All posts by Ashton Hockman

HR Information Archive

Wellness Screening Benefit

As part of the Drake University wellness program, a biometric screening is offered once a year to faculty and staff who participate in Drake’s Medical Benefit Plan.  The screening includes a full cholesterol profile, blood glucose, blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, body composition, and a consultation with a health care professional.

The goal of this program is to provide faculty and staff with valuable insight on current and potential medical issues, determine the person’s risk for chronic preventable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, and identify strategies for improved health and well-being.  Participating faculty and staff also receive a wellness premium discount which in 2019 is a savings of nearly $30 per month.

If you are on Drake’s health plan, and haven’t yet screened in 2018, use the online registration form to schedule your appointment today.  To access the screening schedule, log in with the username DRAKE and password SCREEN (in all caps).  The screenings will be held between 6:30 and 10:30 a.m. in the lower level of the Olmsted Center on Oct. 10, 11, 12, 16 and 17.

All participating faculty and staff who completed their screening by the early bird date were placed in a prize drawing.  The winners are Lauren Breman and Paul Clancy.  Each will be sent a link to a wellness catalog to select the prize of their choosing.  Congratulations!

For questions, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 271-1880.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

News & Achievements Archive

Matt Lyons Named Senior Associate AD for External Affairs

Experienced fundraiser Matt Lyons has joined the Drake University athletics staff and will serve as senior associate athletics director for external affairs, Drake director of athletics Brian Hardin announced Thursday.

Lyons will serve as the primary fundraiser for the athletics department and will oversee the efforts of Drake’s advancement, communications, marketing, and ticket sales departments.

“We are quite fortunate to have someone with Matt’s experience and background join our team at Drake,” athletics director Brian Hardin said.  “Matt’s history of successful revenue generation and familiarity with the Missouri Valley Conference will have a tremendous impact on our student-athletes, coaches and staff.  We are thrilled to welcome Matt and his wife LB to the Drake family.”

Prior to moving to Des Moines, Lyons worked at Illinois State since 2011, initially as the assistant athletics director for development, and since 2016 as the associate athletics director for development.  While with the Redbirds, Lyons served as the lead fundraiser and revenue generator for Illinois State athletics.

Lyons directed efforts for all aspects of Illinois State’s revenue generation unit, including major gifts, annual giving, endowments, outbound ticket sales, hospitality sales, letterwinners association, and special events.  He also served as the liaison with Redbird Sports Properties, the multi-media rights holder for Illinois State athletics.

Under the leadership of Lyons, Illinois State athletics exceeded a $25,000,000 fundraising goal during a campus-wide campaign and Lyons was personally responsible for more than $19,000,000 in gift commitments.

Prior to Illinois State, Lyons was the director of the Panther Scholarship Club at the University of Northern Iowa from 2010-11.  Lyons was a member of the athletics director leadership team and was the lead fundraiser for UNI’s annual giving program to athletics.

Lyons began his career as the assistant director of development at the University of Missouri from 2007-08 before moving to Illinois State from 2008-2010 where he earned his Master’s degree as a graduate assistant in the athletics development department.

Lyons earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois.

Also on Thursday, Hardin announced title promotions for four members of the athletics department senior staff.  Blake Boldon, Megan Franklin and Patrick Tomka were all promoted from associate athletics directors to senior associate athletics directors.  Boldon will continue to direct the Drake Relays and Franklin will continue serving as the senior woman administrator.  Tomka assumes the role of senior associate athletics director for finance and operations.  He will have direct oversight of the athletics department’s business office, as well as the facilities, operations, and equipment units.  Stephanie Sledge was promoted to associate athletics director for student-athlete academic success services.

Megan Franklin, Athletics

Featured Events Archive

Drake Basketball Tip-Off Breakfast

Join the Drake Basketball teams for a preview of the season at the Bulldog Club Tip-Off Breakfast on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 7 a.m. Enjoy breakfast while you get the latest news on the upcoming season from head coaches Darian DeVries and Jennie Baranczyk. Event takes place at the Marriott Downtown and is just $15 per person.

Make your reservations at DrakeTix.com/tipoff or call the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647.

Ryan Harris, Athletics

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Meet the New Faculty social was a success

On Wednesday, Oct. 3, the first of two Meet the New Faculty socials were held in Levitt Hall.

Jared Butler, Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice; Matthew Canfield, Assistant Professor, Law, Politics and Society; Ellie Falter, Assistant Professor, Music;  Erika Iverson, Visiting Assistant Professor, Law, Politics and Society, each spent a few minutes talking about their personal and professional development, where they are in their lives and where they have been, and a bit on where they wish to go. Great conversations and connections were made by all!!

Attendees had this to say: “The faculty felt incredibly welcomed, and I see many connections that will come as a result.”

“I was wavering on whether to attend but I am so glad I did! I know have two good connections for the work I am doing on campus.”

The second Meet the New Faculty Social will be held on Monday, Oct. 22 in Levitt Hall from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Kevin Carlson, Assistant Professor, Kinesiology ; Chris Holman, Professor of Law, Intellectual Property ; Sara Johnston, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy; and Christine Urish, Professor, Occupational Therapy, will be presenting.  There will be a cash bar and all attendees will receive a drink ticket, there will also be non-alcoholic beverages and snacks.

Sandra Harris, Office of the Associate Provost & Office of Institutional Research & Assessment

HR Information Archive

Heart attack and stroke awareness presentation

Heart attack and stroke remain two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Ignoring your risks and failure to recognize the signs and symptoms can be fatal.

Join Chris Nickell, Director, Environmental Health & Safety, on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310/311, to learn what you need to know to recognize a heart attack or stroke and steps you can take to reduce your risk.

Participants will earn Bulldogs in Learning Drake (BUILD) credit and be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester.

An online registration form is available in myDrake.  To access the form, click on All Apps and find the HR BUILD Classes app in the Other Employee Apps section.  You may also send an email to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu to register for this class.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Opioid crisis presentation

More than 115 people die a day in the U.S. from opioid-related overdoses, including prescription pain killers. If you think it can’t happen to someone you love, you are wrong.

Join Craige Wrenn, Department Chair of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Science, Professor of Pharmacology, and Sally Haack, Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences on Tuesday, Oct. 23, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310/311, as we learn more about the class of drugs known as “opioids”. Discover the different types of opioids and how they work in the body. Reasons for the opioid epidemic, state and national trends, and strategies to address the opioid epidemic will also be discussed.

Participants will earn Bulldogs in Learning Drake (BUILD) credit and be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester.

An online registration form is available in myDrake.  To access the form, click on All Apps and find the HR BUILD Classes app in the Other Employee Apps section.  You may also send an email to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu to register for this class.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

 

HR Information Archive

CPR, AED, First Aid Course

This free instructor-led course will teach you how to respond to first aid, breathing, and cardiac emergencies. It includes hands-on practice of lifesaving skills and certification for those who successfully complete the course.

The four-hour course is taught over two days on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. each day in Olmsted 310. You must attend both sessions. Chris Nickell, director of environmental health and safety, will present. A minimum of four and maximum of 10 participants is required to hold a class.  Click both links below to register.

Part 1 – Oct. 11

Part 2 – Oct. 12

For additional information, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

 

Campus Announcements Archive

Safe operation of golf carts around campus

With classes back in full swing and a multitude of activities taking place on campus we want to take this opportunity to remind those of us who operate golf carts and other vehicles on campus to always put safety first. It is important to keep in mind that there are a large number of pedestrians on campus and the potential for serious accidents can be very high. Here are a few safety tips to follow when operating a golf cart around campus that can help keep everyone safe:

1. Always inspect your cart or vehicle before operating. It is important to make sure that your cart is functioning properly before operating it.
2. Always use caution when driving around pedestrians. Keep in mind that pedestrians have the right away. If necessary pull over and stop to let pedestrians by.
3. Use caution when entering or exiting pedestrian walkways. This is especially important for blind spots where you may not be able to see pedestrians using the walkway.
4. Park in appropriate spots. Never block pedestrian walkways or access to emergency equipment such as fire hydrants.
5. Keep your arms in legs inside the cart at all times when it is moving.
6. Never ride with more passengers than seats. It is also important to keep everyone, including the driver, inside the cart at all times while operating a cart.
7. Avoid distractions while driving. Your primary focus when driving should be driving. Make sure to stay off your phone and don’t allow yourself to become distracted by passengers.
8. Do not drive with items obstructing your view. It is important to always be able to see where you are going when operating a vehicle of any kind.

Another important thing to keep in mind when operating golf carts and other vehicles around campus is that not everyone will be paying attention when walking. Students and other pedestrians might be engaged in conversations or listening to music and there’s a good chance they won’t see or hear you driving near them. This makes it all the more important that those who operate carts take their time, drive slowly, and watch for pedestrians.

Chris Nickell, Environmental Health and Safety

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Bulldog Bites: Lunch and learn series for faculty, staff focuses on safety and inclusion

Through a collaboration between the Public Safety, Title IX and Violence Prevention, and Equity and Inclusion departments, Human Resources is excited to offer a new series of programming focused on safety and inclusion called Bulldog Bites. The program will make our own campus experts accessible to faculty and staff to talk about how we can all make our community feel safe and inclusive. The next session is Wednesday, Oct. 10.

Mark your calendar for the brown-bag lunch series, which will include five sessions throughout the year:

Oct. 10: Equity and Inclusion part 1
Nov. 14: Title IX/Prevention part 1
Feb. 13: Equity and Inclusion part 2
March 13: Title IX/Prevention part 2

All programs will take place in Turner Jazz Center starting at noon. Those who attend will enter a drawing for Hubbell Dining Hall and annual parking passes.

Mary Alice Hill, Human Resources