All posts by Renee Cramer

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Deputy Provost 2:10: Technology-supported teaching at the close of the semester

As we begin to enter final grades, think about course copy and migration, and plan spring syllabi and class time, I want to amplify some of the messages the campus community has received from folks within Drake’s Information Technology Services.  (Needed footnote alert: some of this is original text, some of it is brazenly plagiarized from ITS!)

Final grades are due by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22. This is the last day that the University is open, before break begins. To enter final grades, log into myDrake/MyDUSIS, click on the “Grading” icon under the Faculty & Advising section, and then click on the “Final Grades – Submittal Link” link.  Or, enter grades via Blackboard, using the instructions available here.

Don’t forget: Gradebook filtering can help streamline grading.

  • Go to Gradebook > click on the grid view (left) > click on Filter (right)
  • filter by student name to show only grades for one student
  • filter by groups
  • filter by child courses of a merged or cross-listed course

As you prepare to copy or originate new courses for spring, please be aware that there will be variations for instructors.

  • If you are copying from Original (not Ultra) course view, please use the correct instructions and start in the course from the past that currently contains the content.
  • If you are copying from Ultra course view, the process starts from the future/empty course and pulls content in from past courses. You have more granularity about what you copy with the new process. (Don’t copy items that are broken – this will help clean up courses with transition errors.)
  • Copy Courses for Efficiency: Instructions for copying courses.
  • NOTE: Please remove any repeated links referring to the Support Center after you copy content.

To request Course Merges or Course Sharing: Please submit a request through the Blackboard Learn Ultra Request and choose the appropriate option for either merge courses or share/copy course content. Your course can be copied forward while completing a merge. Make sure you include the course that currently contains the content as a part of the request.

If you are new to the look and feel of Blackboard Learn Ultra, and setting up original/new courses, here are some tutorials to help you get started:

  • Blackboard Learn Ultra has a limit of two folder levels. Please keep your content organized within these limitations. By not being able to bury content in folders, students are more likely to find what they need to succeed.
  • If you have a “Content” folder, you can gain back another level of folders by moving items out of the Content folder and up to the main content page.
  • Build content in a chronological order if possible. This helps the students immensely!
  • For Instructors: Where can I get training?
  • FAQs on the Blackboard Learn Ultra update

Finally, please be aware of our institutional storage limitations. This resource on the End of the Semester with BlackBoard Ultra is really helpful for thinking through archiving and storing course material. And, one of my upcoming January OnCampus messages will offer much more specific instructions and ideas for maintaining an efficient set of courses that don’t tax storage bandwidth. As you think about planning and recording lectures for virtual learning content in your spring courses, Panopto is our preferred video content managing system. You can learn about its capacities and how it interacts with BlackBoard Ultra, at this helpful link.  Also, in a January OnCampus, I’ll offer some tips for thinking through the use of Respondus technology for OnLine testing. But, if you’re either finally figuring it out here at finals time (no shame!), OR, thinking about using this technology for the first (or fifth) time this spring, please read these important tips and best practices for that technology!

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

DUiN art show Dec. 3

To celebrate the release of our new Fall 2021 art themed magazine, “DUiN-ism”, DUiN will be hosting an art show featuring art from our magazine.

From 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, we will be selling various art prints (such as the one featured on the first slide) along with auctioning @drakeugriff original art.

Come dressed in your fanciest formal/pretentious attire, and come celebrate DUiN-ism with our entire staff.

— Kelsey Christiansen, senior

For Students Archive

J-Term Prevention Ambassador training

Prevention Ambassadors help ensure that sexual and dating violence prevention conversations continue to happen across campus. As a Prevention Ambassador, you will be equipped to lead inclusive and meaningful conversations about how to create a safe campus environment.

The J-Term training will be virtually and you must be able to attend all three sessions.

We will hold trainings on the following dates:
Monday, Jan. 3, Jan. 10, and Jan. 17 from 1:30–4 p.m. OR
Tuesday, Jan. 4, Jan. 11, and Jan. 18 from 9:30–12 p.m.

Sign up

In the spring, we will have a new and revamped Prevention Ambassador model. If you have an interest in being more involved, we will meet regularly to continue our education, facilitation skills, and event planning. Involvement after training is not a requirement.

— Lynne Cornelius, Violence Prevention & Programming

Campus Announcements Archive

‘Help Your Shelf’ initiative

As we approach the end of the semester, we want to extend an invitation to students, staff, and faculty to donate items to the Help Your Shelf Initiative, a campus resource for students who need school supplies or personal care items. Feel free to bring the items listed below to Sofia Turnbull, 515–271–4615, sofia.turnbull@drake.edu. Items will be stored in Meredith Hall, Room 104. Whenever the room is not scheduled for an event (a weekly schedule is posted on the outside of the room) students may go in and retrieve the items they need. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this campus resource.

Deodorant

 (men’s and women’s)

Cough DropsPens/Mechanical Pencils/HighlightersWater BottleSticky Notes (various sizes)
Hand sanitizerNotebooks/3-ring BindersMini first aid kitsWhite OutBatteries ( AA and AAA)
Tissue2-pocket portfolio foldersBackpacksBasic PlannerToothpaste/Toothbrush

— Hannah Clayborne, Dean of Students

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Additional printers installed on campus

Last week, new printers were installed in Meredith, Fitch, and Harvey-Ingham Halls. Our staff is working hard to match up the number and type of machines that are delivered with the machines needed in a given area. We are trying to replace all department/building machines simultaneously to avoid the confusion from using both old and new printers, but this continues to be challenging due to ongoing supply chain issues.

Our partners at LRI are coordinating installation and training with department contacts as machines arrive. Our project team will continue to adjust our schedule as machines arrive and update the list at Printer Locations (FAQ).

See guides on using the features of the new printers in the Printing category of the IT service portal. Learn more about the overall printing project at drake.edu/its/printing/.

— Kris Brewster, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Prepare for January’s multi-factor authentication changes

Starting Jan. 4, when you login to one of the campus systems set up with multi-factor authentication (MFA), you will be prompted to verify your identity by using the Microsoft Authenticator app.

These systems will include:

  • Self Service (including Employee Dashboard and Personal Information screens)
  • Blackboard
  • myDrake
  • Online versions of Microsoft Office programs

To help you prepare, we’ve created a FAQ and knowledge base guides linked below:

The first 150 people who submit proof of downloading the Microsoft Authenticator app and connecting it with their Drake account will receive a $1 off coupon to use at the campus Starbucks. Visit forms.office.com/r/HGSY0L1JSf to see complete rules and enter. Coupons are going quickly, so act soon.

Watch OnCampus for further updates as the Jan. 4 deadline approaches.

— Jeff Regan, ITS

For Faculty Archive

Application for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion designation now available

In May 2021, Faculty Senate passed a motion creating a special Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion designation for courses in existing AOI categories or in academic programs within units. Students who enter Drake beginning in Fall 2022 will be required to take one course with this designation.

The University Curriculum Committee invites course proposals for courses to satisfy this new designation. The application is now available on the AOI/UCC resources webpage: drake.edu/dc/facultystaffresources/aoiuccresources/. UCC will begin reviewing applications in the spring semester. The committee meets every three weeks to review proposals.

Please contact Carrie Dunham-LaGree, chair of UCC, with any questions.

— Carrie Dunham-LaGree, Cowles Library

For Staff Archive

Update on customized work arrangements for staff

Over the past couple of weeks, the task force has been diligently working on a detailed guide to support managers and staff when exploring Customized Work Arrangements (CWAs). The first iteration of the guide is now complete and the editing and formatting stages are about to begin.

The task force will also be revisiting the draft policies, after reflecting on the thoughtful comments provided during the policy review process. That will take another week or two.

At present, we are still looking at an early January effective date for the revised and new policies. In areas where CWAs may make sense, staff can review their essential functions at any time to assure they are accurate, up-to-date, and complete. This should be something all staff members do annually—and ahead of the annual performance review cycle.

Where can staff find a list of their essential functions?
Visit my.drake.edu
Go to MyDUSIS
Select Employee Performance Evaluation Menu
Select View Essential Job Functions

If you think edits or updates are needed, you can copy and paste into a Word document. Highlight edits or use track changes, so edits are visible. While essential duties are determined by managers, it will be helpful to your manager to consider your proposed edits and comments.

Speaking of January, we are thrilled to share that Alanah Mitchell, Aliber Distinguished Associate Professor and Chair of Information Management and Business Analytics, will facilitate a BUILD session on Jan. 19 from 10–11 a.m. in Olmsted Center, Rooms 310/311, on Leading Hybrid Teams. In this session, Mitchell will share strategies for effective leadership of hybrid team members including actionable suggestions for leaders of hybrid teams.

For existing and aspiring managers, this will be a great opportunity to learn from a resident expert. The Spring BUILD line-up is still a work in progress; however, you can register for this information session now by emailing Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu. While directed toward leading hybrid teams, insights will be valuable to all staff. Please consider attending.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

For Students Archive

Textbook rentals due Dec. 21

The deadline to return fall rental books is Dec. 21. You may return in-store or ship back at your expense. For shipping, the check-in form is located within your rental account at universitybook.com. The bookstore will remain open through Dec. 23 for any late returns or shipments. Please remove any sticky notes or flags and unfold any bent pages.

Damages: We will not accept returns of books with broken spines, ripped or missing pages, excessive writing or highlighting or water damage. We didn’t sell it to you in that condition, so we will not accept it back. If your book falls under that category you will have to pay the difference between the original rental price and the purchase price to buy it outright.

Keeping the book: If you want to keep the book, you can buy it outright by paying the difference between the original rental price and the purchase price. You have until Dec. 21 to make that selection.

— Kyle McVay, University Bookstore