Around the nation and the world
- 1983, A gallon of regular gas cost $1.16 and the most popular car in the US was the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.
- 1986, The law mandating seatbelt use was enacted in 1986.
- 1987, The stock market crash known as Black Monday occurs on the New York Stock Exchange, recording a record 22.6% drop in one day. Stock markets around the world would mirror the crash with drops of their own.
Around campus
- 1980, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration selects Iowa State and the College of Engineering as the site for one of seven U.S. centers of excellence in computational fluid dynamics.
- 1983, ISU is selected to manage one of only 10 statewide pilot programs in the country to provide transportation technology transfer and related services to small urban and rural areas.
- 1985, The first graduate student in Construction Engineering received a Master of Science degree in 1985. The graduate program can first be found in the 1985-87 general catalog.
- 1986, The Program for Women in Science and Engineering is founded to increase the representation of women in science, engineering, and technology-related fields.
- 1987, The Iowa State University Research Park (a 230-acre development) is founded to provide space and resources for technology-based firms and research organizations.
- 1988, ISU opens a Wellness Center, focusing on fitness, relationship issues, stress management, and nutrition.
- 1988, The department of civil engineering was changed to the department of civil and construction engineering in 1988.
- 1989, The term “Hilton Magic” is coined by a Des Moines Register writer after the Cyclones stun third-ranked Missouri.