All posts by Aaron Jaco

Campus Announcements Archive

University Bookstore relocation

Plans to move the University Bookstore to Olmsted Center are underway. The bookstore will be located on the western end of the first floor of Olmsted Center (west of the Pomerantz stage area). This move presents a great opportunity to bring Drake-branded items, as well as textbooks, closer to the customer. Enhancements to online ordering capabilities will also be a key advantage introduced in the coming months to bookstore customers. As part of the improvements to Olmsted Center, a focused effort on enhancing student gathering spaces continues.

The current bookstore location at 3003 Forest Ave. is being evaluated as the future site of Drake’s occupational therapy program. Watch for more information about the project in OnCampus.

—Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Campus Announcements Archive

Deferred maintenance schedule

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Drake’s facilities department will be working on several projects across the campus in the next few months. These projects are from the high-priority list of the University’s deferred maintenance lists. These projects include new roofs, electrical upgrades, mechanical repairs, sidewalk repairs, exterior door replacement, and carpet replacement. Below is the list of the projects and tentative schedule for the work to be completed.

Building Project Scheduled
Aliber Replace Exterior Doors July 2016
Observatory Upgrade Security System July 2016
Dial Upgrade A/C Unit July 2016
Goodwin Kirk Sliding Door Replacement July 2016
Harvey Ingham New Water Service July 2016
Jewett Hot Water Heater Replacement July 2016
Cowles Library Roof Replacement July 2016
Crawford Foundation Waterproofing July–Aug. 2016
Fine Arts Carpet Replacement July 2016
Fine Arts Chiller Replacement Oct.–Nov. 2016
Fine Arts Electrical Upgrade PAH July–Aug. 2016
Sheslow Electrical Upgrade July–Aug. 2016
Goodwin-Kirk Carpet Replacement 4th Floor July 2016
Goodwin-Kirk Roof Replacement July 2016
Herriott Foundation Waterproofing July–Aug. 2016
Howard Hall Stair Replacement in South July–Aug. 2016
Knapp Center Concrete Replacement July–Sept. 2016
Legal Clinic North Roof Replacement Aug.–Sept. 2016
Medbury Restroom Upgrade July 2016
Ross Hall Exterior Work July–Aug. 2016

—Jolene Schmidt, Director, Operations and Support Services

 

 

Strategic Updates Archive

Facilities planning and management at Drake

The transition to an integrated Facilities Planning and Management, in which both staff and managers are employed by Drake, has begun. Executive Director Kevin Moran has started the process of filling other key leadership positions and evaluating an appropriate management structure. As we transition in the next few weeks, every effort will be made to maintain continuity of operations.

We ask for your patience and understanding as we make this important transition. We encourage your questions and feedback as we move forward. Please continue to submit work orders using the current system or call the main office number, 271-3955.

Once Facilities Planning and Management is fully staffed, the department will be committed to accomplishing the following long-term goals:

  • Advance continuous improvement planning and measurement in facilities management.
  • Achieve exceptional customer service outcomes.
  • Leverage resources for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Empower employees to contribute in meaningful ways to facilities excellence.
  • Ensure comprehensive and long term capital planning processes.
  • Communicate effectively and openly about priorities, budgeting, and project planning.
  • Build greater capacity for advances in environmental sustainability and coordinated space planning.

We will continue to provide updates on the Facilities Services webpage and in OnCampus. Please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Moran, kevin.moran@drake.edu, or Jolene Schmidt, jolene.schmidt@drake.edu, if you have any questions.

—Kevin Moran, Executive Director, Facilities Planning and Management

News & Achievements Archive

Drake welcomes 300 high school students to campus this week

The American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program brings together young women from all over the state for an intense week of leadership, patriotism, and community. This year marks the first time the Girls State program has been on the Drake campus. Nearly 300 high school youth will participate beginning Sunday, June 12. Make sure to welcome these future leaders to our campus!

—Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

News & Achievements Archive

Drake news: Week of June 13

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Drake to dedicate the William S.E. Coleman Studio Theatre on June 17

Drake University will hold a dedication ceremony for the William S.E. Coleman Studio Theatre, formerly known as Studio 55 (and before that, Studio Theatre), at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 18, as part of a weekend-long theatre alumni reunion. The theater is named for William S.E. “Doc” Coleman, one of the Drake Department of Theatre Arts’ most longstanding and beloved faculty members, serving from 1966 to 2002.

Donations to a memorial fund in Coleman’s honor will be used to renovate the theater space, which Coleman helped to design, and any remaining funds will lay the groundwork for a guest artist program. Read more about Doc Coleman’s impact in the Drake Newsroom.

Adult Literacy Center celebrates 40 years, seeks volunteers

More Greater Des Moines-area adults are seeking assistance in achieving basic literacy skills. But at Drake University’s Adult Literacy Center, which is celebrating its 40th year in operation, demand for services is outpacing the supply of volunteers who are available to tutor participants in reading, writing, and speaking.

The Center has worked with more than 140 adults this year, including 25 individuals who are on a waiting list. That represents a 21 percent increase in demand over last year. Meanwhile, there are currently about 70 tutors who are available to teach. Tutor training will be held Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18, at the Drake University School of Education. Learn more about getting involved in the Drake Newsroom.

News & Achievements Archive

School of Education news: Week of June 13

New staff member
Please welcome Katie Rock as she assumes the administrative assistant position formerly held by Doris Brunette. Katie has degrees from Iowa State and the University of Iowa along with experience with office systems from her time at Dupont Pioneer. She lives in Des Moines with her husband, William, and two sons, Ronan and Malcolm.

Head Start grant funding renewals
Drake University has received notification that the continuation grants for both the Head Start/Early Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership are approved. Drake has held the  Head Start/Early Head Start grant for 39 years (currently totaling $6.8 million), providing services to 926 low-income, at-risk children and families across six counties.

The $1 million Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership is in its second full year of implementation. The grant funds quality enhancements for seven child care centers in the urban core of Des Moines. Drake University Head Start provides child care centers with quality materials (including curriculum/assessment), minor site alterations, instructional coaching, staff differential, and monitoring using research-based tools. All of the child care centers and Head Start classrooms must meet the strict requirements of Head Start Program Performance Standards. For more information on Drake Head Start, please visit the website at www.drakeheadstart.org.

—Catherine Gillespie, Associate Dean, Professor of Education, and Mary Collier Baker Endowed Professor

News & Achievements Archive

Welcome new Bulldogs

Welcome Drake’s newest employees:

Adrick Smith, ITS
Jerel Krueger, ITS
Monita Jackson, ITS
Kourtney Kirkpatrick, Alumni & Development
Andrew Verlengia, Alumni & Development
Selchia Cain, Office of Admission
Tracy Speck, Head Start
Julie Smith, Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Jessica Neal, Law Library
Anthony Leto, Student Accounts

For Faculty Archive

Call for proposals: Nelson Institute Global Pressing Issues Grant

The Nelson Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs invites proposals for a two-year grant that will fund interdisciplinary faculty-student research projects addressing a global issue of broad public importance. The deadline for proposals is Dec. 1, 2016. One research project will be funded for the period Jan. 1, 2017–Dec. 31, 2018 (start and end date may be adjusted).

The purpose of this initiative is to enhance Drake’s involvement in addressing pressing global issues, thus helping position Drake as a global knowledge hub in service to local, national, and international communities.

The Nelson Institute will provide $20,000–$30,000 in support of the selected project, depending upon demonstrated need. Project leaders are encouraged to seek additional funding from on- and off-campus sources, if necessary. Proposals should be sent to Denise Ganpat (denise.ganpat@drake.edu). A review committee consisting of the three members of the Nelson Institute Advisory Group, two additional faculty representatives from the Global and International Programs Academic Council (GIPAC), and a staff member from the Grants Office will read proposals and make a decision. Award notification will occur by Dec. 15, 2016.

Teams are encouraged to consult with the director of the Nelson Institute as they prepare their proposals (david.skidmore@drake.edu).

Successful proposals will include the following elements/criteria:

  • Explication of research topic
  • Clear identification of the pressing global issue to be addressed and an explanation of its pubic significance
  • An exposition of the research objectives and methods related to the project
  • An explanation of how the project takes advantage of particular strengths Drake and the community bring to addressing the issue
  • Identification of interdisciplinary research team
  • Commitments from an interdisciplinary faculty research team consisting of three or more faculty members (at least two of whom must be Drake affiliated). One or more principal investigators must be identified
  • Evidence that the team members possess the requisite qualifications to successfully carry out the project (please attach each member’s CV)
  • The project must involve two or more paid student research assistants with appropriate qualifications.
  • Whether the research is joint or parallel (i.e., a single joint project or several individual projects that each address related aspects of a common theme)

Activities and Outcomes

  • The project timeline will allow for completion of the primary research products within a two-year period.
  • The project participants will engage in at least two team activities (e.g., summer campus workshop, international travel as a team, cooperative field work, etc.) during the grant period.
  • Team members will collaborate with other campus entities (e.g., PFGCGC, Humanities Center, DUSCI, the Harkin Institute, Engaged Citizen, etc.) to schedule cocurricular events (e.g., speakers, films, panel discussions, etc.) related to the theme during the two-year grant period.
  • The project will lead to externalization in the form of publication, presentation(s) at a professional conference, submission as a report to relevant public or non-governmental bodies involved with policy-making, or other outputs of similar import.
  • An on-campus conference related to the theme will be held during (or soon following) year two of the grant involving Drake faculty and students and relevant off-campus experts from academia, government, or the professions.
  • The team is expected to submit an interim grant report by Dec. 31, 2017, and a final grant report by Dec. 31, 2018.

Preference will be given to projects that draw upon connections with partners at the local, national, or international level (e.g., overseas university partner). Please direct inquiries to David Skidmore (david.skidmore@drake.edu).

—Drake International