All posts by Ashton Hockman

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Strengthening Drake through the Big Ideas initiative

Last week, the University launched its Big Ideas initiative. The initiative invites faculty, staff, students, and volunteers to submit “big ideas” that have the potential to make a powerful and momentous impact on Drake, the region, and the world. The initiative invites the University community to take a shared ownership in defining Drake’s future.

During this initial phase of the project, and until the submission window opens Jan. 14, I urge all faculty and staff to think big and to be bold, and to help us envision the dynamic future of our University.

Positioning Drake as a great university
The Big Ideas initiative signifies our commitment to support a number of multidisciplinary, large-scale projects that have the potential to create a transformational impact by leveraging areas where Drake already is uniquely positioned to lead. The proposals can cover a range of outcomes and impacts, varying from student-oriented to research-oriented to community-oriented. The submitted proposals will be reviewed by the Big Ideas Steering Committee, with select proposals being used by University Advancement to attract and inspire private giving in the years ahead.

Learn more
Visit the Big Ideas website to read more about the submission process and timeline. The website contains an FAQ to help you better understand the project. In addition, you will have an opportunity to learn more about the initiative at the faculty and staff social on Thursday, Dec. 13, at 3:30 p.m. at Shivers Hospitality Suite. More communication will be shared about the process in the coming months.

I invite you to begin preparing a proposal for your Big Idea to help us solidify Drake as a leading institution for generations to come. Your vision, leadership, and creativity will help to elevate Drake University and the work and service you carry out each day.

John Smith, University Advancement

Campus Announcements Archive

Explore campus with the new virtual tour

Drake’s campus came online through the its new virtual tour, available now for all current and prospective students. The walkthrough has several features, from 360 degree panoramas to videos to images of Griff. The online virtual tour provides students with a new way to engage and view the University. Particularly, the tool will be benefit prospective students who may not be able to easily visit campus in person, such as international students.

The tour is set up as a linear series of stops. Visitors begin in front of Old Main and can start their tour by:

  • Clicking “Continue to Cowles Library” and following the arrows for a real-feel stroll through campus.
  • Hovering over the options on the left side of the screen to pick their next location.
  • Enlarging the map in the bottom left corner to travel to different stops.
  • Clicking the arrow on the right side of the screen to jump ahead.
  • Finding the 360 symbol on some panoramas, which will take you to other similar spots.

Each stop begins with a 360 image of the location (keep an eye out for Griff, who is hiding in many of the panoramas). Click on the photos in the bottom right to see more images from the stop, including more panoramas, still shots, and videos. In all photos, click the “i” to find out more about the location.

If you’d like a guided tour, crank up the volume when you reach a panorama to learn more about the location. To visit the accessibility version, click the eye in the bottom right of the screen.

Within the tour, prospective students can click the “Schedule Visit” or “Apply Online” tabs on the top right to start their real-life Drake journey.

Ellen Koester, JO, AS’19

 

Campus Announcements Archive

UCM Announces new stationery design

University Communications and Marketing is pleased to announce that newly branded business cards, letterhead, and envelopes are now available on the Woolverton, Mfg. e-store.

As with prior designs, there are many options to “personalize” this stationery, including this most requested addition—Griff’s photo as a business card “back side” option.

There is no need to dispose of existing inventory, so please work with colleagues in your department who have placed stationery orders in the past to personalize your items when the time comes to replenish your supply.  If you have questions about who within your department has an account to place stationery orders, please check with your budget manager.

We don’t anticipate a price increase for business cards at this time, but we will see a bump for letterhead and envelopes due to stock prices and other costs that have risen over the years since the current designs were created.

Please contact Sara at extension 2169 with any questions you may have and meanwhile, view a sample of Drake letterhead and an envelope.

Sara Sommerlot, University Communications and Marketing

 

For Students Archive

Drake Innovators: Design your own game piece

Have you ever been playing Monopoly and got stuck with the thimble instead of the race car? We all know that feeling. Come to the Innovation Studio in Meredith on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 5–8 p.m. or on Dead Day, Friday, Dec. 7 and design your own game piece. Help us carve a chess board using our wood carver, and design and 3D print your own game piece that you can keep. Pizza and drinks will also be available on Dead Day. Can’t make it but want to know more about the Drake Innovators Club? Email Blake Trebelhorn at blake.trebelhorn@drake.edu.

Stephanie Cardwell, Entrepreneurship Centers

Campus Announcements Archive

University Book Store finals week hours

View the Book Store’s hours of operation for finals week. Remember to return your fall rental books by Dec. 14. A Drake ID is required for book buyback.

December 10th – 11th      8 a.m.–6 p.m.

December 12th – 13th      8 a.m.–7 p.m.

December 14th                 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

December 15th                  9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Katie Wilz,k University Book Store

 

HR Information Archive

Drake ID Card benefits

You carry your Drake ID Card and know it can be used to access buildings during specified times.  But do you know what else it can do? Your Drake Card can be used to:

  • Utilize the Drake University Bell Center. The work out facilities and group fitness classes are free for full-time employees. Memberships are also available for purchase for adjunct/part-time employees and for faculty/staff family members.
  • Check out items at Cowles Library. Now would be a great time to join the Drake Book Club—they are currently reading “The Immortalists” and meeting on Jan. 22.
  • Print and scan at the campus printers
  • Receive a discount at the University Bookstore
  • Ride the Des Moines DART Bus or Drake Safe Ride Bus free of charge
  • Conveniently pay for purchases on campus with your Bulldog Bucks account.  Your card can be loaded with funds and used for Drake Dining (including concession stands) or University Bookstore purchases.
  • Check out a bicycle from the Olmsted Bike Library

For more information on your Drake ID Card, please contact Sara Heijerman.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Women’s Basketball faculty and staff appreciation night

All Drake faculty and staff are eligible to receive up to four complimentary general admission tickets to the Women’s Basketball game versus Iowa on Friday, Dec. 21. Tickets may be picked up at the Knapp Center Ticket Office Monday–Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or at the ticket window on game day. Must show valid Drake Card at time of pick up.

For more information please contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or visit GoDrakeBulldogs.com.

Ryan Harris, Athletics

Campus Announcements Archive

Little Bulldogs youth jersey ticket package

For only $25 the package includes:
One official replica Drake Bulldogs youth jersey
One game ticket
One concession voucher

Package valid for one ticket to one of the following games:
Women’s Basketball vs. Iowa, December 21, 6 p.m.
Men’s Basketball vs. McKendree, December 29, 2 p.m.
Men’s Basketball vs. Loyola, January 5, 2 p.m.
Women’s Basketball vs. Loyola, January 11, 6 p.m.

To order visit DrakeTix.com/promo using Promo Code JERSEY or visit the Knapp Center Ticket Office.

Ryan Harris

For Students Archive

Hy-Vee Classic student tickets

A limited number of student tickets are available for the Hy-Vee Classic on Saturday, Dec. 15. The Drake Men’s Basketball team will play the Iowa State Cyclones at Wells Fargo Arena.  Drake undergrad and graduate students may claim one free student-section ticket by visiting the Knapp Center Ticket Office and showing a valid Drake Card during regular business hours Monday–Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This ticket will give you access to both games: Drake vs. Iowa State at 3:30 p.m. and UNI vs. Iowa at 6 p.m.

For more information please contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or tickets@drake.edu.

Ryan Harris, Athletics

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Finance shares Survey of Administrative Services report

The Offices of Finance and Student Financial Planning would like to thank everyone for taking the time to complete the Administrative Survey in October 2018.  We have gained valuable feedback to help us maintain and improve the services we provide to faculty and staff.

Our median scores, on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest, were as follows:

Statement 2017 2018
Staff are courteous. 4.33 4.38
Staff are professional. 4.41 4.45
Staff are knowledgeable. 4.41 4.40
Staff respond to my inquiries in a timely manner. 4.39 4.39
Overall, how satisfied are you with the Finance Department. 4.30 4.26

Each of our departments individually scored between 4 and 5 on all survey questions, with the average score = 4.31 for both 2017 and 2018.  In addition, we scored between 4 and 5 on each of our core values.

In accordance with our continuous improvement plan, we currently have initiatives in place to meet the following service-oriented objectives:

  • Ensure our constituents are engaged and informed
  • Ensure integrity and transparency
  • Process university resources timely and accurately
  • Improve service excellence

We appreciate all the comments included in the survey.  Thank you for the many positive comments, which support our efforts to be prompt, helpful, responsive, and friendly.  Thank you, too, for providing feedback to help us make improvements in the future.  Based on those comments, we are taking the following steps to make improvements:

  • We recently attended a process improvement training presented by the Education Advisory Board (EAB). We intend to review our processes using the EAB model, in order to:
    • Simplify
    • Communicate better
    • Collaborate more
    • Be more consistent
    • Reduce paper processes
    • Streamline operations
    • Improve customer experience and satisfaction

As part of this work, we will include stakeholders in the process review and communicate the results of our work.

  • We have also reaffirmed our commitment to our Finance Service Standards, namely:
  • Provide Solutions not Excuses
  • Take Ownership
  • Foster an Innovative Environment
  • Be Accountable as Team Members and Individuals
  • Value and Trust Others
  • Uphold Professional, Ethical and Confidential Standards
  • Exceed Expectations
  • Be an Ambassador for Drake
  • Recognize Contributions

Teresa Krejci, Chief Financial Officer