Drake University is committed to fair and ethical principles, practices and conduct in all business and academic relationships. The University’s trustees, leaders, faculty, and staff are expected to model the highest standards of ethical behavior and stewardship. To facilitate and protect this commitment, the University has contracted with EthicsPoint to manage a confidential hotline which provides an anonymous way to report situations that may represent financial misconduct or violations of local, state or federal law or University policies. Over the summer, the platform used by EthicsPoint was upgraded and may look slightly different to the user. The substantive ways the tool works, however, remains unchanged.

EthicsPoint may be used by faculty, staff and students to report illegal or unethical practices in financial or other business transactions. EthicsPoint may also be used to report illegal or unethical behaviors, such as discrimination or harassment. Reports submitted via EthicsPoint will be handled promptly consistent with University policies and applicable federal, state and local laws. Drake University personnel will review all reports submitted through Ethics Point. The chair of the Board of Trustees Audit Committee also receives all EthicsPoint reports. EthicsPoint and Drake University are committed to safeguarding the confidentiality of individuals who submit reports, and if you desire, you may remain anonymous. Anyone who submits a report is also protected from retailiation by Drake policy.

For more information, visit the Ethics Point reporting site.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

We are thrilled to announce that Drake University and the Jay N. Darling Institute have been selected as the host institution for the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp Contest this fall. This esteemed event brings together passionate individuals and organizations dedicated to wildlife conservation and the arts.  The Federal Duck Stamp Contest will take place at the Olmsted Center Sept. 15–16, 2023. The link to the Federal Duck Stamp website is: https://www.fws.gov/program/federal-duck-stamp/federal-duck-stamp-contest-event-information

As a complementary event to the competition, please mark your calendars and join us for an afternoon of art, conversation, and appreciation for our natural heritage.

Date: Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023
Time: 2–4 p.m.
Location: Cowles Library Reading Room

Panelists:

• Suzanne Fellows, Duck Stamp Program Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Rich and Nancy Houk, National Duck Stamp Collectors Society
• Hope Bibens, Director of University Archives & Special Collections, Drake University
• Alanna Wuensch, Drake University Student and Steering Committee Member
• John P. Smith, Drake University Vice President for University Advancement

The Federal Duck Stamp Contest is an annual art competition that determines the image for the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the Duck Stamp. This stamp plays a vital role in raising funds for habitat conservation and protecting wildlife across the United States.

We are honored to have an exceptional panel of experts for this year’s contest. Suzanne Fellows, the Duck Stamp Program Manager from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in wildlife conservation. Rich and Nancy Houk, representing the National Duck Stamp Collectors Society, will contribute his vast experience in the field of philately and stamp collecting. Finally, we are delighted to have Hope Bibens, Director of University Archives & Special Collections at Drake University, who will provide valuable insights into the intersection of art and history.

We invite all members of the Drake University community to attend this exciting event. It is a unique opportunity to witness the selection process and engage with experts in the field. You will have the chance to learn more about the significance of the Duck Stamp program, the importance of wildlife conservation, and the artistry behind stamp design.

Please RSVP to erica.hartschen@drake.edu or 515-271-4990 by Aug. 4.

— Erica Hartschen, University Advancement

The new myDrake website was launched on Friday, July 28. The site has been updated on a new platform to ensure the security of Drake information for years to come, along with a new look and feel to simplify and enhance your user experience. Over the weekend, you may have noticed new features, including new, streamlined navigation bars, an updated organizational system, global navigation options, and an expandable drop-down menu.

Please use https://my.drake.edu or https://drakeedu.sharepoint.com.sites/myDrake to access the site for the first time. Additionally, clear your browser cache and cookies, and be sure to update any saved links or bookmarks you may use to access myDrake.

Navigating myDrake

The top navigation bar on myDrake provides quick and easy access to myDrake, Internal Sites, and Self Service. This navigation bar is available no matter which page you are accessing. Below, the “Employee Links” or “Student Links” drop-down menu provides a comprehensive list of links to Drake services, applications, and information. 

Additionally, the new Microsoft SharePoint platform provides a global navigation bar on the left side of the site. Select the grid to locate Microsoft applications, such as Outlook and Teams, and below, customize your SharePoint experience by accessing your recently used files, sites, and more. 

Commonly Used Services and My Resources 

On the home page, you will find the most commonly used Drake applications and links. Links to Self Service, My Email, Internal Sites, and ITS Support are conveniently located in large, bold buttons. Below these resources, the familiar row of commonly used applications, such as Blackboard, are available. Whether you are a student, faculty, or staff, your commonly used applications have been tailored to your experience.

To access your personal information and Drake systems, navigate to “Student Home” or “Employee Home” under the “My Resources” section on the myDrake homepage. Within these pages, you will find your class information, timesheets, Bulldog Alerts, and more. 

Internal Sites and Human Resources 

The myDrake update included a direct integration with internal departmental sites for easier navigation to essential information and resources, available by clicking the “Internal Sites” link on the navigation bar, in the commonly used applications and services section, or in the drop-down menu. The Human Resources internal site was launched on July 28. This site is the new home for employee information, forms, and documentation, and we encourage the campus to utilize these resources.

For more information navigating the new myDrake, please see Using myDrake for Faculty & Staff (How-to) and Using myDrake for Students (How-to).

Please keep an eye out for additional announcements over the next few weeks that will include more details and further instructions as we draw closer to the start of the fall semester. For news, updates, and more information about the myDrake site and other campus systems, visit drake.edu/its. 

— Kelsey Faybik, University Communications and Marketing

The Slay Fund makes grants to projects in four broad categories: student research and internships, pedagogy for social justice, campus-wide events and speakers, and long-term programs with community partners. These funding categories coincide with the three strategic priorities of the Slay Fund, which will even more explicitly guide funding decision-making, moving forward. The strategic priorities allocate funding for: speakers and events related to social justice; capacity-building and institutional support programming; student-proposed and student-focused initiatives.

Please submit your grant proposal (and any questions relating to the proposal) to melissa.sturm-smith@drake.edu, who will be managing funding requests on an interim basis.

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost