All posts by Aaron Jaco

News & Achievements Archive

Eleanor Zeff publishes book

Eleanor Zeff, associate professor of politics and international relations and University coordinator for post-graduate international scholarships, recently published The European Union and the Member States. She co-edited the book with Ellen Pirro, a lecturer in political science at Iowa State University. The book looks at the relations between the current 28 member states of the European Union (EU) to each other and to the overarching Union administration. It is the third book in the series, which started when there were only 15 member states.

She also recently joined the executive board of the Iowa International Center (IIC).

Eleanor specializes in studying European and EU politics and the politics of democratization and developing areas. She publishes on African politics, women in politics, teaching issues, and European politics.

Campus Announcements Archive

Sponsored Programs: Grant opportunities

Full information on listed grants can be found here: Grant Opportunities 8.17.15.

STEM

NSF Discovery Research Pre-K–12 (DRK-12)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Deadline: Dec. 7
Purpose: This program seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by pre-K–12 students and teachers, through research and development of innovative resources, models, and tools.

Minority STEM Professionals
Agency: National Science Foundation
Funding: $45.6 million for 38 awards
Deadline: Nov. 20
Purpose: Grantees use these funds to improve the number of minorities graduating with (STEM) degrees.

Early Career Researchers
Agency: Office of Science (Energy Dept.)
Funding: $18 million for 30 awards
Deadline: Nov. 19
Purpose: The program supports research programs led by outstanding scientists early in their careers. Research areas of interest include advanced scientific computing and biological and environmental research.

STEM Learning
Agency: National Science Foundation
Funding: $38 million for 71 awards ranging from $150,000 to $6 million each
Deadline: Nov. 4
Purpose: The program focuses on improving STEM learning in informal environments.

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Deadline: Oct. 8
Award Amount: $25,000–$4 million (depending on project type)
Funding: $64 million for 40–55 awards
Summary: The ATE program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation’s economy.

Advancing Informal STEM Learning
Agency: National Science Foundation
Deadline: Nov. 4
Award Amount: Varies
Total Program Funding: $28 million–$38 million
Summary: The Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches to and evidence-based understanding of the design and development of STEM learning opportunities for the public in informal environments; provide multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences; and advance innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments.

OTHER

Competitions to Strengthen Regional Economies
Agency: Economic Development Administration (Commerce Dept.)
Funding: $10 million for multiple awards up to $500,000 each
Deadline: Oct. 5
Purpose: The program fosters the development of regional centers to improve commercialization and entrepreneurship.

Educating Young Women
Foundation: Lalor Foundation
Funding Focus: Women, health
Funding: Multiple awards up to $50,000 each
Deadline: Nov. 1
Purpose: The foundation educates young women about human reproduction in order to broaden and enhance their options in life.

Footwear Company to Support Outdoor Projects
Opportunity: 2016 KEEN Effect Grant Program
Funding Focus: Environment, community development
Funding: $100,000 for 10 awards of $10,000 each
2016 Nomination Deadlines: March 1 and Aug. 1
Purpose: The program supports organizations inspiring responsible outdoor participation as a way to build strong communities, promote creative and sustainable thinking, and introduce new audiences to the outdoors.

Best Buy Launches National Partnership Competition
Private Funder: Best Buy Foundation
Funding Focus: Education and youth
Funding: Multiple awards, up to $200,000 each
Deadline: Nov. 1
Summary: The Best Buy Foundation offers an array of support. The community grants promote programs that give teenagers access to opportunities through technology to help them excel in school and develop 21st century skills.

NEH, Enduring Questions
Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities
Deadline: Sept. 10
Award Amount: Up to $38,000 for 18–36 months, 21 awards
Summary: The NEH Enduring Questions program supports grant faculty members in the preparation of a new course on a fundamental concern of human life as addressed by the humanities.

Children’s Obesity
Private Funder: Children’s Obesity Fund
Funding Focus: Childhood nutrition
Funding: Varies
Deadline: Rolling
Summary: To win funding, projects must educate parents, teachers, and other caregivers about the rising obesity rates in America.

Promoting Economic Literacy
Agency: Calvin K. Kazanjian Economics Foundation
Deadline: Sept. 15
Summary: As part of the effort to broaden the understanding of modern day economic systems, the Foundation offers grants to help improve financial literacy, especially for disadvantaged children and youth.

Programs for Literacy, Social Services
Foundation: Women Helping Others (WHO) Foundation
Funding Focus: Social services, women and children (education–literacy programs get priority)
Funding: Awards vary
Deadline: Sept. 8
Summary: The foundation supports nonprofits serving the overlooked needs of women and children.

—Submitted by Jayne Smith, director of sponsored programs and grants management

Campus Announcements Archive

Back to school information for University Bookstore

Some helpful tips for working with the University Bookstore as classes resume:

  • Fall 2015 Course Materials Listings can be accessed via the Bookstore website. Once on the homepage, select “Textbooks & Course Materials” from the “Books” menu (under the logo).
  • Donna Hallstrom, textbook manager, can be reached at her new email: 1623mgr@follett.com
  • If you need to submit an adoption OR re-submit an adoption, the online form is near the bottom of the bookstore homepage. The first time you use the page you will need to register as a new user. You will be asked for a bookstore password, which is our store number, 1623.
  • Katie Wilz, manager, can be now be reached at kwilz@follett.com

Submitted by Nancy Geiger, student information analyst

Campus Announcements Archive

Hosting a political speaker, candidate, or group on campus?

As political visitors flock to Drake’s campus this fall, any faculty and staff interested in planning events or advising student groups that may be planning events need to be aware of Drake’s policies regarding political visitors. Candidates and other political figures may visit Drake may be hosted by Drake-affiliated groups, rent University facilities, or serve as guest speakers in a class.

Drake values the opportunity to engage the political environment while recognizing the importance of each individual’s rights regarding political activities. All Drake employees and groups must adhere to Drake’s political activity policy in order to ensure compliance with IRS guidelines. Therefore, if students or faculty are approached about candidate events or want to plan events, the Political Visitor Team is here to help.

The Political Visitor Team, comprising faculty and staff members from across campus, provides logistical support and ensures institutional cooperation for political events on campus. By keeping this team aware of political events on campus, you can ensure that all candidates, campaigns, parties, and issue advocacy organizations are treated fairly and consistently and that Drake complies with federal law. They can also provide more information about upcoming events.

To reach the Political Visitor Team, contact Rachel Paine Caufield, associate professor of political science and Iowa Caucus Project director, at rachel.caufield@drake.edu or 271-1924.

Campus Announcements Archive

DTS: Summer 2015 changes to Blackboard

Drake’s Blackboard system has been upgraded and moved to a remotely hosted system. The upgrade provides improved performance and a more stable system.

As of August 22, all content (past classes and Fall 2015 courses) will be located in the new remote hosted system located at https://drake.blackboard.com/. The links on blueView will redirect to the new system.

If you encounter any issues or are missing any capabilities or content, please contact the Support Center at extension 3001 or submit a ticket. Otherwise, no action is needed by faculty or staff.

Submitted by Drake Technology Services

News & Achievements Archive

Spike’s Kids Club—faculty/staff discount

Drake Athletics is excited to offer children of all Drake faculty and staff $15 memberships to Spike’s Kids Club. Spike’s Kids Club is open to children 8th grade and under and provides free admission to ALL home athletic events (excludes Drake Relays and post-season play). Additionally, membership includes an official membership card, T-shirt, email updates on upcoming promotions, birthday card from Spike, and admission to exclusive club parties. Enter the promotional code FACSTAFF at purchase.

Questions? Please contact Tom Florian, assistant director of ticket sales, at 271-4949 or thomas.florian@drake.edu.

Submitted by Drake Athletics

News & Achievements Archive

Drake to host nationally televised Democratic presidential candidate debate

Drake University and the Iowa Democratic Party will host a live, nationally televised debate among Democratic presidential candidates in Sheslow Auditorium on Nov. 14. The event broadcast by CBS News and KCCI, in conjunction with The Des Moines Register, will be the Democratic National Committee’s only sanctioned presidential candidate debate in Iowa prior to the state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses on Feb. 1.

Additional details of the Nov. 14 debate, including time and moderators, are forthcoming from Drake, CBS News, and the Democratic National Committee. Drake will be working with the DNC, the Iowa Democratic Party, and the debate’s media partners over the coming months to determine how tickets will be distributed. The University will communicate that information to faculty, staff, and students as it becomes available.

In addition, Drake is also set to host a pair of presidential candidate forums focused on issues of concern to minorities. The Brown and Black forum for Republican presidential candidates will be held Dec. 3, and the Brown and Black Forum for Democratic presidential candidates will be held Jan. 11, both in Sheslow Auditorium.

Campus Announcements Archive

Faculty and staff invited to discuss spring 2016 Engaged Citizen Experience

The Office of the Associate Provost, Art Sanders, will host a meeting to discuss the spring 2016 Engaged Citizen Experience on on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 9 to 11 a.m. in Medbury 115. Faculty and staff are invited to join this discussion on finalizing the title of the theme and potential cocurricular events.

The tentative theme for the Engaged Citizen Experience is “Making Democracy Work,” a broad topic provided by students. Consider how this theme may take advantage of the 2016 presidential election.

Coffee, decaf, tea, water, and a snack will be available at the meeting. While no RSVP is required, please register through this Eventbrite invitation so we can order the right amount of food and drink.

Submitted by Office of the Associate Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

27th Street on campus closed Aug. 13

As Drake prepares to take ownership of 27th Street (between Forest and Carpenter Avenues) and Carpenter Avenue (between 25th and 27th Streets), there will be no parking allowed on the west side of 27th Street starting Thursday, Aug. 13. Barricades will be in place on Thursday to prevent parking and to allow for curb painting. Please make other arrangements for parking your cars on the 13th.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 17, parking on the east side of the street will be considered commuter lot parking requiring a Drake University commuter permit. The west side of the street will be treated as a fire lane and no parking will be permitted. Look through the 27th Street FAQ for more information about these changes.

Submitted by Finance and Administration

News & Achievements Archive

Physics researcher, professor receive National Science Foundation grant

Principal Investigator: Oleg Zatsarinny
Co-PI: Klaus Bartschat
Project Title: Development of a general ad effective program B-spline R-matrix program for charged-particle and photon collisions with atoms, ions, and molecules
Project Summary: This research will consist of the further development of a highly successful suite of computer programs to calculate accurate atomic data for a wide variety of electron- and photon-driven processes. This work will support many experimental projects, ranging from industrial plasma modeling to fundamental research performed at next-generation light sources. The results will be published in high-impact peer-reviewed professional journals. They will be presented at international scientific meetings, and the next version of the computer code will be written up and made available to the public. A post-doctoral researcher as well as undergraduate students will be trained through developing and testing individual modules of the package, thus giving them a first glimpse of supercomputing.
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation
Award Amount: $182,172 (Year 1: $72,465)

Submitted by Sponsored Programs