All posts by Ashton Hockman

HR Information Archive

Please join us for the upcoming BUILD session, Hot Topics in Higher Ed

Historically, higher education has been a gateway to individual growth and opportunity, as well as an accelerator for social and economic progress. The current social, political and economic landscape presents new challenges to how universities define themselves and continue to meet the needs of individuals and society. Attend this session, presented by Dr. Rachel Dykstra Boon, Chief Academic Officer at the Board of Regents, to increase your awareness of some of the Hot Topics that institutions, such as Drake University, are addressing. This 1.5 hour session will be on Wednesday, October 10, starting at 1:00 p.m. in Olmsted 310.  Register online.

Debra Wiley, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

October is National Work and Family Month.

First nationally designated in 2003 by the U.S. Congress, National Work and Family Month is designed to communicate and celebrate progress towards supporting work-life effectiveness programs. These programs help each one of us to work towards success at work and at home. Throughout the month Human Resources will highlight several policies and benefits that are available to support you and your family.

Family and Medical Leave provides eligible employees with job protected unpaid leave to help balance work and family responsibilities by allowing them to take reasonable leave for certain family and medical reasons. Some reasons include: the birth and care of the newborn child of an employee; for placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care; to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition; and to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition. Additional reasons for Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) are identified in Drake University’s Family and Medical Leave Policy.

When the employee experiences a health condition, the Faculty Short Term Disability Policy and Staff Sick Leave become more relevant. The Faculty Short Term Disability Policy provides pay continuation for eligible faculty when illness or injury prevent them from working. Staff Sick Leave is accrued and is available for when an employee’s health condition prevents him or her from working. Additionally, this sick leave may be used for personal or immediate family illness, when the employee is needed to provide care.

New parents have additional benefits available to assist with new family responsibilities. Paid Parental Leave is available to qualifying parents to care for a newborn child or placement of a child under 18 for purposes of adoption or foster care. Modified Duties for Faculty Upon Becoming a Parent provides eligible faculty with a workload reduction upon the birth or adoption of a child. The Paid Parental Leave and Modified Duties are available to both parents, on the first of the month following their employment at Drake.

As life events occur, non-tenured faculty members, in tenure track positions, may be eligible for a one-year extension of the tenure probationary period through the Tenure Clock Extension Policy. Reasons for the extension include, but are not limited to,  the birth of a child into the faculty member’s household, the adoption or fostering of a child under the age of five into the faculty member’s household, and to assist the faculty member who has suffered a serious health condition. Specific details, life event information, and information about how to initiate this extension are located within the Tenure Clock Extension Policy.

All of these policies are found in the University Policy Library, in the Human Resources section. Please contact Debra Wiley in Human Resources, either via phone at 271-3741 or email at debra.wiley@drake.edu with your questions or for additional information.

Debra Wiley, Human Resources 

Featured Events Archive

Resistance, Resilience, Regeneration – a Meskwaki art and performance event

Resistance, Resilience, Regeneration – an event of Meskwaki art and performance both traditional and contemporary that tells a story about how plant and human life compare in relation to how both have overcome adversity. It is about how young indigenous people have looked to their past to know where they are going in the future.

Come and experience an art exhibition, poetry and literature readings, traditional and contemporary dances – all by up and coming Indigenous writers and Meskwaki dancers and artists.

The event will take place on Oct. 6, 5-8 p.m., at the Performing Arts Hall in the Fine Arts Center at Drake University.

For inquires, contact Associate Professor Angela Battle – angela.battle@drake.edu

 

 

Featured Events Archive

Clark 150 events: Rededication of Cole Hall today

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of a groundbreaking Iowa Supreme Court civil rights decision, Drake University is hosting a celebration today through Friday, Sept. 25–28. The event will honor both Alexander G. Clark, an African-American businessman and activist, and Chester C. Cole, Iowa Supreme Court Justice and co-founder of Drake Law School.

In the landmark 1867 case, the Muscatine school district said Clark’s daughter couldn’t attend the same public school that white students attended. Clark sued. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in his favor, saying that all children could attend a common school. The decision, written by Cole, was an important one, preceding by 86 years the landmark 1954 ruling in Brown vs. the Topeka Board of Education. Clark’s lawsuit made Iowa one of the first states to integrate its public school system.

Register for the Clark 150 celebration. Events will include:

Rededication of Cole Hall: Tuesday, Sept. 25, 12—1 p.m.
The program will be held on the north side of Cole Hall, and will be followed by an ice cream social. This event is free. Please register for this event by choosing the green Tickets button above.

Simpson College, The Iowa Constitution: An Enduring Testament to Equality: Thursday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m. reception; 7 p.m. program
Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady and University of Iowa Law Professor Todd Pettys will be speakers. Hubbell Hall, Kent Campus Center, 701 North C Street, Indianola. Both the reception and program are free and open to the public. No registration required for this event.

Conference: Friday, Sept. 28, 12—4 p.m.
This half-day conference will include lunch at Kern Commons in Cartwright Hall and three sessions at Sheslow Auditorium. This event is free. Please register for this event by choosing the green Tickets button above.

Banquet: Friday, Sept. 28, 5:15—8:30 p.m.
The celebration banquet will be held at The Knapp Center, starting with a cocktail reception at 5:15 p.m. The banquet begins at 6 p.m., and will include a program with keynote address. Tickets are $50 per individual. Please contact Terri Howard if you are interested in purchasing a table.

Register for the event on Eventbrite. For more information on the Clark vs Muscatine case, see the Opperman Law Library page.

Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus fire drills starting Oct. 17

Drake will hold fire drills on Oct. 17, 18, 19, and 22 in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act and in conjunction with National Fire Prevention month. All drills will be conducted at 10:45 a.m. with the exception of the residence halls, which will be conducted from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 22.

We have planned this to minimize disruption to classes, and the majority of academic buildings will be completed the week of fall break. This also allows us to have a more efficient utilization of our staff for these drills. The residence halls will be done from 6 to 9 p.m. to increase participation in the residence hall evacuation.

Fire alarms will be activated in all campus buildings to signal the start of the drill. When the alarm sounds:
• Evacuate the building.
• Buildings will be locked down and cannot be re-entered until the drill ends.
• Remember to dress accordingly.

The fire drills will be coordinated through the Office of Public Safety (271-2222) working with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (271-3804) and Facilities Services (271-3955). Please report any fire alarm malfunctions or evacuation problems to Facilities or Public Safety. Your cooperation in this very important campus safety exercise regarding the Drake Emergency Response Plan is appreciated. Fire drill schedule:

Oct. 17
Meredith
Aliber
Cowles
Opperman
Cartwright
Harmon Fine Arts Center
Howard
Carnegie
Medbury

Oct. 18
Olin
Science Connector Building
Harvey-Ingham
Cline
Fitch
STAH
Occupational Therapy
Collier-Scripps
3206 University Ave.

Oct. 19
Olmsted Center
Hubbell
Student Health
Alumni House
ROTC
Bell Center
Knapp Center
Fieldhouse
Tennis Center

Oct. 22
Cole
Old Main
Public Safety
University Communications
Kinne Center
Multi-use resource (old Ray Center)
Vote Smart
Legal Clinic
Dial Center
All residence halls (6–9 p.m.)

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Chris Nickell, Environmental Health & Safety

Featured Events Archive

Ice cream and cookie social honoring Robert D. Ray tomorrow

The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center is hosting an ice cream and cookie social for faculty and staff to celebrate the life of former Governor Robert D. Ray tomorrow, Sept. 26, on the newly constructed Robert D. and Billie Ray Promenade located east of Collier-Scripps Hall. Mrs. Ray and members of the Ray family will be in attendance to express their thanks and appreciation to the many members of the Drake community who supported the Ray family during the week of Governor Ray’s services. Ice cream and cookies will be available starting at 2:30 p.m. President Martin and Governor Kim Reynolds will speak at 3 p.m. The social is informal so feel free to stop by when you can. Sept. 26 would have been Governor Ray’s 90th birthday.

Hilary D. Ortmann, The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center 

Campus Announcements Archive

Facilities Planning and Management project update

Every year during the summer months, Facilities Planning and Management works hard to complete key construction and repair projects in time for the beginning of the academic year. Many of these initiatives are part of the regular capital improvement budget, deferred maintenance, while other projects are made possible through University gifts or grants. In each and every case, we take seriously our commitment to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us. Below is a list of the activities you may notice as the academic year gets underway. Work is completed or nearing completion on the following projects:

  • New ventilation system installed in the Quads
  • New furniture, carpet, and reorganization of Cowles Library main floor
  • Installation of a new store front at Harvey Ingham SW entrance
  • Installation of fire sprinkler systems at Harvey Ingham, Fitch, and Olin Hall
  • Renovation Cartwright Hall to include install of six new windows on south side of the building
  • Addition of new zip space in Aliber Hall
  • Addition of new sand volleyball court in Goodwin-Kirk
  • Near completion of Robert D. and Billie Ray Promenade
  • New wooden floor in The Knapp Center
  • Install of LED lighting for The Knapp Center floor
  • Condensate line repairs to the University Mechanical Systems at Olmsted and 28th Street.
  • Installation of Hammock Stands on campus

Drake always has a great deal of work and maintenance that needs to occur on the campus each summer. Each year we update a comprehensive deferred maintenance and repair list and share it with key leaders and departments across campus. This process helps us prepare for the planning the next summer’s work. A special thank you to all the Facilities Planning and Management team members who helped complete these projects.

Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management

Campus Announcements Archive

Download new Drake Rec app

Download the new and free Drake Rec app today! This app allows you to register for intramurals, GroupX classes, sports clubs, view building locations and hours, and visit all of our social media pages. Drake Rec is an IMLeauges associated app, so you can use your IMLeagues account from previous years to sign in. Search “Drake Rec” in Google Play and Apple Stores to find and download the app. Details on how to register for GroupX classes can be found on handouts in the Bell Center and Underground.

Drake Wellness

Featured Events Archive

Hometown Heritage series on immigration issues and experiences

Hometown Heritage will host a public programming series called “Becoming American: A Documentary Film and Discussion Series on Our Immigration Experience.” This series features documentary film screenings and scholar-led discussions designed to encourage an informed discussion of immigration issues against the backdrop of our immigration history.

The series is open and free to all. The Oct. 8 program will be held on Drake’s campus. Additional programs will be held at venues in Perry and Des Moines.

Tuesday, Sept. 25, 5:15–7:15 p.m.
Becoming American: A Century of Immigration Screening & Community Discussion
State Historical Museum, Des Moines

Sunday, Sept. 30 , 2–4 p.m.
Becoming American: Promise & Prejudice
Perry High School Library (Spanish-Language Screening), Perry Performing Arts Center (English-Language Screening & Community Discussion)

Monday, Oct. 8, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Becoming American: Between Two Worlds Screening & Community Discussion
Sussman Theater, Drake University

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 5:45–7:45 p.m.
Becoming American: Help Wanted? Screening & Community Discussion
Perry Public Library

Sunday, Oct. 28, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Becoming American: Family & Community Screening & Community Discussion
Grand Theater, Perry

Monday, Nov. 5, 5–7 p.m.
Becoming American: Immigration & Popular Culture Screening & Community Discussion
Carnegie Library Museum, Perry

Hometown Heritage is one of thirty-two sites nationwide to host this program series which is made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor. “Becoming American” is a project of City Lore in collaboration with the Immigration and Ethnic History Society and the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. Founded in 1986, City Lore’s mission is to foster America’s living cultural heritage through education and public programs. The Immigration and Ethnic History Society promotes the study of immigration history through scholarly publications and education outreach, focusing on migration to North America and the ethnic groups that developed as a result. The International Coalition of Sites of Conscience is the only worldwide network of historic sites, museums and memory initiatives dedicated to remembering past struggles and addressing their contemporary legacies.

Read more information, or contact info@fcctrust.org for questions.

Dorothy Pisarski, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

For Students Archive

Attend games and win prizes with the Dog Pound app

Want to win free stuff for attending Drake Athletic events? Drake students have an exciting new opportunity to receive rewards for attending Drake home athletic events this season by using the Dog Pound Student Rewards App.

Download the app, check into events, earn points and get rewarded. Prizes include sunglasses, tumbler, Drake flag, and Drake Athletics Adidas apparel. The more events a student attends, the faster points accumulate that may be redeemed for prizes. The Dog Pound Student Rewards app is free and available now through the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Aimee Lane, Athletics