All posts by Aaron Jaco

HR Information Archive

Learn how to unplug and improve your life

Join Human Resources on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in Olmsted, CR 312-313 for a wellness seminar, “Unplugged.”

It can be difficult to unplug living in a world of constant connection and perpetual multi-tasking. If you feel like your day is a series of alerts, notifications, and reminders, you are not alone. The average person checks his or her phone 150 times a day, which makes it difficult to concentrate on tasks, projects, and those around you. Several studies show that we need time away from our personal devices in order to refresh and recharge. Learn how unplugging a bit each day can be beneficial to your personal relationships and increase productivity in the workplace.

Presented by Johanna Determann, wellness manager at Employee and Family Resources. Participants will receive one credit towards the Excellence in Learning and Development Certificate.

Space is limited, so please reserve your seat today by emailing laura.schwarz@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Cindy Adams, Associate Director, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Protect your devices for free

Drake Public Safety, Student Life, and Technology Services are happy to offer all Drake faculty and staff electronic device security software free of charge. This patented program—FrontDoorSoftware Loss, Recovery, and Personal Safety—is designed to help you to prevent theft, protect information, and recover lost or stolen devices.

We strongly encourage you to register your devices as soon as possible—you can register your professional and personal laptops, cell phones, and/or tablets. Once registered, you are covered for four years. To register, visit http://frontdoorsoftware.com/drake. You will need to use your Drake email to register a computer or tablet and the code “drake” to register a cell phone. The software is completely free and installs in seconds.

Once you register your device(s), the program does the following:

  • Collects ownership information and the unique MAC address of the machine
  • Turns the monitor into a information screen, so when someone starts your computer or connects to the Internet, the first screen seen displays the owner/contact information you provide
  • Installs a tracking feature so you can see where your computer or device is at any time via your web account with FrontDoorSoftware

For a full overview of how the software works and the different features available, visit www.frontdoorsoftware.com/products/product.html

While this software is a great tool to help protect your property, no software can guarantee the safety of your electronics. Do not leave your devices unattended in public spaces, and be sure to lock your office door, car, home, or wherever your devices may be when you are not there.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Scott Law, director of Drake Public Safety, at scott.law@drake.edu or 515-271-3860.

—Submitted by:
Scott Law, Director of Drake Public Safety
Jerry Parker, Acting Dean of Students
Jeff Sabin, Head of Infrastructure and Security, Drake Technology Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Slips, trips, and falls in the workplace

Slip, trip, and fall hazards are everywhere in the workplace. Regardless of job function, most people are exposed to these risks on a daily basis. It is important to recognize the hazards around you even if your job doesn’t require going 15 feet in the air on a lift or climbing and descending ladders. Serious injuries can happen because of things we least expect.

During the last four years, slips, trips, and falls have accounted for 38 percent of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordable injuries at Drake; however, in the last two years, that has gone up to 46 percent. During this time, these incidents have resulted in 71 lost work days and 125 restricted work days.

If you were to take a look around your work area or areas you frequent during the day chances are you would find multiple slip, trip, or fall perils. Some of the most common causes of these accidents are:

  • Wet or slippery working surfaces
  • Climbing or descending stairs
  • Walking while carrying objects that obstruct your view
  • Keeping a cluttered work area
  • Not paying attention or lack of focus

It is important to eliminate or minimize the slip, trip, and fall hazards in the workplace to prevent injuries from happening. Some general guidelines to help reduce the risk of injuries are:

  • Keep work areas clean and organized: Books, bags, and other items left lying around create trip hazards not only for the person whose items they are but for others as well. Maintaining clear walkways and aisles can significantly reduce trip hazards in the workplace. It is also important to clean up spills as soon as possible to help prevent slippery surfaces.
  • Use hand rails when climbing or descending stairs: Using stairs is a common part of most of our work days but it only takes one trip to cause a serious injury.
  • Pay attention to warning signs: Wet floor signs, safety cones, and caution tape are just a few of the common ways to alert people to hazards, and these signs should be taken seriously.
  • Use the proper equipment: Whether you need to prop open a door or grab something off a tall shelf it is important to use the proper equipment for the job. Using trash cans, rugs, or chairs to prop open doors creates trip and fall hazards and utilizing anything other than a sturdy step stool to reach an elevated area creates a serious fall hazard. Using what we have readily available seems like a time saver, but if it is not the right equipment for the job it puts you at risk for injury.
  • Maintain adequate lighting: Keeping the work area well lit can help prevent people from tripping, slipping, or falling; it is hard to avoid a hazard that you cannot see. Report any lighting issues to a superior or contact Facilities Services to get the issue resolved.

Following these guidelines can help reduce the slip, trip, and fall hazards that we all face every day. However, these recommendations are not a comprehensive list of all the ways to reduce these problems in the workplace, and the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Department encourages everyone to actively seek ways to make the workplace safer.

We would also like to emphasize that certain jobs require special training and certifications, and only those employees with the proper qualifications should attempt to perform jobs that require them to operate aerial lifts or work on elevated surfaces. If you have any questions or concerns about workplace safety please feel free to contact EHS.

—Submitted by EHS

News & Achievements Archive

Drake faculty receive more than $83,000 in external funding

Principal Investigator: Matthew Zwier
Project Title: High-Performance Weighted Ensemble Software for Simulation of Complex Bio-Events
Project Summary: Matthew Zwier is a primary developer of the WESTPA software package, whose continued development this grant is intended to support. WESTPA is a tool for controlling other software tools: It orchestrates up to thousands of trajectories run natively by other software at any scale (e.g., Gromacs, Amber, BioNetGen, MCell) using a “weighted ensemble” strategy. He will be doing computer programming related to WESTPA. This programming will include implementing new features for the software, improving the performance (e.g. speed) of the software, and validating the software (ensuring that it produces the correct results). His particular focus will be ensuring that the WESTPA software package can run effectively on large supercomputers and interface smoothly with a number of chemical and biological simulation software packages.
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health thru University of Pittsburgh
Award Amount: $28,000

 

Principal Investigator: Tom Rosburg
Project Title: Remnant Prairie Inventory in the Grand River Grassland CCS Landscape in Northwestern Harrison County, Missouri
Project Summary: The objective of this project is to intensively survey the recently expanded southern portion of The Grand River Grasslands Conservation Landscape in northwestern Harrison County for native prairie remnants. When complete, such an inventory will enable partner agencies working in this Conservation Landscape to better target grassland conservation efforts on both public and private lands.
Funding Agency: Missouri Department of Conservation
Award Amount: $20,000

 

Principal Investigator: Neil Hamilton
Project Title: Iowa Landowner’s Legal Guide
Project Summary: Drake staff will utilize project infrastructure funding to research and write educational materials relating to the Iowa Landowner’s Legal Guide, to be used to help educate Iowa land owners and their advisors and to enhance partnerships with other organizations using Sustainable Agricultural Land Tenure (SALT) resources.
Funding Agency: Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Award Amount: $9,736

 

Principal Investigator: Keith Summerville
Project Title: Targeted Reptile Assessment at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
Project Summary: This project will conduct an assessment of reptiles of Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt with an emphasis on poorly documented species such as smooth green snakes, Graham’s crayfish snake, and six-lined racerunner. The project will also assess whether hay management increases mortality in snakes that are considered declining in the state.
Funding Agency: Polk County Conservation Board
Award Amount: $1,500 (total funding for this project is $6,250)

 

Principal Investigator: Jerrid Kruse
Project Title: K-12 Energy Education Pilot Project
Project Summary: The Drake School of Education will work with AEA PD Online to develop effective e-curriculum that is uniquely tied to Iowa schools including those schools in rural locations. All students in our state will be provided access to STEM curricular materials through the development of a modular e-curriculum. This curriculum will be delivered online via a learning and management system geared specifically for personalized learning. Teachers will have the ability to create individualized units, mini-courses, or full courses for student use during or outside the normal school day.
Funding Agency: Iowa Energy Center
Award Amount: $24,000

Campus Announcements Archive

Staffing changes in Drake Wellness

Earlier this year, several open positions in Drake Athletics and Recreational Services, including the assistant director, wellness, prompted an evaluation of interrelated functions and duties, including wellness programming and support. The result was a realignment of staffing to reflect both duties of the position and constituencies served with one position focused on student wellness and one on employee wellness and engagement.

This summer, Ellen Lowe was hired as assistant director of recreational services, wellness. Ellen is responsible for supporting student wellness programming and services, managing group exercise, and supporting Recreational Services in related programming. Ellen reports to Lisa Murphy, director of recreational services.

The other wellness position vacated by Jana Peterson will be part of the Human Resources team. This alignment reflects the close working relationship between wellness staff and human resources since the inception of the wellness program and also provides the opportunity for cross-collaboration on issues of work/life balance and employee engagement.

Both positions will continue to work collaboratively on programs that can be offered to both students and employees. A variety of wellness related programming is available to faculty and staff this fall, including:

  • Group Exercise Classes—A list and schedule can be found at www.drake.edu/recservices/groupexercise/
  • Workshops and Learning—Various programs will be offered throughout the year. The first session, “Unplugged,” is scheduled for Sept. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Olmsted Room 312-313.
  • Flu Shots and Blood Pressure Checks—Watch for information about upcoming flu shots and blood pressure checks for faculty and staff.
  • Life Coaching—Drake contracts with EFR to offer confidential life coaching to help you set goals in wellness, communication, time management, job performance, work-life balance, and other areas in which you wish to make progress. For more information, contact EFR at 800-327-4692.

If you have an employee wellness related question, please reach out to Cindy Adams, associate director, Human Resources, at 271-3676.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Strategic Updates Archive

STEM@DRAKE construction update

In June, the Board of Trustees authorized the start of pre-construction work on the next phase of the STEM@DRAKE project. In anticipation of the construction of the School of Education and Math and Computer Science facility and the new Science Connector building between Olin and Fitch Halls, several pre-construction steps are underway. Here are some highlights from recent activity:

  • After a competitive bid process, Weitz was chosen as the contractor. A group including Board of Trustees members and steering team members Joe Lenz, Jan McMahill, Renae Chestnut, Keith Summerville, Teresa Krejci, Venessa Macro, and Jolene Schmidt interviewed five contractors.
  • You will start to see some activity near the future construction site. Electrical and communication infrastructure will need to be relocated, which will require some trench work near Medbury and Olin. Plans and schedules for this work are under development and will be shared as soon as they are final. Watch blueView and OnCampus for more information.
  • The transition of 27th Street to Drake-owned property is complete. Parking on the east side of the street is commuter parking, requiring a commuter permit. The west side of the street is a fire lane. Once construction begins it is likely that 27th Street will close.

In the coming weeks, additional information and project timeline information will be finalized and shared. Soon after the October Board of Trustees meeting, we are planning for additional opportunities to learn more about the project through in-person meetings and online resources.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

News & Achievements Archive

Shelley Fairbairn publishes new book

Shelley Fairbairn, associate professor of education, recently co-authored Engaging English Learners Through Access to Standards: A Team-Based Approach to Schoolwide Student Achievement. She wrote the book with alumna Stephaney Jones-Vo, LA’73, who is also an adjunct professor in the School of Education.

Fairbairn’s teaching foci include preparing pre-service teachers to design effective lesson plans and assessments for K-12 students and empowering both pre- and in-service teachers to meet the needs of English language learners through linguistically and culturally responsive practice. She also directs on- and off-campus English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching endorsement programs. Prior to joining the Drake University School of Education faculty, Shelley concurrently taught ESL courses for the Drake University International Center and served as a K-12 ESL teacher in two Des Moines area school districts. She has recently conducted teacher professional development sessions and workshops in China, Canada, and across the U.S.

—Submitted by Shelley Fairbairn

News & Achievements Archive

Discounted faculty/staff football season tickets

Football season tickets are still available! All Drake University faculty and staff can take advantage of discounted pricing—$35 (regular $50)—with a valid Drake Card (ID). To purchase your season tickets, contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or tickets@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Thomas Florian, Assistant Director, Ticket Operations and Donor Management

News & Achievements Archive

Rock out, show off your spelling skills, or volunteer to support the Adult Literacy Center

Three upcoming events highlight the Drake Adult Literacy Center and ways you can support adult literacy.

Benefit Concert
Friday, Sept. 18, 5–9 p.m.
Lefties, 2307 University Ave. in Dogtown

Walk to Lefty’s after work to enjoy Drake faculty and student ensembles in a benefit for the Drake Adult Literacy Center. Enjoy One Hundred Mondays, comprising School of Education faculty Tom Buckmiller, Michael Couvillon, Jerrid Kruse, and Matt Hayden, followed by a second faculty ensemble featuring Tim Knepper, Charlie Nelson, and Kirk Martin. Drake student Charlie Jaschek leads the student band.

All proceeds from the $5 cover will go to the Adult Literacy Center, which relies on community donations to support its vital services in the community. More than 70 volunteer tutors from Drake and Greater Des Moines give 1–2 hours a week to assist adults learning to read. This is also the kickoff event for National Adult Education Family Literacy Week, Sept. 20–25.


Volunteer Tutor Training
Friday, Sept. 25, 5–8 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Volunteers work one-on-one for 1–2 hours a week as a tutor/mentor with an adult who needs to improve his or her reading, writing, and comprehension skills. Tutoring is an opportunity to have a direct and positive impact in another person’s life. Learn how to structure lessons that teach reading basics and beyond.


2nd Annual Adult Spelling Bee
Friday, Nov. 13
Olmsted Center

Teams of five compete in a friendly spelling competition to raise dollars and awareness about adult literacy in central Iowa.

For more information, contact anne.murr@drake.edu

—Submitted by Anne Murr, Coordinator, Adult Literacy Center

News & Achievements Archive

Love to sing?

All members of the Drake community (students, faculty, staff) are invited to sing in the Drake University/Community Chorus, a non-auditioned ensemble that rehearses weekly on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8.

The first rehearsal will take place on Sept. 1 in Monroe Hall (lower level of the Harmon Fine Arts Center). The ensemble will be preparing for Nov. 21–22 performances of Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna” and the Rutter “Gloria.” Participants should purchase the music at University Bookstore in advance of the first rehearsal and bring it and a pencil to the rehearsal.

Questions? Contact Aimee Beckmann-Collier at aimee.beckmann-collier@drake.edu or x2841.

—Submitted by Aimee Beckmann-Collier, the Ellis and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professor of Conducting