Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the new Travel Expense Policy. Based on feedback, we made a few minor changes:
Review the new policy. As a reminder, the policy went into effect July 1, 2022.
— Erica McGowan, Finance and Administration
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness month. Some points to consider:
There are steps you can take to make your home safer from self-harm and suicide. While many of these tips will seem obvious (and others perhaps not reasonably achieved), safety measures are often and easily overlooked—like a smoke detector that doesn’t work, the flashlight with dead batteries, or an expired fire extinguisher. Periodic safety checks are worth the thought and effort—even if some add a bit of inconvenience.
Weapons and dangerous objects: Research shows that having a gun or weapon in the home increases the risk of dying by suicide.
Medications: Parents and caregivers should be in charge of the medications that are kept in the home.
Drugs and alcohol: If substances that can be abused, like alcohol, are kept in the home, they should be monitored and locked.
Other toxins/hazardous materials: Other items can be used for self-harm and suicide.
Although, it is not possible to make a home completely safe, following these suggestions can help reduce the risks and chance for a suicide attempt. If anyone in your home is talking about suicide, engaging in acts of self-harm, or researching suicide, they should be urgently evaluated by a qualified mental health provider.
Read More
Suicide Safe Your Home – Suicide Prevention Alliance
Reduce Access to Means of Suicide – Suicide Prevention Resource Center
12 Things Parents Can Do to Help Prevent Suicide – Healthy Children.Org
Safe Home Environment – Veterans Affairs
— Maureen De Armond, HR
If you have never explored Drake’s Employee Assistance Program through Employee & Family Resources, now is a great time to do so. They offer a wonderful range of resources—including confidential counseling, free webinars, podcasts, a blog, self-assessment tools, and a free mobile app.
Their services also include financial and legal consultation, child/elder care resources, and life coaching. You may reach EFR by phone (800-327-4692) or visit their website.
Special Note: 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. If you would like EFR to speak during one of your meetings, please send an email to Dave Bent, EFR Account Manager, at DBent@EFR.org or phone 515-471-2381.
— Linda Feiden, HR
J-Term 2024 travel seminar proposals are due Thursday, Oct. 27. A travel seminar is a short-term, faculty-led study abroad (or domestic) program. This is an opportunity to teach a course that integrates an academic experience with intercultural and experiential learning while traveling. If you are interested in leading a travel seminar in 2024, email Maria Rohach, director of education abroad, at maria.rohach@drake.edu to set up a meeting to discuss your ideas and learn more about the process.
You can review the proposal process and submit a proposal through Qualtrics.
— Maria Rohach, Global Engagement
Ultra Hours: Get Help with Blackboard Learn Ultra
What a great turnout for Ultra Hours in August. More than 30 faculty members joined us in-person or online for personalized assistance. Popular topics included: Blackboard Learn Ultra refreshers and introductions, Gradebook setup, new features for Tests, copying materials, course design, managing content, and video discussions.
Mark your Calendars, Save your Spot
Bring your computer and questions about course design for hands-on practice with the instructional design team from Drake Online and Continuing Education.
The first Friday of each month (Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2)
Help Us Help You
Please sign up to indicate when you plan to come and what types of questions you have. Your feedback helps us adequately staff and prepare to assist you.
Reminders
— Shannon Hilscher, Drake Online and Continuing Education
Cowles Library is excited to announce an opportunity for full-time Drake faculty interested in learning more about using open educational resources (OER) in their courses. These open resources replace costly textbooks, and are beneficial to students in your courses in so many ways. The Drake Faculty Open Education Grant Program is offering $500 stipends to participants who complete the program, which comprises a workshop, self-paced learning modules, and peer discussion.
This program will be limited to eight participants in Fall 2022, and participants must complete all required components to receive their stipend. We expect the time commitment for the program to be 10–12 hours, which includes the virtual kickoff workshop on Friday, Oct. 7, 3:30–5 p.m.
Apply now: Drake Faculty Open Education Grant Program Application
Deadline: Applications are due by Friday, Sept. 23. Individuals will be notified of the status of their application by Monday, Oct. 3. Grants will be awarded based on representation of a wide range of disciplines and the alignment of application responses to the proposed content of this program.
— Teri Koch, Cowles Library Dean’s Office
This organizational view of Drake’s leadership is a great way to get to know the leaders and structure at Drake. If you click on a person’s image, you will be directed to their corresponding web page. This interactive chart can also be found on the Office of the President page. It is a handy tool, especially if you are new to Drake.
— Nate Reagen, Office of the President
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
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
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