All posts by Kiley Kahler

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Drake IRIS hosts service opportunity for faculty

About IRIS: IRIS stands for the Iowa Radio Reading Information Service for the blind and print handicapped. Around 1,000 listeners tune into broadcasts across the state of Iowa provided by a network of 500 volunteers. Drake IRIS serves people experiencing blindness or print barriers in Council Bluffs, Iowa through Drake students’ daily reading of the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil. This program has proven to build empathy, disability services knowledge, growth in communication skills, and more for its volunteers.

Faculty Volunteer Information: If you are able, please sign-up for a time slot to volunteer with Drake IRIS during the 2022 spring break. We are piloting this faculty reading week to see if there is interest in the program and feedback to better our services. Reading for IRIS is quick, easy, fun, and makes a big impact on our neighbors in Council Bluffs, Iowa. A bonus is this reading opportunity is a remote volunteer option to help make your experience over the break more accessible. This is the perfect opportunity to record from your desk or home utilizing your community service leave provided by the University!

Sign-Up to Volunteer: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q6NB1xLV2A4vlaf65j8pNWUMGwjwk8STMxiLSkx9kr8/edit?usp=sharing

— Kiley Kahler, Senior

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Come play GRIFO (Drake style Bingo)

All Staff Council and Human Resources are co-sponsoring a bingo event on March 9 from 3–4 p.m.  All faculty and staff are invited to play Drake’s version of bingo, GRIFO. Attend in-person at Parent’s Hall in the Olmsted Center and say hello to Griff II, or use this link to register for the virtual option. A multitude of prizes are available from Griff socks to a free parking pass.

— Molly Shepard, On Behalf of All Staff Council

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Global Citizen Forum faculty/staff event

On Thursday, March 3, at 3:30 p.m. in the Shivers Courtside Club, faculty and staff are invited to celebrate the Every Bulldog a Changemaker initiative highlighted in The Ones campaign launched in October 2021. This event will leverage a fast-paced visual storytelling format known as PechaKucha to highlight eight examples of changemaking projects across the disciplines. Appetizers and two free drink tickets will be provided along with time for networking with the presenters and other colleagues.

— Melissa Sturm-Smith, Academic Excellence and Student Success

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Finance Self Service launches today

Drake is continuing to roll out changes as part of the Self Service project. The next update launces today and focuses on Finance Self Service. Finance Self Service will be used to submit and approve payment requests, journal vouchers, and budget changes as well as generate department-specific financial queries and reporting.

Direct emails were sent to users who may be impacted by this change, and training sessions were held last week. If you did not receive these communications and need to know how to use the new system, there are several resources available in the IT service portal at https://drake.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/2025/Portal/KB/?CategoryID=22690. You may also watch a recording of a training session: Finance Self Service Training Recording.

Questions or concerns? Please reach out to payments@drake.edu.

— Heather Travis, Finance

Campus Announcements Archive

The 2022 Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition is now open

Sponsored by John Pappajohn and Equity Dynamics, Inc., the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition is for Iowa university and college students with an interest in starting their own business. Plans are judged based on a) Content of Plan and b) Viability of business idea. Three (3) seed grants in the amount of $5,000 are awarded to the top three business plans submitted in the competition. In addition, all finalists receive $500 if not chosen for the top awards.

Any full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate registered for the 2021-2022 academic year is eligible. Plans must be for a start-up business only (not for an existing business). Visit https://tinyurl.com/drakestudentpappajohn to learn more and apply! Questions? Email jpec@drake.edu.

— Stephanie Cardwell, CBPA

Campus Announcements Archive

DART Express Route survey

DART’s Express Routes (92, 93, 95, 96, 98 and 99) have experienced decreased ridership due to new travel patterns and the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on local commuters. Because of this decrease in ridership, DART is proposing reducing the number of trips its Express Routes run. By surveying riders, DART hopes to find the times they need to arrive in, and leave, downtown Des Moines. DART is not planning to end service on any routes as part of this effort.

If you currently utilize any of DART’s Express Routes, they invite you to take a survey, sharing what time you want to see their routes run. You are welcome to share contact information when you complete the survey to receive information in the future including proposed schedules after the survey closes. DART expects to begin making changes to its Express Routes in June 2022.

If you prefer not to fill out the survey online, you may pick up and drop off a paper copy of the survey at the DART Customer Service window at DART Central Station (620 Cherry St.) or request a survey by calling DART Customer Service at 515-283-8100, option 0.

If you have questions about these survey efforts, please visit ridedart.com/June.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Students Archive

Free tool to improve your money management

Are you interested in improving your money management skills? Do you wish you knew more about investing and credit? Do you need to learn more about the benefits that employers offer?

Drake University has partnered with GradReady® to provide a FREE digital platform where you can learn about these topics at your own pace from any device. Visit drake.gradready.com to create your account and get started.

— Ryan Zantingh, Student Financial Planning

Campus Announcements Archive

Crisis in Ukraine panel discussion

Please join faculty from the Department of Political Science and the Department of History for a panel discussion about the unfolding crisis in Ukraine. This event will be held on Wednesday, March 2, from 12:30–1:45 p.m. in the Reading Room at Cowles Library.

Panelists include:

  • Amir Busnov (B.A. in International Relations from Drake University): Following his graduation from Drake, Mr. Busnov completed his Masters in International Affairs from the Fletcher School for Law and Diplomacy. He recently returned from Ukraine where he has been serving as a Monitoring Officer with the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Special Monitoring Mission.
  • Rob Collis (Visiting Assistant Professor of History): Professor Collis specializes in European and Russian history, and has published widely on Russian history.
  • Debra DeLaet (Professor of Political Science): Professor DeLaet has particular interest in the politics of international law and the role of the United Nations in global politics. Her scholarship focuses on human rights and global gender issues.
  • David Skidmore (Professor of Political Science) has a scholarly interest in U.S. foreign policy decision-making. His scholarship focuses on U.S. foreign policy and international political economy.
  • Kieran Williams (Assistant Professor of Political Science): Professor Williams has a special interest in the politics of Central and Eastern Europe. His publications include several works relating to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.

Panelists will share their regional expertise as well as perspectives related to international law and international security. There will be ample time for questions and discussion. Light refreshments will be served.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

Join us for an out of this world conversation with Astronaut Raja Chari LIVE from the International Space Station

The Law School is hosting a Q&A with Astronaut Raja Chari live from the International Space Station this Thursday, March 3, at 2 p.m. The event will be held in Cartwright Hall, Room 213.

Doors will open at 2 p.m. The link to the ISS will go live promptly at 2:10 p.m. After a brief introduction, the line will be open for questions from the audience. Questions must be submitted and approved by Law School staff in advance. Individuals whose questions are selected will be notified on March 2.

Raja Chari, husband of Drake Law alumna Holly Schaffter Chari, LW’02, is the commander of the NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew has been on the ISS since early November. Commander Chari is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He earned a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.

Space is limited. Please register in advance. The registration form includes a place for you to submit a question for consideration. Register here.

— Terri Howard, Law School