All posts by Aaron Jaco

For Students Archive

Athletic and recreational programming survey for students

Drake wants to continue a strong tradition of excellence in athletic and recreational programming. When it comes to the type of programming offered at Drake, student feedback is critical. All students are encouraged to complete this short survey designed to gauge student interest in athletic and recreational programming, including intramural, club, and intercollegiate athletic programs.

Even if you are not interested in additional programming or are satisfied with current offerings, it is important that we have your responses. This information will be used to help Drake evaluate its current intramural, club, and intercollegiate athletic programs. This information is also helpful in our efforts to comply with the gender equity law known as Title IX.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to provide us your feedback!

For more information about the athletic abilities and interests survey, contact Christine Marchand at christine.marchand@drake.edu or 515-271-1865.

—Submitted by Jerry Parker, Acting Dean of Students, and Kathryn Overberg, Title IX Coordinator, Equity & Inclusion Policy Specialist

For Students Archive

Apply for a Goldwater Scholarship

Drake students interested in a career in mathematics, the physical sciences, natural sciences, or engineering are invited to apply to the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. To be considered, interested sophomores and juniors should contact Gholam Mirafzal, (Department of Chemistry, 213 Morgan E. Cline Hall of Pharmacy and Science, x4811) no later than Nov. 30. More information, including the application, is available in blueView.

—Submitted by Gholam Mirafzal, Professor of Chemistry

For Staff Archive

Save the date!

Who: All Drake University staff
What: President Martin will speak, and additional information will presented by your ASC representatives. All staff are encouraged to attend!
When: March 2, 2016, 2–3:30 p.m.
Where: Parent’s Hall, Olmsted

—Submitted by All Staff Council Communications Committee

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

2017 J-Term course schedule

It will soon be time to construct the J-Term 2017 on-campus schedule. Each school/college assembles the schedule of their classes, and they will have deadlines sometime very early in the spring semester. If you have questions about J-Term classes (anything from how to develop an intensive three-week learning experience to the names of faculty or staff who have successfully organized on-campus J-Term classes who are willing to discuss this with others to compensation rules), feel free to contact Associate Provost Art Sanders (arthur.sanders@drake.edu).

—Submitted by Art Sanders

For Faculty Archive

Nelson Institute Grant proposals due Dec. 1

The Nelson Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs invites proposals for a two-year grant commencing Jan. 1, 2016, for interdisciplinary faculty-student research projects addressing a global issue of broad public importance. The submission deadline for proposals is Dec. 1.

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

Through a series of focus groups held in the spring of 2015, Vice Provost for International Programs Christa Olson identified two clusters of global pressing issues that Drake, together with its local and international partners, has the expertise and institutional capacity to address with depth and breadth:

  1. Food and water security and environmental sustainability
  2. Global public health and access to quality healthcare

Several other issues were identified in which Drake has depth but not breadth: poverty and access to quality education, bridging cultures, immigration and refugees, and freedom of information and expression.

We especially encourage research proposals that relate to these issue clusters, although proposals on other topics are welcome and no priority will be given based upon topical area. See the full Call for Proposals at Nelson Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs website. The submission deadline for proposals is Dec. 1. Proposals should be sent to Denise Ganpat (denise.ganpat@drake.edu).

—Submitted by Drake International

HR Information Archive

Open Enrollment ends Nov. 30

The annual open enrollment period for Drake University benefits ends at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 30

Medical/Dental/Wellness Benefits
Current medical, dental, and wellness participation will automatically be continued for the 2016 Plan Year. Employees who wish to change their current participation must complete a new enrollment form.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Employees must complete a new election form each year to participate in the flexible spending plans. Current Health Care FSA participants will be allowed to carry over up to $500 of unused contributions to the 2016 Plan Year.

Enrollment forms must be received in Human Resources no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30. Enrollment forms are located in the Human Resources Channel’s Forms Library on the Employee Tab in blueView.

—Submitted by Marlene Heuertz, Assistant Director, Benefits

Campus Announcements Archive

Important campus operations update

Thanksgiving break door access

Due to the University closing at noon on Nov. 25, we will be locking doors to most campus buildings at 1 p.m. Card access will still allow you to access your authorized buildings, they will just be locked to the general public. Regular door schedule will resume on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Please contact Public Safety (515-271-2222) if you have a door access emergency during this time, or email studentservices@drake.edu if you have a general (non-emergent) card access question or concern.

Happy Thanksgiving!

—Submitted by Sara Heijerman, Manager, Campus Card Office

 

Building heating for 2015–2016

Campus is now set for the heating season with all systems up and running and cooling generally shut down and being winterized. Because the bulk of campus is cooled with water based cooling systems, they must be drained and in many cases winterized to prevent freezing. Once this is done they cannot be turned back on until warm temperatures in the spring. Facility Services begins this process prior to temperatures dropping below 32 degrees.

The University has adopted uniform temperature settings for heating and cooling: heating temperature is 68 degrees and cooling temperature is 77 degrees. In 2003 the University Sustainability Committee recommended energy efficient temperature set points for University buildings to the President’s Cabinet, which ratified the recommendation at that time. The set points were guided by the federal recommended set points, those used in federal buildings, and those recommended by MidAmerican energy for maximum efficiency and energy sustainability. These set points are intended for common spaces, classrooms and labs, offices and administrative spaces, athletic facilities, and auditoriums. Residence hall rooms are still on their own control and can be regulated to suit the resident’s liking.

—Submitted by Mark Chambers, Director Facility Services


Scheduled electrical shutdowns

On Nov. 25, a scheduled electrical shutdown will occur from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., affecting the following buildings: The Knapp Center, Fieldhouse, Bell Center, and Shivers Basketball Practice Facility. This scheduled shutdown is part of the electrical project that needs to be completed prior to the construction of the new School of Education/Computer Science and Mathematics Building and the new Science Connector Building.

Another scheduled electrical shutdown will occur on Nov. 27, from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., affecting the Fine Arts Center and Olin Hall. This scheduled shutdown is a routine shutdown that occurs ever year the day after Thanksgiving. This allows Facilities Services to clean the electrical transformer on campus.

—Submitted by Jolene Schmidt, Director, Operations & Support Servi

Campus Announcements Archive

New interdisciplinary minor

The Department of World Languages and Cultures (WLC) will offer a new plan of study, the Interdisciplinary Minor Language and Culture, beginning in spring 2016. It will be available in each of the languages WLC offers with the exception of American Sign Language. The new interdisciplinary minor will require 18 credit hours and will replace the Certificate of Competence in Language and Culture, which required 14 hours. For more information, please visit the WLC website.

—Submitted by Marc Pinheiro-Cadd, Associate Professor, Director of World Languages and Cultures