News

New concurrent degree combines engineering, MBA

Iowa State University will offer a new degree program for engineering undergraduate students that will provide participants with a bachelor of science in engineering and a master of business administration (MBA) degrees concurrently.

The program is being introduced during freshmen orientation and will be announced this fall to junior engineering students, who will be able to enter the program their senior year.

Administered jointly by the College of Business and the College of Engineering, the program initially is open to students majoring in computer, electrical or industrial engineering. The combined program will reduce by one year the time normally required to earn both degrees.

See complete news release.

Pasture land options reviewed

Iowa State University is exploring new uses for land on the northeast side of campus.

The land, approximately 96 acres, has been used as pastures for horses used in animal science courses. It includes three pastures in the Squaw Creek flood plain. Two are north of 13th Street and east of Stange Road, with Squaw Creek running between them. The third pasture is south of 13th Street and east of Haber Road.

ISU's College of Agriculture plans to move the horses to greener pastures at the vacated Dairy Teaching Farm on Mortensen Road south of campus.

Moving the horses from the 13th Street and Haber Road pastures opens up the opportunity for the university and the Ames community to use the land for other purposes. ISU has some plans under way, but is seeking public comment from the people of Ames on uses that could benefit the entire community.

See complete news release.

Iowa State to address future use of former Dairy Teaching Farm

Iowa State University has begun the process of "decommissioning" the former site of the Dairy Teaching Farm, located at the south end of campus.

University officials are recommending that several sheds, silos and other structures be torn down to address liability and security concerns.

Buildings with potential historical significance will remain, including the original "north" dairy barn built in 1907, a barn and milking parlor built in 1917 (with additions dating to the 1930s) and a teaching pavilion built in 1921.

See complete news release.

New Ames, ISU commission seeks better relations

Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy, Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco and Government of the Student Body President Sophia Magill have announced a new commission resulting from the April 18 Veishea disturbances.

The commission's focus will be separate and different than that of the celebration-oriented Veishea task force (See related release). The task force, announced on May 12, held its first meeting last week and ultimately will develop recommendations to minimize the likelihood of future disturbances.

The commission will more broadly examine the sense of community among Ames residents, the City of Ames, the university and ISU students, and will develop recommendations to improve those relationships.

See complete news release.

A magical landscape inspired by Celtic culture is one of 13 gardens selected for a prestigious garden festival in England this summer. "Otherworld Garden" is the creation of Mira Engler, associate professor of landscape architecture.

News release.

Back from bankruptcy

MSN/CNBC

While it's illegal for employers to discriminate against someone who has declared bankruptcy, many employers do look at credit reports before hiring or promoting.

"If you have two people who are equally qualified, it's hard for it not to enter the picture."

-- Tahira Hira, assistant to the president

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Games kids play

Albuquerque Tribune

Parents need to ask themselves several questions about the video games their children play, including whether the games involve characters trying to harm others, the harm is portrayed as humorous and realistic consequences of violence are absent from the game.

-- Craig Anderson, professor and chair of psychology

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Facts, myths and retailers

Corvallis, Oregon Gazette-Times

Counties tend to see a gain in net sales for the first few years after a Wal-Mart supercenter arrives, followed by a drop-off after Wal-Mart builds more stores in the region.

"It's pretty much a zero-sum game when you come right down to it. If a store does 70 million in an area that's not growing very rapidly, it doesn't come out of thin air. It comes a little bit out of this merchant's cash register, a little bit out of that merchant's cash register."

-- Ken Stone, professor of economics, emeritus

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