All posts by Ryan Trump

Campus Announcements Archive

Summer and Fall 2023 registration, schedule of classes

The Summer and Fall 2023 schedules of classes and related registration information is available online. Registration begins Monday, April 10.

View registration information, including the registration time table that shows when you become eligible to register. View the schedule of classes.

Some courses will be temporarily reserved for students who have declared a certain field-of-study (major, minor, concentration, or endorsement). On Monday, April 24, those reservations will be removed. Note that some courses have restrictions that are permanent.

If you are an undergraduate or pharmacy student intending to make any changes to your field-of-study and have those changes take effect before registration begins, file your changes via the change of record request no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 3. Requests submitted after this date may be delayed.

J-Term schedules will be published in October and registration will take place in November.

For J-Term travel courses, students first apply through Terra Dotta.  You will find travel course information by searching for programs in Terra Dotta. Students can apply starting March 8th, 2023.  The priority deadline for travel courses is April 7th.  More information is available on the J-Term webpage.

— Ryan Trump, Office of the Registrar

HR Information Archive

Read the latest shout-outs!

As part of Employee Appreciation Month, Human Resources is encouraging everyone to submit a shout-out for a faculty, staff, or student employee.  Simply write a sentence of appreciation for a colleague and submit it to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu. The deadline to submit a shout-out is Thursday, March 23.

Read the shout-outs submitted this week!

“A shout-out to the Drake Online and Continuing Education team:  You guys rock! Thanks for all you have done to strengthen access to a Drake education, whether online, hybrid, or noncredit!  You are one of the hardest working teams I know.  Shannon, Kara, Nichole, Suzanne, Sarah, Bret, Bill, Pam, Dianna, and Megan.  I appreciate you!” – Christina Trombley

“A shout-out to Sara Heijerman:  Sara is our leader for all the campus walking challenges (Walk this May, Walktober, DU Well Mystery Challenge) and she does a great job of motivating and encouraging us, plus emailing all our steps in.  I appreciate her positive attitude and the impact it has on our team!” – Lauren McCarthy

“A shout-out to Jen Hinton:  Jen is always willing to help out when needed, eager to learn new things, and is a calming presence.  She relates to her students and thoroughly follows through on their needs.  We are thrilled she has joined our team and is very appreciated for her friendship and hard work.  Yay Jen!” – Rachelle Setsodi

“A shout-out to Emily Gates for stepping up while I was out.  She completed conferences and taught class one day.” – Lori Archer

“A shout-out to Patrick Bourgeacq for tirelessly recruiting amazing students worldwide to come to Drake!” – Amy Nichols

“A shout-out to Linda Feiden for coordinating fun wellness activities and such a wide range of useful and informative BUILD sessions for the Bulldog Community!” – Amanda Harris

“A shout-out to Betsy Wilson:  Betsy is the EPITOME of what it is to be a ray of sunshine.  Every single interaction I have had with her I have left in an even better and happier disposition than when I started.  Her smile and kind spirit are infectious, and I am so eternally grateful to call her colleague, and friend.” – Amber Welsh

Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Congratulations to the following individuals on their grant award

  • Ryan Stoldt received $9,809. from the US Department of Defense in support of his research titled Algorithmic Personalization and Online Radicalization:  A Mixed Methods Approach.
  • Amanda Martin received $250. from the Sodexo Foundation to support her Sprout Garden Global Youth Service Day
  • Danielle Shelton received $17,000. from the Nellie Ball Trust Research Fund in support her research titled Legal Accommodations for Individuals with Mental Disabilities.
  • Richelle Williams received $1,000. from the Midwest Association of Athletic Trainers of America in support of her research titled Exploring Police Officers’ Perceptions of a Health/injury Risk Management Program Involving Athletic Training Educators

— Mary Pat Wohlford, Director, Sponsored Programs Administration and Research Compliance

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Seeking first-year success course instructors

Do you enjoy spending time with students?  Looking for a new opportunity to interact? If you would enjoy being a key part of welcoming new students and supporting their transition to the Drake community, please consider joining the Blueprint for Success team and teaching a section of Drake’s first-year student success course. Jenny Jones, Director of Graduate Programs in the Zimpleman College of Business, shared the following about her experience: “I’ve taught several sections Blueprint for Success/Bulldog Foundations over the past few years and have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with the incoming students. As an instructor, you get to help the student acclimate not just to Drake University but to college life as a whole. You can create an environment where the students help each other adjust and learn from each other’s experiences. Each section I’ve led has had a different personality, but each section has been rewarding.”

Blueprint for Success helps students consider concepts and develop skills that are crucial for the development of meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. Students will explore the elements of an equitable and inclusive community, consider life skills necessary for success, and refine academic strategies. This course helps students transition into the Drake community with ease.

The course meets for 11 sessions, 50 minutes each session.  The sessions will be spread out through the fall semester. Instructors will be given all curriculum, materials, and facilitator guides for the course, and will not need to develop any curriculum on their own. In addition, instructors will partner with a peer mentor, and upper-class student leader who can help facilitate class sessions, support discussion, and be a valuable resource to your students.

In addition to assigned class time, chosen instructors will need to attend an all-day training the week of Aug. 1, a check-in meeting the week of October 15 and a wrap-up meeting during the week of Fall 2023 finals. Instructors will be paid a $1000 stipend for teaching Blueprint for Success unless this course serves as a part of your full-time teaching load.  Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent, and teaching experience is preferred but not required. Have questions?  Sign up for a short consultation session. 

To apply, fill out the google form. The application is due Friday, April 7.

— Blueprint for Success Planning Team

Campus Announcements Archive

Tournament Grubhub promo codes and Bulldog Bucks program reminders

Bulldog Bucks are a campus card account that can be used both on and off campus.  They can currently be used on campus at any Drake Dining location, at the Campus Bookstore, or for campus printing.

Your Bulldog Bucks can currently be used off campus at Gursha Ethiopian Grill and Dough Co. Pizza.  We hope you can help us support these community partners and this program by using your Bulldog Bucks in their restaurants this semester.  If you have any other restaurants you’d like to see on the program in the future, feel free to email the SSC with your suggestions!  We’ll reach out to them over the summer, and will be working to expand the program for fall.  **Spoiler alert, we’ve got a new business in the process of being set up…watch the Drake Student Central Facebook page for this announcement!**

You can ALSO use Bulldog Bucks as a payment method in the Grubhub app, and they’ve got promo codes to celebrate the tournament available this month.  Don’t forget that even if you choose not to pay with your Bulldog Bucks, if you add your campus card as a payment option, you get to enroll in Grubhub+ free of charge…this helps get you special deals and savings with any payment method.  If you’ve linked your campus card in Grubhub, you should get the promo codes for this month via email, but just in case, they are listed here.

Tournament Promo Codes (terms apply):

3/24 – 3/26 – GRUBISLIFE ($15 off an order of $25+)

4/1 – 4/3 – MADGRUB ($7 off an order of $15+)

If you have any questions about the off campus program, please let us know.  Also, please remember that if you are graduating, you’ll want to use your Bulldog Bucks and Dining Dollars before your card is turned off at graduation.   Bulldog Bucks for returning students and employees will carry forward to the fall.

Thank you for your support of this program, and feel free to contact studentservices@drake.edu with any questions.

— Sara Heijerman,  Student Services

News & Achievements Archive

Drake is a 2023 Healthiest State Award finalist

We are proud to share that Drake University is a finalist for the 2023 Healthiest State Annual Award, in the large workplace division.  These awards recognize workplaces, communities, and individuals for their efforts to improve the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of Iowans.

Drake offers a variety of programs and classes that cover multiple dimensions of wellbeing.  Here are some offerings in March:

Do It for a Day Challenge.  March 27 through April 23.  If you want to make healthy changes but get easily distracted, this challenge is for you!  Over four weeks simply complete a series of one-day challenges.  You will have two challenges to choose from each day, that cover all dimensions of wellbeing.

Introduction to Juggling.  March 23 from 2-3 p.m. in the Olmsted Center Parents Hall North. Take a break from work and have some fun trying your hand – or hands at juggling.  Nate Reagen, chief of staff, will be our guide.

Get Real: Telling My Story.  March 24 from 12-1 p.m. in the lower level of the OT building (3003 Forest Ave.).  Learn how to create a personalized journal, a great tool to reduce stress and enhance your health.  Facilitated by students in the occupational therapy department.

Money at Work: Foundations of Investing.  March 30 from 2-3 p.m. in the Olmsted Center conference room 310/311. This class will provide the information you need to invest in your future, no matter where you are in life.  Paige Philips, senior financial consultant at TIAA will present.

For more information or to register for these classes or program, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—  Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Drake retirement plan information

Drake University sponsors both mandatory and voluntary 403(b) retirement plans which are reviewed quarterly by the Drake University Retirement Plan Review Committee. The Committee consults with an independent fiduciary advisor to closely monitor investment performance, negotiate contracts, establish reasonable plan needs, review investment options and make plan design decisions as directed by the Drake University Investment Policy Statement.  The Retirement Plan Review Committee and Investment Policy Statement are posted here in myDrake.

For many years Drake has relied upon TIAA to provide appropriate products and services, which the Committee examines regularly.  Although TIAA representatives can provide information and make recommendations, plan participants must decide how to allocate plan contributions and designate plan beneficiaries.  Thus, participants are encouraged to review their investment options regularly.  Summary Plan Descriptions of Drake’s Mandatory and Voluntary Retirement Plans may be found here.

The annual contribution limit for Drake’s Voluntary Retirement Plan increased to $22,500 effective January 1, 2023.  Employees age 50 and over may contribute an additional $7,500 for a total maximum of up to $30,000 during the 2023 calendar year.  If you would like to change your current contribution amount, or open a voluntary retirement account, simply complete the 403(b) Salary Reduction Form here.  Please note changes to your current election will become effective the first day of the following month.

Should you wish to schedule an individual counseling session with TIAA Senior Financial Planner, Paige Philips, call 800-732-8353 or visit www.TIAA.org/schedulenow   We encourage you to take advantage of the numerous webinars provided by TIAA.  Details are provided in the HR Monthly on the first Wednesday of the month.

— Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

About gradebook settings in Blackboard Learn Ultra

The gradebook is populated with students when they’re enrolled in your course. You’ll see all the coursework that’s specific to the course you’re in. You can grade coursework, manage items, and post grades.

Gradebook Views

  • List view shows all items in the gradebook by their title
    • Click on the item title to see student data and submissions.
  • Grid view shows all items and all students in a spreadsheet like view.
    • For a details, click on any student or gradebook item.

Gradebook Settings

  • Gradebook settings include:
    • Providing notifications expectations for Student Performance. The system will let you know if a student does not meet expectations.
    • Making adjustments to Grading Schemas (enhancements to be able to use/apply multiple grading schemas is coming sometime before fall semester)
    • Overall Grade calculations
    • Using Auto-zeros
    • Manage Categories to identify grading item icons, grouping grading items to assist with Overall Grading
    • Create and manage Rubrics
  • Search and Filter the Gradebook for specific views of the data
    • Search from List View
      • Search for a submission receipt
      • Within a specific grading item:
        • Student Name
      • Filters from Grid View:
        • Merged course sections
        • Student Name
        • Groups
        • Gradable items, and
        • Categories

About Override Grades

  • Override grades are grades you assign manually, for example, if you type in the grade pill in the gradebook. An override label appears next to the grade alerting you to the fact that an override occurred.
    • Sometimes a grade change results in an override grade. An override grade takes precedence over all other grade entries, including rubrics and any attempts with a grade.
  • Revert an Override Grade – You can clear an override grade by selecting the final grading pill for the grading item and deleting the manually entered grade. The grade will then revert to the attempt or rubric grade (even if they are ungraded, it will be null).

Setting Exemptions, Date and Time Exceptions, and Accommodations

  • Grade Exemptions can be added with or without scores for a gradable item. Students will not be held to the expectations for that gradable item when an exemption is added. The gradable item will be ignored as a part of the overall grade.
  • Exceptions apply to single assessments or gradable items for an individual student due to extenuating circumstances.
  • An Accommodation applies to all due dates or time limits in your course for an individual student.

— Karly Good, ITS

HR Information Archive

Join us for faculty/staff recess March 28

Last week’s Pi-NGO, hosted by All Staff Council and Human Resources, was a great success. Participants enjoyed free pizza pies, multiple rounds of BINGO, and dessert pies for the winners.  Thank you to everyone who attended.

This event is part of Employee Appreciation Month — a great reminder to take time to reflect and find ways to show gratitude to your teams for their hard work, dedication, and effort throughout the year.

Human Resources would like to continue to show our appreciation by inviting everyone to take a break and join us for Faculty/Staff Recess on Tuesday, March 28, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Bell Center, Courts 1 & 2.  Play nine holes of miniature golf, try pickleball, or challenge a colleague to a game of cornhole (bags).  And test your hula hooping skills for a chance at prizes. All equipment will be provided.

Finally, thank you for everything you do to live Drake’s core values, in caring for our students and each other, every day.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

It’s policy season: Offer comments to updated HR policies

As many employees know, when we adopt a new policy or make substantial changes to an existing policy, we post the drafts on the Policy Development Page, so the Drake community can share its thoughts.

While there is a long list of policies slowly being reviewed by Drake Human Resources, we have three ready for comment.

First, Drake HR was asked a while back by All Staff Council to take a look at the Staff Learning and Development Leave policy as it was viewed as being perhaps too vague to give the reader the idea of what kinds of leave might permissibly fall under the policy. We worked to add some more detail and examples in hopes of the policy being more informative. The updated (clean) version is posted for comment.

Second, while working on updating the faculty recruitment process, we heard from deans that the University’s Relocation Expense Reimbursement Policy would benefit from some updates and additional flexibility. Working with Finance, we are posting a revised (clean) version of that policy for comment.

Lastly, Drake’s Non-Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment Policy needed a few tweaks. It coexists with Drake’s Sexual Harassment Policy and the two had been revised and edited in slightly different ways over the years. We needed to bring them into greater alignment. We are posting the redlined and proposed version of the policy, so readers can see the proposed changes.

If you have comments on any of these three policies, please use the comment function through the Policy Development Page. These policies will remain posted for comment through Friday, April 7, 2023.

Drake HR is also working on reviewing a number of leave policies. This review has been very slow due to competing priorities, but we are making an effort to get back to those prior to the close of the spring semester. If you are aware of a HR policy in need of review or adoption, please let us know at drakehr@drake.edu.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources