UI offers flood relief assistance to students

University of Iowa News Release

June 25, 2008

UI offers flood relief assistance to students

The University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid (UI OSFA) is responding to the emergency and short-term needs of students negatively impacted by the flood of 2008 with a combination of existing UI short-term loan funds and grants supported through the UI Flood Relief Fund.

The amount of support to individual students for both loans and grants will vary by individual circumstances. All students requesting special consideration for support will need to see a UI OSFA financial aid counselor. Counselors are available on a walk-in basis at 208 Calvin Hall between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The UI OSFA will be responding to the longer-term needs of UI students by determining, on a case by case basis, if there has been a significant change in the parents' and/or students' overall financial situation as a result of disasters such as the recent flooding and tornados. In the event that a financial reassessment is possible, the student may qualify for additional federal financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process.

In all cases the UI OSFA will be requesting supporting documentation to help assess the extent of financial support needed beyond other financial resources available to the family, such as Red Cross, FEMA, and insurance. The UI OSFA encourages those with questions about applying for financial aid, or about completing an existing financial aid application, to contact the office in person at 208 Calvin Hall, by phone at 319-335-1450, by email at financial-aid@uiowa.edu or by postal service at:

University of Iowa
Office of Student Financial Aid
208 Calvin Hall
Iowa City, Iowa 52242

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa News Services, 300 Plaza Centre One, Suite 371, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2500.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark S. Warner, assistant provost for enrollment services and director of student financial aid, 319-335-3127, mark-warner@uiowa.edu

President Mason, Eastern Iowa leaders join private fundraising effort

(DES MOINES) - Today, Governor Chet Culver announced that three eastern Iowa community leaders - Aegon USA Chief Executive Officer Pat Baird, Rockwell Collins Chief Executive Officer Clay Jones, and University of Iowa President Sally Mason will represent Eastern Iowa in a new statewide private fundraising initiative designed to help the victims of this year's severe weather and historic flooding. Governor Culver announced the effort earlier this week, which will be spearheaded by civic leaders Barry Griswell and Fred Hubbell.

"This year's flooding has impacted tens of thousands of Iowans, and it will take the help of many to get all Iowans back on their feet," said Governor Chet Culver. "That is why I am proud that Cedar Rapids Business Leaders Pat Baird and Clay Jones, as well as University of Iowa President Sally Mason have agreed to join in this fundraising effort. Sally, Clay, and Pat have demonstrated their deep commitment to their communities and to Iowa as a whole. They will bring invaluable experience to this committee of business and community leaders, and I look forward to working with them and the rest of the committee as we begin to rebuild Iowa."

"This catastrophic event has affected the lives of thousands across our state, including many in my hometown of Cedar Rapids," said Clay Jones. "I look forward to joining this effort and doing whatever I can to rebuild, restore and revitalize our community and make it even better than before."

Clay Jones has served as Chairman, President, and CEO of Cedar Rapids-based Rockwell Collins since June of 2002. He had been president and chief executive officer of Rockwell Collins since 2001. Jones serves on the Board of Directors of Priority One (Cedar Rapids' economic development organization), the Tippie College of Business Board of Visitors at The University of Iowa, the Board of Trustees for the United Way of East Central Iowa (UWECI), and is a member of the Iowa Business Council.

"Rarely have our communities and our state been so tested, but working and standing together, we will get through this historic disaster," Sally Mason said. "The University community is deeply indebted to Governor Culver for his efforts on our behalf, and I look forward to marshaling the spirit of giving to return that favor for the benefit of all Iowans."

Sally Mason - who was selected by the Iowa Board of Regents exactly one year ago today -- became the 20th President of The University of Iowa on August 1, 2007. She holds a full professorship with tenure in the Department of Biological Sciences of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She served as Provost of Purdue University from 2001-2007. From 1995 to 2001, she was Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the largest academic unit on the University of Kansas campus. Mason is currently co-chair of the Chicago Council Task Force on National Energy Policy and Midwestern Competitiveness.

"Watching these historic floods overtake so many communities throughout Iowa was heartbreaking," said Aegon USA CEO Pat Baird. "But from this tragedy has come hope - hope for a stronger, brighter future for our state. I am honored to join in this effort, and know that together with the spirit and generosity of Iowans, we can return life to normal for those who have been affected."

Pat Baird has served as President and CEO of Aegon USA since 2002. A native of Vinton - which was also affected by this year's flooding - Baird serves on many boards for community organizations that share the common theme of making the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor a better place to live.

Earlier this week, Governor Culver announced the creation of the new statewide private fundraising effort, which will be led by Principal Chairman Barry Griswell and former Equitable of Iowa President Fred Hubbell.
Governor Culver continues to reach out to eastern Iowa business leaders to ask for their assistance.

"I want to thank Clay, Pat, and Sally for agreeing to join in this unprecedented fundraising effort, and I look forward to working with him," said Barry Griswell. "Their years of service and expertise as civic and business leaders will be invaluable as we begin to direct financial help where it is needed most."

Contact: Troy Price, 515-281-0173

Fox, Big Ten Network to launch 'Support the UI' Day Sunday

This Sunday, June 22, Fox and the Big Ten Network (BTN) will launch a daylong "Support the UI" day, running Public Service Announcements and a "screen crawl" sending TV viewers to our flood-fund giving page. The UI has also have received word that Fox's parent company, News Corporation, will match all gifts made during this one-day promotion. 

UI President Sally Mason's first priority is to use the UI Flood Relief Fund to assist students, faculty, and staff who have been displaced as a result of the flooding, and thereafter, to address other flood-related needs throughout the campus.

Media briefing for June 18

(To listen to the briefing in mp3 audio format, click here.)

--The university will be open for business on Monday, with classes in session and offices open. “However, it will not be business as usual,” said President Sally Mason. Many parts of the campus are still closed, so some classes will be rescheduled to other rooms. Some parking lots are underwater so students and employees are urged to walk, bike or bus to work to reduce congestion that will be worse than normal. She also urged employees and supervisors to discuss continued use of flexible scheduling to reduce the number of people working on campus.

In addition, utilities will still not be returned to normal capacity for some time so some buildings will be too hot and some will be too cold. Students and employees should dress accordingly.

Students should check the Iowa Student Information System (ISIS) to see if their classes have been moved to a new location.

Students unable to return to campus for classes should check with the Registrar’s Office.

--Mason also said the university will be open for classes when the fall semester starts. Accommodations will have to be made for many classes, though, particularly on the arts campus, where some buildings will not be open in time for the start of the semester.

--Jean Robillard, vice president of medical affairs, said all parts of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics are open and maintaining a regular schedule. He said hours will be extended in the coming weeks to accommodate those patients whose appointments were cancelled in recent days because of the flooding.

--Mason also thanked many people for their work in helping the university through the crisis, including the thousands of volunteers who helped sandbag or move equipment, alumni, Hawkeye fans and people from other universities who have offered help, and to Gov. Chet Culver, Sens. Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley and Rep. Dave Loebsack. She said 450 people have already given more than $75,000 to the university, gifts that will be used to help UI employees who have been affected by the flood.

Information regarding UI employees and volunteers who suffer injuries

Richard G. Saunders, senior associate director of Human Resources at the University of Iowa, issued the following message today regarding UI employes and volunteers who are injured:

Non-employee Volunteers: The State of Iowa has determined that if a person who is not an employee volunteers for any activity at a state agency and is injured in the course of that volunteer activity, that person is not considered an employee and cannot file or participate in the State of Iowa's workers compensation program. The individual must file a State of Iowa tort claim through the Risk Management Office.

Employee Volunteers: This rule would also apply to hourly employees who participate in volunteer efforts outside of their regular work hours. Keeping in mind the current flood situation on campus, hourly employees participating in flood support efforts, while not in pay status, will not be covered by workers compensation unless specifically assigned by their supervisors.

Assigned Employees: FLSA exempt employees are considered to be on duty at all times so they will be covered by workers compensation for work place injuries. This will include support efforts related to the flooding on campus.

UI calls for volunteers to gather at 8 a.m. Wednesday to help with sandbag redistribution

Rod Lehnertz with UI Facilities Management issued the following message to the campus community Tuesday evening:

As was announced at Tuesday's UI flood event press conference, we working to help those southeastern Iowa communities that are bracing for the floods that hit us. Thanks to all of the hard volunteer work during the last week and the currently dropping river levels, we are in a position to offer the sand bags we have available (on the east side of Madison - dry and above the highest flood level) to those communities in need.

Tuesday afternoon we assembled more great volunteers, along with the IDOT and the National Guar, and sent approximately 450 tons of sand bags to our southern neighbors.

We are planning to re-assemble the trucks tomorrow morning and finish off this meaningful task. President Mason announced today that we are asking for another army of volunteers to join this effort at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Please, if you are available, join us on Madison Street in front of the Lindquist Center.

Thank you for all of the inspiring work you have done to help our university, and now our friends struggling to the south of us.

Daily flood briefing: Bush may visit Iowa; 'no doubt' UI to open for classes in fall

Following is a summary of issues discussed at the daily media briefing today, June 17 (listen to the briefing in an mp3 audio format here.)

Bush Visit: University of Iowa officials have been told that President George W. Bush is scheduled to tour areas in Iowa affected by the flooding on Thursday, June 19. With 83 of Iowa's 99 counties affected by the flood, UI officials don't know for certain whether Bush will visit campus, but UI President Sally Mason said, "We would certainly welcome the commander in chief."

Summer Classes to Resume: Lola Lopes, interim provost, announced that summer classes would resume Monday, June 23. Details about relocated classes, how students and faculty will make up for lost class time and how students can update registration information will be announced officially Wednesday, June 18. "Our academic programs and students are being cared for despite the extraordinary flooding on arts campus," Lopes said. "I know of only one class being cancelled as a result of the flooding. Everything else has remained online and I'm very proud of that."

Record Enrollment: Lopes said that despite the flood, the UI has seen record enrollment this summer, including for the next six-week summer session that begins next week. "The numbers are going up daily, hourly, even," Lopes said. "So I think people out there are seeing we're a class act." 

'No Doubt' Fall Semester On: Lopes and Mason also made it clear that the fall session will go on as planned, although details about class assignments and other logistics won't be firmed up until later this summer. In any case, Lopes said, "The fall semester will not at all be affected in terms of academic content." Mason put it even more bluntly. "There is no doubt whatsoever that the University of Iowa will be open for classes in the fall."

New Student Orientation: Lopes said new, incoming freshman orientation, which was delayed by the flooding, would be rescheduled soon. A schedule for orientation should be ready by this Thursday.

Essential Versus Nonessential Employees: Mason said there's been some confusion about which UI employees are considered essential, and which are considered non-essential and should work from home this week. She said the designation simply refers to employees' skill sets as they relate to flood relief efforts. "This is not to imply that we have employees who are not essential to the university," Mason said. "We're talking about functions in a crisis. We're dealing with a flood to an extent we've not dealt with before.” Mason said the university continues to encourage employees who are not directly assisting with the flood relief effort or related tasks to work off-campus, especially since there are limited parking spots on campus and traffic congestion could hamper relief efforts. The current exceptions to this policy are employees of UI Hospitals and Clinics, College of Dentistry patient care clinics, and Oakdale employees who have been directed to return to work on campus. Mason strongly advised employees to contact their direct supervisors to determine their status, if they are uncertain, and to make arrangements to continue working off-campus if they are deemed nonessential. "After next Sunday, to stay in pay status, they need to be in touch with their supervisor to continue working from home," Mason said. [More details here.]

Entering Recovery Phase: UI officials said the campus is beginning to enter the recovery phase of the flood response operation. FEMA officials have already begun surveying the flood damage in Coralville, Iowa City and on the UI campus. Although full recovery is expected to take many months, water levels at the Coralville Reservoir are declining faster than anticipated.

Sandbag Donations: Don Guckert, associate vice president for facilities management, said that declining floodwaters, coupled with a favorable weather forecast for the next week, will permit the UI to donate unused sand bags to communities that are downstream and still coping with rising water. Both the UI and city of Iowa City have suspended new sandbagging operations. With the help of volunteers and the Iowa National Guard the UI plans to load some 250,000 unused sand bags on trucks for shipment to Burlington, Iowa and other southeast Iowa communities later today. Guckert said a portion of sandbags would be kept in reserve on campus. Volunteers are needed immediately (Tuesday afternoon and possibly into the evening) to help load the sandbags onto the trucks. They should report to the corner of Burlington and Madison streets.

Building Update: Guckert reported that the UI Main Library took on about 2 inches of water this week. While he said this didn’t cause any damage, the building was added to the flooded building list. Guckert also reported that on Monday, June 23 the UI would reopen the IMU parking lot. Despite this good news, he said the campus is still down 3,000 parking spots.

Floodwater Risks: Chris Atchison, director of the University Hygienic Laboratory at the UI, warned the public to avoid contact with floodwater, which he said is carrying raw sewage, agricultural runoff, fecal matter and industrial byproducts that can make both people and animals sick. He said the contaminated water could cause illness if it's ingested or enters the body through a scratch or puncture wound.

Atchison also said the UHL has distributed more than 695 test kits through county health departments in Iowa so private individuals can test their well water. He cautioned owners who receive the kits to postpone testing the wells until the water recedes. "Once that happens, wells need to be flushed, shock chlorinated and then tested," he said. He said people with public health questions may visit the UHL's Web site at www.uhl.uiowa.edu or by calling 319-335-4500.

Flood Relief Fund Update: Mason said that the UI Foundation has done a "fantastic job" getting out word about the UI flood relief fund. As of today, the fund has received more than 150 gifts totaling $60,000. Mason said the university would look for ways to use the money to assist members of the UI family most personally affected by the situation.

UI officials: No more volunteers needed

The University of Iowa has suspended its volunteer operations, effective Saturday night, June 14, after sandbagging all possible areas on campus that are at risk of flooding. Volunteers should not report to campus today. Instead, the UI is encouraging people who want to assist with flood relief efforts to contact the City of Iowa City, which continues to need volunteer help with filling sandbags. To offer your assistance, call the Iowa City Hall Flood Hotline at 319-887-6202. The hotline is operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Don Guckert, associate vice president for facilities management, Sunday morning praised the work of the volunteers who assisted with sandbagging around campus over the past week.

"It was a huge success," Guckert said. "Through their efforts, they've saved a lot of university buildings. Even those buildings that did flood will be better off because they will sustain less damage and be returned to operation much sooner."

University of Iowa Foundation establishes campus flood relief fund

The University of Iowa Foundation has created a special flood relief fund that will accept gifts from UI alumni and friends who wish to support the university as it recovers from flood-related damage not covered by insurance or other resources.

Gifts may be made to the fund online by visiting www.uiowafoundation.org or www.givetoiowa.org/floodfund, or they may be sent by mail to the UI Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, Iowa 52244-4550.

In announcing the creation of the flood relief fund, UI Foundation and university officials said contributions will be used at UI President Sally Mason's discretion to address areas of greatest need throughout the campus.

Mason and UI Foundation President Lynette Marshall encourage all in the UI community and all Iowans to help –- whether through volunteering or through other sharing of resources -- with the flood-relief efforts throughout all parts of the state affected by the flooding.

[Note: On Saturday night, June 14, the UI suspended campus volunteer efforts after sandbagging as many flood-prone areas as possible. People wishing to volunteer are encouraged to contact the Iowa City Hall Flood Hotline at (319) 887-6202. The hotline is operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.]

“Much of the eastern half of the state of Iowa, as well as the UI and the greater Iowa City-Coralville area, have suffered widespread and unprecedented damage as a result of the historic flood of 2008,” Mason said. “Alumni and friends who wish to help neighbors in need should contact the Red Cross and other local relief agencies.

“We do not yet know the extent of the damage to our campus, but we are certain that it will take multiple sources of support – from insurance, government resources and private gifts -- to recover and restore the university’s full ability to pursue its mission of teaching, research and service to all Iowans,” she added.

UI facilities either flooded or at risk of flooding include: Hancher Auditorium, the UI Museum of Art, Art Building West and Art Building East, the Iowa Memorial Union, the Theatre Building, Voxman Music Building, Stanley Hydraulics Lab, Iowa Advanced Technology Labs, North Hall, Hawkeye Court apartments, the Adler Journalism Building, the English-Philosophy Building, the Becker Communications Studies Building and the Main Library.

For links to photos of UI campus flooding, and for complete information about the UI and the Flood of 2008, visit the special UI News Services blog at http://uiflood.blogspot.com/

“The UI Foundation will gratefully receive contributions of all sizes to this and other important UI initiatives; however, due to the impact that flood conditions have had on our own operations, we may not be able to send gift receipts in our typically timely manner,” said UI Foundation President Lynette Marshall. “We thank our alumni and contributors for their generosity and patience during this challenging time.”

The UI acknowledges the UI Foundation as the preferred channel for private contributions that benefit all areas of the university. For more information about the UI Foundation, visit its web site at www.uiowafoundation.org.

STORY SOURCE: UI Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, Iowa 52244-4550

MEDIA CONTACT: Susan Shullaw, senior VP-strategic communications, the UI Foundation, call 319-351-2606 or 319-541-4288, susan-shullaw@uiowa.edu. Writer: Forrest Meyer.

Volunteers come out in droves to help sandbag campus

Hundreds of volunteers pitched in to help shore up University of Iowa buildings located near the Iowa River Saturday. To view more photos, visit the University News Services Flickr site here.

Credit: Tim Schoon, University Relations Publications Photography Unit

Severe weather, rising waters, send volunteers home for the day

University of Iowa and City of Iowa City officials have sent volunteers home after the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning this afternoon.

University officials were already planning to wind down volunteer operations this afternoon after building temporary dikes around all facilities that can be protected.

For city volunteers, the West Side Sandbagger Shuttle (commuter lot across from West High School) is suspended for today. If storms are occur, East Side Sandbag Shuttle (Regina High School) will suspend as well. Volunteers are encouraged to call ahead at 887-6202 (24/7) for current status/other area volunteer locations.

At 4 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a thunderstorm warning for, among other locations, Johnson County until 4:45 p.m. Doppler Radar indicates that a storm capable of producing golf-ball size hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph could reach North Liberty and Coraville by 4:20 p.m. and Iowa City by 4:30 p.m.

Summer serving hours at Burge, Hillcrest Market Places announced

Summer Serving hours for the Burge and Hillcrest Market Places are as follows:

Monday through Saturday

Breakfast: 7 to 9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Dinner: 4:45 to 6:15 p.m.

Sunday

Brunch: 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Dinner: 4:45 to 6:15 p.m.

Prices during flood emergency: $3 for breakfast; $5 for lunch/brunch and dinner. All stations will not be available during the flood emergency.

Latest flood news from the University of Iowa

The following information was announced at the 1 p.m. flood briefing today: (An audio recording of the briefing, in mp3 format, may be heard by clicking here.)

--Sandbagging operations will likely be wrapped up later this evening as all parts of the UI campus that can be protected by a temporary dike will be protected. Don Guckert, associate vice president for facilities management, said the huge turnout of volunteers over the past week helped the university complete the sandbagging well ahead of next week's expected crest.

Guckert also said the previous sandbagging efforts on dikes that failed on the north campus were not in vain because it will allow recovery operations to begin much sooner. He pointed out that operations can begin once the water drops below the level of the breached dike. Without the dike, recovery would have to wait for months.

[NOTE: The university is encouraging volunteers to offer assistance to the City of Iowa City with its ongoing sandbag effort. 

Volunteer sandbaggers in east Iowa City should report to the Volunteer Staging Location at Regina High School at 2150 Rochester Ave. between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. A map is available here. Volunteers will park at Regina and be transported by bus to locations where they are needed. 

Volunteers in west Iowa City should report to the volunteer staging location at the University Athletic Center on Melrose Avenue (across from West High School) and will be transported by bus to locations where they are needed. A map is available here. Bring a shovel and gloves if possible.

Volunteers should not try to drive themselves to sandbagging locations and should not attempt to cross the river to reach one of the staging locations. Also, volunteers and all residents of Iowa City should only report to volunteer stations on their side of town. For more information, call the Flood Hotline at 887-6202. Phones are staffed 24/7.]

--The university's electrical and steam plant has been taken offline because water has gotten into the basement and water levels are expected to reach the production equipment. Guckert said taking the plant offline before it's hit by floodwater will cause less damage and make it easier to re-start the plant after the flood.

--Jean Robillard, vice president for medical affairs, said the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is now receiving steam from its own back-up steam generator in Pomerantz Pavillion. A temporary boiler is expected to be operational within 72 hours to back up the back-up. He said steam is used for such hospital functions as sterilization, food service and heated water.

--Robillard said the hospital also has adequate medical and surgical supplies to last two weeks, and six days of fuel to power its back-up generators, should electricity fail.

--The Burlington and Benton Street bridges are expected to close later today. When they do, UIHC employees who live east of the Iowa River can still report for work by traveling Dodge Street to Interstate 80 to US Highway 218 to Melrose Avenue.

--The UI Department of Public Safety has opened a satellite office at Kinnick Stadium so that officers can respond to calls on both sides of the river once the Benton and Burlington Street bridges are closed. The Facilities Management department has also set up a satellite office on the west side of the river.

--Lola Lopes, interim vice president and provost, is hopeful that classes will resume the week after next so that students enrolled in summer classes will receive full academic credit and those students set to graduate at the end of the summer will be able to graduate.

--Student workers should not report to their campus jobs next week. They will continue to receive full pay for the week. Those workers should contact their supervisors.

--Evacuation of Hawkeye Court apartment was completed Friday, but the Housing Department was unable to notify all residents. Those residents unable to get to their apartments should call 335-9168 to make whatever arrangements are needed.

No more volunteers needed at UI Libraries

Volunteers in the University of Iowa's Main Library moved thousands of books yesterday and through the evening. Operations have concluded at the Main Library and it is closed. No more volunteers are needed there.

Volunteers should no longer report to Lot 24

Volunteers for sandbagging should no longer report to Lot 24 as operations there have ceased.

Volunteers needed to help move library books

Volunteers are needed to help move books and other materials in the Main Library to protect them from the flood. Book moving will continue until 9 p.m. tonight. Volunteers should report to the Main Library on Madison Street. UPDATE: Work will continue Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Volunteers should report to the Lindquist Center on the corner of Burlington and Madison streets.

Sandbaggers needed at University Services Building; no longer report to IMU

Volunteers are still needed to fill sandbags and should report to the University Services Building at Prentiss and Capitol Streets. Volunteers should no longer report to sandbag duty at the IMU, as the university is shifting its focus to protecting buildings and facilities south of Iowa Avenue.

Volunteers needed to move library materials

The Main Library will be closing, Friday, June 13 at 5 p.m. for an indeterminate period of time. All staff members will evacuate by Saturday, June 14 at 5 p.m. Libraries and University officials are re-locating staff to other campus locations for the duration.

Moving Special Collections out of the lower level storage area continues today. Volunteers are asked to sign-up at the South Circulation Desk and wait for an assignment.

Library IT staff will be moving servers out of the Main Library today. Servers will be shut down early this afternoon and are expected to be operational by this evening. When the servers are shut down, all the Libraries’ electronic resources will be unavailable.

Library news is also being posted at: http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/news

Volunteers needed to report to Iowa Memorial Union June 12

Those interested in volunteering today, Thursday, June 12 to help with sandbagging efforts should report to the Iowa Memorial Union on the University of Iowa campus.

Volunteers for sandbagging needed

Volunteers should report to the south side of the Iowa Memorial Union
near the parking meters. (Wednesday, June 11, 3:15 p.m.)

Please bring gloves and shovels, if possible.