All posts by Alejandro Hernandez

News & Achievements Archive

The hits keep coming: Drake’s School of Actuarial Science and Risk Management continues in the vanguard of insurance research

The results of four major insurance research projects led by faculty from Drake University’s School of Actuarial Science and Risk Management were published in prestigious academic journals during the last 12 months. The papers, which cover topics ranging from the impact of increased insurance consumption in China to how insurers and regulators are responding to the transition to a new benchmark for pricing risk, reflect the challenges and opportunities in the increasingly dynamic and globally connected insurance market.

“As one of a select group of the Society of Actuaries’ Centers of Actuarial Excellence, we are committed to exploring the issues and trends that drive the insurance sector” said Alejandro Hernandez, dean of the College of Business and Public Administration, which is home to Drake’s actuarial science program. “Our continued success in publishing relevant and timely research also informs the business-centric curriculum that we deliver to our actuarial science students.”

The four recent peer-reviewed journal articles (in order of publication) include:

  • “The Changing of the Guard (from LIBOR to SOFR) and How Both Insurers and Regulators are Responding” authored by Toby White (of Drake University) published in Journal of Insurance Regulation
  • “Estimating Spillover Effects in Property Casualty Insurance Consumption” authored by Douglas Bujakowski (of Drake University) and Shinichi Kamiya (of Nanyang Technological University) published in North American Actuarial Journal
  • “Insurance Research in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe: What We Can Learn from XPRIMM Data” authored by Douglas Bujakowski (of Drake University) and Patricia Born (of Florida State University) published in Risk Management and Insurance Review
  • “An Asymptotic Study of Systemic Expected Shortfall and Marginal Expected Shortfall” authored by Yiqing Chen (of Drake University) and Jiajun Liu (of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University) published in Insurance: Mathematics and Economics

The research work conducted by the School of Actuarial Science and Risk Management is made possible by support from the Principal Financial Group.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Dean, CBPA

Campus Announcements Archive

International Education Week forum call for proposals

Global Engagement is seeking proposals for student and faculty presentations at the International Education Week Forum: China taking place November 18, 2022.

About the Forum
The inaugural International Education Week Forum will coincide with the U.S.-China Symposium at Drake University and will also have a thematic focus on China. Students and faculty members from Drake will present on research and other projects related to China. This mini-conference will provide an opportunity for students and faculty across disciplines to present their work and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Call for Proposals – Eligibility & Criteria
Undergraduate students, graduate students, recent graduates and faculty members are encouraged to submit proposals. Research and academic papers, poster sessions and panel discussions are all acceptable. Proposals may be submitted from any academic discipline.

How to Submit a Proposal
Submit a proposal using this Qualtrics form. Proposals must contain the following:

  • Title of presentation
  • Type of presentation
  • Abstract or brief summary of presentation topic, themes, objectives, etc.
  • Preferred length of presentation

Proposals will be accepted until September 30, 2022.

Contact global@drake.edu with questions.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

How to negotiate and review vendor contracts

As Drake begins a new academic year, we wanted to remind you of the online resources available for negotiating and reviewing contracts. The Contract Process Summary lays out the process for Independent Contractors and Business/Vendor Contracts.  The Contract Review Checklist provides important criteria for reviewing and negotiating all legal agreements.

Once contracts are signed by the individual with authority to do so under the Approval Authority Policy a final copy must be sent to ducontracts@drake.edu as part of the contract retention process.

Questions about the process may be submitted to ducontracts@drake.edu.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

News & Achievements Archive

Actuarial science students can now earn credit for Society of Actuaries exams based on strong course performance

Drake University has received University-Earned Credit (UEC) status from the Society of Actuaries (SOA). This will enable students in the university’s School of Actuarial Science and Risk Management to earn credit for select SOA exams by attaining required UEC scores in related courses. The SOA’s Exam FM (financial mathematics) and Exam SRM (statistics for risk modeling) will be included in the initial roll-out of the program which is made possible by Drake’s elite standing as an SOA Center of Actuarial Excellence (CAE).

“This new pathway demands a high academic standard to ensure that the same exam rigor is present in our curriculum so Drake’s CAE status provides our students an ideal foundation for success,” said Alejandro Hernandez, dean of the College of Business and Public Administration, which is home to Drake’s actuarial science program. “The UEC is the first step in the SOA’s new modernized and modularized education system designed to empower students. We are eager to be on the leading edge of this initiative to offer new options and opportunities for students and employers.”

The leadership and faculty of Drake’s actuarial science program completed a comprehensive application process to earn the UEC status. This submission included evidencing work done to structure the related courses to meet standards established and monitored by the SOA. This new option, available starting in the fall 2022 semester, will allow students enrolled in the university’s actuarial science program to earn credit for the FM and SRM exams after receiving required scores in respective courses that cover the exam’s syllabus. The development work conducted by the School of Actuarial Science and Risk Management to achieve the UEC status was facilitated by support from EMC Insurance Group, Inc.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Dean, CBPA

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Tuition Exchange application available

Full-time employees in a regular position at Drake University are eligible to participate in two tuition exchange programs, which offer waived or discounted tuition at other participating institutions for employees, their spouse/partner, or eligible dependent(s).

Those wishing to apply for tuition exchange in the 2023–2024 academic year can apply now. Applications are only for students not already approved for tuition exchange—those who have been approved for tuition exchange in 2022–2023 will automatically be re-certified for consideration in the 2023–2024 academic year (assuming the employee remains eligible).

There are three main steps in the tuition exchange application process:

  1. Employee submits the online tuition exchange application (and the student should also apply for admission at the schools listed on the application).
  2. Drake’s Office of Student Financial Planning will confirm and certify the employee’s eligibility to participate in the tuition exchange program. This is done on a rolling basis as applications are received.
  3. Each school listed on the application will determine whether they can offer the student a tuition exchange award.

Schools have different application deadlines and timelines for announcing award determinations. It is the employee’s responsibility to submit the tuition exchange application early enough to allow time for step #2 to be completed in advance of each school’s deadlines.

Details about each of Drake’s tuition exchange programs are provided below:

Tuition Exchange, Inc. (TE)
TE has over 670 participating schools. Visit tuitionexchange.org to learn more, view participating schools, and to submit an application.

Council of Independent Colleges & Universities Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP)
CIC-TEP has over 440 participating schools. Visit cic.edu/tep to learn more, view participating schools, and to submit an application.

— Ryan Zantingh, Student Financial Planning

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Campus Suites at Dogtown open house

Please join us at an open house celebrating the opening of Drake’s newest residence hall—Campus Suites at Dogtown, located at 1140 24th Street.  Formerly the location of the Holiday Inn Express, Drake has converted the hotel into a residence hall for third-year students and above. Faculty and staff are invited to tour the building Thursday, Aug. 25, from 9–10 a.m.

— Michelle Huggins, Planning and Design Manager

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

True Blue nominations open

The All Staff Council Recognition Committee is accepting True Blue nominations. 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! And, congratulations to all of the staff members who received a True Blue award this past year! We appreciate your hard work and dedication!

— Betsy Wilson, On behalf of All Staff Council

HR Information Archive

BUILD learning and development schedule

Bulldogs United In Learning Drake (BUILD) is a learning and development series available to faculty and staff who wish to enhance their professional skills, improve their wellbeing, and expand their boundaries.

We encourage all employees to check out the BUILD Fall 2022 Schedule that is now available on myDrake in the learning & development section under the Human Resources app.  To register for any class, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

September offerings:

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) 101. Sept. 13 from 2-3 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Conference Rooms 310-311

Best Practices in TeamDynamix. Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Conference Rooms 310-311

Impeccable Dependability: Strategies to get and stay organized. Sept. 20 from 10-11 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Conference Rooms 310-311

QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) Training for Suicide Prevention. Sept. 21 from 1–2 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Conference Rooms 310-311

Tour of Drake Campus (FULL). Register to be placed on waiting list for the next tour

Getting a Head Start: A TIAA Workshop to help create a retirement strategy. Sept. 28 from 10-11 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Conference Rooms 310-311

Excel Pivot Tables & Filters. Sept. 29 from 2-3 p.m. via Microsoft Teams

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Digital Detox, establish a new relationship with tech

Do you feel like your use of technology (social media, news outlets, email) is out of your control?  Do you feel distracted or unable to focus due to constant digital interruptions?  Would you like to start this academic year off by establishing a new relationship with technology?  If so, join us for a Digital Detox inspired by Cal Newport’s book Digital Minimalism: Choosing Life in a Noisy World. Portfolio/Penguin, 2019.

During this six-week session, participants will consider their relationship with technology, set their own rules of technology engagement, and support one another as we detox from the technology that runs our life.  Sessions will be held on Mondays from 3:30–4 p.m., beginning Sept. 12.  Space is limited to the first 25 that sign up, so commit to a better relationship with tech today.

To register for this program, send an email to Erin Lee Schneider at erin.schneider@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources