All posts by Aaron Jaco

Campus Announcements Archive

From the Office of the Provost: Week of Sept. 28

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Religious Holidays
The release of the Climate Survey Report serves as a good occasion to remind the campus that in 1974, the University Senate adopted the following action:
“. . . that faculty members be urged to provide an opportunity for students to make up work missed as a result of legitimate absences, including observances of religious holidays.”

Consistent with the Senate action and our ambition to be a more welcoming and inclusive community, I urge all faculty members to provide students with an opportunity to make up work missed due to religious holidays. Since there are many cultures and faiths, University events cannot always be scheduled to avoid conflict with all holidays. Students should make their holiday needs known to faculty in advance, so professors can make arrangements for the appropriate accommodation. Further, I ask that when scheduling events, people check the calendar to avoid conflicts, if possible.

The list of religious holidays for the 2015–2016 academic year can be found at the Calendar link on the Provost’s Office web page.

Drake Social Club
Thanks to everyone who attended—more than 150 of you—the Drake Social on Thursday, making it, so I am being told, a big (and welcome) success. A shout out of thanks goes to Cherie Moen for managing it and making all the arrangements. Given the response, we are already looking for two more dates for this semester—stay tuned for future announcements.

Open Office Hours
If you are looking for me, this week you will find me on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 3–4:30 p.m. at Cowles Cafe.

—Submitted by Joe Lenz, Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

Fire Drill Oct. 7

Drake University will hold a campus-wide building evacuation/fire drill on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, at 9:10 a.m. in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act and in conjunction with National Fire Prevention month. Fire alarms will be activated in all campus buildings to signal the start of the drill. All buildings will be locked down during the fire alarms. During lock down, buildings can be evacuated, but cannot be re-entered. Members and guests of the campus community will need to evacuate all Drake University buildings at this time. Please dress according to weather.

This drill will be coordinated through the Office of Public Safety (271-2222) working with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (271-3804) and Facilities Services (271-3955). Please report any fire alarm malfunctions or evacuation problems to Facilities or Public Safety. Your cooperation in this very important campus safety exercise regarding the Drake Emergency Response Plan is appreciated and required by law.

As a reminder:

  • Please evacuate when the alarms sound.
  • If it is cold, please wear a coat.
  • Buildings will be locked down during alarms.
  • Buildings can be evacuated but cannot be re-entered until the drill ends.

—Submitted by Chris Nickell, Director, EHS

Strategic Updates Archive

Climate Assessment: Next Steps

We invite you to share your ideas about how we can make Drake a more welcoming and inclusive University. Our Campus Climate Assessment survey, implemented in February 2015, was designed to gauge the experiences and attitudes of current faculty, staff, and students. The public forums held on Sept. 21 and 22 provided our community with the data from that survey. If you were unable to attend one of the forums, a video recording of the presentation, Powerpoint presentation, and the full report are available on the climate assessment site. Print copies of the full report are also available on reserve in Cowles library.

Now, the Strategic Diversity Action Team is hosting small group conversations where we can come up with actionable next steps for campus. Please read the report, sign up for one of the small group sessions, and be a part of change on campus.

—Submitted by Melissa Sturm-Smith, Associate Provost for Academic Excellence and Student Success

Featured Events Archive

Jazz concert Sept. 25

Enjoy the smooth, toe-tapping sounds of student ensembles Jazz I and II on Friday, Sept. 25, 7:30–9 p.m., in the Performing Arts Hall, Harmon Fine Arts Center. Admission is free!

Jazz I will open the year with compositions by Gordon Goodwin, Charles Mingus, and Bob Mintzer.

Jazz II is dedicated to the performance of historically significant repertoire of the past (Basie, Ellington, Thad Jones), while also exposing students to recent compositions and arrangements.

Fun for the entire family!

Featured Events Archive

Grad and Professional Expo, Sept. 23

Drake offers a multitude of graduate and professional programs in business, public administration, education, law, leadership, communication, and health care. You can take classes part-time or full-time for many degrees, and online options exist. Or, further your leadership and skills with a non-degree option from the new Executive Education Center, which is offering one-day professional development courses throughout the fall. Learn more about all your opportunities at the Graduate and Professional Expo on Sept. 23 from 4:30–6:30 p.m. in Upper Olmsted. Register today for free. Know someone else who might be interested? Spread the word!

Remember, full-time employees at Drake can take advantage of tuition reimbursement for graduate programs. For more information, go to www.drake.edu/hr/overviewofemployeebenefits/tuitionbenefits/

Campus Announcements Archive

Construction update: Sept. 21

Pre-construction work begins this week north of Harvey Ingham along Forest Avenue as part of the pre-construction effort for the School of Education and Math and Computer Science facility and the new Science Connector building between Olin and Fitch Halls. This work will facilitate relocation of electrical and communication lines.  Between now and the end of the semester you will see digging and trench work, which will be noticeable to those in and around the area.  Fencing and signage will mark the work areas and efforts are being made to minimize disruption. Watch OnCampus and blueView for announcements about future work schedules and locations. If at any time you have questions or concerns please contact Venessa Macro at 271-3962 or Jolene Schmidt at 271-3957.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

News & Achievements Archive

SJMC news: Sept. 21

Twenty journalists from 20 countries will join Drake students to talk Iowa caucus politics this Thursday, Sept. 24.

The journalists will first meet with Drake politics professor Dennis Goldford to learn more about caucuses and Iowa’s role in the presidential selection process, then meet with 19 students for presentations and discussion in Lee Jolliffe’s First Year Seminar, The Iowa Caucuses: Grassroots Politics on a Global Stage.

Students in the Iowa Caucus FYS will give a presentation for the visitors about how social media has changed young people’s experiences of presidential selection politics. The participants will also meet in small groups to talk about young adults’ experience of free press, democracy, and political participation—key issues identified by the U.S. State Department, sponsor of the visit.

Janet Norton, of the Iowa International Center, is working with Drake to make the Iowa segment of the visitors’ trip as informative and smooth-running as possible. The larger visit, encompassing other cities and learning experiences, is hosted by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and U.S. Department of State, and is part of the International Visitor Leadership Program. This particular study trip is called The U.S. Political System: Background for Journalists, and the journalists selected are from many continents and countries.

Among the guests are prominent journalists from Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Italy, Nigeria, Paraguay, People’s Republic of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Tunisia, and Turkey.

—Submitted by Lee Joliffe, Associate Professor of Journalism

News & Achievements Archive

Drake recognized for outstanding fundraising efforts

The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) presented Drake University and the Office of Alumni and Development with a 2015 Educational Fundraising Award for overall performance. The award honors exemplary fundraising programs and activities at CASE member institutions across the country. CASE recognized Drake for demonstrating the highest levels of professionalism and best practice in fundraising efforts as well as performance over the last three years.

—Submitted by Elizabeth Kozor, Senior Foundation Relations Coordinator