All posts by Rashmee Virmani

Campus Announcements Archive

Understanding the new myDrake

On July 28, the new myDrake website was launched. As the start of the semester approaches, we are happy to assist with your user experience and answer any questions. If you would like to schedule a one-on-one, group, or departmental training, please submit a Custom Technology Consultation/Training ticket.  

Because the new myDrake website has changed platforms, any saved links or bookmarks you may use will need to be updated. When accessing myDrake for the first time, please clear your browser cache and cookies. Delete your old myDrake bookmark by right clicking and selecting delete. Then, visit https://my.drake.edu or https://drakeedu.sharepoint.com.sites/myDrake. From there, add a new myDrake bookmark by clicking the star icon on the right side of the address bar. Rename and save the bookmark to your desired location.

For more information about the myDrake launch and navigating the new site, please see New myDrake launching July 28 and Using the new myDrake. For news, updates, and more information about the myDrake site and other campus systems, visit drake.edu/its.

— Rashmee Virmani, ITS

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Food trucks on campus Aug. 17 for Learning Symposium

Two food trucks, Mactopia and Bearded Jackal, will be on campus Thursday, Aug. 17, as part of the Learning Symposium to offer lunch to Drake faculty and staff. Food will be ready at 11:30 a.m. for Learning Symposium attendees (lunch voucher provided at the symposium).

Register for the Learning Symposium through EventBrite. Faculty and staff not attending the Learning Symposium are invited to join for lunch at their own cost (anticipated $12–15, including food and beverage) starting at 12:30 p.m. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available.

Mactopia items will include Perfection, Garden of Eden (vegetarian), Bliss, and Paradise, as well as soft drinks. Bearded Jackal items will include Peruvian Chicken, Bulgogi, Skirt Steak with Chimichurri, or Thai Curry Tofu (vegetarian). This will come with a side of street corn and Dragon Fruit Lemonade.

— Lauren McCarthy, Zimpleman College of Business

HR Information Archive

New BUILD classes released, mark your calendar for upcoming sessions

Bulldogs United in Learning & Development (BUILD) provides faculty and staff learning opportunities throughout the academic year that address technical, soft, philosophical, and very practical skills. BUILD is a great platform for learning new ideas as well as an opportunity to collaborate with others from across campus.

The Fall 2023 schedule is now available for viewing and registration is open. Please take a moment to check out the classes on the new Drake HR website under Learning & Development. Click on BUILD – Upcoming Sessions for the full list, including detailed descriptions.  There is an online registration link to a Qualtrics survey that makes signing up easy.

Most classes are only an hour in length, and many are facilitated by our own faculty and staff.  This is a great way to invest in yourself, support your colleagues, and take in the culture that Drake has to offer.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Wellness Premium Incentive reminder

Have you completed your annual physical since last December? Please remember that the premium discount physician form must be filled out annually to continue to receive the premium incentive.

If you are on Drake’s health plan, take a copy of the Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form to your annual exam. This form can be found on the new Drake HR website in the DU Well–Wellness and Wellbeing section. Simply click on Wellness Premium Discount to find a link to the form. Please save a copy of the form to your own computer before filling it out.

Those on Drake’s health plan who complete a physical with their primary care physician (PCP) between Dec. 1, 2022, and Nov. 30, 2023, and submit a completed physical form to linda.feiden@drake.edu by Nov. 30, 2023, will receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2024, which is a savings of approximately $30 per month. 

If you have not yet scheduled your annual physical with your PCP, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to guarantee you make the Nov. 30 deadline.

Please contact linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Blackboard Learn Ultra faculty development opportunities

Drake Online will hold Ultra Hours throughout the month of August to help you prepare for the start of term. Ultra Hours is an informal working session with our instructional design team that allows you to ask questions about your presence on Blackboard Learn Ultra. 

Join us in Cowles Library, Room 201 any time from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following days: 

  • Wednesday, August 9
  • Thursday, August 10
  • Tuesday, August 15
  • Wednesday, August 16
  • Thursday, August 17
  • Tuesday, August 22
  • Wednesday, August 23

Please sign up to indicate when you plan to come and what types of questions you have. Your feedback helps us adequately staff and prepare to assist you. 

If you prefer to meet virtually, our team is available to meet with you on request. Please fill out a service request and include 1-2 windows of time that you would be available to meet. Remember that you can always request just-in-time help from Drake Online or reference our help guides.

— Bret Sikkink, Office of the Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Capital Project Policy revisions, feedback welcome through Aug. 11

The Capital Project Approval Process policy was first approved in 2021. The policy establishes a formal process for the identification, prioritization, approval, development and delivery of capital projects.

After working with the policy for two years, several recommendations are being made to further improve the policy. The revised policy is now posted for comment here. The key changes to the policy are (a) to provide additional opportunities for departments to submit requests throughout the year; (b) eliminate unclear language about pre-construction processes (referred to as the feasibility phase); (c) clarify the budget approval process; and (d) broaden the group charged with authorizing projects to include the Provost since most projects touch the academic units in some way.

We invite comment on the policy revisions through Aug. 11.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Campus Announcements Archive

EthicsPoint confidential reporting tool upgrade

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

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Register for the Drake Learning Symposium Aug. 17

Please join us for the 2023 Learning Symposium on Thursday, Aug. 17.  We are planning a day with ample opportunities to reflect and reconnect, to socialize with colleagues, to focus on our community, and to center ourselves for the year ahead.  

This year’s Drake Learning Symposium will allow faculty and staff to gather as one, bringing with us our unique and shared experiences, while focusing on our way forward as a community.  

At the Learning Symposium, we will dive into cultivating the skillsets behind effective communication, conflict management, empathy, resilience, and personal power through activities led by speaker Whitney Warne of Evoke EQ.  

Lunch will be provided by two food trucks; Mactopia and Bearded Jackal. Mactopia items will include Perfection, Garden of Eden, Bliss, and Paradise, as well as soft drinks. Bearded Jackal items will include Peruvian Chicken, Bulgogi, Skirt Steak with Chimichurri, or Thai Curry Tofu (vegetarian). This will come with a side of street corn and Dragon Fruit Lemonade. A voucher for a free entrée and beverage will be provided to all Symposium attendees. Vegetarian and gluten free options will be available. 

Please register for the Learning Symposium on Eventbrite. Those registered will receive a voucher for their lunch at the trucks. 

We are excited to offer this year’s Learning Symposium as a wonderful opportunity for building community. As with all campus events and activities, we ask managers to actively encourage their employees to consider attending—this applies to faculty and both hourly and salaried staff. 

—Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

News & Achievements Archive

Drake hosted 28 high school seniors at inaugural Civic Leadership Academy

The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, as the lead in partnership with Drake’s Center for Public Democracy, hosted the inaugural Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) July 10–12. Twenty-eight rising high school seniors from five states participated in the exclusive opportunity to learn from scholars, policymakers, and thought leaders.

In addition to leadership development training and resources, participants visited the Iowa Judicial Building for a candid conversation with elected and appointed officials, enjoyed a networking lunch with Drake University leadership and current students at the Drake Diner, and completed a service project at Meals from the Heartland.

A special thanks to Donna, LA’80, and Darnell, BN’80, Pettengill for their generous contribution to support the 2023 Civic Leadership Academy. In addition to the Pettengill’s investment, the CLA received philanthropic support from a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

The 2024 Civic Leadership Academy will be held in July 2024. For more information on the event and for questions on the application process for high school students, contact Hilary Ortmann at hilary.ortmann@drake.edu.

— Megan Wesselink, Robert D. & Billie Ray Center

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Provost to host Welcome Back Social Aug. 18

Please join us for the next Provost’s Drake Social on Friday, Aug. 18 in the Turner Jazz Center beginning at 4 p.m. As the first Social of the academic year, this will be a chance to reconnect with colleagues, meet new faculty members, and celebrate the start of another great year!

Refreshments will include wine, beer, soft drinks, cake, and an assortment of light snacks. Keep in mind that this is a family friendly event—please feel free to bring your children and partner!

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost