All posts by Ashton Hockman

News & Achievements Archive

Dean Renae Chesnut receives two national AACP awards

Renae Chesnut, dean of Drake’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, was the recipient of two prestigious awards at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s (AACP) annual meeting July 21—25 in Boston.

Chesnut received the James Robertson, Jr. Leadership Excellence in Student Services Award, and the inaugural Sustained Contribution to Administrative Practice in Pharmacy Education Award.

Both awards recognize Chesnut’s outstanding commitment to pharmacy education. The James Robertson, Jr. Award recognizes an outstanding individual who has demonstrated leadership excellence in student services throughout his or her career. The award honors Chesnut’s commitment and leadership to the development of student services and programming at Drake as well as nationally through efforts that enhances students’ success, professional development, and increases diversity and interest in the pharmacy profession.

The award for sustained contribution to administrative practice in pharmacy education recognizes Chesnut’s work over the past several years in the creation of the Association’s Administrative Services Section, an interdisciplinary forum for pharmacy education faculty and staff in administrative positions.

In a supporting nomination letter, Drake University Provost Sue Mattison praised Chesnut noting that she is “an extraordinary leader of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Dr. Chesnut’s long and dedicated service to students in the College is testament of her commitment to facilitating students’ achievement, and is key to the outstanding success and reputation of the program. She is most worthy of these award recognitions.”

“I am humbled to have received these awards,” shared Chesnut. “I had the opportunity to know and work with James Robertson, Jr., which makes it a great honor to have received the award that continues his legacy of championing student success.”

Chesnut began her academic career at Drake 25 years ago, serving as director of student services, assistant dean, associate dean, and now dean of CPHS. She has been instrumental in the development and implementation of several initiatives that have enhanced the College’s reputation. These initiatives include implementing the Health Sciences, Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) and Master’s in Athletic Training (AT) programs, as well as the pre-professional OTD and AT programs; supporting the creation of joint degree programs, including the PharmD/MPA, PharmD/MBA, and PharmD/JD; and facilitating the work of the DELTA Rx Institute, which promotes entrepreneurial leadership in pharmacy. Chesnut’s service to AACP has included chairing the AACP Student Services Special Interest Group, and the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) Advisory Council.  She has also served as the inaugural chair of both the Association’s Student Affairs Committee, and the Administrative Services Section.

HR Information Archive

Join Weight Watchers at Work program this fall

Drake’s current weekly Weight Watchers at Work series ends Aug. 28, and the program is looking for faculty and staff who may be interested in a new series later this fall.

Meetings are held Tuesdays and include confidential weigh-ins from 12 to 12:15 p.m., followed by a 30-minute class.

Weight Watchers unique mix of face-to-face interaction with a trained leader, group support, accountability, digital tools, and the convenience of meetings in the workplace has been a winning combination for many Drake faculty and staff.

The cost is $156 for a 12-week renewable series with a minimum of 15 participants or $186 for a 17-week series with a minimum of 20 participants. Payment must be made in a lump sum, or it can be split into three payments.

If you are interested in joining the next Weight Watchers at Work series, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Paid parental leave policy effective July 1

Human Resources is pleased to announce that, effective July 1, 2018, Paid Parental Leave is available to full-time, benefit eligible Drake University faculty and staff.

Paid Parental Leave provides paid time away for new parents. For the birth parent, the policy is in addition to paid time off under medical or sick leave and vacation policies. For non-birth and adoptive parents, the policy provides paid time off to bond with their new child without having to use accrued leave balances or elect modified duties. This policy works together with the Family and Medical Leave Act, which provides employees with 12 weeks of job protected leave upon the birth of a child.

During the course of the semester, Human Resources will provide opportunities to highlight the Paid Parental Leave policy and other opportunities that may assist you with creating a healthy work life balance. If you have questions or are expecting, please don’t hesitate to contact Debra Wiley at 271-3741 or via email at debra.wiley@drake.edu  to arrange a time to discuss.

View Paid Parental Leave FAQ

Debra Wiley, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Welcome new Bulldogs

Please join Human Resources in welcoming 11 new full-time employees to the Bulldog family during the month of July.

Nicholas (Nick) Remmes, Recreation Facility Coordinator, Athletics
Katelyn Sobotka, Assistant Director, Athletic Compliance, Athletics
Leah Groe, Athletic Trainer, Athletics
Maggie Baumert, Assistant Head Volleyball Coach, Athletics
Ryan Arnold, Neighborhood & Community Engagement Manager, Alumni & Development
Gesine Gerhard, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
Cody Coffin, Public Safety Dispatcher, Public Safety
Lisa Friesth, Admission Counselor, Office of Admission
Veronica McLaughlin, Assistant Director, Admission, Regional, IL, Office of Admission
Suzan Pritchett, Executive Director, DU Legal Clinic & Exp.Prog./Assoc.Prof., Law School
Gillian (Jill) Gremmels, Dean, Cowles Library / Professor, Librarianship, Cowles Library

Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Participants needed for study on lower extremity injuries

Nathan Newman, EdD, ATC, associate professor of athletic training, is conducting a study on the impact of low-level laser therapy on lower extremity injuries. Low-level laser therapy is an experimental treatment that may decrease pain and inflammation in common musculoskeletal injuries. Faculty and staff members that have recently suffered a lower extremity injury, or suffer one in the near future, may contact Nathan Newman at nathan.newman@drake.edu about participating in the study. Compensation will be provided to participants who complete the entire study. This study has been approved by the IRB.

Nathan Newman, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

 

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Student Services temporary location

The Student Services Center/ID Card office is temporarily located in Quad Creek, the lower level of Hubbell (next to the C-Store), to allow for flood repair in Carnegie Hall. The department plans to be in this location for most of the fall semester.

Please visit the Student Services Center for assistance with parking passes, ID cards, office/lab keys, student employment paperwork, or any of our other services. Student Services can be reached at studentservices@drake.edu or 515-271-2000.

Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Apply now to be a mentor or mentee

Looking for a chance to grow and connect with other professionals across Drake? The application to participate in the new All Staff Council mentor program is now available. Staff members interested in being either a mentor or mentee, or faculty members who would like to be mentors, should complete the application.

The final deadline to sign up is Sept. 7. After that, placements will be made and the program will officially launch during the fall semester.

If you have questions, please reach out to committee chair, Carla Herling at carla.herling@drake.edu or 515-271-2356.

Niki Smith, University Communications and Marketing

 

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Drake Learning Symposium: There’s still time to register

Final plans are being made for the 2018 Drake Learning Symposium, Building Trust: Leading the Conversation. There is still time to register by visiting the Eventbrite page. This year, the symposium is being held at the Olmsted Center and will feature Dr. Kathy Obear of the Center for Transformation and Change. For more details and a full description of the sessions, visit the symposium webpage.

Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Tech Tuesdays return

Each month, ITS will offer various Tech Tuesday sessions designed to provide you with resources to use technology more efficiently in your job (and possibly your life). Some Tech Tuesday topics are being offered twice, please register by session. All sessions are 50 minutes, including time for Q&A.

Upcoming dates & topics:

Tuesday, Aug. 21: Getting Started with Blackboard
1 p.m., Olmsted Center, TMR 132
Taught by Karly Good & Clayton Mitchell, ITS
We will be providing basic tips and tricks for working with Blackboard. We will focus on course menus, navigation, grade center setup, and more.

Tuesday, Aug. 28: Setting up Your Blackboard Course to Match Your Syllabus
10 a.m. or 1 p.m., Olmsted Center, TMR 132
Taught by Karly Good, ITS
This practical, hands-on session will help you to take what is provided in your completed syllabus and build your Blackboard course to match what you have already developed.

Future Tech Tuesday topics include the IT Service Portal, Qualtrics, IT security, project management, and Office 365, as well as additional Blackboard training courses. Registration is open for all classes now.

Sign up and learn more today.

Carla Herling, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Parking on campus this fall? Here’s what you need to know

Welcome back for the 2018-2019 school year. As a reminder, if you have purchased a Drake Parking Permit for the 2018-2019 school year or would like to do so, you can pick them up in the Student Services Center (SSC) starting Aug. 1. The SSC is temporarily located in the lower level of Hubbell and is open Monday—Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the summer.

To help you become familiar with Drake’s parking regulations, below are answers to six of the most frequently asked questions. For detailed information on parking regulations, visit the Public Safety web page.

Parking Regulations Overview: Vehicles may only be parked in clearly designated, legal parking spaces. Areas posted with signs restricting parking (handicap, service vehicles, loading zones, fire lanes, etc.) must be observed and complied with. Parking in any travel lane, taking more than one parking space, blocking another vehicle, or parking on the lawn are all prohibited. Vehicles are prohibited from all lawns, except when specifically authorized. Driving or parking on sidewalks or pedestrian ways is strictly prohibited.

When can I park for free on Campus? Parking regulations are in effect year-round, including breaks in the academic calendar.

How many cars can I register? All students, faculty, and staff may register up to two vehicles to park on campus. Only one vehicle may park on campus at a time with the valid parking permit.

If I have a commuter permit can I park in a residential lot? Commuter Permits are only valid in commuter lots. For convenience, they are also allowed in Residential lots 18N and 24 from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. There is no overnight parking in commuter lots.

If I have someone visiting, can they get a short term permit to park on campus? Yes, visitors may purchase daily permits.

Does Drake tow cars from lots? Drake reserves the right to tow illegally parked cars, cars without permits in Drake owned lots, or cars with multiple unpaid parking citations.

How can I appeal a ticket? You can appeal a ticket online or by stopping into the Public Safety office.

Scott Law, Public Safety & Operational Services