University Communications and Marketing is sponsoring a Professional Headshot Day Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Old Main, Conference Room 115. The sessions are free to all faculty, staff, students. High-resolution portraits are made available for download through SmugMug.
Please sign up for a time slot. Click the Register button on the University calendar page. Space is limited.
—Jimmy Hoover, University Communications and Marketing
Drake will hold fire drills Oct. 19, 20, 21, and 24 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. 24. 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 6–9 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:
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 Planning and Management (271-2706). 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 University Emergency Response Plan is appreciated.
Fire drill schedule:
Oct. 19
Cowles
Opperman
Cartwright
Harmon Fine Arts Center
Howard
Carnegie
SJMC at 25th
Oct. 20
Olin
Science Connector Building
Medbury
Collier-Scripps
Harvey-Ingham
Cline
Fitch
STAH
Occupational Therapy
Oct. 21
Aliber
Olmsted Center
Hubbell
Student Health
Alumni House
ROTC
Fieldhouse
Tennis Center
Oct. 24
All residence halls (6–9 p.m.)
Bell Center
Cole
Dial Center
Kinne Center
Knapp Center
Legal Clinic
Old Main
Public Safety
Vote Smart
— Chris Nickell, Environmental Health & Safety
The Office of Alumni Relations reaffirms Drake’s commitment to diversity by recognizing and nurturing different identities. In 2020, we committed to fostering community between our diverse students and alumni. This week Alumni Relations will host two receptions to welcome our LGBTQ+ and BIPOC students to campus for another great year! These welcome receptions serve to create community among diverse students, alumni, faculty, and staff. For students, this is an opportunity to meet individuals like you who have been where you are. And of course, there will also be refreshments!
On Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 6:30–9 p.m., we welcome all LGBTQ+ students, alumni, and faculty/staff to the Alumni House (2700 University Ave) for Rainbow Welcome, and then on Thursday, Sept. 22, from 6:30–9 p.m., we welcome all BIPOC students, alumni, and faculty/staff to the Alumni House for the BIPOC Student/Alumni Welcome.
—Greg Lin, Alumni Relations
A new outdoor mural in Dogtown created by artist Jill Wells, a 2005 Drake graduate, will be unveiled Oct. 1 from 6–9 p.m. at xBK live, 1159 24th Street, Des Moines.
The unveiling event will include:
6 p.m. – reception with Dough Co. Pizza
6:30 p.m. – interactive performance live photoshoot
7:30 p.m. – Live DJ
9 p.m. – Mural unveiling ends
The mural captures the spirit of music, Black entrepreneurship, and community success. The Iowa Department for the Blind is creating a Braille description of the mural, to be kept on-site at xBk. The musical muse in the mural is Gabriella Wilson, known professionally as H.E.R., an acronym for “Having Everything Revealed.” Wilson is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and musician.
— Ryan Arnold, Director, Community Engagement
Students, below are some important reminders related to COVID-19.
On Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium, Iowa PBS will host a premiere screening of Governors of Iowa: Robert D. Ray. A widely respected political leader, Governor Robert D. Ray is known for an even-handed approach to governing Iowa. His lasting legacy of welcoming refugees during the late 1970s forever changed the cultural fabric of the state. A panel discussion will follow the screening. RSVP for free: https://bit.ly/3DdzLR4.
— Hilary Ortmann, Robert D. & Billie Ray Center
It’s been an unpredictable couple of years in the recruitment space. Please join me, Anne Kremer, for an opportunity to come together and participate in a recruitment refresh.
When: Sept. 19 from 3–4 p.m.
Where: Sussman Theatre
Data insights on the effectiveness of faculty as a part of the recruitment and visit experience, along with best practices and approaches for these students in both the in person and virtual spaces will be covered. We will also provide some insights on the Gen Z student and what they are seeking as a part of their college search and college experience.
— Anne Kremer, Dean of Admission
Ray Walton, an accomplished leader and business executive with public and private sector experience, has agreed to be the interim director of the Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement at the invitation of Drake University, The Harkin Institute’s National Advisory Council, and Sen. and Ruth Harkin.
The appointment comes following the conclusion of Joseph Jones’ tenure as executive director of the Institute. Joseph served as executive director starting in August 2016, and since that time, the organization experienced tremendous growth in programming and research and celebrated the opening of the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center on Drake’s campus.
Ray’s connections to Senator Harkin and his commitment to Iowa are strong. Early in his career, Ray served as a staff member for then-Congressman Harkin. He spent more than two decades in several leadership roles at General Growth Properties, until 2008, when Governor Chet Culver appointed him director of the state’s Department of Administrative Services. Ray previously served in a similar capacity as interim director of the Culver Center at Simpson College.
We are pleased to welcome Ray into this interim role as the search for the next permanent executive director progresses.
If you have not lately, I’d encourage you to review Drake’s Continuous Improvement Plan site. As a reminder, this is our strategic plan and lists out all of the objectives in each of the plan’s commitment areas. Please take time to explore how each of those objectives are embodied in many ways across our campus life. You can do so by clicking on the “+” in each objective area or the “Learn more” link to see more on student, faculty, and staff successes.
In addition, you’ll see more information on all the major initiatives the University has underway as well. This site is continuously updated and can be also found any time by going to the drake.edu home page, clicking on ‘Campus Links’ at the top and selecting “Strategic Plan”. Thanks for your review and engagement.
— Nate Reagen, President’s Office
The following message was sent Monday, Aug. 8, to faculty and staff from President Martin.
Please take a moment to read a message that was sent to students regarding our continued response to COVID-19. While we are planning to enjoy the full Drake experience this fall, we must take appropriate precautions to minimize the effects of COVID-19 on our community.
For the most part, our COVID-19 guidelines remain the same as at the end of the spring semester:
Vaccines are our greatest defense for minimizing disruption to the academic year and reducing the risk of severe disease and hospitalization. If you haven’t done so, I urge you to get vaccinated and take advantage of every COVID-19 booster available to you.
We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. Should the CDC publish new guidelines, we will update our policies and practices accordingly. As was the case at the end of the spring semester, COVID-19 email updates will be issued on an as-needed basis.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the health and safety of our campus community. Together we are learning to live with COVID-19 and minimize its impact on our community. I look forward to a great semester.
Best,
Marty
