All posts by Ashton Hockman

Facilities Planning and Management survey results

The work order system aims to support the Facilities Planning and Management commitments below, which were issued last October in response to the Administrative Service Survey.

  1. Ensure that FPM meets the promised response and resolution timeframes.
  2. Collaborate to find reasonable and supportable long-term solutions.
  3. Strive to understand issues and requests before beginning work.
  4. Confirm the request was completed to satisfaction.
  5. Improve communication related to work order requests and projects.
  6. Work as a team to provide facility-related services on behalf of Drake.

These commitments assure that the department achieves its Continuous Improvement Plan objectives.

Another measure that FPM plans to provide annually are its Satisfaction and Performance Survey Results provided through TeamDyanmix. View FPM’s 2018 results.

Manny Toribio, Facilities Planning and Management

University Avenue development project delayed until April

Due to challenging winter conditions through the month of February and into early March, the Nelson Construction & Development project across from Old Main, which will include a new hotel, retail space, and restaurant will not break ground until April.

Parking lots 5 and 8 located south of University Avenue across from Old Main and Cole Hall and between 26th and 27th Streets will now be available through the month of March.

Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Call for more responses: Great Colleges to Work For survey

Thank you to everyone who has already completed the Great Colleges To Work For survey. We have not yet reached our participation goal of 63%. Currently, 42% of faculty and staff have participated, but there is still time. The survey period ends Monday, March 11, so if you have not completed the survey, please consider taking this opportunity to make your voice heard.

Full-time faculty and staff received an email Feb. 25 from The Chronicle of Higher Education  and Modern Think inviting them to participate in this year’s Great Colleges To Work For survey.

Instructions on how to access the survey are included in the email. If you did not receive the email, please check your clutter and junk mail folders. If you still can’t locate it, contact Mary Alice Hill, director of Human Resources, at maryalice.hill@drake.edu or 271-3676.

The survey results will be shared with the campus later this year and will identify opportunities for improvement and reinforce areas of strength. Drake has been recognized as a Great College to Work For by The Chronicle for the last two years, something we can all take great pride in. For more information on the survey, view a FAQ.

 For questions, contact Mary Alice Hill, director of Human Resources, at maryalice.hill@drake.edu or 271-3676.

Mary Alice Hill, director, Human Resources

Webinar: Market-proof your retirement

As you approach retirement, you may find yourself asking questions such as: Can I retire on my terms, when I want? Is my portfolio susceptible to market losses? Will I outlive my retirement funds?

During retirement, and the years leading up to it, protecting your savings is extremely important. Learn how to market-proof your retirement funds by participating in a TIAA Financial Essentials Webinar on March 14. Register here.

Marlene Heuertz, Benefits Specialist, Human Resources

Snow and ice on campus parking lots and walks

Facilities Planning and Management along with President Martin and Provost Mattison have been receiving several emails and calls in regards to safety concerns and the well-being of faculty, staff, students, and visitors with the snow and ice on pavement around the campus.  FPM has the same concerns and is committed to ensuring that snow and ice are cleared to the best of our abilities with a staff of 10 dedicated employees responsible with clearing over 11 acres of parking lots and 13 miles of sidewalks.

This winter in central Iowa has been a record breaking one for snow fall and cold temperatures. Often the staff are starting early in the morning between 3–4 a.m. and working a 12–18 hour shift.  Most of the snow storms this winter have not completely stopped by the time the majority of people arrive on campus, which affects the parking lots once cars start to compact the freshly fallen snow.  The temperatures have also been too low for salt to be effective and sand is being used for traction. Our crews continue to clear drifts from walks and parking lots, and as it has been typical this winter, getting ready for the next storm to make its way to central Iowa.

FPM would like everyone to be aware of the conditions around them as they travel across the campus and remember these 10 tips to avoid winter injuries.  Hopefully there is some warmer temperatures ahead as spring nears.  Our staff would be the first to agree that this has been a long, cold February. We are looking forward to getting the campus lawn green and flowers growing for the track events ahead.  

Kevin Moran, Executive Director, Facilities Planning and Management

Bulldog Bites: Final lunch and learn session on bystander intervention

This semester, through a collaboration between the Public Safety, Title IX and Violence Prevention, and Equity and Inclusion departments, Human Resources launched a new series of programming focused on safety and inclusion called Bulldog Bites.

The final session in the series is Wednesday, March 13, at noon in Cowles Library, Room 201. The session is titled, “Title IX/Prevention part 2 – Bystander Intervention for Faculty and Staff.”

The goal of Bulldog Bites is to make our own campus experts accessible to faculty and staff to talk about how we can all make our community feel safe and inclusive.

Those who attend the March 13 session will enter a drawing for Hubbell Dining Hall and annual parking passes.

Mary Alice Hill, Human Resources

Nominations for Commitment to Mission still open

We are taking “last minute” nominations to honor Drake faculty and staff who exemplify our fourth Core Value: Commitment to Mission. Those nominated will be recognized at the Provost’s Drake Social, Wednesday, March 6, at Shivers Hospitality Suite, beginning at 4 p.m. Join us for snacks, refreshments, and good conversation. 

Commitment to Mission means we are united in service to students and our communities. We act with integrity and purpose. We are optimistic about our future. Watch the video of Drake colleagues talking about what Commitment to Vision means to them.

Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. today. Send them to Drinda Williams at drinda.williams@drake.edu.

Drinda Williams, Academic Support Specialist, Office of the Provost

Short’s travel tips

Please remember that Short’s Travel is Drake’s exclusive vendor for air travel. Below are a few tips to make your travel transactions go smoothly:

— Log in to the appropriate portal where you first made your profile. Visit the Academics or Athletics portal.
— Update your profile with the Frequent Flyer Miles program numbers for each airline or hotel chain you may use regularly to ensure you receive your personal points and benefits.
— If you find fares outside of Short’s that are “Web only”, as they are not available on the Short’s booking tool, you will need to contact a Short’s agent for assistance. This is a limitation from the Airlines themselves, not from Short’s. 
— For after hours needs, please contact the phone numbers located on the portal. There are different numbers for Athletics and Academics.

Please contact Jenn Putz at jputz@shortstravel.com, Short’s representative, for any specific questions you may have.

Caron Findlay, Director of Purchasing and Business Services

Summer course materials due March 15

Faculty, please submit your course material requests for summer by March 15. Receiving your list of materials as soon as possible allows us to source the most affordable books for your students and provide top dollar for students selling books back at the end of this term. With our Online Adoption Tool, selecting your course materials is fast and easy.

Access the Online Adoption Tool
1. Visit www.drake.bkstr.com
2. Go to Books in the top navigation and under the Information heading, click Online Adoptions.
3. If you need additional training to use the Online Adoption Tool, contact Donna Hallstrom at donna.hallstrom@drake.edu.

New User?
1. Follow the steps listed above.
2. Click on New? Register Here and complete the required fields.
3. Enter 1623 in the Bookstore Supplied Password field.

Download the 6 Ways to Help Students Save on Textbooks to learn about Follett’s different types of course material purchasing options. If you have any questions about the Online Adoption Tool or how to save students money, contact Donna Hallstrom at donna.hallstrom@drake.edu.

Donna Hallstrom, Course Materials Manager