held each spring. More than 140 companies – including Caterpillar, Enterprise, and Kum and Go – were on hand to recruit Iowa State students for internships, co-ops, and full-time jobs. More than 1800 students attended to meet with potential employers and make those career connections. Opportunities to connect students with industry and companies is a key contributor to Iowa State’s 94% post-graduation placement rate.

This month, 73 ISU students and staff members attended the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values – Central Conference, which also includes the National Black Greek Leadership Conference. The event in Indianapolis is the largest gathering of fraternity and sorority students in the country – attracting more than 3500 participants from more than 225 colleges and universities. Iowa State University had the largest delegation in attendance. Our students and staff presented 5 educational programs and were recognized with 7 awards for academic excellence, service, and innovation. Iowa State also was one of only two schools to receive the Sutherland Award, which is given to the best Panhellenic Council in the country.

Iowa State continues to be the most administratively efficient university among our peer group of land-grant universities. According to a new report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, Iowa State’s administrative cost per student is less than $1400. That’s 4 times less than Penn State and less than half of what Michigan State spends on administration costs – a clear indication that Iowa State continues to defy the narrative regarding administrative bloat in higher education. We continue to maximize every tuition and tax dollar we receive to advance education and research excellence and provide an excellent return on investment.

Finally, if you’re looking for a place to escape the snow and cold – might I suggest Reiman Gardens. The Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing offers a warm, beautiful reprieve. The Gardens truly are an Iowa State treasure. Thank you again for this opportunity to share some of the wonderful things happening at Iowa State. I’d be happy to answer any questions.