All posts by Ashton Hockman

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus Lynda.com subscription ending June 30

For nine years, Drake ITS has paid for a campus subscription to Lynda.com to provide access to online self-paced training for software programs like Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite.

We announced in March of 2018 that we were unable to successfully negotiate a new long-term agreement that met our budgetary needs. Lynda.com quoted an annual fee that was substantially more money each year than our current fees.

As a result, ITS signed a one-year extension of our current subscription. On June 30, 2019, this extension will expire. We initially had planned to seek out a more cost-effective replacement for Lynda.com, but due to budget changes, we are no longer able to fund a replacement.

We have, however, developed curated lists of Technology Training Resources that we hope are helpful:
Faculty and staff resources
Student resources

Questions? Please email me at carla.herling@drake.edu.

Carla Herling, ITS 

For Students Archive

Need cash for your business idea? Apply for the Pappjohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture

The John Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition is accepting applications until April 1, 2019. If you need cash for your startup idea, be sure to apply for the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition. Students with winning ideas at the regional level will receive $500 and get a chance to pitch before Mr. John Pappajohn and a team from Equity Dynamics for a chance to win up to $5,000! Drake University regional pitches will be on Friday, April 5. View more information, or email jpec@drake.edu for questions.

Stephanie Cardwell, Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence and Community Service Award nominations due March 29

Don’t wait. Nominations for the Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence and Distinguished Community Service Awards are due to Human Resources by Friday, March 29. Late nominations will not be accepted.

Madelyn M. Levitt established the Distinguished Community Service Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of Drake faculty and staff to the Drake community. Recipients are chosen on the following criteria:

  • A demonstrated personal commitment to volunteerism and community service.
  • An outstanding record of leadership or substantial involvement in community projects, services and activities contributing to the quality of life in our region, state and/or the nation.
  • Professional and personal values and behavior that typify the ideals of “giving back to others” and “making a difference in the lives of others.”
  • The nominee must be a current faculty or staff member with at least five years of service at Drake.

The Employee Excellence Award is presented to a staff member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to excellence in the performance of their duties. Criteria for the award include:

  • Exceptional performance as an employee of Drake University
  • Outstanding dedication to providing courteous, prompt and quality service.
  • Demonstrated commitment to University programs, initiatives and services.
  • Professional values and behavior that demonstrate exceptional service to others and a commitment to Drake University 
  • The nominee must be a current staff member with at least one year of service at Drake.

To nominate a colleague, submit a letter of nomination to the Levitt Award Committee, care of (c/o) Human Resources. Nomination letters may be sent through campus mail or electronically to drakehr@drake.edu. The letter should detail specific examples of how the nominee exemplifies each of the applicable criteria. Additional letters of support are not necessary. 

A screening committee will review all nominations and make appropriate recommendations to the President’s Council. Winners will be announced during this year’s Sapphire Awards or the Faculty Honors Luncheon.

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Join Drake’s new healthy living group

Now is the perfect time to get into the habit of making healthier choices. If your goals include losing or maintaining weight while generally living a healthier lifestyle, Drake’s new, on-campus Healthy Living Group may be the solution.

Weekly meetings include an optional weigh-in followed by a 30-minute discussion. Share recipes, grocery store finds, fitness tips, healthy living successes and the occasional healthy living struggle.  Group support, accountability, and the convenience of meetings in the workplace may help you be successful in reaching your goals.

This group meets Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. in Cartwright Hall, Room 202. 

Please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu for more information.

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist, Human Resources

News & Achievements Archive

Drake student work reaches finals for SPJ awards

Drake student work has reached the finals of the Society of Professional Journalists Region 7 Mark of Excellence contest. Winners will be announced at the region’s annual conference at the University of Central Missouri on April 5–6. The Drake finalists are:

  • Best Independent Online Student Publication: Urban Plains
  • Best Podcast: Hold Up, Jessica Spangler and Mitch Kedzior
  • Best Online Sports Reporting: Jessica Spangler
  • Best Online Feature: Samantha Ohlson
  • Best Student Magazine: Drake Magazine
  • Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper: Times-Delphic
  • General News Reporting: Rachel James and Phong Ly
  • Breaking News Reporting: Marie Nalan
  • Best Online Sports Reporting: Andrew Beall
  • General News Photography: Grace Hulin
  • Breaking News Photography: Lorien MacEnulty
  • Best Sports Photography: J.D. Pelegrino

Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Reminder: Faculty and staff online course due March 31

Reminder: the online course Prevent Discrimination and Harassment Together is to be completed March 31 by faculty and staff.

This is the third online course to be completed by faculty and staff this year. The online courses, Drake University Online Information Security Awareness and Prevent Sexual Violence Together, were to be completed by faculty and staff by Dec. 7. The courses are part of Drake’s new online programs, which underscore Drake’s commitment to safety and security. The courses feature realistic scenarios based in a higher education setting and participants interactively answer related questions.

Training is completed at your own pace and the courses may be accessed multiple times. Courses retain previously completed content and will return you to the place you last viewed course information. The Blackboard system electronically records your status as “completed” when you finish each course.

Course Access
Log in to myDrake and click the Blackboard app in the shaded blue area near the top of the screen. Click Agree and Continue at the pop-up screen describing Privacy, Cookies and Terms of Use. Next, enter your Drake Banner numeric ID and password, and you’ll be directed to the Blackboard home page. The courses are listed in the My Courses area of the page.  The Prevent Sexual Violence Together and Prevent Discrimination and Harassment Together courses are bundled within the link titled Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Violence Prevention.

Unsure If You’ve Completed a Course?
Click on the course title and then My Grades on the left menu. A green checkmark indicates you’ve completed the course.

Next Steps
Deans/administrative leaders will receive a spreadsheet listing their faculty and staff who need to complete the courses that were due Dec. 7. They will provide information to managers for follow-up.

Need Help?
The home page of Blackboard includes a link to On Demand Help topics. If you experience technical issues, click the Blackboard Issues link in the Bb Student News section of the home page and submit your request. For questions about course content, contact Peter Lundstedt, director, Information Security and Compliance; Kathryn Overberg, Title IX coordinator and equity and inclusion policy specialist; or Mary Alice Hill, director, HR Partner Services.

Mary Alice Hill, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Tornado drill March 27

The National Weather Service will conduct a statewide tornado drill on Wednesday, March 27. A test tornado watch will be issued around 10 a.m. followed by a test tornado warning around 10:15 a.m., in which sirens will sound.

The statewide drill allows us to test our planning and readiness and practice seeking appropriate shelter in case of a real tornado. Faculty, staff, and students should participate in the drill by following campus severe weather plans and going to the lowest level of their building, away from doorways and windows. View a list of designated severe weather shelters.

In the event of actual severe weather in the state during the drill, backup days are scheduled for March 28 and 29.

Learn what actions to take when a tornado hits, whether you are outside in a manufactured home or in a building.

Wherever you are, remember that most injuries associated with high winds are from flying debris, so protect your head.

Tornado facts:

  • Tornados may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
  • Funnel clouds usually last less than 10 minutes before dissipating, and many only last several seconds. On rare occasion, cyclones can last for over an hour.
  • Tornados may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
  • The average tornado moves southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
  • The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.
  • Damage paths of tornadoes can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.
  • Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.

Tornado watch: Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to the NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Seek shelter immediately.

Chris Nickell, Environmental Health and Safety

For Students Archive

Student Senate elections

Interested in holding a representative seat for Drake University within student governance? Elections for the Drake Student Senate will begin this month. View official election calendar.

Student Senate is the governing organization of the student body whose function, in simple terms, are (1) allocation of funds, (2) approval and maintenance of student organizations, and (3) direct liaisons to campus administrators, staff, and faculty. 

Any full-time Drake student is eligible and encouraged to run for a seat around the table. There is a spot for everyone. 

Petitions are available in the Student Life Center in Olmsted for both election cycles. Executive Board (Student Body President, Vice President of Student Life, Vice President of Student Activities, and Student Body Treasurer) petitions are available from March 7–14 and voting will be from March 27–28. The general Senator election (Senator-at-Large, Academic Senator, and Equity & Inclusion Senator) petitions are available from March 27–April 3 and voting will be from April 11–12. 

If you think you are interested in running, or you would like to know more about the Senate in general, you can always reach out to student.senate@drake.edu and/or ElectionCommission@drake.edu.

Bakari Caldwell, Vice President of Student Life