Student Life

Child Care
Child Care Resources, a unit of Human Resource Services, supports Iowa State University families by linking them with programs and services that can help meet their child care needs. The university child care consultant is available to assist families in accessing services available both on the campus and in the community.

Child care programs located on campus include:

• Center for Child Care Resources: Assistance in locating community child care services, 1038 Pammel Court, 515-294-8833 or 1-800-437-8599
• University Community Childcare at Pammel Court, 891 Pammel Court, 515-294-9838
• The Comfort Zone: Daycare for kids who don't feel so good, 1019 Pammel Court, 515-294-3333.
• Flex-Care: Part time care for children of ISU students, 1052 Pammel Court, 515-294-2471.
• University Child Care Center at Veterinary Medicine, 1700 Christensen Drive, 515-294-2273.
• ISU Child Development Laboratory School, Palmer HDFS Building, 515-294-3040.

For more information about child care options, contact the university child care consultant at 515-294-8827.

Forensics: Individual Events
ISU Forensics, the Iowa State speech team, participates in several kinds of competitive speech activities. Please contact Speech Communication Program at
515-294-7670 for further information.

Honor Societies
Alpha Epsilon-Agricultural Engineering
The purpose is to promote the high ideals of the engineering profession, to give recognition to those agricultural engineers who manifest worthy qualities of character, scholarship, and professional attainment, and to encourage and support such improvements in the agricultural engineering profession that make it an instrument of greater service to humanity. Membership is based on scholarship, leadership, and character.

Alpha Kappa Delta-Sociology
Members share interest in the field of sociology, research of social problems, and such other social and intellectual activities as will lead to improvement in the human condition.

Alpha Lambda Delta/Phi Eta Sigma -Freshmen
First-year students who achieve at least a 3.5 GPA for one or more semesters their first year may be members of these national honor societies. These societies encourage superior scholastic attainment among students in their first year at institutions of higher education.

Alpha Pi Mu-Industrial Engineering
Members are chosen for character, achievement, and scholarship in industrial engineering. The group provides social and educational interaction for industrial engineering.

Alpha Upsilon Alpha-Education
An educational honorary that recognizes and encourages scholarship and leadership in the field of reading.

Alpha Zeta-Agriculture
Members must have completed three semesters of study in the College of Agriculture or Veterinary Medicine and be in the upper two-fifths of their class. Meetings are held to foster high standards of scholarship, character, and leadership. Alpha Zeta sponsors lectures, service projects, and promotes the agricultural programs at ISU.

Beta Alpha Psi - Accounting
A national honorary for students in accounting.

Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society
A national organization for students in the biological sciences with a purpose to recognize undergraduates with exceptional scholarship, leadership and character.

Beta Gamma Sigma
Honor society for collegiate schools of business.

Cardinal Key-Senior Leadership
The Senior Honor Society of Cardinal Key recognizes those persons who have been outstanding leaders in college life, who have rendered noteworthy service to Iowa State, who are of high moral character, and who rank high scholastically. Members are selected by application and interview.

Chi Epsilon-Civil Engineering
The purpose is to develop the profession of civil engineering through the interaction of members, fellow civil engineering students, and faculty. Scholarship, character, practicality, and sociability are the fundamental requirements for membership.

Chi Sigma Iota-Iota Sigma Upsilon
To promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership and excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in counseling.

Epsilon Pi Tau-Education in Technology
Members are selected from the upper one-fourth of the juniors, seniors, and graduate students in industrial technology. The group strives to promote skill, social and professional efficiency, and research.

Golden Key-All University
A national nonprofit academic honors organization, Golden Key is dedicated to recognizing and encouraging scholastic achievement in all undergraduate fields of study and to uniting collegiate faculty and administrators.

Iota Sigma Pi-Females in Chemical Sciences
An organization open to female students in the chemical sciences which provides functions for members to socialize and discuss science issues in chemistry.

Kappa Delta Pi-Education
In an effort to promote excellence in and recognize outstanding contributions to education, Kappa Delta Pi maintains a high degree of professional fellowship among its members, quickens professional growth, and honors achievement in educational work. Membership invitations are extended to second semester sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a GPA of 3.25 or above.

Kappa Omicron Nu, Gamma Chapter
Objectives of the honor society are to promote graduate study and research, and to stimulate scholarship and leadership toward the well-being of individuals and families throughout the world. Top 10 percent of junior and top 20 percent of senior students maintaining at least a B average, and outstanding graduate students in family and consumer sciences, are eligible for selection. Research within the college is shared at monthly meetings.

Kappa Tau Alpha-Journalism
Kappa Tau Alpha is the national society dedicated to the recognition and promotion of scholarship in the field of journalism. Members are selected from the upper 10 percent of the senior class. Graduate students and faculty who qualify are also eligible for membership.

Keramos National Ceramic Engineering Honor Fraternity
A national honorary that recognizes students with outstanding academic achievement and encourages interaction between students and alumni.

Mortar Board
Members are recognized for superior academic achievement and community service.

National Society of Collegiate Scholars
To recognize and celebrate high achievement in all academic disciplines, to provide opportunities for personal growth and leadership development, and to organize and encourage learning opportunities through community service.

Omega Chi Epsilon-Chemical Engineering
Membership is open to chemical engineering juniors in the top 20 percent of their class, or seniors in the top 30 percent. The purpose is recognition and promotion of high scholarship, original investigation, and professional service in chemical engineering.

Order of Omega-Fraternity and Sorority Honorary
A national Greek honorary, the Order of Omega was founded at Iowa State in 1957. Criteria for membership include character; scholarship; leadership; service to the individual chapter, the Greek system, the university, and the Ames community. Membership is limited to junior and senior students who comprise one percent of the Greek population.

Phi Alpha Theta-History
Students who have a B average in at least 15 hours of history are eligible for membership. The local branch sponsors social activities, co-sponsors prizes for undergraduate essays in history, and encourages students' participation in state wide, regional, and national Phi Alpha Theta conferences.

Phi Beta Kappa-Liberal Arts and Sciences
Phi Beta Kappa is a national honorary society, founded in 1776 "to recognize and encourage scholarship, friendship, and cultural interests." Membership is by invitation to students enrolled in the LAS curriculum. To be eligible, juniors must have at least a 3.80 cumulative grade point average and seniors, at least a 3.60 average. Other criteria for membership include requirements in the mathematical disciplines and a foreign language.

Phi Kappa Phi-All University
This national honor society recognizes and encourages superior scholarship in all academic disciplines. Membership is open to qualified undergraduates and graduates by invitation and occasionally to faculty and alumni.

Phi Sigma Theta
Phi Sigma Theta is dedicated to recognizing and rewarding academic achievement, and encouraging community service, leadership, and continued academic excellence.

Phi Upsilon Omicron-Family and Consumer Sciences
Members are selected from junior and senior family and consumer sciences students who have demonstrated academic excellence and professional leadership qualities. Membership is a means of furthering professional goals. Outstanding graduate students are also eligible for selection.

Pi Mu Epsilon-Mathematics
Pi Mu Epsilon is the national mathematics honorary society whose purpose is the promotion of scholarly activity in mathematics among students and staff. Members are students and faculty who have completed at least two years of college-level mathematics with honor (at least 3.33 GPA) and have maintained an overall GPA of at least 3.0.

Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha is the national honor political science honor society.

Pi Tau Sigma-Mechanical Engineering
Members are juniors and seniors in the upper ranks of their classes in mechanical engineering. Meetings and social functions are held to recognize and encourage outstanding scholastic achievement.

Psi Chi-Psychology
This national honor society in psychology recognizes and honors individuals maintaining high scholarship and documented interest in psychology.

Sigma Alpha - Women in Agriculture
Promotes women in all facets of agriculture.

Rho Lambda
Contact the Student Activities Center (515-294-1023) for more information.

Sigma Gamma Epsilon-Geological Sciences
The objectives of this national honorary society are the scholastic and scientific advancement of its members and the promotion of friendships and assistance among colleges, universities, and scientific schools devoted to the advancement of the earth sciences. Membership is intended for those scientists and students of science whose primary concern is the study of the earth.

Sigma Gamma Tau-Aerospace Engineering
Sigma Gamma Tau is the national honorary for aerospace-aeronautical engineering students who have displayed outstanding scholarship, leadership, and personal characteristics. Members are selected from the upper fourth of the junior class and upper third of the senior class who have maintained a 3.00 or better cumulative grade point average.

Sigma Lambda Chi-Construction Engineering
The purpose is the recognition of outstanding students in construction engineering. Upperclass students in construction engineering may be initiated into the society providing they have an overall scholastic average in the upper 20 percent of their class.

Sigma Xi-Research
Sigma Xi, the scientific research society, is a broad-based scientific honor society with over 500 chapters and clubs at universities and nonacademic scientific institutions. Sigma Xi awards associate membership to undergraduates and graduate students who have demonstrated research potential through participation in an original scientific research activity. Full membership in Sigma Xi recognizes a significant scientific research contribution.

Tau Beta Pi-Engineering
Tau Beta Pi honors engineering undergraduates, graduate students, and outstanding
alumni who have distinguished themselves in scholarship and by exemplary character. Members are selected from engineering juniors in the upper eighth and seniors and graduate students in the upper fifth of their classes.

Upsilon Pi Epsilon
Honor society for computer science students.

Xi Sigma Pi-Forestry
Xi Sigma Pi recognizes outstanding juniors, seniors, graduate students and faculty members in forestry. The objective is to encourage high professional standards in the profession of forestry and to promote fraternal relationships among foresters.

Lectures
Throughout the academic year the Committee on Lectures brings to the campus a number of speakers eminent in national and international affairs, the sciences, and the arts. In addition to giving formal lectures, a number of these speakers meet with students informally for discussions. Through these lectures and discussions the students are given a well-rounded presentation on subjects and areas affecting their culture, educational and economic philosophy, and scientific development. Past speakers include scholars E.O. Wilson and Stephen J. Gould; activists Gloria Steinem and Anita Hill; actor and comedian Bill Cosby; poet Maya Angelou; and astronaut Sally Ride.

The Institute on World Affairs is an annual series of speakers and on a topic of international interest held in the fall. Spring semester, the Institute on National Affairs is held with a topic of national concern as its focus. Focus, an annual fine arts festival with emphasis on student creativity in the arts, is held in the spring. The Committee on Lectures also sponsors or co-sponsors dramatic, dance, and musical events.

Students are encouraged to contact the lectures program office and become involved in the planning of these events.

Memorial Union
The Iowa State Memorial Union is regarded as the heart of campus life and the campus center of informal education at Iowa State University. It is the meeting place and headquarters for most student organizations and houses several university offices. Dances, exhibits, films, concerts, lectures banquets, and other campus gatherings are accommodated in its meeting rooms and ballrooms.

A food court with eight food vendors and a variety of choices, catering service, and a 24-hour vending area provide food service to the university community. The Maintenance Shop hosts some of the finest in blues, jazz, rock, and folk music performances at night and is a deli during the day. The Recreation Center offers autoscore bowling, billiards, pinball, and video games, and a large screen television.

Art is a way of life in the Union that includes special film showings, galleries, and a browsing library that offers reading, music, and video materials. The Workspace studios are staffed and equipped for individuals who wish to express themselves creatively.

A small, quiet chapel is available for services, weddings, or meditation. In addition, four wireless-equipped study lounges are available to students.

Campus visitors may choose to stay overnight in the guest rooms on the third, fourth, and fifth floors.

The Memorial Union also has a convenience store, automatic teller machines, a TicketMaster outlet, the University Book Store, a copy center, a full service post
office, and an attached 640 car parking ramp.

Opened in 1928 as a proud memorial to the Iowa State men and women who served in the Armed Forces during World War I, the Memorial Union is now a living memorial to all Iowa Staters who have served in the United States military.

Motor Vehicles and Bicycles
Students are permitted to own and operate motor vehicles - automobiles, motor scooters, and motorcycles. However, motor vehicles are in no way necessary for an Iowa State University student. Iowa State University is primarily a pedestrian campus. Those who operate a motor vehicle or bicycle on campus must abide by the rather extensive traffic and parking regulations. Fines are levied for infractions of these regulations. All motor vehicles and bicycles owned or operated by students on university property must be registered with the Parking Division Office located in the Armory. Copies of the traffic and parking regulations also are available at this office.

Music Activities
Iowa State is a regular stop on the arts and entertainment circuit. CY Stephens Auditorium is where the arts come alive, from renowned classical music ensembles, ballets, musicals, operas, and plays to jazz, folk and pop concerts. Hilton Coliseum, with a capacity of over 14,000, hosts family shows and concerts - including rock and roll, country and alternative music, to name just a few.

The ISU Department of Music presents over 100 concerts each year - many of them free - in the Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall on central campus and at Stephens Auditorium. The Music Department concert series includes faculty recitals, guest artist performances, and student ensemble concerts. ISU students also have lots of opportunities to study music and to participate in musical ensembles - including five choral ensembles, seven bands, ISU Symphony Orchestra, and numerous chamber groups. Nearly one-fourth of all undergraduate students participate in some aspect of music while attending ISU. In addition, carillon concerts featuring the "The Bells of Iowa State" are heard on central campus daily throughout the academic year.

Sigma Alpha Iota (professional music fraternity for women), Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma (professional band fraternity), and several professional organizations for music educators are represented on campus.

Religious Life
Iowa State University is a state-supported, nonsectarian institution, but it recognizes the importance of spiritual life and cooperates with the many off-campus groups that fulfill the religious needs of the community.

Most of the larger denominations have places of worship within easy walking distance of the campus. Several denominations have attractive student centers and conduct extensive student programs under the direction of professionally trained persons. A number of campus student organizations also address the religious needs of many students.

Theatre and Dramatics
The Iowa State University Theatre, Department of Music, produces a season of at least five major presentations each year. The season's bill endeavors to offer a variety of theatrical fare, including a musical, well-known dramatic literature and unusual and lesser-known plays. Practical experience in all phases of theatrical production is open to all interested, registered students within the university. The season is partially subsidized by an allocation from the Government of the Student Body; therefore, all students paying activity fees may purchase tickets to a performance at the reduced student price.

Other theatre-sponsored programs include student-produced plays, readers theatre programs, Theta Alpha Phi (a national dramatics honorary), the ISU Theatre Lab productions, the Minority Theatre Workshop, and the ISU Studio Theatre program.