All posts by Aaron Jaco

Campus Announcements Archive

Year-end purchasing guidelines

With the University’s fiscal year-end (June 30, 2016) approaching, Finance and Administration has provided some recommended guidelines for efficient and effective year-end processing of purchases.

Accounting for departmental expenses:

In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, Drake is required to report transactions in the proper fiscal period. For that reason, expenses are recorded in the period when goods are received and/or services are rendered. In short, items expensed to a FY16 budget will need to be received before June 30, 2016.  Factors such as budget allocation, invoice receipt, or payment issuance would not have an impact on the application of expenses within a fiscal period.

Exceptions to this general rule apply when a benefit of service or receipt of item extends into multiple fiscal years. In such cases, the following guidelines will be applied.

  • Expenses less than $5,000: are charged against the fiscal year in which the majority of the expense will be incurred. (For example, if a subscription is purchased for $3,000 and covers the period of July 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2016, the expense would be charged to FY16)
  • Expenses greater than or equal to $5,000: will be split into the fiscal years according to the percentage of benefit received during each fiscal period. (For example, if a subscription is purchased for $10,000 that covers a period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017, $5,000 would be charged to FY16 and $5,000 charged to FY17)

The University’s guidelines for year-end purchases are subject to external audit. As you make purchases during this period leading up to and overlapping our fiscal year end, it is important to note when the goods or services were received so they are expensed according to reporting requirements. If the timing of receipt is not clearly noted on the invoice, it would be beneficial to call the receipt date to accounting’s attention by clearly marking the appropriate fiscal year for the expense, based on the above guidelines, on the pay request.

In order to facilitate efficient and effective year-end processing, the following timeline is recommended for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016: Year-End Purchasing Timeline

I would encourage you to contact accounting at x3168 or accounting@drake.edu with any questions you might have.

—Heather Travis, Associate Chief Financial Officer/Controller

Campus Announcements Archive

Vendor selected for managed print on campus

In fall 2015, a campus-wide committee, led by Finance and Administration and Information Technology Services, was formed to review managed printing and select a new vendor. After extensive committee work and significant campus input, Drake has selected Laser Resources, Inc. (LRI), a local Des Moines company, as the new campus vendor for managed printing. During the summer, leased Xerox devices will be replaced and user training will be provided. Additional details and specific timelines for replacement and training will be forthcoming as the implementation schedule is finalized. We look forward to working with our new partner, LRI, to bring high-quality printing services to campus.

—Managed Print Committee

News & Achievements Archive

Bulldogs of DU: Kelly Bruhn

What do you do?
I’m the associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and associate professor of public relations, so I teach undergraduate courses and in the Master of Communication Leadership program. As associate dean, I handle recruitment and student success.

You have three children under the age of four, a demanding job, and other commitments; do you think women can have it all?
Someone told me a long time ago that you can have it all, you just can’t have it all at the same time. Sometimes the job takes over a little bit, like orientation or finals week, but then there are times when I need to focus at home. I’m lucky that I have leaders at Drake who support that life balance and a husband who supports me, as well.

What’s a story you share with prospective students and their families?
In PR writing, I have students write a few pieces for their dream employer—if they could pick any place, no holds barred, where would it be? They craft some communication samples for the employer and put together a packet. I write a cover letter and send the packet to the head of communication for that company, and on several occasions we have those communication folks reach back. This exercise has turned into opportunities with organizations like the Los Angeles Angels and National Geographic. It’s a great example to show how class work can lead them to their dream and that anything is possible.

What do you hope students remember about you after they’ve graduated?
I hope they remember that I cared. My door is always open. I always have chocolate and Kleenex. I think that academics certainly matter and every assignment is very intentional, but at the end of the day I hope they remember me for listening, caring, and helping them to achieve their dreams.

Featured Events Archive

“Youthful Hopes, Painful Realities: Looking Back at the Arab Spring”

What: Esam Boraey—“Youthful Hopes, Painful Realities: Looking Back at the Arab Spring”
When: March 22, 7–8:30 p.m.
Where: Sussman Theater, Olmsted Center

Esam Boraey is a human rights activist working for freedom and democracy in the Middle East. This passion led him to play a key role in the Egyptian revolution of 2011, which helped overthrow dictator Hosni Mubarak. Esam taught classes and studied for his master’s degree in international relations at Cairo University.

During the Mohamed Morsi presidency, Esam worked for U.S. Agency for International Development and later left the country after being sentenced in Egypt’s criminal court to two years in prison for his work for human rights and democratization in the Middle East. Esam then moved to Washington, D.C., where he continued his work for human rights, working for the U.S. Institute for Peace.

He has worked with a number of civil society organizations (CSOs) in both the Middle East and the United States, fostered close professional relationships with political leaders throughout the region, and advised policy makers in the U.S. and European Union. This experience provides Esam a nuanced perspective to an understanding of Egyptian, Middle Eastern, and Islamic affairs that takes into account the concerns of stakeholders at various levels, both in the Middle East and beyond its borders.
—The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship

For Students Archive

LEAD week is coming up

April 4–9 is LEAD Week on campus! Celebrate Drake’s Leadership Education & Development program, and learn all that it has to offer.

Monday—Keynote speaker Jon Tasch, “Leading is a Choice”
Wednesday—Gender in Leadership Panel
Thursday—Stressed? Let’s Talk. LEAD Capstone Event
Friday—Ice cream social & Free Movie Friday: Steve Jobs—The Man in the Machine 
Saturday—Diaper Dash service event in Helmick Commons

“LIKE” the event on Facebook for more details!

—Brenna Paukert

HR Information Archive

Reminder about treatment for work-related injuries

This is a reminder that Drake does have a directed medical plan for work-related injuries. Drake’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier, Travelers, has Concentra Medical Centers on file as the authorized workers’ compensation treatment centers for non-emergency work-related injuries and illnesses.

To avoid any insurance coverage issues, please direct any faculty and staff with work-related, non-emergency injuries or illnesses to one of the Concentra Medical Center locations in Des Moines (2100 Dixon and 11144 Aurora Avenue). If you contact Laura Schwarz in Human Resources (x3133) she will contact the center the individual prefers to be seen at to authorize his or her treatment. For emergency situations, call 911.

More information: Workers’ Compensation Medical Treatment

—Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Vacation—Use it or lose it, plan ahead

Time away from work is important for your physical and psychological well-being. Vacation is one means of providing this time to eligible employees. Don’t wait until the last minute, or you may just end up losing vacation time! Vacation cannot be carried over from one fiscal year to the next and must be used by June 30, 2016, or it is forfeited.

We encourage you to look at your calendar and plan your time off in advance so that it does not conflict with other employees’ time off and allows for appropriate coverage needs in your department. All vacation is subject to manager approval. Your manager will appreciate the time to communicate conflicts and to plan accordingly.

—Cindy Adams, Associate Director, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Important campus safety updates

27th Street has closed
As part of the STEM@DRAKE construction project, 27th Street has permanently closed. No parking or thru traffic is allowed; two handicap spaces at the south end of the west side of the street (next to Opperman Hall) will remain open. The section of roadway between the gate on 27th and Carpenter now allows for two-way traffic to and from the Jewett parking lot. Many of the sidewalks along 27th Street have also been shut down. For an overview of closures, visit the Building STEM@DRAKE website.


Campus parking regulations
Vehicles may only be parked on the Drake campus in clearly designated legal parking spaces. All vehicles must have a Drake parking permit or a temporary parking  permit which may be obtained at Short-term/Daily Parking Permits.  Areas posted with signs restricting parking (handicap, service vehicles, loading zones, fire lanes, etc.) must be observed and complied with. Parking in any travel lane, taking more than one parking space, blocking another vehicle, or parking on the lawn are all prohibited. It is neither possible nor desirable to post all areas on campus where vehicles may not park. Vehicles are prohibited from all lawns, except when specifically authorized. Driving or parking on any sidewalks or pedestrian ways is strictly prohibited. For a more extensive explanation of parking regulations and towing rules, please go to Parking Information.

Front Door software
Drake Public Safety, Student Life, and Information Technology Services are happy to offer all Drake students, faculty, and staff a patented laptop security product designed to help you with theft prevention, information protection, and recovery—free of charge. (Please note no software can guarantee the security of your electronics.) Visit the Front Door Software website to sign up with your Drake email account.
Safe Ride Program
As a reminder, for your safety Drake is now operating its own evening bus system. The bus runs each night:

  • Sunday–Wednesday, 8 p.m.–1 a.m.
  • Thursday–Saturday, 8 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

We are also happy to let you know that we will offer extended hours during the Drake Relays. April 28–30, the bus will run from 8 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. each night.

—Scott Law, Director, Drake Public Safety

News & Achievements Archive

Run for a cause

Drake Law School’s Public Interest Law Association (PILA) is hosting the 9th Annual Court2Court 5K to raise money for the Poverty Law Internship that provides free and reduced legal assistance to those needing it but unable to afford it. Every $1 raised is matched at $3 by Drake Law School’s federal work study program.

Race day is April 16. Registration at 8 a.m.; Race starts at 9 a.m.

Register at http://secure.GetMeRegistered.com/court2court5K 

Pre-registration is now until March 26: $20
Registration is March 27–April 15: $25
Same-day registration is April 16: $30

—Matt Knipe