All posts by Ashton Hockman

Strategic Updates Archive

COVID-19 Update

The following message was sent from President Martin to the campus community on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

As communicated to campus yesterday, the University is experiencing a strong rise in reported cases of COVID-19 among our student population. As of this message, we are aware of 107 confirmed student cases, 20 of whom are isolating in Ross Hall. We expect these numbers to rise in the coming days as more test results are received. In recognition of the situation, to include where we are in the semester, we are taking steps to stop further spread of COVID-19 on campus with the explicit goal of protecting in-person commencement exercises.

Classes and final exams. Faculty are empowered to choose whether the remainder of classes and finals are in-person or online. Faculty are also empowered to require masks and/or distancing in the classroom for the remainder of the spring term and exam week.

All Drake University extracurricular and co-curricular events will either be postponed, moved online, modified, or canceled as decided by event organizers. Some of the events immediately impacted by this decision include the cancellation of today’s Provost’s Social and the postponement of the Faculty Honors Luncheon and the Senior Wine and Cheese celebration. Additionally, tonight’s Student Senate Inauguration and tomorrow’s Adams Leadership Awards ceremony will be moved online. Further information will be forthcoming from the organizers of all the events impacted by these changes.

Remote work. Managers should consider allowing staff to work remotely for the next two weeks where practicable. Individual departments and managers will determine and communicate changes regarding remote work based on departmental needs.

Masks are strongly recommended when in shared indoor campus spaces. Well-fitting, N95/KN95 masks remain the best protection against transmission. KN95 masks are available to students, faculty, and staff and can be picked up in the Student Life Center in Olmsted (one per person, while supplies last).

With everyone’s help and compliance with the above, we can stem the current spread of COVID-19 on campus and preserve an in-person commencement experience for our graduating seniors. Thank you for your continued commitment to the health and safety of our campus community.

— Marty Martin, President

Strategic Updates Archive

You’re invited to Griff I’s birthday party!

The OG (Griff I) is turning 10 and Griff II is throwing him a birthday party! Students, faculty, and staff are invited to stop by Black Cat Ice Cream Saturday, May 7, from 1–3 p.m. to help Griff I celebrate.

Both Griff I and Griff II will be there, party hats on. Instead of gifts, please consider bringing non-perishable food and/or personal care items for the Little Free Pantries in the Drake Neighborhood. Let’s honor the OG by helping our neighbors!

— Erin Bell, University Communications and Marketing

For Students Archive

Drake Student Survey: Let your voice make a difference

Students, you should have received an email inviting you to complete the Drake Student Survey. Check your inbox for an email titled “Reminder: Drake wants to hear from you.”

The Drake Student Survey explores your perception of your time here at Drake; including your learning experiences, Drake services, and other issues from both inside and outside the classroom. Your feedback is very important as it will help administrators, faculty, staff, student leaders, and others improve curriculum, student support, and the campus environment.

For questions, contact Kevin Saunders in the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment at kevin.saunders@drake.edu.

Thank you for your participation.

—Kevin Saunders, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment

Strategic Updates Archive

You’re invited: Groundbreaking celebration for the Des Moines Public Schools Community Stadium tomorrow

Drake students, faculty, and staff are invited to the groundbreaking celebration for the Des Moines Public Schools Community Stadium at Drake University. Please join us at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20, at the Courtside Club in Shivers.

First proposed in November 2019, this 4,000-seat venue will be used by high school football and soccer programs, additional high school activities ranging from marching band festivals to rugby matches, as well as middle school activities. The stadium will also be the new on-campus home for the Drake Bulldogs men’s and women’s NCAA Division I soccer teams. With construction bids awarded in March 2022, construction will begin this spring, and the stadium is projected to be complete by fall of 2023.

— Ryan Arnold, Community Engagement 

Campus Announcements Archive

Relays parking and road closure info

The Drake Relays brings thousands of athletes, alumni, and guests to campus. As a result, parking and travel on and around campus will be significantly impacted during Relays, April 23–30.

If you are commuting to campus, it is highly recommended that you use public transportation if possible. If you do plan on driving, give yourself plenty of time to find parking. Please remember that cars that are parked on the grass, illegally in handicap spaces, or blocking operations will be towed without notice.  

Saturday, April 23: Packet pick up at the Knapp Center for the Drake Road Races and Grand Blue Mile from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., about 4,000 people will come to campus throughout the day.

Sunday, April 24: Drake Road Races will impact vehicular traffic on Forest Avenue and 25th Street, and throughout the city of Des Moines, between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

Sunday, April 24–Sunday, April 30:
Lot 17 (Facilities Lot) will be closed/No Parking allowed

Wednesday, April 27, 12 pm – Saturday, April 30, 6 pm:
Forest Avenue will be fully closed from 27th Street to 29th Street and will allow for only limited access from 24th Street to 27th Street and from 29th Street to 31st Street. No street parking is allowed along Forest Avenue. 

Wednesday, April 27–Saturday, April 30:
27th Street will be intermittently closed between Forest Avenue and Clarke street.

Wednesday, April 27–Saturday, April 29:
Lot 18 S (Studio Arts) will be closed/No Parking allowed

Wednesday, April 27–Saturday, April 29:
Part of Lot 13 (Ray Promenade Lot) will be closed

— Scott Law, Public Safety and University Operations

Campus Announcements Archive

Blue Magazine Spring 2022 issue available online

Read the latest issue of Blue, Drake University’s alumni insider. In this issue, you’ll find Bulldogs pursuing excellence and transforming lives in ways that will positively impact their communities for decades to come.

What’s Inside:

— The family of Holly Morrison Dierks, LA’76, is inextricable from the Drake Relays. The Morrison connections to the Relays date back to the early 1900s.

—  Drake men’s golf alumnus and two-time PGA major champion Zach Johnson, BN’98, was recently named the United States Ryder Cup team captain.

— You helped us break records in the All In 2022 Giving Challenge. See where we ended up! 

— Drake University changed the life of SJMC Dean Kathleen Richardson, JO’76, GR’01, LW’02. Her opening letter is an honor to our past and an inspiration for our future.    

— Donor generosity has transformed student lives. Hear the powerful stories your generosity is helping fuel.    

— Mark your calendar for the Drake Relays Alumni Tent Party and get a full schedule of events inside this issue. We’ll see you there! 

— Bruce Heintz, University Communications and Marketing

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Office furniture purchase requests, deadline April 15

Does your New Hire need a desk chair?  Does your office furniture need to adapt to accommodate flex and shared offices, or remote work options? 

A few basics on ordering the furniture you need:

Furniture Options:

  • The Drake Furniture Standards lists the typical new office furniture options available for order through our vendors.  Amazon purchases for these items are not permitted, in order for the University to capture the full warranty and maintenance benefits.  
  • New To Drake Furniture – we have a furniture available by consignment through our furniture vendors that can provide a significant cost savings (typically between 75-90% discount).  These items are usually limited in number and are available sporadically.  The best way to take advantage of this pricing option, is to submit your furniture need request early to FPM, and we will put the vendor on alert for your request.   

Planning and Delivery Timelines

  • New Office Furniture please allow 4 weeks for processing and 6-8 weeks for delivery
  • Academic Rooms Furniture Requests – please fill out a project request form http://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_doGJSI87RkzQX1c.  These requests often involve technology, electrical needs, painting, etc.  Timeline for this could range 4-8 weeks for design and approvals; 8-12 weeks for delivery   

Approvals and Final Purchase – information to include on request:

  • Name of Requestor
  • Office / Space Location (Building + Room Number)
  • Description of items needed
  • Budget available and FOAPAL to use for final purchase
  • Signed approval from the respective Dean (email approval is acceptable)

Furniture Request Timeline

  • We process furniture requests with our vendors the first week of each month.   By submitting the furniture request by the last Friday of the month, you will get in-line for the next cycle of orders.  

Upcoming deadline: Please note that Friday, April 15, is the final day to request a furniture purchase within the FY22 fund cycle.  We will continue to process your requests for furniture after April 15, but will fall to FY23 funding.

Please submit furniture requests to Rob Ebel, FPM construction manager, at rob.ebel@drake.edu. 

— Michelle Huggins, Planning and Design Manager, FPM

For Students Archive

Seeking Black student contributors

Four Black students are sought to contribute to the development and use of a discussion tool for non-Black faculty, staff, and students to use in developing skills for addressing racially-charged situations on campus and beyond. Specifically, hired students will be asked to collaborate with Dr. Shelley Fairbairn on developing, refining, and implementing the discussion tool that focuses on three topics drawn from the “Racially Sensitive Classroom Practices” document developed through the BLM@Drake initiative during the fall of 2020. These topics are:

  • the use of racially charged language
  • attention to Black hairstyles
  • putting BIPOC students on the spot

Each student contributor will be paid $12.50/hour for up to 12 hours of work to be completed between April 12 and May 12. Interested students should contact shelley.fairbairn@drake.edu by 9 a.m. on Monday, April 11, to indicate their interest. In the email, please describe your:

  • willingness to assist with the anti-racist development of non-Black members of the Drake campus community  
  • experience and comfort with leading anti-racist development activities
  • ability to meet between 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday–Friday

Application emails will be evaluated based on the extent to which the applicant is interested in doing anti-racist development work among non-Black members of the Drake community, the amount and relevance of their experience with that work, and their availability to assist with the work during the stipulated work hours. Applicants will be informed of the hiring decision by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 11.

— Shelley Fairbairn, Professor of Education, SOE

Strategic Updates Archive

COVID-19 campus updates

While cases and hospitalizations remain low in Polk County, Drake University continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 on our campus.

Moving forward, the University will make the following changes to its COVID-19 response plan:

Contact tracing: The University will continue to notify contacts of exposure through the spring semester. Based on a low rate of contacts testing positive for COVID-19, contacts will no longer be asked to quarantine.

Free COVID-19 testing: Test kits will continue to be available in the Student Services Center in Olmsted and through local pharmacy retailers such as Walgreens and Hy-Vee. Free at-home antigen COVID-19 tests are also available through the federal government by request at covid.gov/tests.

Campus COVID-19 case numbers will continue to be posted weekly on the University’s COVID website through spring commencement.

Mask policy: If Polk County moves into the CDC high risk designation, or if we experience an outbreak on our campus, the University will reinstate a mask mandate in all campus buildings.

The University will remain vigilant in monitoring changes to the ongoing pandemic and reassess its actions as necessary.