All posts by Maria Valdovinos

For Staff

Committee on Student Ready Institution Needs Your Input

This past spring, the Faculty Senate created an ad hoc committee focused on a review of Drake’s ability to be a student-ready institution and ways the campus community can play a role in achieving this goal. If you are not familiar with the term, a student-ready institution provides holistic support to its students and restructures systems to support student needs.

Also, this past spring, the ad hoc committee met with campus stakeholders and assessed university systems and faculty and staff practices related to this area to understand where we are. While this helped us develop a picture of Drake’s current practices, WE NEED YOUR HELP. As staff play a key role in helping students succeed at Drake, we need to better understand what you are doing and what improvements you feel can be made to achieve the goal of being a student-ready institution.

This sessions will gather your insight into how we currently are and, in the future, can do better to support our students and effectively prepare them for both academic success and future careers.

Please note that for efficiency, artificial intelligence will be used during the meetings to record and transcribe the discussions. The findings from staff focus groups will be combined with data from corresponding student and faculty focus groups to generate a comprehensive report outlining ways actionable changes and best practices for faculty and suggestions for institutional system modifications to make Drake a more student-ready institution.

Meetings will be held on the following dates/times and you can sign up for these meetings via the links provided:

Tuesday, September 22nd, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Johansen Room 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-staff1

Monday, September 28th, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Library Room 201: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-staff2

— Maria Valdovinos, Professor of Psychology

For Faculty

Committee on Student Ready Institution Needs Your Input

This past spring, the Faculty Senate created an ad hoc committee focused on a review of Drake’s ability to be a student-ready institution and ways the campus community, and in particular faculty, can play a role in achieving this goal. If you are not familiar with the term, a student-ready institution provides holistic support to its students and restructures systems to support student needs.

Also, this past spring, the ad hoc committee met with campus stakeholders and assessed faculty practices and university systems related to this area to understand where we are. While this helped us develop a picture of Drake’s current practices, WE NEED YOUR HELP to better understand what faculty are already doing in this area, how faculty are using current related university systems, and what improvements can be made to achieve the goal of being a student-ready institution.

We invite you to participate in one of several faculty focus groups dedicated to assessing our university’s preparedness to be a truly student-ready institution. These sessions will gather your insight into how we currently are and, in the future, can do better to support our students and effectively prepare them for both academic success and future careers.

Please note that for efficiency, artificial intelligence will be used during the meetings to record and transcribe the discussions. The findings from faculty focus groups will be combined with data from corresponding student and staff focus groups to generate a comprehensive report outlining actionable changes and best practices for faculty and suggestions for institutional system modifications to make Drake a more student-ready institution.

Friday, September 18th, 9:00a to 11:00a, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-faculty1

Friday, September 25th, 1:00p to 3:00p, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-faculty2

Friday, October 2nd, 9:00a to 11:00a, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-faculty3

Friday, October 9th, 1:00p to 3:00p, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-faculty4

— Maria Valdovinos, Professor of Psychology

For Students

Help Shape Drake’s Future: Join a “Student-Ready” Focus Group (and Earn $10 in Bulldog Bucks!)

The Drake community has spent some time during the past few years trying to better understand how we can support students at Drake to better achieve their goals while at Drake and after graduation. One key area being explored is how we can make Drake a “student-ready” institution. A student-ready institution provides holistic support to its students and restructures systems to support student needs.

Currently, there is a faculty committee focused on reviewing Drake’s ability to be a student-ready institution and ways the campus community can play a role in achieving this goal. This past spring, the faculty committee met with campus stakeholders and assessed faculty practices and University systems related to this area to understand where we are. While this helped us develop a picture of Drake’s current practices, WE NEED YOUR HELP to better understand the undergraduate student viewpoint on what is being done and what improvements can be made to achieve the goal of being a student-ready institution.

We invite you to participate in one of several undergraduate student focus groups dedicated to assessing our University’s preparedness to be a truly student-ready institution. These sessions will gather your insight into how Drake currently is and, in the future, can do better to support you and effectively prepare you for both academic success and future careers. The first 50 students who participate in a focus group will receive $10 in Bulldog Bucks. Sign up for a session below.

Please note that for efficiency, artificial intelligence will be used during the meetings to record and transcribe the discussions. The findings from student focus groups will be combined with data from corresponding faculty and staff focus groups to generate a comprehensive report outlining ways actionable changes and best practices for faculty and suggestions for institutional system modifications to make Drake a more student-ready institution.

Tuesday, September 15th, 3:00p to 5:00p, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-student-1
Friday, September 25th, 9:00a to 11:00a, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-student2
Tuesday, September 29th, 8:00a to 10:00a, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-student3
Friday, October 2nd, 1:00p to 3:00p, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-student4
Friday, October 9th, 9:00a to 11:00a, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-student5
Friday, October 16th, 1:00p to 3:00p, Library 201: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-student-6
Friday, October 23rd, 1:00p to 3:00p, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-student7
Friday, October 30th, 1:00p to 3:00p, Johansen 301: https://calendly.com/maria-valdovinos-drake/ad-hoc-student-ready-institution-focus-group-student8

— Maria Valdovinos, Professor of Psychology

HR Information

Join Drake’s Walktober Step Challenge With DMU

If you are looking for a way to motivate yourself to get up and move more, join this year’s Walktober step challenge.  Drake is competing with Des Moines University to see which site’s competitors can achieve the highest average step total during the month of October.  The winning site claims the Walktober traveling trophy for a year and bragging rights.  Drake has the trophy right now and we want to keep it!

You are welcome to register as an individual or create a team (adding a little internal competition to our already external one).  If you would like to participate, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.  If you are putting together a team, please include your team’s name, team captain, and team members (4–8 people per team).  Registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 25.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements

20% off for Bulldog Buy Week, Sept. 14–20

Don’t miss Bulldog Buy Week, September 14–20! Take 20% off one item* when you shop in-store or online.
Whether you’re looking for a new favorite Bulldog tee, fresh campus gear, or the perfect addition to your Drake collection, now’s the time to shop and save.
Stop by the Bulldog Shop or visit drake.ecampus.com and take advantage of this limited-time offer before it’s gone!
When: September 14-20
Where: In-store & online
Store Hours:
Mon – Thu: 9 AM – 5 PM
Fri: 9 AM – 4 PM
Sat: 10 AM – 4 PM
Shopping Online? Use code BUYWEEK20 at checkout at drake.ecampus.com
*Exclusions may apply. See store for details.
Campus Announcements

Kick Off Fall with September’s Griff of the Month T-Shirt

September is here, and Griff is ready for kickoff! This month’s limited-edition Griff of the Month T-shirt puts Griff in full football mode, bringing the spirit of the season and Drake pride to your collection.
Each month, we release a new exclusive Griff design so you can build your collection all year long. Collect all 12 designs and unlock a special bonus at the end of the year.
Don’t miss your chance to add September’s design to your collection before it’s gone.
Campus Announcements

Walk the Bulldog Mile Oct. 7 as part of the Healthiest State Walk

Grab your walking shoes and join the Healthiest State Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 7.  All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to meet at noon at the start of the Bulldog Mile.  This one-mile path begins outside the Olmsted Center (just southeast of the building).  Pick up a sticker at the beginning of the walk and wear it. If you still have it on at the end of the walk, you will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize.  If that’s not enough, you can earn additional raffle tickets with a deck of cards and a little luck.

If it is raining, we will move the event to the indoor track at the Knapp Center (entering through the Bell Center to scan in).  Come alone, bring a friend, or make it a team or department event!  Let’s get moving!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements

Practice Spanish Every Monday and Wednesday in Meredith Hall

The Department World Languages and Cultures invites you to attend Spanish Conversation hours on Mondays and Wednesday from 4–5 p.m. in Meredith Hall, Room 231, where you can practice speaking Spanish in an informal setting. Drop by any time, stay a while, or the full hour.

Everyone is welcome. Email inbal.mazar@drake.edu for questions and accommodations. No hours are held when the University is closed or during finals week.

— Inbal Mazar, Associate Professor of Spanish

HR Information

Bank of America Webinars for Drake Employees Sept. 25 and Oct. 2

Bank of America (BOA) offers special banking benefits, rewards, and financial wellness options to Drake University employees. You can visit Bank of America’s webpage dedicated to Drake University employees here.  In addition, BOA offers live webinars specifically for Drake employees.

Here are their upcoming sessions:

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources