Visit its.drake.edu/phish to go phishing with ITS until Dec. 1. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to take a quiz to learn more about how to identify phishing emails and fraudulent websites. Taking the quiz enters you for a chance to win a Bluetooth speaker or headphones.
Learn even more about how to secure your digital life by visiting our security blog at its.drake.edu/category/security-blog/
—Carla Herling, ITS
This week, the Office of Community Engaged Learning will be holding two Poverty Simulations for 110 pharmacy students. We are looking for volunteers to fill roles during the both simulations.
The simulations will be held:
Thursday, Nov. 17, 1*–4 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 18, 1*–4 p.m.
*We ask that volunteers come 30 minutes before the simulation starts in order to complete training for the experience. The simulation will conclude by 3 p.m., but you are welcome to stay for the debriefing and reflection from 3 to 4 p.m.
The poverty simulation is meant to help sensitize participants to the struggles people in poverty face on a daily basis. During the simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families, from single parents trying to care for their children to senior citizens trying to maintain their self-sufficiency on Social Security. Time is represented by four 15-minute periods, each representing one week. The task of each family is to provide food, shelter, and other basic necessities during the simulation while interacting with various community resources (e.g., bank, pawnshop, childcare center, school, employer, grocery store, etc.) that are staffed by volunteers. Afterward, participants and staffers conduct a debriefing.
Click here to see a list of the Community Resource Volunteer roles.
If you are able to help with the Thursday poverty simulation please sign-up by Nov. 15 using our Volunteer Sign-Up Form.
—Renee Sedlacek, Community Engagement and Service-Learning
We will have two sessions for those new to teaching J-Term classes or considering teaching J-Term classes in the future to have conversations with experienced J-Term instructors. The session for On-campus J-Term classes is Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 3:30 p.m. The session for J-Term travel seminars is Monday, Dec. 5, at 3:30 p.m. Both sessions are in CR 310, on the second floor in Olmsted.
—Art Sanders, Associate Provost
A reminder: Helping to Create Inclusive Learning Environments: A panel featuring students with disabilities will be on Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 3:20 to 4:30 p.m. in CR 310 on the second floor in Olmsted.
—Art Sanders, Associate Provost
The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is hosting a flu shot clinic on Nov. 16, or individual appointments can be accommodated. Please sign up for a flu shot appointment online.
This year, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences student pharmacists and faculty will be holding the flu shot clinics on campus in Fitch Pharmacy Lab, Room 102. You will receive an email the day before your scheduled appointment with details.
If you have any questions regarding the flu shots, please contact CPHS.wellness@drake.edu.
—Wendy Mobley Buckstein, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
The chair massages originally scheduled for Nov. 15 and 16 have been moved back to a later date. The new dates are Dec. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Cowles Library Heritage/Collier Room and Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Olmsted Center Drake Room.
Cost is $10 for a 10-minute chair massage paid directly to licensed massage therapist Anne Boal at the time of your appointment—correct change, cash or check only. One name will be drawn after the event and that person will receive a gift certificate for a free 10-minute chair massage!
Click the link below to register for the day and time of your choice. You may register for one or two time slots per registration sheet.
For additional information or questions, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.
—Linda Feiden, Human Resources
For those faculty and staff on Drake’s medical plan who have completed their wellness screening, don’t forget to complete your online assessment via Wellmark by this Tuesday, Nov. 15. You must complete the online assessment in addition to the wellness screening to receive the wellness premium incentive beginning Jan. 1, 2017. This will save you approximately $300 off your Drake health insurance in 2017. To complete your online wellness assessment log into wellmark.com, go to the Wellness Center, and click on “Take Your Wellness Assessment” or “Retake Your Wellness Assessment.” For more information please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.
—Linda Feiden, Human Resources
Please join members of the University Benefits Committee, Wellmark representatives, and Drake benefit consultant Mark J. Becker for an overview of the status of Drake’s medical and dental plans Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m. in Olmsted Center, Room 310.
During this final meeting, discover how Drake plans compare to local and national markets, why contribution rates will remain unchanged during the 2017 Plan Year, and why Drake plans have a two-tier structure.
—Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources
This fall, Facilities Planning and Management (FPM) is completing a basic assessment of campus trees. With the expertise of FPM staff Aaron Harpold, certified arborist, and Jack Bush, a detailed visual inspection of the trees and surrounding conditions will be accomplished. The observations will locate and identify trees with health concerns or hazardous issues and develop mitigation options such as pruning or removals. While the evaluations of trees are being conducted, we will also identify those areas for additional tree planting opportunities. Drake has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA since 2011. For more information on that program go to www.arborday.org/programs/treecampususa/.
– Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning and Management
Due to the University closing at noon on Nov. 23, most campus buildings will be locked at 1 p.m. Card access will still allow you to enter your authorized buildings; they will just be locked to the general public. Regular door schedule will resume on Sunday, Nov. 27. Please contact Public Safety (515-271-2222) if you have a door access emergency during this time. Feel free to email studentservices@drake.edu if you have a general (non-emergent) card access question or concern.
Happy Thanksgiving!
—Sara Heijerman, Campus Card Office
