All posts by Karen Williams

For Students Archive

$3,500 in scholarships available for DU Spain study abroad program

A group of Drake students will be joining the DU Spain: Drake Semester in Seville with Professor Ellen Yee for the Spring 2023 semester in Seville, Spain. Students will enroll in one Drake course, as well as courses at a local university. Students don’t need a background in Spanish to participate in the program.

We’re also excited to share that the first 10 students who commit to the program will receive a $500 grant to discount the program, as well as a $3,000 scholarship from our program partner, API. This means the non-tuition fees (room & board, included excursions, and international health insurance) will be under $2,500 for the first 10 students who commit.

Students can meet Professor Ellen Yee at the J-Term Travel Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 31, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will also be a DU Spain Info Session on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m.

We recommend that students apply by Thursday, Sept. 1, so they’re considered for a Drake University Global Learning Scholarship. Students need to commit and pay a deposit for the program by Thursday, Sept. 15. Apply here.

Courses taken in Seville can be pre-approved to count toward your major(s), minor(s), concentration, and/or AOIs (with courses offered both in English and in Spanish). Students also have access to their Drake financial aid while studying abroad on this approved program.

For questions, email studyabroad@drake.edu or read more on Drake’s study abroad website: drake.edu/global/studyabroad.

— Karen Williams, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

New pronoun policy in effect, community conversation Sept. 6

We are pleased to share that all students, staff, and faculty may now self-select a pronoun from the list provided on the Personal Information page in Self Service. If a pronoun is selected it will be viewable by members of the University community in Starfish, Blackboard, Zoom, and class lists. Other details about replacing pronouns and review of the list can be found here: drake.edu/policy/category/academics/studentpronounpolicy/.

The Office of Equity and Inclusion will host a community conversation for any member of the Drake community who has questions about the policy and/or who wants more support identifying best practices for respecting the use of pronouns. Associate Provost Jen Harvey and Registrar Jenny Tran-Johnson will both be in attendance. The conversation will be held on Sept. 6 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Sussman Theater.

The goal of the pronoun policy is to create an environment in which we do not assume how people want to be referred to when referenced in the third person. It helps us proactively ensure people are given the opportunity to self-identify and reduce instances of misgendering (i.e., incorrectly referring to a person’s gender by assuming their gender identity). The policy aligns with Drake University’s commitment to cultivating equity and inclusion as it recognizes each individual’s sense of self and affirms the humanity of all members of our community, including transgender, gender non- conforming, non-binary, gender questioning, and other gender diverse members of our community.

The pronoun policy does not require that anyone discloses their pronouns. It is also important no one is ever pressured to disclose their pronouns.

Faculty members are encouraged to consider with intention practices for ensuring students in courses are referred to with the pronouns they use by both themselves and student peers. Best practices can include modeling sharing one’s own pronouns when introducing oneself and inviting—but not requiring—students to share theirs when they introduce themselves in class. Faculty are expected, according to the policy, to use the pronouns students indicate for themselves and to facilitate use of the correct pronouns by student peers in classrooms. Such practices are critical to create an effective and inclusive learning environment for all students.

Similarly, students and staff are expected to use the pronouns any member of the Drake community indicates are appropriate. We want each and every member of our community to experience their pronouns being respected as a shared community practice.

We warmly invite you to bring any questions or concerns, including about matters such as how to self-correct if/when you inadvertently use the wrong pronoun or otherwise grow one’s ability to use pronouns that might be new to us as part of our discussion during the Sept. 6 community conversations.

— Jen Harvey, Campus Equity and Inclusion

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Habitat for Humanity volunteer opportunity

Are you interested in lending a hand to help improve the Drake neighborhood? Volunteer with fellow Drake staff and faculty members Friday, Sept. 16, to assist low-income residents with needed repair, maintenance, weatherization, safety, accessibility, and beautification of homes. Utilize some of your annual Community Service Leave to provide a valuable contribution and connect with your Drake colleagues.

Habitat for Humanity Rock the Block Drake Neighborhood

  • Friday, Sept. 16, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Lunch will be provided
  • Sign up (chose site F: Drake Faculty and Staff)

This event is coordinated by All Staff Council.

— Kevin Saunders, On Behalf of All Staff Council

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake Me Out to the Ballgame

Join us for Drake Day at the Iowa Cubs game against St. Paul Saints on Sunday, Aug. 28, at 1:08 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to sport your Drake and Iowa Cubs gear. Be sure to bring along friends and family to enjoy this Sunday afternoon. Kids will have the opportunity to run the bases after the game!

Anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of their affiliation to Drake. Purchase tickets to join us.

— Courtney Conrad, Alumni Relations

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