All posts by Keren Fiorenza

Campus Announcements Archive

Acceptable Use of AI Policy Posted for Comment

A new Acceptable Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy is available for review and comment on the Policy Development and Review page of the University Policy Library internal site (Drake login required). This policy establishes standards for the acceptable use of AI technologies at Drake. It addresses the responsible use, acquisition, integration, and deployment of AI technologies. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that AI-enabled content, automation, and representations of the University are used in a manner that protects security, compliance, institutional integrity, and the rights and privacy of individuals. 

The policy will be open for review and comment through September 30, 2026. Comments may be submitted to dupolicies@drake.edu. 

— Keren Fiorenza, Chief Information Technology Officer

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Books for Breakfast Returns Next Week

This fall, all faculty and staff are invited to join Books for Breakfast, a non-fiction book club meeting once per month during Community Fridays. This fall, we are reading Zena Hitz’s book “Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life” (Princeton U. Press).

The first Books for Breakfast meeting will be Friday, Sept. 25, at 9:30 a.m. in the Howard Hall Faculty Lounge. Coffee, tea, and light items to nosh will be available. No prior reading needed; this meeting is to pick up our copies of the text and meet fellow readers.

To reserve a physical copy of “Lost in Thought”, message Bret Sikkink in the Center for Teaching & Learning.

Cowles Library has a digital copy of the text through JSTOR.

— Bret Sikkink, Faculty Development Specialist

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Upcoming Blackboard Open Office Hours

Get your Blackboard pages ready for the new semester! Faculty are invited to drop in and meet with a learning designer for hands-on assistance during two upcoming sessions this August.

Wednesday, August 19

Location: Howard Hall Faculty Lounge (Room 212)
Drop-in Times: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Wednesday, August 26

Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Drop-in Location: Howard Hall Faculty Lounge (Room 212)
Microsoft Teams Virtual Option: Available via Teams

If you have questions outside of Blackboard Office Hours:

  • Review the help guides for faculty, organized by topic, in Drake’s Knowledge Base.
  • Go directly to the upgraded Blackboard LMS Help Center.
  • Click the question mark icon in the lower-right corner of most Blackboard pages to open Blackboard’s related help pages.

— Bret Sikkink, Faculty Development Specialist

Campus Announcements Archive

Harkin Institute Policy Discussion: Strengthening Social Security for Future Generations

Join The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement for a policy discussion exploring challenges facing Social Security and key reforms to bolster the program for retirees today and tomorrow. Former Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley will deliver the keynote address.

Event Details:

  • What: A policy discussion on the state of Social Security and strategies to strengthen its future
  • Keynote Speaker: Martin O’Malley, former Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
  • When: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. CDT
  • Where: The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center at Drake University (Des Moines, IA) and livestreamed on The Harkin Institute YouTube Channel
  • Tickets: Reserve your spot on Eventbrite

Check out The Harkin Institute YouTube Streams to watch archived policy talks and access live event streams.

— Mandy McClure, Harkin Institute

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake Rec Services Facilities & Hours Aug. 24–30

Here is the operational schedule for rec services and facilities for the first week of classes (Aug. 24–30):

Facility Schedules

Bell Center:

  • Monday–Thursday: 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
  • Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  • Saturday & Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Pool: Check reservation availability and lap swim times at rec.drake.edu.

Underground Fitness: Closed

Tennis Center: Closed

— Allison Bjork, Rec Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Fall Sussman Lecture Features Pulitzer Winner Brian Goldstone

The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement, in partnership with Anawim Housing, will host Pulitzer Prize-winning author Brian Goldstone for the fall Sussman Lecture.

Goldstone, author of There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America, will explore how the working poor face growing housing instability in urban centers and what these trends mean for capital cities across the nation.

Event Details:

  • Speaker: Brian Goldstone
  • Date & Time: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. CDT
  • Location: Sheslow Auditorium (Old Main) on the Drake University campus
  • Livestream: Available on The Harkin Institute YouTube channel
  • Tickets: Reserve your spot via Eventbrite

— Mandy McClure, Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement

HR Information Archive

Blank Park Zoo Membership Discount for Faculty/Staff

For the remainder of 2026, Drake University faculty and staff can receive a 10% discount on membership to Blank Park Zoo. 

To purchase a discounted membership, go to https://www.blankparkzoo.com/memberships and click PURCHASE NOW. Select Zoo Memberships, complete the rest of the form, and enter the code BPZPARTNER10 at checkout.  Please note: this promotion is for Zoo memberships, no combos or joint specialty memberships.

Zoo memberships include free, unlimited daytime admission to Blank Park Zoo for one year. Members also receive 50% off admission at nearly 200 other zoos and aquariums, including: Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Kansas City Zoo. A full list of benefits and member discounts can be found on the website.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Check Out the Fall 2026 BUILD Schedule

The Fall 2026 BUILD schedule is available for viewing and registration is open.  Simply click on BUILD – Upcoming Sessions for the full list, including detailed descriptions. 

Are you ready to register?  There is an online registration link to a Qualtrics survey that makes signing up easy.

Bulldogs United in Learning & Development (BUILD) is a platform for faculty and staff to learn new ideas as well as an opportunity to collaborate with others from across campus.  Most classes are only an hour in length, and many are facilitated by our own faculty and staff.

Take the time to invest in yourself, support your colleagues, and take in the culture that Drake has to offer.

— Linda Feidan, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

New Employee Orientation Sept. 2

Managers, please encourage your new employees to attend the first available New Employee Orientation (NEO) after their employment. Either the manager or new employee can RSVP by sending an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Please put “NEO” in the subject line of the email.  The next available NEO session will be held Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 9–11 a.m. in Conference Rooms 310/311 of the Olmsted Center (2nd floor).

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources