About Iowa State University
What is Iowa State University?
Iowa State University (ISU) is a public research university in Ames, Iowa. The university's 150th-anniversary history says "Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm (now Iowa State University) was officially established on March 22, 1858, by the legislature of the State of Iowa", and a campus marker says "Iowa started an education revolution as the first state to accept the 1862 Morrill Act terms". This profile covers the full-time Professional & Scientific (P&S) staff postings on the university's Workday site. Faculty, merit staff (who accrue "10 days per year" in their first four years of service) and post doc postings are not listed.
Where will I work?
The Workday board lists P&S roles on the Ames campus, such as the "TRIO Pre-College Programs Director", "Senior Manager of Marketing and Analytics", "Instruction Librarian I" and "Financial Aid Technical Lead", and three remote ones with the site "Remote - Iowa" (the "ServiceNow Architect", the "Grants Finance Specialist" and the "Pre-Award Project Manager - Grants Hub"). The postings give no pay figure and say that "compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website". The Benefits page adds that "certain employment types can explore options through Workflex - a work program designed to provide flexibility on when, where, and how work gets done".
What is the Iowa State team like?
The Benefits page says "Iowa State is dedicated to supporting the well-being of our campus community in the pursuit of meaningful, balanced, and productive lives." On growth it says "Iowa State offers many opportunities for professional growth and development. We offer on-site, virtual and hosted learning opportunities in addition to supporting you in your career development." Its Family Services section covers "the arrival of a new child, finding child care for your toddler, or caring for an aging parent", and the Tuition Reimbursement Program is open to P&S staff after a year of employment.
Work-Life Balance
The Vacation Time Off policy (updated June 12, 2026) says "Full-time, non-temporary faculty, professional and scientific (P&S), and pre/post-doctoral research associates with appointments exceeding three months, accrue vacation time off on a monthly basis at the rate of two days for each full month of employment. This accrual rate includes two personal holidays per year." That is 24 days a year, and "Vacation time off for full-time employees may accrue to twice the annual entitlement." The Holidays policy says "Regular non-temporary faculty, staff and post docs are entitled to eleven paid holidays each calendar year consisting of nine scheduled university holidays and two personal holidays", the personal holidays being "included in the employee's monthly vacation accrual", and the ninth scheduled day is "One additional day each year as determined by the university administration". A new full-time P&S employee therefore has 24 vacation days and 9 scheduled holidays, 33 total days, with sick leave of "12 hours per month with unlimited accumulation" on top. "Upon separation from employment, an employee shall be paid for any accrued vacation."
Perks and Benefits
The medical plans are the "Iowa State University Employee HMO Plan (Wellmark BlueHMO)" and the "Iowa State University Employee PPO Medical Plan (Wellmark BluePPO)", and "The University contributes a share toward the full premium, based upon the plan and tier of coverage elected". Dental cover is "Administered by Delta Dental of Iowa". Employees choose between two mandatory retirement plans. IPERS has an Iowa State contribution of "9.44% of annual salary" against "6.29% of annual salary" from the employee, with vesting "after completion of seven calendar years of continuous service"; TIAA's Iowa State contribution is "6 2/3% of first $4,800" and "10% of the remainder" in the first five years, and it vests "after completion of three calendar years of continuous service". Basic term life is "Two (2) times your annual salary rounded to the nearest $1,000 ($250,000 maximum)" or $50,000, and "ISU pays 100% of the premium for either coverage level". Long-term disability pays "63% of the monthly salary, up to $10,000 per month", and "After the first year of employment, the University will pay the total premium." The Tuition Reimbursement Program "helps defray the cost of tuition up to a maximum of four (4) college credits available for courses offered by Iowa State University", and the Employee Assistance Program is a benefit that "ISU provides this benefit at no cost to you or your family members".