Communications

October 30, 2024

Dear Iowa State faculty and staff,

Governor Reynolds has announced two additional paid holidays as a show of appreciation for state employees’ service.

Iowa State University will implement the paid holidays on Wednesday, November 27 and Thursday, December 26. Normal holiday procedures will be followed on these days. Supervisors should begin to review and make decisions on necessary operations and work schedules for the additional paid holidays. Units should communicate these changes to their employees, customers and constituents. 

We deeply appreciate your hard work and dedication to the university. Thank you for all that you do for Iowa State. 

Sincerely,

Wendy Wintersteen, President

Kristi Darr, Vice President for University Human Resources

September 9, 2024

Dear Iowa State University faculty and staff, 

As part of the university’s regular review of employee health care benefits, changes will be made to health care premiums for 2025. These adjustments are necessary to address ISU’s rising medical and pharmacy claims expenses and the ongoing inflationary rise in health care costs here in Iowa and across the nation.

Iowa State University is committed to providing competitive, affordable health care benefits to support you and your family. To minimize the impact on employees, the university will absorb the majority of the premium increases and will continue to cover more than 87% of the total cost of the health care plans. 

The new employee monthly premiums will take effect January 1, 2025, as shown in the chart below. No changes are being made to health care plan designs. Overall health care coverage will remain the same. 

The premium changes are pending approval by the Iowa Board or Regents at their Sept. 18-19 meeting. We appreciate the input provided by the Employee Benefits Advisory Committee to help the university maintain a sustainable benefits program.

We recognize that any increase in expenses can be challenging. We encourage you to use the tools and resources available to help you understand how to maximize the value of your benefits. 

University Human Resources will share additional information in preparation for open enrollment. All employees will have the opportunity to review, compare and make changes to their benefits during the annual open enrollment period that begins November 1, 2024, for the 2025 plan year. Please contact UHR’s Benefits Team, benefits@iastate.edu, with your benefits-related questions.

Wendy Wintersteen, President

Kristi Darr, Vice President for University Human Resources

August 26, 2024

Dear Iowa State Community,

Welcome to Iowa State University and the start of a new academic year!

It was wonderful to meet new and returning Cyclones during residence hall move-in, Destination Iowa State and Cyclone Welcome Weekend. Thank you to everyone who made these events a big success. 

I encourage all of our students to get involved and participate in activities that will enrich their Iowa State experience. Express your creative and innovative ideas at the Student Innovation Center and in every undergraduate college through the Start Something Network. Collaborate on cutting-edge research, study abroad, join a learning community, lead a student club or organization and so much more. Iowa State has opportunities for everyone!

Our faculty and staff continue to demonstrate their excellence with noteworthy achievements. A few recent highlights include the following: 

• Setting a third consecutive record for external research funding, totaling $346.2 million and supporting Iowa State’s Top 3% national ranking for research among universities without a human medical school. 
• Transferring technology and innovation to create economic opportunities and improving our ranking to #64 worldwide for number of U.S. patents.
• Winning the 2024 Model University Accelerator/Incubator Award for the outstanding programs in the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship.
• Ranking in the top 10% nationally for affordability and receiving the highest overall score among public colleges and universities in Iowa for education quality, affordability and positive student outcomes.

We look forward to building on these successes. We know that learning and achievement are deeply connected to health and wellness. Iowa State offers many resources to help you be your best: 

• Check out Cyclone Support, a one-stop website for students to find academic and wellbeing resources, including mental health services offered in-person from Student Counseling and virtually through ISU’s partnership with Uwill.  
• Build community through our many student success programs.
• Take responsibility for your personal safety with tips and resources from ISU Police and download the Iowa State Safe App. 
• Focus on your health and connect with colleagues through ISU WellBeing and Adventure2 employee programs.

I’m excited to welcome new leaders to the ISU community. Jason Keith is our new Senior Vice President and Provost, and Sean Reeder will join us next week as our new Senior Vice President for Operations and Finance. Benjamin Withers begins his first full year as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. They each bring a strong set of skills and expertise to their roles to help us innovate and shape the future of our university.

Iowa State strives to be the most student-centric leading research university, where our Principles of Community guide our actions and everyone has the opportunity to reach their goals. Let’s continue to work hard, lift each other up and make this a great year! 

Wendy Wintersteen, President

*This email was sent to all students, faculty and staff at Iowa State University

August 22, 2024

Dear Colleagues, 

As we begin a new academic year, I want to remind you of two important items. 

Political Advocacy. As a state institution, Iowa State University is required to remain politically neutral. Advocacy efforts on behalf of the institution are led by the Iowa Board of Regents in coordination with the President’s Office.

Iowa State University employees have full rights to engage in the political process on their own behalf and using their personal time and resources. Employees who speak or write on political issues should take care to note they are doing so as individual citizens, and their views are not the views of the university. University resources and equipment (e.g., university email, telephone, letterhead, social media channels, etc.) cannot be used for political advocacy.

Political topics may be discussed in the classroom as long as they are germane to the course curriculum. Faculty and instructors should take care to foster a learning environment where all students feel free to express their views in an appropriate manner.

Additional guidelines and policies are available on the Federal and State Relations webpage. 

Code of Business and Fiduciary Conduct. Please review the Iowa Board of Regents Code of Business and Fiduciary Conduct and use the principles to guide your actions as you carry out your work on behalf of Iowa State University. 

As stated in the Code, each person conducting the business affairs of Iowa State University has a responsibility to do so with fairness, integrity and respect. This is especially important for those who make and implement policy for the university. We take this responsibility very seriously because it is the right thing to do. It fosters an environment of trust that is essential to accomplishing our mission. 

The ISU Policy Library links to the Code and provides a list of key university policies that support the Code.

Thank you for your attention to these policies.

Wendy Wintersteen, President