Sign up for Bulldog Bootcamp for the spring semester. The six-week program will help you meet your New Year’s goals and build healthy habits for the rest of the school year. Each week the program will feature two group workouts and plenty of inspiration for individual workouts. The program will help you get fit, while providing a new social network along with nutrition and wellness tips. To sign up, email wellness@drake.edu.
— Drake Wellness
An important aspect of Drake’s Continuous Improvement Plan is to examine our processes. The Administrative Services Survey greatly assists us in this.
This fall’s survey was issued to faculty and staff with the focus on Human Resources, Facilities Planning and Management (FPM), Information Technology Services, Public Safety, Finance and Communications.
This feedback helps the departments understand where service gaps may exist and how to improve the services of our University. Continuous improvement efforts are meant to drive intentional and strategic action. Responses to this survey shape the University’s future efforts.
Survey respondents provided largely positive feedback about FPM services. Responses were provided on a five-point scale, with five being the highest.
Satisfaction with FPM staff – Total Average 4.36 (4.30 last year)
Respondents assessed their satisfaction with FPM staff including their courtesy, professionalism, knowledge, timeliness, and communication in regard to work orders, projects and construction. Satisfaction with FPM staff was generally high, but was lowest for communication of work order status, projects and construction (3.99).
Satisfaction with FPM support and services – Total Average 4.34 (4.26 last year)
Respondents assessed their satisfaction with FPM support and services including custodial, grounds, snow removal, moving, cooling and heating, painting, construction, carpentry, trash/recycle, and plumbing. Satisfaction with FPM support and services were all above 80% but only grounds and moving services broke the 90% satisfaction threshold we are striving to achieve.
Overall satisfaction—Total Average 4.14 (4.09 last year)
Overall satisfaction is above average, but FPM still has room for improvement.
In reviewing the data and reflecting on the comments provided by the respondents, FPM has concluded to do the following over the coming year.
— Kevin Moran, Facilities, Planning, and Management
The family of the late Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady, who passed away Friday, has confirmed plans to observe and celebrate his life.
A public memorial service will take place at the Knapp Center on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 10 a.m. Justice Cady was a proud Drake alumnus who earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Drake. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early; doors will open at 9 a.m. The public is invited to enter the Knapp Center on the Forest Avenue entrance only.
For more information, read a statement from the Iowa Judicial Branch.
International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. Drake is excited to participate in this nationwide global celebration through a variety of events throughout the week of Nov. 18–23. Below are five event highlights for students. View the full list of events on the Drake calendar.
International Bazaar:Monday, Nov. 18, 2:30–4:30 PM, Olmsted Breezeway
Stop by Olmsted Breezeway for interactive cultural table presentations, including international food samples, calligraphy, language activities and more! Hosted by the students of World Languages and Cultures (WLC) and the Intensive English Program (IEP).
U.S. Fulbright Program Information Session:Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2:00–3:00 PM, Meredith 102
Join Fulbright alumni Nina Lawrin & Nathan Jacobson for an information session regarding the U.S. Fulbright Program and its post-graduate opportunities for students. Nina Lawrin was a Fulbright Student Research Grantee in the Arts to Namibia during 2015-16, and Nathan Jacobson was a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Grantee to Bulgaria during 2017-2019.
Global Career Talks:Tuesday, Nov. 19, 4:30–5:30 PM, Sussman Theater
Join us for a panel discussion of local business and community members as they share experiences in an international career field, and the opportunities available to students interested in pursuing a global career.
Ways to Engage Globally at Drake:Friday, Nov. 22, 10:00–11:00 AM, Aliber 101
Join us to hear a panel of Drake International staff sharing ways students can engage globally during their time at Drake, beyond studying abroad.
DU Spain Information Session:Friday, Nov. 22, 11:00–12:00 PM, Aliber 101
Have you heard about Drake’s new semester abroad program in Alicante, Spain? Join us to hear about this opportunity for Spring 2021.
— Dorothy Pisarski, Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication
International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. Drake University is a participant in this nationwide global celebration through a variety of events throughout the week of Nov. 18–23. Faculty and staff events include:
Designing a Travel Seminar: Generating Ideas and Developing a Plan for your J-term Abroad
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 12:30–2:00 PM; Drake International Conference Room
Bring your great idea for a travel seminar to this interactive workshop. We’ll focus on generating additional ideas and refining plans for your travel seminar, and then explain the next steps to executing those plans. We’ll discuss the unique blend of academic study, intercultural experience, and travel abroad to create a quality travel seminar. RSVP by 7pm 11/19 to maria.rohach@drake.edu. Lunch provided.
Partnership Fair and Breakfast
Thursday, Nov. 21, 8:00–9:30 AM; Levitt Hall
Learn more about the work Drake University is doing with international partner universities and how you can be involved. During this informal event, mingle with colleagues and representatives from our international partner universities. Visitors from Austria, Mexico, Spain, India, Kosovo, and Uganda will be present and a light breakfast will be provided.
Town Hall and Provost Social: Global Engagement at Drake
Thursday, Nov. 21, 3:30–6:00 PM, Cowles Reading Room
Hear more about the Drake commitment as a global university. Meet faculty and staff who play critical roles in the global engagement agenda. Special guests include visitors from Drake’s international partner universities in Austria, Mexico, Spain, India, Kosovo, and Uganda.
Additional details for the week’s events can be found on the Drake calendar.
— Dorothy Pisarski, Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication
Despite the usual fall weather we’ve been experiencing, the University Avenue sewer and streetscape project has made significant progress over the last couple of months. Contractors have been hard at work installing storm sewer pipes, burying all utilities, relocating fire hydrants, and installing new streetlights. The north bike lane and sidewalks have started to take shape adjacent to the campus and temporary street paving is happening soon. The intent is to have all walk connections, street paving, and rough grading completed to provide two travel lanes and a center turn lane with a continuous sidewalk prior to shutting down this project for the winter. In the spring (before Drake Relays), the bus shelter, final street paving, and landscaping will be complete to finalize this new stretch of streetscape.
One of the unique aspects of this streetscape has been completed by 30th Street. This is the first area in the city to receive the newly designed bus stop with incorporated bike lanes that travel behind the bus stop in order for the bus to pick-up or drop-off passengers without any conflicts to bicyclists. There will be two new bus stops on the north side and eventually three on the south side.
As construction continues, please be aware of your surroundings in relation to traffic with limited sight lines and use caution when crossing University Avenue. Students, faculty, and staff are asked to use the pedestrian crossing light at Olmsted Lot for crossing.
— Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning and Management
Drake students won seven awards at the recent national College Media Association Pinnacle Awards. The honors were:
— Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Drake welcomes Jessica Morgan-Tate as its new Title IX Coordinator. Jessica’s experience includes work as the compliance officer for Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas, where she also served as interim director of online & continuing education. Before entering higher education, Jessica was an attorney for Lewis Brisbois, LLP in Wichita, Kansas and served as a staff attorney for the Kansas Court of Appeals. Jessica graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2008 where she served on the Kansas Law Review and received the CALI Award in Criminal Procedure. She has a B.B.A. in Accounting/Business Administration from Friends University.
Jessica’s office is located in Old Main, Room 208. She can be reached at jessica.morgan-tate@drake.edu. Welcome, Jessica!
— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer
Sandy Henry, a professor in the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication, has been named chair of the Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts for a three-year term beginning in 2021. She will be “chair in training” during the 2020 convention.
The Festival is an international digital media and broadcast competition encompassing 17 faculty and student competitions. Last year, the Festival received more that 1,500 entries from more than 300 schools, awarding 295 entries – including 15 Best of Festival awards worth $15,000 in prize money. It is sponsored by the Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to educational excellence and professional development that actively supports a variety of media-related educational programs. More can be found at https://beaweb.org/festival/
Henry has been an active in the Festival for years, serving in leadership roles in organizing and judging the competition. She teaches creative advertising, visual communication and design, digital media production and senior capstones in the Drake SJMC. Henry came to academia after a career in advertising, marketing and communication, and digital media production.
— Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. Drake is excited to participate in this nationwide global celebration through a variety of events next week, Nov. 18–23. Here are some event highlights for students:
International Bazaar
Monday, Nov. 18, 2:30–4:30 PM, Olmsted Breezeway
Stop by Olmsted Breezeway for interactive cultural table presentations, including international food samples, caligraphy, language activities and more! Hosted by the students of World Languages and Cultures and the Intensive English Program. Be sure to check out the International Photo Booth in the Pomerantz Conference Room.
U.S. Fulbright Program Information Session
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2:00–3:00 PM, Meredith 102
Join Fulbright alumni Nina Lawrin & Nathan Jacobson for an information session regarding the U.S. Fulbright Program and its post-graduate opportunities for students. Nina Lawrin received a Fulbright Student Research Grant in the Arts to Namibia from 2015-16, and Nathan Jacobson received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Grant to Bulgaria from 2017-2019.
Global Career Talks
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 4:30–5:30 PM, Sussman Theater
Join us for a panel discussion of local business and community members about their experiences in an international career field and the opportunities available to those interested in pursuing a global career.
Ways to Engage Globally at Drake
Friday, Nov. 22, 10:00–11:00 AM, Aliber 101
A panel of Drake International staff will share ways students can engage globally during their time at Drake beyond studying abroad.
DU Spain Information Session
Friday, Nov. 22, 11:00–12:00 PM, Aliber 101
Come learn about Drake’s study abroad program in Alicante, Spain for Spring 2021
