All posts by Marlene Heuertz and Maureen De Armond

HR Information Archive

Deadline for benefits enrollment Nov. 30

Time is running out for open enrollment! If you need to change your benefit elections, update your spouse/dependents, enroll or re-enroll in a Flexible Spending Account, add on the new Avēsis vision hardware coverage…do it today! The Benefits Portal is available through my.drake.edu (see the top tile under Human Resources on the left-hand side of the screen).

Open enrollment ends on Nov. 30, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. sharp.

The new Plan Year starts Jan. 1, 2023. If you have not enrolled in benefits for 2023 yet, please don’t wait until the last minute. If you have any questions or problems navigating the benefits portal, reach out to us at drakehr@drake.edu or contact Marlene directly at marlene.heuertz@drake.edu.

Thank you! We appreciate the questions, comments, and suggestions that we have been receiving all month. If you have additional feedback for us about the benefits offered by Drake University, how benefits are managed, or the communications and events we offered during Open Enrollment, please let us know! Your opinions matter and we want to hear them. You can reach out to us via email or use our short “how are we doing” survey to offer anonymous feedback.

Whether it is praise, constructive criticism, or a new idea, we would love to hear from you.

— Marlene Heuertz and Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive

Call for applications: DU Spain Faculty-in-Residence Spring 2024 and 2025

Drake University is launching a Drake cohort-model semester study abroad program in Seville, Spain, starting Spring 2023. As a part of the semester experience, a Drake faculty member will teach and serve in various other capacities to support the program abroad as Faculty-in-Residence.

The DU Spain Faculty-in-Residence application is live through Qualtrics for Spring 2024 and Spring 2025. To learn more about this opportunity including eligibility, compensation, responsibilities, and to apply, please go to: https://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_etgZfFgj2zw7ZIO

Submissions are due Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. If you have questions, please reach out to Maria Rohach, director of education abroad, at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

— Maria Rohach, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

Renowned international authors visiting campus Nov. 29–Dec. 2

Global Engagement is pleased to welcome Elizabeth Shackelford and Jane Olson to campus as part of the Principal Center for Global Citizenship fall speaker series.

Nov. 29–30

Elizabeth Shackelford will deliver two public lectures, drawing on her extensive professional experience as a former U.S. diplomat and author of The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age.

Human Rights Advocacy

  • Nov. 29, 6 p.m. – Pomerantz Stage, Olmsted Center
  • In recognition of Human Rights Day and in partnership with the Iowa United Nations Association
  • Register Here

U.S. Foreign Affairs

  • Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m. – Reading Room, Cowles Library
  • Register Here

Dec. 2

Jane Olson, renowned international humanitarian and author of World Citizen: Journeys of a Humanitarian will share stories from her time in the field at a public lecture on Dec. 2, 7 p.m. — Tom & Ruth Harkin Center. Register Here

All three events are free and open to Drake students, faculty, and staff, as well as the larger Des Moines community.

Learn more about the speakers and the Center’s speaker series at drake.edu/cgc.

Campus Announcements Archive

Extension of student loan payment pause

In response to a court injunction that has temporarily barred the Biden administration’s student loan debt relief program, the U.S. Department of Education has extended the student loan payment pause, which was schedule to end on Dec. 31, 2022.

“The student loan payment pause is extended until the U.S. Department of Education is permitted to implement the debt relief program or the litigation is resolved. Payments will restart 60 days later. If the debt relief program has not been implemented and the litigation has not been resolved by June 30, 2023—payments will resume 60 days after that.” (studentaid.gov)

You can subscribe to updates from the U.S. Department of Education by signing up here.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Strategic Updates Archive

Budget Town Hall next Tuesday

All faculty and staff are invited to attend a budget town hall presentation with President Martin and Adam Voigts, chief financial officer.  The presentation will review FY22 results, the budget for FY23, and a financial look to FY24 and beyond.  The presentation will be in Parents Hall of the Olmsted Center on Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 1–2 p.m.

— Adam Voigts, chief financial officer

Campus Announcements Archive

Lisa Grulke retirement reception Dec. 7

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to a retirement reception for Lisa Grulke. Lisa retired from the biology deparment, where she served as an instructor for the anatomy and physiology labs. The reception will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 2–4 p.m. in the Olin Hall Atrium.

Please come and wish Lisa well on her new life’s journey.

— Debora Ellen Christensen, Associate Professor of Biology

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Roadmaps to Retirement Dec. 7

Join us on Dec. 7 for Roadmaps to Retirement: Taking Stock and Looking Forward.

A shocking number of Americans have done little to prepare for post-employment life. This free event will feature two panels of experts: Social Security and Disability at 11 a.m., moderated by Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Agency, and Employer Retirement Savings Programs at 1 p.m., led by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend of the U.S. Department of Labor. More details are available on The Harkin Institute website.  

Registration is required, sign up here on eventbrite. This event will have American Sign Language (ASL) and Real-time captioning (CART). Contact harkininstitute@drake.edu with questions or to request other accommodations. 

— Lila Johnson, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

An Evening with Charlie Cook, renowned political analyst, free event Dec. 8

Join The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium or virtually, for our event An Evening with Charlie Cook. Register.

This event is open to Drake University undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff, as well as the larger Des Moines community. This event is free, but registration is required. American sign language (ASL) and real time captioning (CART) will be provided. please contact harkininstitute@drake.edu to request other accommodations.

An Evening with Charlie Cook is an opportunity to hear insight and analysis on the state of American politics by one of the leading authorities on the U.S. political scene. This year Cook will also share important insights about the midterm election. Cook is a political analyst for National Journal magazine, founder of the Cook Political Report, co-author of the 2020 and 2022 editions of the Almanac of American Politics and a National Advisory Council member for The Harkin Institute.

— Lila Johnson, The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement