All posts by Ashton Hockman

For Students Archive

Siblings Weekend April 6-8

Residence Hall Association presents Siblings Weekend April 6 through 8. Siblings Weekend is an opportunity to welcome your brother and/or sister to Drake to experience life as a Bulldog. It’s an opportunity to catch up with your sibling(s), introduce them to your friends, and show off the University. You and your sibling(s) will have a chance to experience everything from athletics and arts to clubs and student activities, all in one weekend. Siblings must register to participate. Cost is $20. In order to receive matching T-shirts, register by March 15. For questions, contact Mariana Martens at mariana.martens@drake.edu or Dana Walton at dana.walton@drake.edu.

Mariana Martens

Campus Announcements Archive

Women at Drake: A Bulldog Legacy

The Drake University Archives proudly announces a Women’s History Month display, created by Riley Terzopoulos, archives assistant and junior at Drake. The display features a wide variety of contributions made by women on Drake’s campus, including ROTC, “Drake Beauties,” notable alumni and faculty, and Wilma Rudolph, the first woman to win a gold medal in the Drake Relays. The display is located in the second floor atrium of Cowles Library, just outside the Reading Room, and is open to the public during regular library hours through the end of March.

—Leslie Noble, Cowles Library

Campus Announcements Archive

Tornado drill March 28

The National Weather Service will conduct a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday, March 28. A test tornado watch will be issued around 10 a.m. followed by a test tornado warning around 10:15 a.m., in which sirens will sound.

The statewide drill allows us to test our planning and readiness and practice seeking appropriate shelter in case of a real tornado. Faculty, staff, and students should participate in the drill by following campus severe weather plans and going to the lowest level of their building, away from doorways and windows. View a list of designated severe weather shelters.

In the event of actual severe weather in the state during the drill, backup days are scheduled for March 29 and 30.

Learn what actions to take when a tornado hits, whether you are outside, in a manufactured home, or in a building.

Wherever you are, remember that most injuries associated with high winds are from flying debris, so protect your head.

Tornado facts:

  • Tornados may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
  • Funnel clouds usually last less than 10 minutes before dissipating, and many only last several seconds. On rare occasion, cyclones can last for over an hour.
  • Tornados may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
  • The average tornado moves southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
  • The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.
  • Damage paths of tornadoes can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.
  • Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.

Tornado watch: Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to the NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Seek shelter immediately.

—Chris Nickell, Environmental Health and Safety

Campus Announcements Archive

Engaged Campus Award nominations due March 30

Do you know of a Drake student, faculty, staff, or alumnus who is doing great work in the community? Nominate them for an Engaged Campus Award, given out by Iowa Campus Compact. Nominations are due March 30.

It is highly recommended that people review the rubric when writing nominations. The rubric can be found on the website under the Selection Process tab. Award winners will be honored at the Engaged Campus Awards and Summit on May 9 at Coe College in Cedar Rapids.

Awards for students and student groups

Student Leadership: A student leader with demonstrated accomplishments in engaging students in meaningful service and civic engagement.

Network Choice Award: Student organizations or student-led projects can be nominated for online voting in late April that will allow our network to select a winner.

Awards for individuals

Civic Mission Leadership: A faculty or staff member who has demonstrated leadership for higher education civic engagement and has worked to give voice to the civic mission of higher education.

Community Leadership: An alumnus of a member institution making strong contributions to their community and demonstrating the values of the civic mission of higher education.

Emerging Leadership: A new person in the field who is making unique and innovative contributions that demonstrate strong future potential.

Awards for groups or projects

Emerging Innovation: A recent project, program, or initiative making unique and innovative contributions that demonstrate strong future potential.

Community Partnership: A campus-community partnership or collaboration that is deep, reciprocal, and transformational.

Awards for AmeriCorps members

National Service Member of the Year: Individual full-time, part-time, and summer AmeriCorps and VISTA members (in IACC programs) who have made significant contributions to building a community partner or campus department’s capacity.

—Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

DUCURS call for abstracts

Registration and abstract submissions for the 15th annual Drake University Conference on Undergraduate Research in the Sciences (DUCURS) are due March 23. Register and/or view abstract guidelines.

DUCURS will be held Thursday, April 12, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Parents Hall. The Conference will feature student oral presentations and poster presentations on current research projects by students and faculty. Following the presentations, awards will be given to the top presenters. All participants and attendees will be eligible to win door prizes.

—Kayla Jenkins, College of Arts and Sciences

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Discuss online learning

Christina Trombley, executive director of online programming, and Kara Wendelin, director of online student support, invite you to meet with them to discuss online learning. Christina and Kara will be at the coffee shop in Olmsted every other Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., beginning this Thursday, March 22.  They look forward to discussing online programs at Drake and answering your questions.

—Christina Trombley, online programming

Featured Events Archive, HR Information Archive

Improve your mindfulness

Join Johanna Dunlevy from EFR this Thursday, March 22, at 10 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Rooms 310 and 311 to learn how to become more mindful and think differently about everyday situations you encounter at home and in the workplace. How a person thinks and processes emotions is an important component of health and wellness—just as important as exercising and eating healthy. Becoming more mindful can improve emotional intelligence, reduce stress, and help manage change, and it can be practiced almost anywhere—in your car, at your desk, in the park, or at home.

Participants will earn Bulldogs United in Learning Drake (BUILD) credits and will be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester.

Additional BUILD information, including an online registration form, is accessible under the blueView Employee tab in the Learning & Development section of Human Resources.

Email Debra Wiley at debra.wiley@drake.edu for more information.

— Debra Wiley, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Stroke Detection Plus screenings

Strokes are the leading cause of serious, long-term disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. Common risk factors include being over 40 years of age, overweight, inactive, family history, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and smoking.

Stroke Detection Plus will be offering four screenings on Wednesday, March 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Rooms 310 and 311. Screenings include:

  • Stroke/carotid artery screening
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
  • Peripheral arterial disease screening
  • Atrial fibrillation (EKG) screening

These painless and non-invasive screenings are open to all Drake employees, spouses, and retirees. The cost is $99 for all four screenings payable at the time of your appointment. If you only wish to participate in one or two screenings, the cost is $45 per screening.

Appointments are required. Register online or call 1-877-732-8258 toll free. If you call, be sure to mention that you are participating in the Drake University event in Des Moines at the Olmsted Center.

View more information on the screenings.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

IMPORTANT: Course material requests due March 15

The deadline for submitting course material requests for the upcoming summer semester is March 15. Receiving material requests as soon as possible enables the Book Store to source the most affordable books for students and provide top dollar to students selling books back at the end of this semester. With the Book Store’s Online Adoption Tool, selecting course materials is fast and easy.

Access the online adoption tool

Visit www.drake.bkstr.com. Go to Books in the top navigation and under the Information heading, click Online Adoptions. If you need additional training to use the Online Adoption Tool, contact Donna Hallstrom at donna.hallstrom@drake.edu.

New User?

Follow the steps listed above. Click on Register Here and complete the required fields. Enter 1623 in the Book Store Supplied Password field.

Download the 6 Ways to Help Students Save on Textbooks to learn about Follett’s different types of course material purchasing options. If you have any questions about the Online Adoption Tool or how to save students money, please contact Donna Hallstrom at donna.hallstrom@drake.edu.

— Donna Hallstrom, University Book Store