All posts by Renee Cramer

Deputy Provost 2:10: Submitting courses for FYS and AOI review

The University Curriculum Committee meets one last time this year, to review proposed courses that cover our Areas of Inquiry and serve as First Year Seminars.  If you plan to submit a course, please do so by April 6 so that committee members have time to read and review.  You can find details about all the AOIs and their learning outcomes here; you can find the submission forms for each AOI and FYS, here.  Professor Mary McCarthy is chair of UCC this year, feel free to let her know if you have questions.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Deputy Provost 2:10: Artificial intelligence conversations, Books for Breakfast

You’re invited to join a group of dedicated faculty and staff to talk about teaching and artificial intelligence like chatbots and text-to-image generators. At each of the sessions, listed below, we’ll have a brief opening presentation, then a chance to mingle—café style—to get feedback on and brainstorm about your particular instructional concerns related to the technology, including a table to conversation about the question of our value in light of the technology, and a table where you can get ideas for incorporating AI into your class’ work. We’ll have two sessions via Zoom, and two in person—if you come in person, we’ll provide light refreshments.  The sessions will be:

Thursday, March 23, 12:00 – 1:00 via Zoom
Tuesday, March 28, 11:00 – 12:00 in person
Monday, April 3, 12:00 – 1:00 via Zoom
Friday, April 7, 11:30 – 12:30 in person

Please register here. You’ll be able to pick your session and modality on the Eventbrite link.  We will email you the zoom link the morning of, if you attend on the 23rd or 3rd.

And, please sign up now for Books for Breakfast on April 7 and April 21 from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. We will meet to eat good food and talk about a lovely book: Helen Sword’s Air and Light and Time and Space: How Successful Academics Write.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Constitutional Law Center announces 2023 Distinguished Lecture Series speaker

The Drake University Constitutional Law Center is pleased to announce Julie C. Suk as presenter of the Spring 2023 Distinguished Lecture. Her lecture titled “Unamendable: Lessons from Failed Constitutional Amendments” will be delivered in-person and virtually on Thursday, March 9 at 3:30 p.m. at the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center, 2400 University Avenue, Des Moines. Registration is free and open to the public.

Julie Chi-hye Suk is an interdisciplinary and comparative legal scholar at Fordham University, researching equality at the intersection of law, history, sociology, and politics in the United States and globally. She has authored dozens of articles and book chapters about comparative constitutional law; the procedural implementation of equality norms in the United States and Europe; gender quotas; and women, work, and family.

“Professor of Law Julie Suk has written extensively on women’s equality, misogyny, constitutional amendments, comparative equality and more. Her topic of constitutional amendments is very important as the U.S. Constitution has recently been subject to various criticisms,” said Professor Mark Kende, Director of the Drake University Constitutional Law Center.

The Constitutional Law Center’s Distinguished Lecture Series brings to campus the nation’s leading constitutional scholars to engage students and faculty on the important issues of the day. Speakers deliver a formal lecture, give a presentation to faculty, and meet with students in informal settings.

Visit http://bit.ly/3xP9t3xfor registration information. CLE credit is applied for and pending. Space is limited for the in-person lecture, but guests can view a live stream in Cartwright Hall, 2621 Carpenter Avenue, Des Moines, room 213.

—Taylor Johnson, Law School

March Provost Social: Commitment to Mission

Drake faculty and staff who exemplify the Core Value Commitment to Mission will be recognized at the next Provost’s Drake Social on Monday, March 20, in the Cowles Library Reading Room, beginning at 4 p.m.

To nominate a colleague, please use this Qualtrics form. Feel free to fill out multiple forms. All those nominated will be recognized on a rolling display at the event.

What do we mean when we talk about Commitment to Mission at Drake? We look for colleagues who act with integrity, purpose, and optimism in service to both our students and our community.

When you nominate colleagues, be prepared to describe how each colleague meets this description. Several nominees will be chosen at random for prizes!

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

—Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

Building access and Safe Ride hours during Spring Break

Beginning Saturday, March 11, most campus buildings, with the exception of Cowles Library and Athletic facilities, will have limited hours for Spring Break.  Buildings will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and closed on weekends. Normal access plans will still function during Spring Break and buildings will return to their normal schedules on Monday, March 20. 

In addition, the Safe Ride Bus will stop operations on Sunday, March 12,  at 2:45 a.m. and resume on Monday, March 20.

— Scott Law, Executive Director, Public Safety & Operational Services

Presentation: Disability Inclusion and Awareness in Higher Education

The Division of Student Affairs is hosting a presentation, titled “Disability Inclusion and Awareness in Higher Education,” on Wednesday, March 8, from 1–2 p.m. in Olmsted, Rooms 310–311. Presenters include Matthew Williams, senior in the Zimpleman College of Business, and Ezra Krivolavy, residence hall coordinator and diversity inclusion specialist. The presentation is open to students, faculty, and staff.

— Hannah Clayborne, Dean of Students

Wellness Premium Incentive reminder

Many people start the year out by getting their annual physical.  If that sounds like you and you are on Drake’s health plan, don’t forget to take a copy of the Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form to your appointment. This form can be found on myDrake under the Employee Wellness section of Human Resources.

Those on Drake’s health plan who complete a physical with their PCP between Dec. 1, 2022 and Nov. 30, 2023 and submit a Premium Discount-Annual 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 already had your physical since Dec. 1, 2022, please fill out the form and turn it in now.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

All Staff Council Pi-NGO

Join All Staff Council Tuesday, March 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Parents Hall South, Olmsted Center, to celebrate National Pi Day with free pizza pies and bingo. This is a family-friendly event and winners will receive baked pie goods. See you there!

— Sydni Jennings, On behalf of All Staff Council

Answer this Drake trivia question for a chance to win $10 in Bulldog Bucks

As part of Employee Appreciation Month, Human Resources is adding one Drake trivia question in each issue of OnCampus in March.  The first person who correctly answers the question will receive $10 in Bulldog Bucks.  Answers should be submitted to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Question of the week: Drake University was the first team in the state of Iowa to make an appearance in a college football bowl game. They beat Fresno State 13 to 12 in 1946.  What was the name of the bowl they appeared in?