Health plan participants will receive new Wellmark ID cards later this month. The cards will reference the new specialist office visit co-payment effective January 1, 2019. If you do not receive a new Wellmark ID card by Dec. 31, please contact Wellmark at 800-622-0005.
Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources
The annual contribution limit for Drake’s Voluntary Retirement Plan will increase from $18,500 to $19,000 effective January 1, 2019. Employees age 50 and over may contribute an additional $6,000 for a total maximum of $25,000 during 2019.
If you would like to change your current contribution amount, or open a voluntary retirement account, please contact Human Resources. Should you wish to schedule an individual counseling session with a TIAA Consultant, please call 271-1901.
Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources
I wanted to share with you the most recent results from this year’s Survey of Administrative Services as it relates to ITS. We are pleased to report that over the three years of this survey, data indicates a steadily improving sense of satisfaction with ITS.
In 2018, overall satisfaction with ITS has increased from 3.8 to 4.0 on a scale of 1 to 5. We are proud that the campus community recognizes the work that’s been done, but the results clearly leave room for additional improvement.
Figure 1 – Overall Satisfaction with ITS 2016-17 Trend
Questions related to satisfaction with ITS staff showed almost uniform improvement, although satisfaction with quality showed the least improvement year over year.
Figure 2 – ITS Staff Satisfaction 2016-18 Trend
From left to right
Responses to questions related to ITS’s continuous improvement efforts also show increasing satisfaction across all questions. Limited improvements to the question I have the right technology tools I need to do my job effectively show that the availability of functional, reliable technology remains an ongoing campus-wide concern.
Figure 3 – ITS Continuous Improvement Satisfaction 2016-18 Trend
From left to right
During the past year, ITS has paid particular attention to improving the consistency and frequency of communication to campus and we are pleased to see this effort reflected in the survey’s results. Two of the questions that showed the largest increase year-over-year are ITS staff provide regular communication about the status of my requests and I know how to find information about the status of technology issues or problems on campus.
This coming year, we are creating procedures to ensure that we have fully addressed your service requests to your satisfaction before closing them. We will also continue to focus on providing consistent communication regarding progress on your individual requests and on issues affecting the campus community to ensure future progress in these areas.
Although we are pleased to see your recognition of our hard work, we recognize that trust must be constantly earned. Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedules to provide us with your helpful feedback and perspectives. Our goal is to make sure that you see the benefits of that feedback in the overall quality and consistency of our services.
Chris Gill, Chief Information Technology Officer
Please plan to attend the Provost’s Drake Social, Thursday, Dec. 13, at Shivers Hospitality Suite. Employees who exemplify Generosity of Spirit will be recognized.
You may nominate a colleague as one who exemplifies Generosity of Spirit until Monday, Dec. 10. Submit their name and a sentence or two explaining why they embody this Drake Core Value to Drinda Williams, drinda.williams@drake.edu.
Generosity of Spirit: We trust, empower, and assume the best of each other. We treat our colleagues with care, respect, and civility. We remain committed to equity and inclusion.
Anyone nominated will be part of a rolling display at the event. Three will be selected at random to choose from a menu of prizes that this month includes: preferential parking space for a month, baked goods, restaurant gift certificates, and more!
The Social will be preceded by a town hall budget update presented by Teresa Krejci, chief financial officer, beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Social will follow immediately afterward.
The Drake Social is a time to relax with colleagues and enjoy wine, beer, soft drinks, and snacks.
Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost
Faculty, the deadline for final grade entry for the fall semester is 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19. Exception: final grades for the Law School are due on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
View instructions on how to send your final grades from Blackboard to MyDUSIS.
Those of you who want to submit grades directly into MyDUSIS should begin by clicking the Grading button in the “Faculty & Advising” menu in MyDrake and then finding the “Final Grades – Submittal Link”.
The final evaluation schedule includes a listing of when and where courses are scheduled to meet for their final evaluations.
Kevin Moenkhaus, Associate Registrar
Instructors are able to enter final grades online anytime between now and Wednesday, Dec. 19. Final grades for the Law School are due Tuesday, Jan. 15. You may view your final grades by clicking the “My Grades” link under the Student Records area in MyDrake.
Best wishes to you in the final weeks of the fall semester.
Kevin Moenkhaus, Associate Registrar
The Writing Workshop closes for the Fall 2018 semester on Sunday, Dec. 9, after their evening hours. Students should consult the schedule for open sessions from now until the final shift on Dec. 9.
Art Sanders, Associate Provost
Nominations for the Levitt Teacher and Levitt Mentor awards are being accepted. Submit your nominations today. If you have questions, contact Associate Provost Sanders.
Art Sanders, Associate Provost
Applications are now being accepted for 2019–2020 Drake Research Grants and Undergraduate Assistantships. If you have questions, contact Associate Provost Sanders.
Art Sanders, Associate Provost
The final Friday FYS lunch/discussion is Dec. 7 at noon in the Olmsted Center, TMR 133. While these meetings are designed for those currently teaching FYS, we welcome those with an interest in possibly teaching FYS in the future. It is too late to order a lunch, but you are still welcome to attend.
Art Sanders, Associate Provost