All posts by Ashton Hockman

Short’s Airline Travel Program information sessions

Short’s Airline Travel Program will officially launch Tuesday, Oct. 2. From that date forward, all Drake Air Travel not previously booked will need to be booked through Short’s Travel.

On Oct. 1, Short’s will present two live informational sessions in the Olmsted Center, Rooms 310–312. Sessions will be held from 10–11:30 a.m. and 1–2:30 P.M.

During the sessions, Short’s will demonstrate their online portal and how to log in and book your own tickets, or when to contact an agent if your travel is more complex. Please plan to attend one of these sessions if you travel or manage travel within your department. Although electronic materials will be available after the sessions, it will be more effective to attend one of these in person to understand how to book travel beginning Oct. 2.

There is no need to RSVP and light refreshments will be provided by Short’s. If it would help, once you choose your session, send an email to caron.findlay@drake.edu to be sent an Outlook Appointment for your calendar.

Caron Findlay, Purchasing and Business Services

Drake vision benefits

Drake’s medical plan allows for one preventive eye exam per participant, per calendar year, at no cost when services are provided by an in-network provider. Participants who utilize an out-of-network provider will be subject to the out-of-network fee schedule.

Drake’s medical plan also provides a pediatric and adult vision hardware benefit as follows:

  • Adult Vision Hardware Benefit includes eyeglass frames, lenses and contact lenses. The medical plan pays 80 % up to a maximum of $150 per participant, per calendar year.
  • Pediatric Vision Hardware Benefit includes eyeglass frames, lenses and contact lenses for participants under age 19. The medical plan pays the first $150, and 80% of the remaining cost per participant, per calendar year.

To apply for reimbursement of vision hardware purchases, participants must complete the Wellmark claim form. Participants must also include a copy of the invoice showing the date and amount of the hardware purchase when submitting the claim form to Wellmark.

Vision services claim form instructions
Wellmark member submitted claim form

Participants should expect to receive reimbursement from Wellmark within 6–8 weeks of the claim submission date. The Wellmark Claim Form and Instructions are located in Employee Forms under the Human Resources section in myDrake.

Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

Exclusive offer for Drake Men’s Basketball at U.S. Bank Stadium Basketball Classic

The Drake Men’s Basketball team will face North Dakota State on Dec. 1 in the U.S. Bank Stadium Basketball Classic. This is part of the first ever basketball event that will be held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Drake faculty and staff are eligible for a special offer as a participating school. Buy tickets now using special offer code DRAKE18 to pack U.S. Bank Stadium with Drake blue.

Drake students have the opportunity to purchase Drake Student Section tickets to this event. Student tickets are $15 each (limit one per student), while supplies last. Students must purchase tickets at The Knapp Center Ticket Office and present a valid Drake Card.

For additional information, contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or tickets@drake.edu.

Cybersecurity: What you need to know as a consumer

The College of Business & Public Administration graduate programs is hosting a panel of experts to discuss Cybersecurity: What you need to know as a consumer.

The 101 Speaker Series is designed to engage the audience through interaction with our local panel of experts. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions on a wide range of topics of interest. The series is open to the public. Doors open at 11:45 a.m. and the event runs from 12–1 p.m.

This event includes a free lunch; however, registration is required.  Register online.

Dianna Gray, College of Business & Public Administration

Need a new headshot?

University Communications and Marketing will hold professional headshot sessions on the following times and dates this semester. The sessions are free to all faculty and staff. High-resolution portraits are made available for download through SmugMug.

Oct 19: 12 p.m. — 3 p.m., Olmsted Center
Nov 16: 12 p.m. — 2 p.m., University Communications & Marketing
Dec 7: 12 p.m. — 2 p.m., University Communications & Marketing
Justice Simpson, University Communications & Marketing

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning lunch Friday

The first in our monthly Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) lunches is this Friday, Sept. 28, at noon in TMR 133. These discussions are opportunities for those engaged in SoTL projects at any level—from just thinking about starting one, to almost complete, or those simply curious about SoTL—to share ideas, seek advice, or ask questions of colleagues engaged in the process. Members of the IT Support Services staff will be present to provide advice/information about SoTL projects that might involve technology usage. While it is too late to order a lunch, you are still welcome to come.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

$10 chair massages

Ten- and 20-minute chair massages will be offered on campus Oct. 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Aliber Hall Room 204, and Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Olmsted Center Drake Room. Cost is $10 for a 10-minute massage. Payment should be given directly to Anne Boal, licensed massage therapist, at the time of appointment. Correct change, cash, or check is required. Those who participate will have the chance to win a gift certificate for a free 10-minute chair massage.

Click the links below to register for the day and time of your choice. You may register for one or two time slots per registration sheet.

Tuesday, Oct. 9 Chair Massages

Wednesday, Oct. 10 Chair Massages

For additional information, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Schedule your biometric screening today

If you are on Drake’s health plan, you must complete a biometric screening annually to retain your wellness premium discount, which is a savings of approximately $300.

The online registration form for on campus wellness screenings with UnityPoint is open. To guarantee a slot, register early. The screenings will be held between 6:30 and 10:30 a.m. in the lower level of the Olmsted Center on Oct. 2, 4, 5, 10-12, 16, and 17.  To schedule a screening, log in with the username DRAKE and password SCREEN (in all caps).

If you registered for an on-campus screening but don’t remember your appointment date and time, check your received, spam, or deleted email folders for an email confirmation from UnityPoint with the subject: Health Screen Confirmation. It would have been delivered to the email address you entered on your registration. Questions regarding the on-campus UnityPoint screenings should be sent to unitypointhealth.desmoines@gmail.com.

If you need to cancel an on-campus screening, send an email to jennifer.umphfleet@unitypoint.org with your name, date, and time of appointment you wish to cancel.  You will need to re-register online for a new appointment. Changes can be made up to 48 hours prior to the appointment, if slots are still available.

For questions, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 271-1880.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Join the Healthiest State Walk

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to join this year’s Healthiest State Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 3. This walk is part of the Healthiest State Initiative and its goal of making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation.

The walk will begin at the north entrance of the Olmsted Center at 12 p.m. and follow a path around Drake’s campus. Fruit infuser bottles and Grand Blue Mile tech shirts will be handed out, as supplies last, to faculty, staff, and students.

This year we are combining efforts with Sodexo’s Mindful Mile program. Lucas Flaherty, Sodexo campus dietitian, will be on hand to provide handouts, a few snacks, infused water, and more. If it rains, the walk will take place at the indoor track in The Knapp Center.

It takes approximately 15 minutes to walk a mile, so consider taking a few minutes away from work or studies to participate in this fun and healthy event.

For more information, email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Occupational Therapy Wellness Booth

The Drake University Occupational Therapy (OT) program will be providing wellness educational opportunities for Drake faculty, staff, and students. The booth will run weekly, on Tuesdays, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the main level of Olmsted starting Sept. 25. Occupational Therapy students will be available to provide education, tips, and strategies to support wellness among the Drake University community.

Faculty and staff who visit the booth four or more weeks will earn Bulldogs United in Learning Drake (BUILD) credits and be entered into a drawing for prizes at the end of the semester.

Wellness Topics
Sept. 25: Backpack Awareness Week — proper lifting and carrying techniques/examples
Oct. 2: Nutrition quiz/visual on sugar consumption, health literacy, how to read a nutrition label
Oct. 23: Memory games — information on brain health
Oct. 30: Sleep Hygiene
Nov. 6: Technology Detox-unplug
Nov. 13: Balance Tests/Flexibility
Nov. 27: Work/life balance mindfulness/stress management
Dec. 4: Winter health/hand washing

For more information, contact Rachel Allen-McHugh at rachel.allen-mchugh@drake.edu or Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources