All posts by Amber Welsh, On behalf of All Staff Council

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Nominations open: Called to be True Blue

The All Staff Council Recognition Committee is accepting True Blue nominations.

Do you know a staff member or department that is “Called to be True Blue?” An individual or team that goes above and beyond expectations to serve students, colleagues, and the Drake community.

A staff member who is Called to be True Blue is someone who:

  1. Epitomizes the values of leadership, teamwork, and integrity, and exhibits their commitment to the Drake community
  2. Has shown others what it takes to get a task or project done, and accomplishes that by working well with others
  3. Is able to be honest and fair in the situations they face
  4. Does all of these things for the betterment of Drake and its values and goals.

If this sounds like someone you know, make your nomination today!

All individual and teams who receive a Called to be True Blue award are in the running to win top honors for staff accomplishment—the Sapphire Award—at a recognition event in May.

Nominations are considered on a rolling basis. An individual can only be recognized once each year. Nominations must be received by March 1 to be considered for that year’s Sapphire Award. Nominations received after March 1 will be considered for recognition in the fall and will be included in the following fiscal year’s Sapphire Award voting.

Please click here to submit your nomination. Be specific and provide details about how the nominee meets the True Blue award criteria.

Also, did you know the All Staff Council has its very own SharePoint page?  We invite you to explore it HERE for updates on upcoming events, committee details, past True Blue recipients, and much more!

—Amber Welsh, On behalf of All Staff Council

HR Information Archive

Check Out the BUILD Fall Schedule

Bulldogs United in Learning & Development (BUILD) provides faculty and staff learning opportunities throughout the academic year to enhance professional skills, improve wellbeing, and create conversation.  BUILD is a great platform for learning new ideas as well as an opportunity to collaborate with others from across campus.

The Fall 2024 schedule is available online and registration is open.  Please take a moment to check out the classes on the 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.

We continue to add new classes so be sure to check back to find the latest offerings.  As an example, we recently added a new class on public speaking and presentation skills!

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

Take Advantage of Drake’s Employee Assistance Program Services

According to Mental Health America, one of the main reasons employees may not use their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services is that they are not aware that EAP exists, what services they offer, and how to access them.

Let’s fix that! Drake’s EAP provider is Employee & Family Resources (EFR). They offer employees and their family members access to free and confidential support and resources.  You may reach EFR by phone (800-327-4692) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit their website.

Often when we think of an employee assistance program, we think of counseling services.  EFR does offer confidential counseling but that is just one of their many services.

Need help with budgeting or other financial matters?  Need assistance with a living will? Have you recently had your identity stolen?  Are you looking for care for a child or aging relative? EFR can help.  Are you struggling to balance work, family, friends, and other responsibilities?  Is your teenager seeking guidance on their future career path?  A life coach from EFR can help.

EFR offers a full range of free EAP resources, including life coaching by a licensed professional counselor, financial and legal consultation, identity theft restoration, child/elder care resources, First Responder Coaching, and an online support peer community called Togetherall.  Check out the EAP Service Summary link on our EAP page for details on the number of free sessions, etc.

EFR’s website is also home to webinars, podcasts, a blog, self-assessment tools, posters, newsletters, and a free mobile app for our employees and their immediate families.  And for managers, they offer manager support and employee referral services.

If you would like to learn more about EFR and their EAP services, representatives from EFR are available to attend a department or staff meeting (in-person or virtually) to highlight their resources and help answer any questions.  They will present to groups of any size, for any length of time.  If you would like EFR to speak during one of your meetings, please send an email to Teresa Belden, EFR Account Manager, at tbelden@EFR.ORG or phone 515-471-2368.

Remember, the intention of an EAP is to serve as a convenient, and readily accessible support when life matters keep you from being your best. You do not need to be in a crisis to use or benefit from the EAP services, although it is there for that as well. Take some time to check out these resources.  Everyone can benefit!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Staff Archive

$5 Lunch at Hubbell First Wednesday of Each Month

Join colleagues from across campus for a $5 lunch at Hubbell on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Members of All Staff Council’s Events & Community Service committee will host the lunch, so you will have a friendly face to talk to. Come and go as your schedule allows. Bulldog Connect Lunch will take place on the first Wednesday of every month, September through May.

— Elissa Johnson, On behalf of All Staff Council

For Students Archive

Dining Dollars vs. Bulldog Bucks Explained

What is the difference is between Dining Dollars and Bulldog Bucks? 

Dining Dollars are funds that are a part of your meal plan.  They are intended for on-campus dining.  You can use these funds at the Olmsted Starbucks, Hubbell Dining Hall, Spike’s Convenience Store (Lower Hubbell), the Library Cafe (in Midnight Hall), or at Concessions in the Knapp Center.

Dining Dollars are loaded at the start of the fall semester, and will carry forward to the end of the spring semester.  You’ll want to use these funds before you leave for home in the summer.

Bulldog Bucks are an optional account, also on your ID card, that you (or your family) load as desired.  These funds carry forward from year to year until you leave Drake, and can be used both on and off campus.

Bulldog Bucks can be used for any on-campus dining location (listed above), and can also be used at the Drake Bookstore, at campus printers, in the campus mailroom, at participating off-campus locations, and on the GrubHub app.  Current businesses accepting Bulldog Bucks in the Dogtown neighborhood are Hummus, Fernando’s, Dough Co, Gursha, and Sprocket’s.

Funds can be added online in the myDrake portal, or at www.acceptinglocations.com/drake.  You can also see the participating off-campus merchants at this link.  Please note that the off-campus merchants cannot take your Dining Dollars, they can only take Bulldog Bucks.

If you have any questions about your Dining Dollars or meal plan, feel free to contact dining@drake.edu.  If you have any questions about your Bulldog Bucks account, feel free to contact studentservices@drake.edu.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus Fire Drills Oct. 16–18 and Oct. 21

Drake University will hold fire drills on Oct. 16–18 and Oct. 21 in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act and in conjunction with National Fire Prevention month. All drills will be conducted at 10:45 a.m. except for the residence halls, which will be conducted from 6–9 p.m. on Oct. 21.

 We have planned this to minimize disruption to classes and most academic buildings will be completed the week of Fall break. This also allows us to have more efficient utilization of our staff for these drills. The residence halls will be done from 6–9 p.m. to increase participation in the evacuations.

 Fire alarms will be activated in all campus buildings to signal the start of the drill. When the alarm sounds:

  • Evacuate the building.
  • Buildings will be locked down and cannot be re-entered until the drill ends.
  • Remember to dress accordingly.

 The fire drills will be coordinated through the Office of Public Safety (271-2222) working with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (271-3804) and Facilities Services (271-2706). Please report any fire alarm malfunctions or evacuation problems to Facilities or Public Safety.  Your cooperation in this important campus safety exercise is greatly appreciated.  Please refer to the Drake Emergency Response Plan for additional information.

Fire drill schedule:

 Oct. 16 at 10:45 a.m.

Meredith Hall
Aliber Hall
Cowles Library
Opperman Hall
Cartwright Hall
Harmon Fine Arts Center
Howard Hall
Carnegie Hall
Medbury Hall
Collier-Scripps Hall

 Oct. 17 at 10:45 a.m.

Olin Hall
Science Connector Building
Harvey Ingham Hall
Cline Hall
Fitch Hall
Studio Arts Hall
Occupational Therapy Building

October 18 at 10:45 a.m.

Olmsted Center
Hubbell Dining Hall
Alumni House
ROTC
Bell Center
Knapp Center
Fieldhouse
Tennis Center

Oct. 21 at 10:45 a.m.

Cole Hall
Old Main
Ross Hall (Public Safety)
Vote Smart
Legal Clinic
Dial Center
Harkin Institute
Black Cultural Center
La Casa Cultural Center
CAYA House
FPM Buildings

All residence halls – Oct. 21 from 6–9 p.m.

Campus Suites
Carpenter Hall
Crawford Hall
Goodwin-Kirk Hall
Herriott Hall
Jewett Hall
Stalnaker Hall

— Jen Rasmussen, Environmental Health and Safety

Campus Announcements Archive

Writing Center Opens Sept. 9

WHAT WE DO: The Writing Center’s trained peer tutors advise and assist students at any stage of the writing process:

  • Understanding instructions/prompts
  • Generating ideas and ways to develop ideas
  • Outlining and organizing
  • Writing, expanding, revising, and/or copyediting a draft

We are a free service for all Drake students, including graduate students and those in professional programs.

HOW TO SIGN UP TO VISIT: We are now using Starfish for scheduling! Students can go here to book an appointment with a tutor, or use the following QR code.

Appointments are approximately 30 minutes, and students can sign up for more than one session if they wish. They may also request that a tutor keep a regular time slot available for them if they would like to come in each week. If you cannot attend your scheduled appointment, please remember to cancel and reschedule.

WHERE WE ARE: The lower level of Cowles Library—please follow the signs. We offer hours daily, from mornings to late afternoon/evening (including weekends). Students with health concerns can request an appointment on Zoom.

FOR FACULTY AND STAFF: If you refer a student to the workshop or require all students to visit, please let us know via email (megan.brown@drake.edu). Ask students to bring their assignment prompt/instructions to the Writing Center, as well as any writing they have done so far. When students are referred, or required, to visit, the tutor will email you to let you know that your student has attended and briefly describe what work was done. When students attend on their own, we do not inform professors unless they specifically ask us to do so.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS please contact Prof. Megan Brown, Director of Writing (megan.brown@drake.edu).

— Megan Brown, Professor of English

 

 

HR Information Archive

Important Notice about Online Timesheet and Leave Report Reminders

During the last several pay periods, many individuals contacted Human Resources questioning the accuracy of the timesheet and leave report reminders that were sent.  Because the reminders generated many questions, we have temporarily paused these system generated messages.

We encourage employees to create Outlook reminders for themselves to submit and approve the time reported. In addition, as a temporary solution, Human Resources and Payroll will manually send specific reminders to the employee and approver to accomplish these time reporting tasks for the various pay cycles.

HR, Payroll, and ITS will continue to work through the reminder message programming to re-deploy it for your use. Our goal is to provide you meaningful messages that you can confidently act upon.

We do apologize for this inconvenience.

— Human Resources and Payroll

For Staff Archive

Help Spruce Up the Sprout Garden Sept. 6

Join All Staff Council on Friday, Sept. 6, from 2–4 p.m. to spruce up the Sprout Garden and Food Forest. Help with weeding, harvesting, and other important tasks.

No experience is necessary. Gloves and tools will be provided and you can come and go as your time allows. Please dress for the weather and wear something you don’t mind getting a little dirty. Close-toed shoes are recommended. Bring sunscreen and a hat if you prefer.

To sign up, visit https://drake.givepulse.com/event/473682-harvest-party-prep.

One lucky volunteer will receive a Lucky Horse gift card!

Refreshments will be provided by the All Staff Council Events & Community Service committee. The Sprout Garden is located at 1270 30th Street in Des Moines.

— Elissa Johnson, On behalf of All Staff Council

Campus Announcements Archive

First-Gen Student Ice Cream Social Sept. 3

Welcome, first-generation Bulldogs!

Drake defines a first-generation student as a college student whose parents/legal guardians have not received a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university. At Drake, about 20% of our incoming students are first-generation students.

The Office of New Student Programs and First-Generation Student Organization would like to invite you to attend the First-Generation Student Ice Cream Social on Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 4:30–6 p.m. in Pomerantz Stage area in the Olmsted Center. Let’s get together to welcome our new first-gen Bulldogs and kick off the start of the academic year together. This is an opportunity to celebrate Drake’s first–generation students, faculty, and staff and to continue building relationships and support within the community. Feel free to drop in anytime between 4:30–6 p.m. for some ice cream and to mingle with other first-generation Bulldogs.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs