All posts by Aaron Jaco

Strategic Updates Archive

IMPORTANT campus budget discussion

The President’s Council invites you to attend a campus community budget discussion on Dec. 15 at 3:30 p.m. in the Shivers Hospitality Suite. We will be discussing the draft budget for FY18 that has been compiled with projections received from all departments this fall. There will be a presentation with plenty of time for Q&A.

Following the event, everyone is invited to stay for a Drake Social event from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Attendees will receive one complimentary ticket for beer or wine, water, soda, etc. Nearby parking is available in Lot 2 east of Shivers at the northeast corner of Forest Avenue and 25th Street.

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost.

—Kim Lammers, Office of Dean of Students

Campus Announcements Archive

ITS Phishing Derby ends

Thank you to the more than 200 students, faculty, and staff who took the time to participate in the ITS phishing quiz. We hope you learned more about how to spot potentially malicious emails and secure your digital life.

Bluetooth headphones or speakers were won by:

Emily Anderson
Ashley Hawkins
Sara Heijerman
Courtney Luib
Craig Owens
Julie Shipley

Congratulations to all the winners!

We’d love your feedback on the quiz and the surrounding phishing campaign. Let us know your thoughts by emailing informationsecurity@drake.edu. And you can always learn more about how to protect yourself online by visiting our blog at its.drake.edu/category/security-blog/.

—Peter Lundstedt, Information Security Manager 

Campus Announcements Archive

Update on Department of Labor employee classification rule

Earlier this year, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a rule change to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that impacted how some employees were classified under the FLSA for purposes of overtime eligibility. Drake, like many employers nationwide, prepared for the new rule to take effect on Dec. 1, 2016.

Last Tuesday, Nov. 22, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued an injunction stopping, at least temporarily, the implementation of those changes to the FLSA. The DOL has the option to appeal the Order to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which may affirm or overturn the ruling. The proposed regulation will not go into effect on Dec. 1. 

Like many other employers including those in higher education, Drake is suspending planned employee classification changes in light of the court-ordered injunction. We will continue to closely monitor this developing situation and analyze any steps necessary to ensure compliance with the FLSA.

Human Resources is reaching out to affected employees and their managers with additional information and to address individual questions and concerns.

—Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

News & Achievements Archive

Executive Education Center celebrates completion of first Leading Others cohort

Drake’s Executive Education Center celebrated the completion of its inaugural Leading Others Cohort on Nov. 10. Twenty executives from 14 companies in central Iowa completed the 18-month experience with great success:

  • Sarah Battani, Bankers Trust
  • Rona Berinobis, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
  • Amy Blahnik, DuPont Pioneer
  • Ben Bruns, The Weitz Company
  • Bill Connolly, John Deere Financial
  • Sandy Cox, Nationwide Insurance Co
  • Dan Crew, EMC Insurance Companies
  • Jim Dougherty, MidAmerican Energy Company
  • Michael Geringer, MidAmerican Energy Company
  • Lisa Heagle, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
  • Amela Imsirovic, John Deere Financial
  • Dr. Charlie Keller, Mercy Clinics
  • Tracey Knudtson, Principal Financial Group
  • Doug Kouma, Meredith Corporation
  • Dr. Steven Langdon, Mercy College of Health Sciences
  • Beth Nigut, EMC Insurance Companies
  • Michael Scholten, Principal Financial Group
  • David McKenzie, ChildServe
  • Ryan Vanyo, Kum and Go
  • Courtney Yuskis, Meredith Corporation

The program was created as a result of Drake asking local corporations how their relationship with Drake could be enhanced; the business community responded that they needed Drake’s help to accelerate leadership faster in their organizations. The experience is aimed at executives who are leaders of teams who want to learn the what and the how of leadership in a hands-on, experiential environment. Based upon 120 hours of instruction, executive coaching throughout the 18 months, and guidance in implementing a leader development and business plan back at their office, these leaders can expect to see a leadership shift from being “ready later” to being “ready now.”

The unique experience with Leading Others includes the following highlights:

  • Foundational business model: This model establishes a causal relationship between what a leader does and how he or she does it and team member engagement and business outcomes
  • Proprietary leadership success profile: Along with a subsequent assessment report, the profile—produced from multiple perspectives—establishes a leadership readiness baseline and measures leadership readiness gains throughout the program.
  • Leader Development Plan and a Business Plan: Based upon the participant’s leadership success profile and business planning process, the participant will create both a leader’s development plan and a business plan.
  • Executive delivery team: Participants are instructed and coached by deeply experienced facilitators and executive coaches and national and global panel members for maximum return on investment.

The Executive Education Center is running two cohorts per year and is currently recruiting for its fourth cohort. Applications for the program are due Jan. 27, 2017. Please contact Sarah Ramsey, director of the Executive Education Center, for more information at sarah.ramsey@drake.edu.

—Sarah Ramsey