All posts by Aaron Jaco

Featured Events Archive

Drake to host Tracy Martin, father of Trayvon Martin, for lecture

On Saturday, Feb. 13, Tracy Martin, father of Trayvon Martin, will visit Drake as part of Black History Month programming. Mr. Martin will speak in Sheslow Auditorium from 5 to 7 pm. The event, which is free and open to the public and sponsored by the Coalition of Black Students (CBS), will include a brief lecture, a moderated conversation, and a Q&A session with the audience. CBS is designing the programming in a manner that respects and honors Mr. Martin’s grief while joining him in discussing the difficult questions that follow in the wake of his son’s death.

Attendees may submit questions online that they would like the moderator to ask Mr. Martin.

Following the lecture, CBS will host the Black on Black Banquet in Levitt Hall. The dress code for the banquet is black tie and will be ticketed. Mr. Martin will be the guest of honor. Click here to get your free ticket.

Mr. Martin’s visit is taking place due to generous co-sponsorship from the Slay Fund, the Office of the Provost, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Medbury Fund, the Women and Gender Studies program, and the Center for the Humanities.

—Submitted by Melisa Klimaszewski, Associate Professor of English, Faculty Adviser, Coalition of Black Students; and Jacques Goavec, President, Coalition of Black Students

Featured Events Archive

Celebrate the 80s with the Bulldogs!

Catch the men’s basketball team in action on Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. against Missouri State. It promises to be a fun game with several activities: don your neon, parachute pants, and big hair for I <3 the 80s Day. Students, arrive early to grab a fanny pack courtesy of Drake West Village to complete your 80s outfit.

It’s also Greek Day; Drake fraternities and sororities will compete against one another during halftime in various games and challenges.

See you there!

Featured Events Archive

Human Rights in Cultural Context

The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship invites all faculty, staff, students, and community members to attend the first event of the semester, “Human Rights in Cultural Context,” featuring Deslie Billich, a global expert on human rights, anti-corruption, human trafficking, victim protection, and gender assessments. The lecture will take place on Thursday, Jan. 28,  at 7 p.m. in Sussman Theater, Olmsted Center.

Billich’s talk will highlight how cultural norms play a role in human trafficking on an international level, both in developing networks and victims, and in hindering prosecution through corruption.

Billich is a scholar and attorney in South Australia who is widely recognized as an authority in international rule of law. She provides training to judiciary officials and attorneys, law enforcement, and victim service providers in legal aspects of human rights, trafficking in persons, and criminal justice. She has served as a consultant and presenter for national and international forums including the United Nations, Amnesty International, Red Cross, and the U.S. Department of State, and she is a member of the International Association of Prosecutors and the International Law Association.

The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship hosts a number of free and open to the public events each semester—see what’s planned for Spring 2016 here.

—Submitted by David Skidmore, Director, The Principal Financial Center for Global Citizenship

For Students Archive

Consider becoming an orientation leader

Want to help welcome new students to Drake University? Want to get involved? Want an on-campus job this summer? Consider becoming an orientation leader!

Orientation leaders are dedicated to providing incoming students and their families with all of the information and resources necessary to ensure their transition to Drake is a smooth and enjoyable one.

We need you to help make this happen. Each year we recruit current Drake students to become part of the orientation leader staff. Orientation leaders play a vital role in this exciting process, working closely with new students and their families on a wide variety of topics including academics, student involvement, housing options, and more.

We highly encourage you to attend the final information session on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 12 p.m. in upper Olmsted Center, Room 310/311.

You will be compensated for your time and effort and gain valuable skills in this position. Please visit www.drake.edu/orientation/orientationleaders/ to learn more about the position and to apply. Applications are due Wednesday, Feb. 3. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Marina Verlengia, Director, New Student Programs

For Students Archive

Did you work on campus in 2015?

If you worked on campus during 2015, you will need a W2 to complete your taxes.

The 2015 W2 form is available on blueView. This can be accessed through two methods:

1. Go to blueView’s Student Employee tab, and look to the left for “Payroll Information.” You will have a link for the Electronic W2.

OR

2. In blueView, go up to myDUSIS (by blackboard). Click into the Employee section, and proceed into Tax Forms. You will then have a link for “W-2 Year End Earnings Statement” and you will be able to select 2015.

Please note, only you have access to your W2 statement. Your parents do not have access to your W2 statement through their blueView access. If they need a copy, you will need to provide it to them. If you have questions, you can email student.employment@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Debra Wiley, Assistant Director, Human Resources

For Staff Archive

Bulldogs for Heart Health

Please join the All Staff Council for Bulldogs for Heart Healthy on Thursday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. We will use The Knapp Center track and court for walking, hula hooping, jumping rope, tables with snacks and health info, blood pressure checks,and body composition screenings. You can even pick up some healthy recipe cards and enter your name into a drawing for a chance to win a parking pass!

Recreational services will also offer some “sample” classes for staff to try out during this time:

11–11:30 a.m.: Trax—a strength and cardio interval class

11:40 a.m.–12:05 p.m.: Dance Express

12:15–12:45 p.m.: Mat Worx

1–1:30 p.m.: Pilates

A big thank you to our sponsors, including Rec Services, CPHS, Hy-Vee, Sodexo, and the American Heart Association!

Also, please plan to wear red on Friday, Feb. 5!

For Staff Archive

Staff notes from the Associate Provost (Jan. 25)

First Year Seminar requests are due Feb. 5:
If you would like to offer an FYS in the fall of 2016, please fill out the FYS request form on the FYS Resource website. The course submission form is at the bottom of the page, which also includes other resources you might find useful, including syllabi from previous FYS classes. Note that if you have taught the particular FYS you are proposing since 2012, you will not need to provide any information except for your time preferences. Please submit these applications by Friday, Feb. 5. If you have questions, please contact me (arthur.sanders@drake.edu).

Undergraduate Assistantship Program applications are due in your supervisor’s office by Feb. 5:
Applications for 2016–2017 Undergraduate Assistantship Program (UGA) are due in the office of your supervisor by Friday, Feb. 5. Supervisors will provide their comments and ranking (if more there is more than one application from your particular office) to my office by Monday, Feb. 15. For information about the UGA program, go to the Faculty/Staff Development Grant website. You will find information about the UGA programs, an FAQ about all of the grant programs run through the Provost’s Office, and the forms you need to submit the application. If you have questions, please contact me (arthur.sanders@drake.edu).

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

For Faculty Archive

Faculty notes from the Associate Provost (Jan. 25)

2017 on-campus J-Term scheduling will begin soon:
Schools and colleges will begin creating the 2017 on-campus J-Term schedule early in the spring semester. If you do schedule a J-Term class, please also send that information to me at arthur.sanders@drake.edu so that we can post the information on the J-Term website. Also, if you have questions about J-Term classes, please feel free to contact me.

First Year Seminar requests are due Feb. 5:
If you would like to offer an FYS in the fall of 2016, please fill out the FYS request form on the FYS Resource website. The course submission form is at the bottom of the page, which also includes other resources you might find useful, including syllabi from previous FYS classes. Please fill this out even if you are a full-time faculty member who is teaching FYS as part of your regular teaching load. Note that if you have taught the particular FYS you are proposing since 2012, you will not need to provide any information except for your time preferences.

Drake Research Grants and Undergraduate Assistantship Program applications due in dean’s offices by Feb. 5:
Applications for 2016–2017 Drake Research Grants (DRG) and 2016–2017 Undergraduate Assistantship Program (UGA) are due in the office of your dean by Friday, Feb. 5. Deans will provide their comments and ranking to my office by Monday, Feb. 15. For information about the DRG and UGA programs, go to the Faculty Development Grant website. You will find information about the DRG and UGA programs, an FAQ about all of the grant programs run through the Provost’s Office, and the forms you need to submit the grant applications. If you have questions, please contact me.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

Levitt Mentor of the Year Award

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

To Drake faculty, staff, and students:

In 1994, the Madelyn Levitt Mentor Award was created in honor of Madelyn Levitt’s commitment to Drake and her ongoing interest in faculty and staff achievement and academic excellence. Each year this award recognizes commitment to student success on the Drake campus by honoring a member of the Drake University faculty or staff for excellence in advising and mentoring of students.

You are invited this year to nominate a faculty or staff member for this prestigious award.

Process:

  1. A letter of nomination should be submitted recommending an individual for the award and explaining the context and manner in which the nominator has come to know the faculty or staff member. This letter should speak to the following qualifications:
    • An outstanding commitment to student success in and out of the classroom in support of the Drake mission
    • Integrity in personal relationships
    • Typifying the ideal student mentor by providing for students the support they need to graduate and move forward to live productive, fulfilling lives.

    The nominee must be a faculty or staff member in at least her/his fourth year of service at the University. The nominee cannot have won this award within the past five years.

    The letter is due to Associate Provost Art Sanders, no later than Feb. 15. The letter should be sent as an attachment to arthur.sanders@drake.edu.

  2. The nominated individual is notified by the Provost’s Office of her/his nomination and asked of her/his willingness to be considered.
  3.  At the nominee’s acceptance, the nominator is asked to collect the following supporting material and submit it to the Provost’s Office by March 11: a curriculum vitae or resume, a minimum of one other letter supporting the nomination, and a description by the nominee of activities which illustrate her/his mentoring/advising involvement. At least one of the letters must be from a current student and there may be no more than five letters supporting the nomination. Electronic submission of materials is required. Send all documents to cherie.moen@drake.edu.
  4. A screening committee, appointed by the provost, will review all nominations and make appropriate recommendations to the provost.

Any individual who was initially nominated for the award in 2014 or 2015 may be re-nominated if the nominator resubmits a letter offering the individual for consideration this year. Files of previous nominees are maintained for two years. In the case of re-nomination, the nominator will be invited to review the file to ensure that the nomination is as current as possible. The limit of five letters of support, including one from a current student, also applies to re-nominations.

The 2016 recipient of the Madelyn Levitt Mentor Award will be announced at one of the spring 2016 commencements.

Additional information is available here.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

Levitt Teacher of the Year Award

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:

Drake faculty, staff, and students:

In 1994, the Madelyn Levitt Teacher of the Year Award was created in honor of Madelyn Levitt’s commitment to Drake and her ongoing interest in faculty achievement and academic excellence. Each year a member of the Drake University faculty is honored with this award for his or her teaching excellence.

You are invited at this time to nominate a faculty member for this prestigious award.

Process:

  1. A letter of nomination should be submitted recommending an individual faculty member for the award and explaining the context and manner in which the nominator has come to know the faculty member. This letter should speak to the following qualifications:• An informed mind in inspirational dialogue with students
    • Integrity in personal relationships
    • Rigor in intellectual endeavors
    • Contagious enthusiasm for her/his subject matterA nominee must be a faculty member holding the rank of instructor or above and in at least her/his fourth academic year of service and cannot have won this award within the past five years.

    The letter should be sent as an attachment to Associate Provost Arthur Sanders at arthur.sanders@drake.edu no later than Feb. 15.

  2. The nominated individual is notified by the Provost’s Office of her/his nomination and asked of her/his willingness to be considered.
  3. At the nominee’s acceptance, the nominator is asked to collect the following supporting material and submit them electronically to the Provost’s Office by March 11: a curriculum vitae; a short statement, by the nominee, of educational philosophy or about methods of teaching; and teaching evaluations for the nominee for the previous two semesters. In addition to these items, a minimum of one additional letter supporting the nomination must be submitted. At least one letter of support must be from a current student and at least one letter of support must come from a faculty member, and there may be no more than five letters including the nomination letter and letters supporting the nomination. Electronic submission of materials is required. Send all documents to cherie.moen@drake.edu.
  4. A screening committee, appointed by the provost, will review all nominations and make appropriate recommendations to the provost. The committee will include previous recipients of the award.

Any individual who was nominated for the award in 2014 or 2015 may be re-nominated if the nominator resubmits a letter offering the individual for consideration this year. Files of previous nominees are maintained for two years. If a faculty member is re-nominated, the nominator will be invited to review the file from the previous year to ensure that the nomination is as current as possible. The limit of five letters of support, including one from a current student, also applies to re-nominations.

The 2016 recipient of the Madelyn Levitt Teacher of the Year Award will be announced at one of the spring 2016 commencements.

Additional information is available here.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost