All posts by Renee Cramer

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Deputy Provost 2:10: Writing Center opens, a note from Professor Megan Brown

Each Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.

The Writing Center (formerly known as the writing workshop) opened Monday, Sept. 12.

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

The Writing Center is a free service for all Drake students, including graduate students and those in professional programs.

How to sign up: Go to library.drake.edu/writing-center/ to book an appointment with a tutor—instructions for booking and visiting are available on the site as well. 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.

Location: The Writing Center has moved! The Center is still on the lower level of Cowles Library—please follow signs to find the new, larger, more comfortable space. The Writing Center offers 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 the Writing Center 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, The Writing Center does not inform professors unless they specifically ask the Center to do so.

For questions, contact Professor Megan Brown, director of writing, at megan.brown@drake.edu.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Deputy Provost 2:10: Books, breakfast, conversation, coworking, equity and inclusion

Each Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.

This fall we’ll be reading two books as part of the Deputy Provost’s Books for Breakfast series:

The New College Classroom, by Cathy Davidson and Christina Katopodis, Thursdays, Sept. 22 and Oct. 6, from 8:30–9:30 a.m.  Please email nicki.kimm@drake.edu to sign up and get your book.

AND

Teaching to Transgress, by bell hooks, Tuesdays, Nov. 15 and Nov. 22, 8:30–9:30 a.m.  Sign up here.

On Nov. 4 from 2–4 p.m., I’ll be leading a session on meeting the outcomes related to the Equity and Inclusion requirement adopted by faculty senate 18 months ago.  Please sign up here, as soon as you’re able to commit, so that I can be in touch with some pre-session questions and homework.

Books for Breakfast and the Equity/Inclusion session are in Howard Hall, Room 210.

In addition, I’m going to be ‘working in public,’ and hoping for impromptu conversation, in several different locations this fall. I’d love the chance to catch up with faculty colleagues I don’t often see in my day-to-day deputy-provosting. Please come find me. Here is where I’ll be:

Thursday, Sept. 15, 1:30–2:30 p.m., Olin, 1st floor

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1:30–3 p.m., Olmsted Starbucks

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 9–10 a.m., Cowles Reading Room

Thursday, Oct. 13, 2–3 p.m., Collier Scripps, 1st floor

Thursday, Nov. 22, 10–11:30 a.m., Olmsted Starbucks

Friday, Dec. 2, 1–2 p.m., Cartwright Atrium

And, I’ll be hosting light breakfasts (pastries from La Mie, hot tea/instant coffee) in Howard Hall’s Academic Affairs suite, on the following dates.  No agenda—just conversation about teaching, professor-ing, out curriculum, and Drake:

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 8:30–9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 20, 8:30–9:30 a.m.

Friday, Nov 4, 8:30–9:30 a.m.

Friday, Dec. 2, 8:30–9:30 a.m.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

For Faculty Archive

Faculty of Color Affinity Group

Once again this year, the Provost’s office will be providing hospitality support for pre-tenure and non-tenure-track faculty of color to gather to build community, share resources, and create networks of support and collegiality. Assistant Professor of Math Enes Akbuga will be convening all interested faculty for a gathering(s) over coffee or dinner sometime this semester. If you are interested in joining us, please send Enes an email at enes.akbuga@drake.edu. Both new and existing pre-tenured faculty are encouraged to join.

— Jen Harvey, Associate Provost, Campus Equity and Inclusion

News & Achievements Archive

Nelson named a 2022 Next-Generation Future Pharmacist Award finalist

Molly Nelson, a fourth-year student pharmacist in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, was named one of three national finalists for the 2022 Next-Generation Future Pharmacist™ Award sponsored by Parata Systems and Pharmacy Times. The winner will be announced during the Next-Generation Pharmacist Award Gala held on September 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo.

“I am incredibly honored to have been nominated for the Next-Generation Future Pharmacist Award and am astounded that I am a finalist,” said Nelson. “I am even more honored to be able to help the community through the work I do, while being mentored by amazing pharmacists everywhere I go.”

Read more about Molly Nelson’s accomplishments and the award.

— Kaylyn Maher, CPHS

For Students Archive

Dinner with the dean of students

Join Dean of Students Hannah Clayborne for dinner and a chance to catch up on things that are happening at Drake this semester. This is a great opportunity to make connections with fellow students along with the Dean of Students. Dinner will be provided for students just sign up in advance, but space is limited to 10 students. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up.

Questions about this event, please contact Gina Ryan at gina.ryan@drake.edu with questions.

— Hannah Clayborne, Dean of Students

HR Information Archive

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness month

Suicide is a concerning public health issue that leaves a long-lasting impact on families and communities. Between 1999 and 2019, the suicide death rate in the U.S. increased by 33%.

According to recent data, there were nearly 46,000 deaths by suicide in 2020 (approx. 126 per day), making it the 12th-leading cause of death in the United States. In Iowa, it is the 9th leading cause of death. Suicide rates vary across a variety of demographics. For example, in 2020, men died by suicide 3.88x more than women.  White males accounted for 69.68% of suicide deaths in 2020. Suicide rates are higher among LGBTQ youth and adults compared with straight/cis adults. Yet, 93% of adults surveyed in the U.S. think suicide can be prevented.

Since 2008, September has been recognized as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This is a time to acknowledge those impacted by suicide, raise awareness, and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to resources and treatment services. This is also a sensible time to openly discuss mental health and help reduce lingering stigmas.

One of the more recent resources at our disposal is a new crisis hotline number. On July 16, 2022, Iowa rolled out a three-digit number—988—for people to call or text to reach a trained counselor who can help them deal with suicidal thoughts and mental health crises. The new 988 number does not summon law enforcement. For more information, visit: https://988lifeline.org/.

A wonderful training opportunity at Drake will take place later this month. Please consider attending QPR training on September 21 (1-2 pm), offered through Drake HR’s BUILD program. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer—the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. This training is being presented by Kayla Bell-Consolver, Director, Student Counseling Center and Dr. Greg Lengel, Associate Professor of Psychology. Class size is limited to learn more access the fall BUILD schedule here. You can RSVP with Linda Feiden (linda.feiden@drake.edu).

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Des Moines Consortium reception Sept. 21

Faculty and staff are invited to meet other higher education professionals at the annual Des Moines Consortium reception, hosted this fall at Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny Campus, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 3–4:30 pm. The reception will be held at DMACC the International Culinary Institute and Conference Center, Building 7, 2006 South Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny.

— Drinda Williams, Provost’s Office

Campus Announcements Archive

Reminder: Religious holiday observances

An important reminder: avoid scheduling campus events during the High Holidays observed by many members of our campus community who are Jewish. Please go to the Office of Equity and Inclusion website to import the dates of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for this September and October directly into your Outlook calendar.

Faculty are required to provide students reasonable accommodations to honor their religious identities. It is especially important we honor this obligation as we communicate celebration, affirmation, and inclusion of all the diversity within the Drake community.

Students need to communicate the accommodations they require, so we can institutionally support clear communication between individual faculty and their students.

— Jen Harvey, Associate Provost, Campus Equity and Inclusion