All posts by Ashton Hockman

News & Achievements Archive

SJMC public relations campaign wins national award

Work produced by the Drake SJMC public relations seniors in spring 2017 recently won a 2018 Clarion Award in the advertising or public relations campaign category of the national Association for Women in Communications contest.

According to the AWC website, “The Clarions—named for the medieval trumpet known for its clarity—symbolize excellence in clear, concise communications. Clarion recipients represent media companies large and small, leading corporations, small businesses, and nonprofit associations and institutions.”

The 2017 PR senior capstone client was Des Moines’ Young Women’s Resource Center. The Vector Strategies team included 2017 SJMC graduates Ashley Hawkins, Sarah Mattes, Reed Fischer, Nick Frandsen, Megan Johns and Kristen Carver.

HR Information Archive

2018 Wellness Screenings: Hy-Vee option now available

Those on Drake’s health plan can save approximately $300 in 2019 by completing a wellness screening this year. If you are on Drake’s health plan and currently enrolled in the Wellness Premium Incentive Program, you must complete a wellness screening annually to retain your savings. New this year: You will not be required to complete an online wellness assessment. You only need to complete the wellness screening to receive the premium incentive.

There are three ways to complete your wellness screening.

  1. At a participating Hy-Vee (available now through Sept. 15)
  2. On campus through UnityPoint Health (online registration opens Sept. 4 with screening dates in October)
  3. With your physician, and fill out a Physician Wellness Screening Results form.

Note: If you have a physical with bloodwork between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, the results can be submitted as your wellness screening. Be sure to take a copy of the Physician Wellness Screening Results form to your appointment. Your physician must sign the completed form and you or your physician must fax it to 1-855-827-6307. Results will be forwarded to Wellmark. The signed form must be received by Sept. 30, 2018. To determine whether your paperwork has been received, contact Wellmark on their 24/7 helpline at 1-877-252-8412.  It is your responsibility to ensure the form is submitted on time.

For questions, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 515-271-1880.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Weight Watchers at Work promotion

Weight Watchers is holding a special “Deal Days” promotion. Current or new members who complete an “intent to commit” form, in person, during the July 17 or July 24 class will receive a discount off their next series. All payments will be due the first week of the new meeting series.

  • For a 12-week series, the price is reduced from $156 to $132.60 per member (minimum 15 members), which is a 15% discount.
  • For a 17-week series, the price is reduced from $186 to $158.10 per member (minimum 20 members), which is a 15% discount.
  • For a 26-week series, the price is reduced from $242 to $217.80 per member (minimum 20 members), which is a 10% discount.

Our current weekly Weight Watchers at Work series ends Aug. 28. Tuesday meetings include a confidential weigh-in from 12—12:15 p.m., followed by a 30 minute class. Classes are currently held in Cartwright Hall, Room 202.

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

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Faculty and staff picnic

Mark your calendars for the employee picnic on Tuesday, July 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hubbell Dining. The location is different from years past, so that the event can take place rain or shine. The lunch is free, and is a chance to socialize with coworkers across campus. Faculty and staff can enjoy a luau themed menu, including Kalua pulled pork, macaroni salad, luau beef stew, Hawaiian pizza, fresh pineapple, and more. Then, after lunch, head outdoors for some yard games, and to conclude the event, a prize drawing will be held. To be eligible for the drawing, bring at least one non-perishable item that will go to the Drake Little Food Pantries on campus. We look forward to seeing everyone there! 

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Register now for Drake Learning Symposium

Registration is now open on Eventbrite for the 2018 Drake Learning Symposium Building Trust: Leading the Conversation. Be sure to review the Learning Symposium program before registering. This year’s Learning Symposium will be Monday, Aug. 20, and will be held at the Olmsted Center.

The 2018 Drake University Learning Symposium will feature Dr. Kathy Obear, Center for Transformation and Change, who will open the symposium with her workshop, Facilitating Difficult Dialogues. She will follow up with a breakout session for faculty that focuses specifically on facilitating difficult conversations in the classroom. In the afternoon, Dr. Obear will offer a session for staff focusing on difficult conversations in the workplace. Dr. Obear has spent over thirty years as an organizational change consultant helping organizations create inclusive, equitable environments where all people feel valued and respected.

This year’s Learning Symposium will conclude with the year’s first Drake Social, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., at the atrium in Cline Hall.

For more information, please see the Learning Symposium web page.

— Drinda Williams, Provost’s Office

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Staff mentor program to launch soon

The All Staff Council Special Interest Committee has been crafting a new mentor program for Drake University staff members. A survey link to sign up for the mentor program will go live July 24 and will be linked in OnCampus. Staff members who are interested in being either a mentor or mentee are asked to complete the survey. In addition, faculty members are invited to apply to be mentors.

The final deadline to sign up will be August 21. From there, placements will be made and the program will launch during the fall semester.

Visit www.drake.edu/asc/specialinterest/ to learn more about the new program. The survey link to apply will go live on this webpage July 24. If you have any questions, please reach out to Committee Chair Carla Herling at carla.herling@drake.edu or 515-271-2356.

As a reminder, the Special Interest Committee explores initiatives, questions, and/or concerns presented to All Staff Council through research, planning, and collaboration with appropriate offices on campus. If you have questions or topics of interest for the committee, please contact Carla Herling.

— Niki Smith, University Communications/All Staff Council

Campus Announcements Archive

DUGuest network maintenance Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon

On Thursday, July 12, ITS will perform system maintenance that will affect registrations for the DUGuest wireless network from 10 a.m. to noon. During this maintenance period, no one will be able to register a device on the guest wireless network. Devices that have been registered on the guest wireless network before 10 a.m. should not see any disruption in service. This maintenance will not affect access to any of the other campus wireless networks.

We appreciate your patience while we perform this necessary work. If you continue to have any issues after the planned maintenance window, please contact the Support Center at 515-271-3001 or visit service.drake.edu/its to report your issue.

— Carla Herling, ITS

News & Achievements Archive

Drake welcomes Ryan Arnold as neighborhood and community engagement manager

Ryan Arnold, Drake’s new neighborhood and community engagement manager.

Looking to enhance its relationship with the Des Moines community, Drake University is pleased to welcome Ryan Arnold to the position of neighborhood and community engagement manager.

In his new role, Ryan will establish partnerships between the University and the city, serve as the primary contact for residents and business owners in the Drake Neighborhood, and strive to strengthen the overall economic development and vitality of the area.

Ryan, who previously served as the senior minister at First Christian Church and lives in the Drake Neighborhood, has a deep understanding of the community.

“My family and I have called the Drake Neighborhood home for the last four years,” said Ryan. “I’m looking forward to combining my love for this community with my passion for Drake and continuing to move toward a more equitable, neighborly future.”

Ryan’s position will play an instrumental role in the University’s recent development projects, like the construction of a hotel, apartments, urban-style row houses, and retail space along University Avenue and the Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Boys and Girls Club on the southwest corner of 25th Street and Forest Avenue.

Ryan’s office is located in the Alumni House. He can be reached at ryan.arnold@drake.edu. Please welcome Ryan, his wife Kristyn, and their two children, Jack and Ellie, to the Bulldog family.

Campus Announcements Archive

ITS Support Center in Carnegie Hall closed due to water damage

Due to water damage from the storms on June 30, the ITS Support Center in Carnegie Hall is closed for walk-in support. Access to Carnegie Hall will continue to be unavailable for several weeks to allow for repairs. ITS staff are being relocated to the second floor of Collier-Scripps, and walk-in support should be open by the end of the week. More information to come.

Phone support is available by calling 515-271-3001 or you can use the IT Service Portal at service.drake.edu/its to report any issues you may be having.

We apologize for any inconvenience and will update you when the Support Center reopens in its temporary location.

— Carla Herling, ITS