All posts by Aaron Jaco

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

4th annual Executive Forum on Diversity and Inclusion

Make plans to attend the 4th annual Executive Forum on Diversity and Inclusion, presented by the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Featured topics include:

  • A keynote presentation by John Forsyth, chairman and CEO, and Rona Berinobis, vice president, inclusion and organizational development, both of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield on “Creating an Inclusive Workplace Culture, Radical Acts of Civility.” (Facilitated by Donna Redwing, executive director of One Iowa, and Heather Schott, assistant director of diversity and inclusion, Principal)
  • Roundtable discussions on “Talent Pools to Consider: homeless, immigrant/refugee, ex-offender, and veteran populations.”

The event will be on Friday, Nov. 4, 8 a.m.–noon, at the Airport Holiday Inn, 6111 Fleur Drive. Drake is supporting this event as a table sponsor. Register online today.

—Melissa Sturm-Smith, Academic Excellence and Student Success

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Multicultural Reception

Drake and Catch Des Moines are co-sponsoring the November Multicultural Reception, an event presented by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, on Nov. 3, 5:30–7:30 p.m. in Parents Hall, Olmsted Center. Come and enjoy some beverages and appetizers while networking with other professionals from the Greater Des Moines region. These receptions have a history of attracting 200–500+ attendees; it is a great opportunity to build new relationships with others who are passionate about our region and building an even more inclusive community.

Register online today!

—Melissa Sturm-Smith, Academic Excellence and Student Success

For Faculty Archive

SDS—Requesting exam accommodations for registered students

What is my responsibility as a faculty member when a student in my class requires exam accommodations?

  1. A student should present their Student Academic Accommodation Request form to the faculty member in advance to discuss the accommodations.
  2. The faculty member/department and student need to work together initially to determine if the department can provide the accommodations required at least a week in advance before an exam.
  3. If you are unable to find a solution, please contact Leah at Student Disability Services (SDS) within 2–3 business days to coordinate the exams. If a request is not made in the time frame requested above, the SDS office will not be able to proctor the exam. There is a form that needs to be filled out that gives our office the following information:
  • Dates of Exams
  • Delivery and return method of exams
  • Time frame that exam needs to be taken
  • Exam accommodations for student

When utilizing the SDS office, flexibility is encouraged and appreciated. The office works with the library staff, exam taker’s schedule, and proctor to ensure the exam accommodations are being met.

Please note: Makeup exams and/or entrance exams for graduate school are not coordinated through the Student Disability Services office.

If you have questions regarding exam accommodations, please contact:

Leah Berte
Coordinator, Student Support Case Management
Student Disability Services
107 Old Main
515-271-2917
leah.berte@drake.edu

—Leah Berte

HR Information Archive

Open Enrollment Period begins Oct. 20

The Annual Open Enrollment Period for Drake benefits will begin Oct. 20. Initial enrollment information regarding Drake’s medical, dental, and flexible spending account plans will be provided Thursday via the DrakeHR email account. Additional benefit information will be provided via OnCampus throughout the open enrollment period.

—Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Protect your information with the Phishing Derby

Every day, more than 200,000 malicious emails are sent to Drake faculty, staff, and students.

Since July 1, over 18 million malicious emails have sent to drake.edu email addresses. Most of these have been blocked by our IT security tools, but even the best tools cannot catch every single email.

That’s why ITS works to educate campus about how to detect and avoid being caught by malicious emails that “phish” for personal and campus data.

In celebration of October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), ITS has been sharing tips and tools for keeping yourself safe online and not becoming a cyber-victim.

In November, we’re taking it to the next level:

Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 1, ITS is holding a Phishing Derby, a contest where faculty, staff, and students can take a quiz to learn more about how to identify phishing emails and fraudulent websites. Each person who takes the quiz will be entered for a chance to win a Bluetooth speaker or headphones. Visit its.drake.edu/phish starting Nov. 1 to enter for your chance to win.

At the same time, we will be re-launching phishing simulation training with PhishMe for faculty and staff. Receiving emails that look like the real thing but cause no harm is an effective way to educate everyone about the dangers of phishing email without any actual risk.

The goal of these initiatives is to empower campus to be able to keep both their personal data and our institutional data secure. Learn more about IT Security at our ITS Security blog.

It takes a campus working together to keep everyone safe.

—Carla Herling, ITS

Strategic Updates Archive

Sarah Ramsey takes helm of Executive Education Center

The Executive Education Center at Drake has hired its first full-time director, Sarah Ramsey. The center is focused on developing exceptional leaders, and in its first year of operation prepared more than 50 central Iowa professionals for careers in the C-suite.

Ramsey, who has extensive expertise building strategic public and private partnerships in major U.S. cities across the country, joined the Executive Education Center from the United Way of Central Iowa, where she built and led a new public policy department and governance structure for United Way’s legislative policy work. She led more than 11,000 community and business leaders, CEOs, partners, volunteers, and donors to create policy changes in the areas of early care and education, adult literacy, skilled workforce, hunger, and children’s mental health. Read more about Sarah and the Executive Education Center in the Drake Newsroom.

HR Information Archive

Technology Tools and Tips

Please join us Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 9 a.m. in Olmsted Center, Rooms 310-311 to learn some Technology Tools and Tips! Technology is everywhere, especially on campus. In this session, you’ll learn how best to work with Information Technology Services (ITS), what we do for campus, what resources are available to you, and where the “experts” go for assistance. Prior to the session, participants will be invited to submit trouble areas, and ITS experts Carla Herling, James McNab, Clayton Mitchell, and Jerome Hilscher will craft the session around your needs!

About BUILD:

Attendees will earn two credits toward Bulldogs United In Learning Drake (BUILD)!  Bulldogs are leaders, passionate about learning and proud of our Drake pack.  We’re constantly looking for ways to strengthen and build our future.  Participate in sessions where you may learn a new skill—building your retirement portfolio, your health, or your professional knowledge—and get to know colleagues from across campus. This program is for you!

For the complete scheduled program and registration form is accessible through blueView’s Employee tab, in the Learning and Development Channel, or by clicking here.  Additional learning and networking opportunities, beyond those listed in the program, may be scheduled throughout the year.

As you participate in this program, you will earn credits for participating in sessions and will work toward earning digital badges that can be placed in your email signature to recognize your commitment to learning!   

Please join us as we BUILD Drake together!

 —Debra Wiley, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Try out new databases with Cowles Library

Cowles Library invites all Drake students, faculty, and staff to try out new databases and to fill out the trial evaluation form letting us know what you think, including if you think it might be useful in any of your classes and research. These databases are on trial through the month of October and can be found here.

Cowles initiates database trials each fall and spring to give our patrons an idea of what new resources are available, and to invite feedback from our user community on how useful these resources might be. This is a crucial step in our overall stewardship process: We strive to provide access to those resources that are most useful in the curriculum and for research. Pending availability of funds in late spring, we consider adding those resources that fill unmet needs and received strong, positive feedback.

—Teresa Koch, Cowles Library

For Students Archive

Principal Community Scholars Program

The Principal Community Scholars Program is a prestigious opportunity for college students to lead social change on their campus and in their communities.

Students take on a community engagement project, and serve for the Spring 2017 semester. They receive support from Iowa Campus Compact and  The Principal Financial Group through a virtual learning community.

For completing the program and submitting a short video, students are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship to be used on educational expenses provided by Principal.

Contact the Office of Community Engaged Learning at servicelearning@drake.edu for more information.

—Amanda Martin, Community Engagement and Service-Learning

News & Achievements Archive

#BringDraketoDrake

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The student-driven campaign, #BringDraketoDrake, brought incredible energy and attention to campus last week. In addition to the passion and work of our students, University Communications supported efforts to maximize reach and impact without compromising the academic reputation of the institution.

The results have been incredible:

  • There have already been more than 200 news stories, including coverage by Time, People, USA Today, Good Morning America, TMZ, and others.
  • We generated record traffic for the University website, including significant spikes in visits to the undergraduate majors/minors, visit and application pages. (UC was intentional when responding to social media comments, making sure to direct people to the website and, when appropriate, to the online application.)
  • Social media have been on fire. On Instagram alone, the University doubled its followers and made 2 million impressions. (Follow @drakeuniversity if you aren’t already!)

—Dave Remund, University Communications