All posts by David Courard-Hauri

News & Achievements Archive

Drake receives stormwater/sustainability grant from IDALS

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) announced that Drake has been awarded a $79,110 grant to improve the flow characteristics and water quality of campus runoff as part of campus-wide improvements in sustainability and stormwater management, with an additional $6,000 coming from the City of Des Moines. The grants will be used to build a bioretention and bioremediation system in the area between the agora and Harvey Ingham Hall. This system will capture stormwater running off from Helmick Commons and other parts of central campus. Using berms and native plantings, bioretention and bioremediation cells slow the movement of stormwater, allowing plants and soils to filter the water and remove contaminants. In this way, significantly cleaner stormwater is discharged to local streams at a more constant pace, reducing erosion and flooding problems downstream, while also improving soil moisture near the site during dry times.

This was a student-initiated project, with initial investigation of opportunities done by students in the Drake Environmental Action League, in particular Elly Flemming, who built it into her capstone in Environmental Science and Sustainability. Drake Facilities Planning and Management staff, including Sustainability Coordinator Sophia Seigel and Director Kevin Moran, then worked with students, faculty, the City, and IDALS to organize the application and plan the execution. An important part of the grant will be measuring and analyzing the discharge into the stream just north of the Tennis Center (Ravine Creek) to determine the impact of the improvements.

This work is part of a much larger campus effort to remediate stormwater runoff and improve water quality in Ravine Creek. Other projects have included permeable pavement and equisetum planting on 28th Street going through campus, the prairie north of Meredith, native plantings as part of the Ray Promenade project, runoff collection built into recent parking lot improvements, rain gardens across campus, and capstone projects this spring and a Restoration Ecology class this fall that will focus on habitat improvements in the forested region through which the creek flows.

— David Courard-Hauri, Professor of Environmental Science and Policy

HR Information Archive

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month*. While stigma around mental health and treatment has decreased in recent years, there are still people who hesitate to take steps to address mental health challenges, seek care, and talk about mental health with friends, family, and even their medical providers. Given the additional stress and uncertainty that have accompanied the past couple of years, it’s as important now as it has ever been to talk about mental health.

*Note: World Mental Health Day is in October.

The goals of Mental Health Awareness month are multifaceted, and include:

  • Educating the public and raising awareness
  • Combatting stigma
  • Supporting mental health policies
  • Providing support
  • Removing treatment barriers for people with mental illness

Now for some history about Mental Health Awareness Month: While it may be hard to believe, this was first celebrated in 1949 (73 years ago!). The commemoration was started by the predecessor to the National Mental Health Association, the National Committee for Mental Hygiene. Today, the National Mental Health Association is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit mental health organization.

The National Committee for Mental Hygiene was founded by Clifford Whittingham Beers. Beers was born in 1876 in Connecticut. He was one of five children in his family, all of whom—including Beers—suffered from mental illness and psychological distress.

Beers spent time in a mental health institution and would later author “A Mind That Found Itself.” Gaining popularity and support from medical professionals, Beers founded the National Committee for Mental Hygiene. Beers was dedicated to ensuring that mental health patients received appropriate care and did not feel alone.

Another organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), helps raise awareness and combat stigma. NAMI has recently published a thoughtful guide for Mental Health Awareness Month this year. For 2022’s Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI identified “Together for Mental Health” as its theme. This theme pairs nicely with Drake’s Core Value of All In This Together.

Make It OK – Free Webinars May 2 and May 20

Make It OK is a national campaign which encourages everyone to talk more openly about mental illness in hopes of de-stigmatizing it so individuals will feel more open to seek care.  If you would like additional resources to help you help others, they are offering a free Make It OK presentation on May 2 and May 20.

In the 50-minute presentation you will:

  • Learn more about Make It OK
  • Better understand what you can do to reduce the stigma through key messages and resources
  • Feel more confident in talking more openly about mental illness, and helping people get the care and support they need

You can access additional Make It OK – Iowa resources here.

For details about additional events, activities, and suggestions to observe Mental Health Awareness Month, please see the May HR Monthly. If you have never explored Drake’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), our EAP provider offers a wonderful range of resources—including confidential counseling, free webinars, podcasts, a blog, self-assessment tools, a free mobile app, and more. Make some time for yourself this month.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Provost’s Drake Social to recognize service anniversaries, retirees

You are invited to the next Provost’s Drake Social Tuesday, May 3, in Shivers Hospitality Suite, adjacent to the Knapp Center, beginning at 4 p.m.

During this event, faculty and staff who celebrated (or will be celebrating) a milestone anniversary or retirement between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, will be highlighted. Their names will be scrolled on video screens around the room.

Those who celebrated a milestone service anniversary between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2021, are also encouraged to attend. We were unable to hold this event in May 2020 or 2021 due to COVID restrictions.

There will be soft drinks, wine, beer, and light snacks.  President Martin will speak at 4:30 p.m.

Take a moment to stop by and congratulate your co-workers!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Students Archive

Free Drake gear! Visit the Office of Community Engaged Learning during Relays Week

Celebrate Drake Relays in style with a piece of retro apparel. Stop by the Office of Community Engaged Learning, located in the lower level of Cowles Library, on Wednesday, April 27, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. and take a photo with the Pathways Photo Background. Post your photo on social media and tag @DrakeService to earn your swag (one per person). Items include T-shirts, tank tops, sweat pants, shorts, and other goodies. While supplies last!

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Reminder: Change to email encryption starting May 1

Starting May 1, all emails that include any of the types of confidential information listed below must be encrypted to send to any non-drake.edu email addresses.

  • Social Security numbers
  • Tax Identification numbers
  • Driver’s License numbers
  • US Passport numbers
  • Credit card information

Emails that include this confidential information will be flagged by the system and you will receive an automated notification letting you know your email was not sent. You must then either add encryption or remove the confidential information to send your email.

See instructions below on how to send and open encrypted emails:

Sending and Receiving Encrypted Email Messages (How-to)

Further questions about this upcoming change? Or about Drake’s Information Security policy? Please contact informationsecurity@drake.edu.

— Chris Mielke, ITS

News & Achievements Archive

Drake individuals and groups receive recognition from Iowa Campus Compact

We are excited to announce that the following individuals and groups have been recognized with an award from Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact:

  • Presidents’ Student Leadership Award recognizes an individual student or a student organization that models a deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership, evidenced by initiative, innovative and collaborative approaches to addressing public issues, effective community building, and integration of civic engagement into the college experience.
    • Brian Orellána, ‘24
  • Presidents’ Civic Engagement Leadership Award recognizes a member of the faculty, administration, or staff or for a group (e.g., advisory committee, task force, project team) that has significantly advanced their campus’ distinctive civic mission by forming strong partnerships, supporting others’ civic and community engagement, and working to institutionalize a culture and practice of engagement.
    • Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • Presidents’ Community Partner Award recognizes a community-based partner or organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and has engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with the college or university, thus enriching educational as well as community outcomes.
    • Above and Beyond Cancer
  • Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students who are changemakers and public problem-solvers.
    • CJ Younger, ‘23

Nominees will be recognized at a virtual awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 4, from 11 a.m.–12 p.m. The event is open to anyone. Register.

Learn more about each awardee. Lists of awardees by award category with images and additional description of each recipient’s accomplishments are available on the Iowa Campus Compact website the week of May 2.

Watch Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact social media (Facebook and Twitter @IAMNCompact) between May 6–19 for spotlights on each of the winners.

Congratulations to these changemakers!

Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact’s mission is to support member colleges and universities as they fulfill the public purpose that is at the heart of higher education. Drake University is a member campus of Iowa Campus Compact.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus-wide food drive

As you’re packing up and moving out, if you come across items (non-perishable foods, school supplies, hygiene items, etc.) that you don’t want to keep, put them in the designated boxes for collection.

Look for a yellow plastic bin or cardboard box near the entryway or lobby of your residence hall. The Interfraternity Council is holding a similar drive in fraternity houses, and there will be a bin at Alpha Phi and potentially other sorority houses. There will also be a bin near the C Store. If you have leftover flex dollars, consider using them to purchase food for this drive!

This drive is planned to last until mid-afternoon on May 13. It is organized by Next Course Food Recovery.

Items will be donated to the Little Free Pantries in the Drake Neighborhood or a nearby food pantry. Please don’t donate any perishable items or things that will not fit in the Little Pantries.

Contact andrew.kenanrd@drake.edu with questions about the Next Course drive and brian.orellana@drake.edu with questions about the Interfraternity Council Drive.

— Andrew Kennard, Junior

Campus Announcements Archive

Join us for the Adams Leadership Awards

Join us for a campus-wide celebration of student leadership at Drake University. The Adams Leadership Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 4, at 6 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium. All Drake students, faculty, and staff are invited and encouraged to attend. Nominees and selected winners will be announced for 18 student leadership awards, including:

  • Outstanding First Year Student
  • Outstanding Transfer Student
  • Outstanding Student Organization
  • Oreon. E Scott Senior of the Year Award

…and many more! Students in the Adams Leadership Institute and the leadership studies minor will also be recognized. No RSVP required; note the time and date on your calendar and show up with your friends and colleagues across campus. Appetizer reception to follow in Levitt Hall for award winners and their nominators. We hope to see you there!

— Kristin Economos, Student Leadership Programs

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Deputy Provost 2:10: An appreciation

As we head toward May 1, I want to simply send a public note of appreciation to Dean of Admissions Annie Kremer and her entire team, as well as to the faculty and staff across the University who have worked so hard this spring to help families imagine their students here.

I’ve had the good luck of being present at several of our admitted student days and have seen the lovely mix of excitement and trepidation that families bring to the decision process. And, I’ve seen the high energy and thorough preparation that Admissions brings to these events, from the snappy welcome video to the heartfelt speeches from students, to the information-packed sessions on J-Term, global engagement, pre-professional programs, co-curricular activities, and more.

We wouldn’t be a university if we didn’t have students—and we wouldn’t have students without the tremendous work of Admissions and those of us who partner with that office.  So: thanks, Annie and all, for the work you’re doing!

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Deputy Provost 2:10: Questlove and higher ed?

I’ve just reviewed the slide deck for Prof. Cathy Davidson’s upcoming address to the campus community, and slide six features a quote from DJ Questlove, inviting us to reimagine ourselves and our institutions, post-COVID-19. Since I love Tribe Called Quest, I got excited—and since I love thinking about innovation in higher education as a great way to serve our students and keep ourselves engaged, the rest of the slides made my day!

Please consider joining us for what promises to be an interactive, illuminating, and invigorating virtual event on Wednesday, May 4, at 7 p.m. Sign up to receive the link to this event. If you’d like to join us for a catered watch party and after-presentation discussion, please let us know. We will also have the opportunity to gather together on Monday, May 9, from 3:30–5 p.m. in Howard Hall, Room 210, to discuss Dr. Davidson’s book, after her visit. Please register here, so we know how many books to buy and can provide an appropriate amount of refreshments.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost