All posts by Aaron Jaco

Campus Announcements Archive

Building Key Return

Just a reminder that the location for key returns (and pickups) was changed to the Student Services Center this year. If you have an office/classroom key to return at the end of the semester, please stop at the Student Services Center rather than Facilities. We encourage you to turn in any keys that you are no longer using.

—Sara Heijerman, Students Services Center

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Come celebrate Drake staff!

You are invited for food, entertainment, and celebration as we honor Drake staff at the annual All-Staff Council Sapphire Awards. All “Called to be True Blue” Award recipients from the academic year (listed below) are in the running to receive Sapphire Awards for the top individual and group. Madelyn M. Levitt awards for employee excellence and distinguished service will also be presented by HR.
Please join us for a little break from the year-end busy-ness as we celebrate the many ways Drake staff members make Drake a better place.

What: The 2017 Sapphire Awards
Where: Levitt Hall, Old Main
When: Thursday, May 4
Time: 2–3 p.m.

Sapphire Nominees:

INDIVIDUALS
Anthony Squire, Technology Support Specialist, ITS
Ellen Lowe, Assistant Director, Rec Services, Wellness
Joyce Sharp, Administrative Assistant for Budget and Finance, CPHS (retired)
Emma Daily, Senior Strategist, Visual Design, University Communications
Terri Howard, Administrative Assistant, Dean’s Office, Law School
Kevin Saunders, Director of Institutional Research and Academic Assessment
Katie Overberg, Title IX Coordinator, Finance and Administration
Amanda Martin, Programs Coordinator, Community Engaged Learning

TEAMS
Athletic Communications & Marketing Promotion Teams
Jessie Neal and Heather Storms, Law Library

—Submitted by All-Staff Council

For Students Archive

May dining events

Tuesday, May 2: Stone Steakhouse Swipe+ Dinner in Hubbell. Enjoy a prime rib dinner for only $10.99 (+meal swipe)

Friday, May 5: Cinco de Mayo Lunch in Hubbell

Sunday, May 7: Late Night Breakfast/Cram Jam in Hubbell, 11 p.m.–12 a.m. Join us for a late-night breakfast to get ready for finals!

Tuesday, May 9: Bodacious Burgers Swipe+ Dinner in Hubbell. Try one of our delicious burgers for only $7.49 (+meal swipe).

Saturday, May 13: Commencement Lunch

—Jennifer Bowersox, Sodexo

For Students Archive

Screen print your own T-shirt!

Drake Innovation Studio held a T-shirt design contest with the top two designs being printed on shirts. We are happy to announce the winners—congrats to Kylee Bateman and Autumn Meyer!

We have teamed up with The Side Garage to bring this unique screen printing event to campus on Friday, May 5, in Meredith Hall, Room 124C. The first 100 people to come between 1 and 3 p.m. will get the chance to screen print their own FREE Drake Innovation T-shirt. For more information, visit our Facebook page or email innovation@drake.edu.

—Stephanie Cardwell, Entrepreneurship Centers

For Students Archive

Share your thoughts about Drake

Drake is seeking comments from students and the public about the University in preparation for its periodic evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Drake’s institutional accrediting agency. Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academics programs. Student input is considered in the evaluation process and is important to giving HLC a holistic view of Drake’s learning and living environment and ability to fulfill its mission.

You are invited to submit comments regarding Drake University to the following address:

Public Comment on Drake University
Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle St., Suite 7–500
Chicago, IL 60604-1411

You may also submit comments on HLC’s website at www.hlcommission.org/comment.

Comments must be in writing, and must be received by Sept. 22, 2017.

Drake will host a visit Oct. 23–25, 2017, with a team representing the HLC. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet HLC’s criteria for accreditation. Drake has been accredited by HLC since 1913.

—Kevin Saunders, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment

News & Achievements Archive

Faculty accomplishments: May 1

Heidi Sleister, professor of biology, recently received the 2017 Iowa Distinguished Science Teaching Award from the Iowa Academy of Science. The award is given to educators for their innovative teaching practices at the university level.

Sleister was nominated for the award by current and former Drake students, as well as on-campus faculty. Excerpts from Sleister’s nomination letters were read aloud at the awards ceremony during the Iowa Academy of Science’s Annual Meeting in Cedar Falls on April 21. Sleister was praised for her innovative and creative teaching strategies, and dedicated mentoring of students in classroom and advising contexts. She has mentored over 50 students in research contexts; student nominators credited her with preparing them for graduate school by helping them understand the content behind the science, developing independent and critical thinking skills, and fostering confidence.

The Iowa Academy of Science’s mission is to foster interest in the sciences, scientific research, and science education, and to recognize high achievement in fulfilling this mission in the state of Iowa.

—David Senchina, Department of Biology