All posts by Ashton Hockman

Strategic Updates Archive

Great Colleges to Work For survey

Full-time faculty and staff will have the opportunity to participate in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2018 Great Colleges to Work For survey.

On Monday, Feb. 19, faculty and staff will receive an email with an invitation to participate in the survey.

What is the Great Colleges to Work For survey?

The Great Colleges to Work For survey is the primary employee survey used by the University to gather feedback on workplace culture.

The survey is administered by ModernThink, a management-consulting firm focusing on workplace quality in higher education, and is sponsored by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

More information about the Great Colleges to Work For survey is available at www.chroniclegreatcolleges.com.

Why should I participate?

Your voice matters and your responses help the University to identify opportunities to improve workplace satisfaction and engagement. Your responses provide valuable insight into employee opinions and needs.

Is participation mandatory?

Participation is voluntary, although we do hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to share your feedback and make sure your voice is heard. A high response rate will help ensure an accurate representation of our community.

Are my responses confidential?

Your participation and the feedback you provide are completely confidential; responses cannot be traced back to individuals. Drake will receive reports summarizing the results, but will not have access to raw data.

Learn more by reading The Chronicle’s Great Colleges to Work For Statement of Confidentiality.

When and how do I participate?

The survey period begins Monday, Feb. 19, and ends Friday, March 2. The survey is administered online. Full-time faculty and staff will receive an email invitation to participate in the survey from Great Colleges.

How long will it take to complete the survey?

It typically takes about 15 minutes to complete the survey.

How is the data used and will the results be shared?

A summary of the findings will be shared with employees and will be used to identify our strengths and opportunities for improvement. Several key measures and targets in the University’s continuous improvement plan (CIP), and in many unit-level CIPs, are tied directly to feedback from the survey. For example, Drake is striving to earn a place on the Great Colleges to Work For Honor Roll by 2020. In addition, ModernThink provides valuable benchmark data against which we can compare our results. With this evidence in hand, senior leaders and individual units can make informed, strategic decisions about new initiatives.

For questions, contact Gary Johnson, director, HR operations, at gary.johnson@drake.edu or 271-4804, or visit www.ChronicleGreatColleges.com.

Can I complete the survey during work hours?

Yes. Faculty and staff are encouraged to complete the survey during working hours. Completing the survey is an important contribution that you can make to strengthen our campus community.

 

News & Achievements Archive

Drake recognized as a member by Home Base Iowa’s prestigious CHAMPS program

This month, the State of Iowa formally recognized Drake as a member of its Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMPs) program, which helps promote Iowa as an attractive place for veterans and their family members who choose to pursue their higher education. To become a member, Drake demonstrated that it met stringent requirements in three major areas that help U.S. military veterans: (i) transition to an institution of higher education, (ii) access on-campus support resources, and (iii) obtain scholarships and veterans benefits.

As part of the CHAMPS certification, Drake University recently expanded financial aid opportunities and educational resources for military veterans and their families. A new scholarship, dedicated study space, and access to academic and career advisors are among Drake’s resources for student-veterans.

Beginning in fall 2018, service members and their dependents who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Drake may apply for a renewable scholarship of $3,000 per academic year. The University also partners with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on the Yellow Ribbon Program; the partnership covers 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying veterans.

Student-veterans have access to dedicated study space in a University-owned facility that is used for Drake ROTC programming and other veterans’ activities.

In addition to the CHAMPS recognition, U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 ranking of Best Colleges for Veterans placed Drake No. 2 among private universities in the Midwest.

Campus Announcements Archive

Extended Book Store hours

Book Store hours Jan. 27 – Feb. 8

Saturday, Jan. 27 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 28 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Jan. 29–Feb. 1 (M­–Th) 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 2–Saturday, Feb. 3 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 4 Closed
Feb. 5–8 (M­–Th) 9 a.m.– 6 p.m. (resume normal hours)

Textbook refund policy

Text refunds are calculated from the beginning of the term (Jan. 29), not from the date of purchase. The refund schedule is as follows:

Last day for refund with receipt: Feb. 5 

Last day with drop slip/receipt Feb. 12

  • You must have your cash register or order receipt. All credit card purchases will be refunded to the card.
  • New books marked in any manner will be considered used, and will be refunded at the used book price. The item you are returning must be in the condition that it was purchased (no marks, or damage, original packaging, no missing pieces, shrink wrap has not been broken, etc.)
  • There will be a one-week full refund from the start of any weekend classes or classes that begin at a time other than the start of the semester provided the class does not end before the policy time.
  • All labels must be in place and intact to receive a refund. Course packets are non-refundable.

Receipt is required for all textbook refunds.

Katie Wilz, University Book Store

Campus Announcements Archive

Welcoming international students to campus

Drake International is excited to welcome incoming international students to Drake for the spring semester. To prepare them for the journey ahead and success at Drake, the department has developed a new orientation program that will acclimate them into our community. The program is more comprehensive than in years past and involves the participation of several departments. View the orientation schedule, and help us provide a warm welcome to these students.

— Jacquilline Nagila, Drake International

News & Achievements Archive

Welcome Gesine Gerhard, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Provost Mattison announced yesterday that Gesine Gerhard, PhD, has been named dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1, 2018. Gerhard has demonstrated strong leadership skills, clear vision, and passionate advocacy for liberal arts education during a career as an administrator, scholar, and teacher. She has served since 2012 as associate dean of the College of the Pacific, the largest and oldest academic unit of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., where she also served as the University’s director of general education.

Read the full news release here.

For Students Archive

Voluntary meal plans available online

Voluntary meal plans are now available online. Students living off campus—including students enrolled in the law program and occupational therapy program—are eligible to sign up for a voluntary meal plan. The following meal plans are available to commuter students:

  • 125-Block Meal Plan: 125 meals plus $125 flex per semester
  • 75-Block Meal Plan: 75 meals plus $75 flex per semester

Visit Drake’s housing and meal plan portal for more information or to sign up.

— Jennifer Bowersox, Drake Dining

For Students Archive

Travel to Uganda

A few spots remain for the summer travel seminar to Uganda. The three-week seminar is from May 21 to June 12. It explores the challenges the country faces on its path to sustainable development. The seminar is six-credit hours and open to all undergraduate students. It fulfills AOI: Engaged Citizen or Global and Cultural Understanding. Scholarships are available. Course cost is between $4,100 and $4,350. Registration closes Jan. 31.

During the seminar, you will:

  • Discover the capital city and have conversations with Ugandan leaders
  • Learn about rural life and health care
  • Build friendships with African colleagues
  • Pursue your passion by completing a service or research project
  • Go on safari and visit the source of the Nile

For questions, contact professors:

— Stephanie Cardwell, Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

News & Achievements Archive

Pisarski selected to work with Super Bowl Host Committee

Dorothy is wearing some of the gear provided by Target Corp. The reflective printing on the front and back is provided by 3M Corp, and the hat is provided by Love Your Melon.

Dorothy Pisarski, associate professor of advertising, was selected to work with the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee and serve as a Skyway Host as part of Crew 52 during the upcoming Super Bowl. Dorothy will provide information and suggestions to Minneapolis visitors who need assistance navigating the Skyway system or requiring general tourism information. Super Bowl festival events run for ten days preceding the Super Bowl, starting Friday, Jan. 26.

Dorothy was inspired to apply for the role with the hosting committee after accompanying Drake Advertising students to the Student Advertising Summit at the University of Minnesota a year ago. By participating in the Super Bowl, Dorothy will be able to share with her students real-life examples of how event management and marketing operate at a Super Bowl-level scope and scale.