All posts by Heidi Weiss

Campus Announcements Archive

Service-learning match grants available

Olson Global Service-Learning match grants are now available for projects taking place this spring or during May Term. Applications are due Feb. 16. Click here to apply.

Match grants will be awarded to student global service-learning projects with faculty/staff support where funds or in-kind donations have been appropriated or raised but where additional funds would be beneficial. The Olson Global Service-Learning match grant funds are designated to enhance global service-learning projects by providing additional funds that would otherwise not be accessible. Global service-learning at Drake is defined as the intersection of service-learning, immersion in global contexts, and intercultural education.

Requirements:

  • Funds or in-kind donations of at least $500 already raised
  • Projects have a strong global service-learning emphasis
  • Student applicants have demonstrated faculty/staff support

Please note: Individual mileage or personal costs will not be reimbursed.

Examples of projects:

  • Your class or organization is collecting books for a local refugee organization to donate for the holidays. You have already collected 100 books with a value of $500 but would like to purchase 100 more for $500.
  • Your class developed a public health program abroad to educate the public on oral hygiene and are providing the participants with a hygiene kit. You have received donations of toothbrushes and other items totaling over $500, but you need an additional $500 to purchase toothpaste and floss.

For questions, contact Amanda Martin, community engaged learning program coordinator, at amanda.martin@drake.edu.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

Campus Announcements Archive

Upcoming Tech Tuesday sessions

Each month ITS offers a different Tech Tuesday session designed to provide you with resources to use technology more efficiently in your job (and possibly your life). All sessions are held in the Dial Center Large Conference Room from 2 to 2:50 p.m. with time allotted for a Q&A and cookies. Attendance counts toward BUILD credit. Sign up for one or all four of the upcoming sessions.

Tuesday, Feb. 13: Tech Troubleshooting
Instructor: ITS staff

What do you do when your tech acts up? Learn what steps to take, where to go for troubleshooting information, and how and when to bring in help.

Tuesday, March 6: Keeping your Identity Safe
Instructor: Peter Lundstedt, director, Information Security & Compliance

Six months after the Equifax breach, how do you protect your identity when exposure is common?

Tuesday, April 10: Getting Help with Microsoft Office
Instructor: ITS staff

Spreadsheets lacking? Email out of control? Find out where you can learn more and start on the path to becoming a Microsoft Office pro.

Tuesday, May 8: Video Conferencing
Instructors: Karly Good and Clayton Mitchell

Need to connect face to face with someone off campus? Learn about the video conferencing tools available to faculty and staff.

— Carla Herling, ITS

Strategic Updates Archive

Drake’s new brand platform is coming to life

University Communications is working diligently to better tell Drake’s story. Work to implement the new brand platform, which was designed in partnership with brand consulting firm 160over90, has already begun. Printed and digital tools for student recruitment, new banners around campus, and frequently used communication templates are the first items to carry the new brand.

Word and PowerPoint templates

Samples of new student recruitment tools

Admitted transfer packet
Folder for admission visit information
Honors postcard
Folder for accepted student packet

University Communications is working with the colleges and schools  to define how the new brand platform will translate to each academic unit. Once the brand vision for each academic unit is set, University Communications will work with other units across campus on migration to the new brand platform.

The University’s brand style guide has been updated, as announced last month. However, as a reminder, you should not try to implement any elements of the new brand platform on your own and certainly not without first contacting University Communications. Proper and consistent use of Drake’s brand platform protects and strengthens our image and sets us apart from other institutions.

For questions about the branding initiative, refer to this FAQ or contact Dave Remund, executive director of University Communications, at dave.remund@drake.edu. Thank for your continued support as we transition to the new brand platform.

— Dave Remund, University Communications

For Students Archive

Study in Sub-Saharan Africa

Study sustainable development in Uganda from May 22 to June 12. This six-credit course is open to all undergraduate students. It fulfills the Engaged Citizen or Global and Cultural Understanding AOI; course numbers BUS 067, HIST 067, or HONR 067. Register here by Jan. 30; spaces are first come, first served. For questions, contact Professor Heath Henderson at heath.henderson@drake.edu, Professor Jimmy Senteza at jimmy.senteza@drake.edu, or Professor Deb Bishop at deb.bishop@drake.edu.

—Stephanie Cardwell, Entrepreneurship Centers

For Students Archive

Drake Undergraduate Social Science Journal call for papers

The web-based Drake Undergraduate Social Science Journal (DUSSJ) welcomes paper submissions for the upcoming publication of its 18th edition in spring 2018. Any Drake undergraduate student is welcome to submit a piece that offers an engaging, critical, and original analysis pertaining to the departments of the social sciences: culture and society; economics; history; international relations; law, politics, and society; and political science. Students may submit papers that display strong writing skills in a shorter analytic essay of seven pages or less, or they may submit a longer research paper consisting of anything greater in length. Submitted papers should include full citations to all sources used.

Submissions will be reviewed by six members of the editorial board using the method of blind peer review, meaning the author’s identity will be withheld during the review process. The board reserves the right to edit papers for style or length, and they may request revisions by the author as a condition of acceptance––authors will be given plenty of time to make these revisions.

The deadline for submission is Feb. 19. No more than one submission per person will be considered. Please send your submissions to dussjadvisor@gmail.com. All questions should be directed to this address as well. When submitting a paper, please indicate whether the essay is a research paper or short analytic essay. Also, please indicate the primary discipline and any secondary discipline(s). We look forward to your submissions!

—Natalie Bayer, History Department

News & Achievements Archive

Mori recipient of Immigrant Entrepreneur Leadership Award

Associate Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Studies Akira Mori received the Immigrant Entrepreneur Leadership Award during the 10th annual Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit (IES) in Des Moines on Nov. 18.

The Immigrant Leadership Award is awarded to a first-generation immigrant who has demonstrated leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit in his/her professional and family life and on behalf of the immigrant and larger community.

Summit organizers honored Mori “for his commitment to infuse high expectations of rigor, respect, and care in his relationships with musicians as a teacher, mentor, and conductor, along with his distinctive ability to both challenge and support their aspirations and performances.”

Born and raised in Japan and educated in the United States, Mori has professionally conducted in countries such as Japan, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Argentina, and has taught at multiple universities across the United States and Asia including Indiana University, University of Minnesota, Louisiana State University, and Tokyo College of Music. He has taught on the faculty at Drake since 2008.

Read the news release

News & Achievements Archive

Drake celebrated its 143rd commencement Saturday

Drake held its 143rd commencement ceremony Saturday in The Knapp Center to celebrate the accomplishments of 325 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students who completed their degree requirements as of the conclusion of the fall semester.

More than 65 degree recipients were Des Moines public school teachers. They were the first group of teachers to earn Drake’s new Master of Science in Education degree in Culturally Responsive Leadership and Instruction, which is specially designed in partnership with Des Moines Public Schools to meet the needs of educators in urban school environments. The innovative program has helped the school district to attract highly-qualified new teachers, boosted teacher retention, and improved cultural competency among program participants.

The commencement included remarks by:

  • Two-time Drake alumnus Jim Verlengia, director of leadership supports at Heartland Area Education Agency in Johnston. He holds an education specialist and doctoral degrees from the School of Education (SOE) and is a recipient of the SOE’s Outstanding Alumni Award. He has served the University in numerous roles, including as chair of the Parents Advisory Board, chair of the SOE’s National Advisory Board, and adjunct faculty member for the SOE.
  • Abigail (Dierks) Grassmeyer, who graduated with a Master of Public Administration degree. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Drake in August 2010. A granddaughter of the late Paul F. Morrison, Grassmeyer is one of 15 members of the Morrison family to have received Drake degrees.

The fall 2017 graduates join a network of more than 75,000 Drake alumni around the world.

HR Information Archive

Faculty and staff wellness interest survey

At Drake, we recognize how important it is for our employees to keep healthy. We also realize the importance of offering opportunities to make a difference in your well-being.

Therefore, we are conducting a faculty and staff interest survey to determine your interest in participating in worksite wellness programs. We want to hear your thoughts and ideas on how to provide programs, presentations, and activities that meet your needs.

Please help us improve our offerings by taking a few minutes to complete this brief survey. Thank you in advance for your participation.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Doors to lock Friday for winter break

Today through Thursday, Dec. 21, most campus buildings are open during administrative hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Beginning Friday, Dec. 22, doors will lock for the winter break. Faculty and staff will still be able to utilize their authorized access plans and enter their office buildings 24/7. Student plans will shut off during this time. Regular building hours will resume on Jan. 3.

Cowles Library open hours/after-hours are listed on its website.

Contact Public Safety at 515-271-2222 if you have a door access emergency during this time, or contact Student Services Center at 515-271-2000 or studentservices@drake.edu if you have a general card access question.

—Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center