All posts by Ashton Hockman

Strategic Updates Archive

ICYMI: Classes to be held remotely for first two weeks of semester

Provost Sue Mattison sent a message to campus Jan. 11 announcing that the first two weeks of classes for the Spring 2022 semester will be held remotely. See highlights from her message below.

  • Classes will begin Monday, Jan. 24, as scheduled, and the first two weeks of classes will be held remotely.  For Law students, classes begin on Tuesday, January 18, and will also be remote.  
  • Based on current scientific evidence, cases are expected to peak in Iowa during the last week of January/first week of February.  This means the likelihood of extreme disruption to the classroom experience due to students in isolation and quarantine is very high.  

For students 

  • Residence hall students may move in Jan. 22–23 as planned, although students are not required to return at this time. 
  • Chief Student Affairs Officer Jerry Parker will share more information in the coming days regarding move-in details for residence hall students. Please watch your inbox.
  • Students are strongly encouraged to administer a COVID-19 test at home prior to returning to campus. This could alleviate having to move to and from campus multiple times, and most importantly, exposing others.
  • Students who participate in off-campus experiences such as student teaching, clinics, and practica must consult with their advisors and follow policies of their host institutions.  
  • Law students will receive additional information on orientation to the Legal Clinic. 
  • Many student activities and events will be postponed or held virtually during the first two weeks of the semester. This does not include athletic events. Chief Student Affairs Officer Jerry Parker will provide additional information to students later this week.

For faculty and staff

  • Managers should consider allowing staff to work remotely during this time where practicable, but individual departments and managers will determine and communicate changes regarding remote work based on their departmental needs.
  • Please watch for an update this week from Chief Administrative Officer Venessa Macro with more information.

For faculty 

  • Information and resources on virtual teaching support will be sent from Deputy Provost Renee Cramer and Executive Director of Online Programming Christina Trombley.

The importance of getting and reporting your booster

  • Emerging research shows that those who have been fully vaccinated—including a booster—have a much lower risk of severe illness compared to those who have not been vaccinated or who have not received a booster.
  • Booster shots will be key to our ability to enjoy a robust, in-person spring semester with all the traditions and activities we cherish. 
  • Once you have received your booster, please upload a photo of your vaccination card through Drake’s secure online form.
  • Reporting your vaccination helps to shape our plans and decisions. Important to note: Those who report their boosters will be exempt from quarantine (in accordance with new CDC guidelines) if they are exposed to COVID-19 and not experiencing symptoms.
For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Iowa Labor Commission not adopting OSHA ETS

On Friday (Jan. 7), Iowa’s labor commissioner announced that Iowa submitted official notice that it will not be adopting or enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS).

The ETS requires employers of 100 or more employees to require vaccination or weekly COVID testing of their employees.

Iowa is among 22 states that have an individual state plan for workplace safety, which gives the state the option of writing its own workplace rules for public and private sector workers. But those rules can’t be weaker than what the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires. Iowa Labor Commissioner Rod Roberts said in a news release that the state has determined its existing standards “are at least as effective as the federal standard change.”

Also on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether to reimpose a stay of the ETS. The Court has not yet issued a ruling.

Because of the legal challenge and the position of Iowa’s labor commissioner, Drake will delay taking additional steps to comply with the ETS until there is greater legal clarity.

In the meantime, Drake strongly encourages all employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine—including a booster shot—when advised. Employees who choose to get vaccinated should provide proof of vaccination through Drake’s secure online form. If you have previously provided proof of vaccination and have since received a booster shot, please upload a photo of your updated vaccination card, noting the completion of your booster, by selecting “submit proof of booster.”

Questions about the ETS or Drake’s decision to delay implantation can be directed to drakehr@drake.edu.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources; Chris Nickell, Environmental Health & Safety

Campus Announcements Archive

Blue Magazine Fall 2021 issue debuts

The fall issue of Blue, the Drake University alumni insider, was published online and is available to read.

What’s Inside: The issue highlightsThe Ones: Drake’s Campaign for the Brave & Bold. Read about the campaign’s seven campaign priorities guiding our vision for a better world and dive deeper into one of these priorities, University for All: Creating Access to Opportunity. Learn about the innovative ways Drake is empowering individuals of all ages and from all backgrounds to enhance their lives through education. Keep a look out for subsequent issues of Blue, which will highlight the other campaign priorities in more detail.

— Andy Verlengia, Alumni Relations

Campus Announcements Archive

Dogtown Chromatic: A light and music experience

A special event on Dec. 18 will light up the 2300 block of University Avenue, and everyone is invited!

Buildings along University Avenue between 23rd and 24th streets will be illuminated as part of a state-of-the-art light and music display, called Dogtown Chromatic.

Dogtown Chromatic is a project to beautify the Dogtown business district and encourage people to support its small businesses during the holiday season. The event’s Facebook page says the goal of the project is to “stir up feelings of pure joy. To bring light to our community.”

The lighting ceremony is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. A performance by The Isiserettes Drill and Drum Corps will lead up to lights reveal. A street party with live music and entertainment will take place from 6–8 p.m. The 2300 block of University Avenue will be closed for the event.

Eleanor Kahn, the artist behind a street art installation in Dogtown this summer, is the project’s creative director. Dogtown Chromatic is sponsored by Wells Fargo and Invest DSM. 

Learn more on the Facebook event and by following @dogtownlights on Instagram.

HR Information Archive

Drake’s open enrollment period ends today

The annual open enrollment period for Drake’s health, dental, and flexible spending (FSA) plans ends Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 11:59 p.m. If you have not yet enrolled, please do not wait any longer. Elections made during the annual open enrollment period will become effective Jan. 1, 2022.

If you wish to continue your current health, dental or voluntary life insurance you need not do anything—your current participation will automatically continue. If, however, you wish to change your current participation, you must elect or terminate coverage in the Benefits Portal in myDrake.

If you wish to participate in either of Drake’s flexible spending account (FSA) plans during 2022, you must make an election in the Benefits Portal in myDrake by the end of today. There is no automatic renewal from year-to-year for FSAs.

If you wish to add or increase voluntary life insurance coverage for yourself or your eligible dependents (one benefit increment), without providing proof of good health, you must make an election in the Benefits Portal in myDrake.

ALL benefit elections for the 2022 Plan Year must be made online in the Benefits Portal no later than 11:59 p.m. today! Instructions and information about how to access the Benefits Portal are available here. Should you have questions, please contact Drake HR at drakehr@drake.edu or Marlene at 515–271–1901 or marlene.heuertz@drake.edu before 5 p.m. today. If you need assistance at 11:58 p.m. tonight, it will be too late.

— Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

Strategic Updates Archive

COVID-19 Update: Drake University preparing to meet ETS deadlines

Full-time, part-time, and student workers are subject to these requirements

The recent emergency temporary standard (ETS) issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all employers with 100 or more employees to either ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or require unvaccinated workers to mask and produce a negative test result on a weekly basis.

Drake continues to review the ETS and is monitoring pending legal challenges. However, in the meantime, the University must prepare to meet the upcoming ETS deadlines to ensure compliance with its requirements. To be considered fully vaccinated by the Jan. 4 deadline currently set in the ETS, employees who are not already fully vaccinated will need to start the vaccination process by the dates listed below.

Moderna: First dose by Nov. 23, 2021.
Pfizer: First dose by Nov. 30, 2021.
Johnson & Johnson: Dose needed by Dec. 21, 2021.

An individual is fully vaccinated two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is free and readily available in our community, often without an appointment. Find a convenient location.

Drake employees who are fully vaccinated but have not yet notified the University of their full vaccination status are asked to do so by Nov. 23, through Drake’s secure online form. Moreover, employees who have attested to being vaccinated, but have not yet uploaded a photo of their vaccination card through Drake’s secure online form, need to complete this step by Nov. 23. Failure to submit proof of vaccination, will result in these employees being considered unvaccinated.

As a result of our community’s efforts to encourage vaccinations, the vast majority of our employees are already vaccinated and have uploaded documentation of their vaccination card through Drake’s secure online form. For these individuals, there is no further action needed. Thank you for doing your part.

The federal vaccine requirement applies to all Drake University full-time, part-time, and student employees.

Let’s continue doing our part. If you haven’t been vaccinated, act now to protect yourself and others and to continue the important work of our University.  

Campus Announcements Archive

“See something, say something:” Catalytic converter theft

Drake Public Safety has received reports of stolen catalytic converters from vehicles in campus parking lots, so once again, we are asking members of the campus community to “say something, if you see something.”

Throughout Des Moines and the rest of the country, catalytic converters are probably being stolen for scrap, or they could be reselling them to people installing them in cars. All cars have catalytic converters, so any car could be the subject of a theft.

Because removing a catalytic converter typically requires getting underneath the vehicle with a metal saw or some other type of heavy-duty cutting tool, DPS is asking people to watch for suspicious activity in and around parking lots. 

If your car has had its catalytic converter stolen or you have observed someone underneath vehicles or tampering with cars, we ask that you contact Drake Public Safety at 515–271–3860 or contact the Des Moines Police Department by calling 911.

— Scott Law, Director of Public Safety

Strategic Updates Archive

COVID-19 Update: Federal vaccine requirement for employees, submit proof of vaccination by Nov. 23

Full-time, part-time, and student workers are subject to these requirements

An emergency temporary standard (ETS) issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) last week requires all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or require unvaccinated workers to produce a negative test result on a weekly basis.

Drake continues to review the ETS and is monitoring pending legal challenges. However, in the meantime, the University must prepare to meet the upcoming ETS deadlines, to ensure compliance with its requirements.

As a result of our community’s efforts to encourage vaccinations, the vast majority of our employees are already vaccinated and have uploaded documentation of their vaccination card through Drake’s secure online form. For these individuals, there is no further action needed. Thank you for doing your part.

Drake employees who have not yet notified the University of their full vaccination status are asked to do so by Nov. 23, through Drake’s secure online form. The federal vaccine requirement applies to all Drake University full-time, part-time, and student employees.

Moreover, employees who have attested to being vaccinated, but have not yet uploaded a photo of their vaccination card through Drake’s secure online form, are expected to complete this step by Nov. 23. Failure to submit proof of vaccination, will result in these employees being considered unvaccinated.

The COVID-19 vaccine is free and readily available in our community, often without an appointment. Find a convenient location.

Let’s continue doing our part. If you haven’t been vaccinated, act now to protect yourself and others and to continue the important work of our University.  

Strategic Updates Archive

Drake launches The Ones

On Thursday, Oct. 28, Drake kicked off the most ambitious comprehensive campaign in its history: The Ones: Drake’s Campaign for the Brave & Bold.

If you missed the launch, watch it at drake.edu/nextgreatera. Also, watch a video message sent to campus from President Martin on Friday, Oct. 29.

To learn more about The Ones, read the news release and visit the website theones.drake.edu, which highlights the campaign’s seven priorities, including significant progress already achieved to date. In addition, read the inspiring case for support that captures the imagination of what this campaign can and should be.

Faculty, staff, and students are the heart of Drake and its strongest ambassadors. Together, we can bring this inspiring campaign to life that will transform lives and strengthen communities.