All posts by Megan Hartle

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake Relays Habitat for Humanity Panel Build

The Drake Relays Habitat for Humanity Panel Build is Saturday, April 23, and open to the entire Drake Community. This is an excellent opportunity to give back to the community and learn new skills. A panel build is when volunteers come together to construct the interior and exterior wall panels of a Habitat home in a seven-hour period. The build will be on Drake’s campus, in Lot A (pink square in map), and volunteer parking will be in Lot 1 (orange square in map). Restroom access will be in the Fine Arts Center. Sign-up and share with your friends. Pizza will be provided during the lunch break between shifts. Note: Avoid signing up in rows that say “HYP.” For questions, contact megan.hartle@drake.edu.

— Megan Hartle, P4

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Deputy Provost 2:10—Continually learning, strengthening community: CTE and Deputy Provost sponsored development opportunities

Every Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.

When we gather together to share about our teaching and research work, we build community that improves our time in the classroom and strengthens students’ experiences. Plus, it’s fun. Consider these upcoming opportunities:

On April 15, Professor Sally Haack will present on the various Scholarship of Teaching and Learning projects she has accomplished in the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, with an emphasis on talking about lessons learned – and helping attendees generate ideas for SOTL projects across the disciplines.  Howard Hall 210, 12:30 – 1:30, lunch provided – please register by April 8.

The final Books for Breakfast of the academic year will be April 20 and 27, from 8:30 – 9:30, in Howard Hall 210, and we will be reading Why Bother? Discover the Desire for What’s Next.  Sign up, here, by April 8.  This book is perfect for heading into summer and for redefining what’s most important in our scholarly, creative, and personal lives.

On April 22, Professor Tim Urness (Math and Computer Science) will tell us all about (work) his trip to Italy … and what to do, in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, “When You Think You Have a Good Idea, but Just Need to Prove It.”  Howard Hall 210, 12:30 – 1:30, lunch provided; please register by April 15.

On Wednesday, May 4, at 7 pm, Cathy Davidson, the author of The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux, will address the campus community, virtually.   Sign up to receive the link to this event, here.   If you’d like to join us for a catered Watch Party and after-presentation discussion, please let us know, here. We will also have the opportunity to gather together on Monday, May 9th  from 3:30 – 5:00 in Howard Hall 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.

All Faculty Development Workshop: Meeting Our Students As We Find Them Post-Covid.  Please plan for an intensive two-and-a-half day workshop appropriate for all Drake faculty and staff who teach – but especially designed for First Year Seminar instructors, those engaged in the teaching of writing (across the curriculum and in your disciplines), those engaged in teaching math and science across the university, faculty who want to do community engaged learning, and those faculty who want to learn more about how to make their online and face-to-face courses truly accessible to their students.  We will meet as a whole group, and in cohorts, on May 18 and 19 from 8:30 to 4:00 each day, and from 8: 30 – noon on Friday May 20.  Faculty who attend and participate will receive $375 stipends, access to some terrific guest speakers, all materials, ample time in shared conversation and directed learning, and meals – as well as an invitation to be part of compensated faculty learning communities meeting through fall and summer.  To assist in our planning, please register at this link, as soon as you are able to commit.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Deputy Provost 2:10—What does University life look and feel like moving forward from the pandemic?

Every Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.

Drake faculty and staff have been gathering this spring to think about what we’ve gone through as a University in the past two years—with a focus on what all of those experiences mean for the academic experiences of our students, the scholarly and creative lives of our faculty, and the relationships we have to work and to each other. We’re ready to start broadening that conversation by sharing resources, informing development opportunities, and planning for the Drake University Learning Symposium (save the date: Aug. 18, the theme will be Returning).

Here are just a couple of resources we’ve found useful, in thinking through the past two years, with thanks especially to Dan Chibnall, Clayton Mitchell, and Carrie Dunham-Lagree for their work in annotating a giant bibliography of these offerings.

One of the first things many of the resources point out is the fact that we’ve all lived through trauma—and that collective trauma will show up in the way we work together as faculty and staff, and in the ways that our students enter our offices and classrooms.  I hope it is becoming clear that members of the Deputy Provost team are working from a trauma-informed perspective, trying to focus on steps 2, 3, and 5 from the University of Wisconsin’s helpful website: we’ve been working to build community by offering intellectually stimulating gatherings with lots of hospitality (read: pastries and good coffee/tea); by recognizing and amplifying the good work of our faculty and staff (more on that, soon – I’ve been gathering data about our internal grant awardees to share with the community); and by encouraging “small things” like stepping back for self care and connecting on the Bulldog Mile. I’d love to hear your thoughts about how to do more, and better, to achieve these aims.

We know the pandemic has had an impact on the scholarly and creative lives of all faculty—with a disproportionate negative impact on women-identifying professors.  But, do we know how the pandemic affected the worklife of our students? How has it changed employers’ needs for skills and mindsets of the undergraduate students we are sending to the workforce?  The Chronicle of Higher Education has a great on demand video series covering these kinds of questions.

As we move through the next six months, returning in various ways to a more familiar rhythm of academic life, let’s promise to continue to think about, learn from, and grow into using the lessons of exceptionally recent events.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake Relays seeking ticketing help

The Drake University Athletics Ticket office is looking for students or staff to help with the 112th Drake Relays, Thursday, April 28, through Saturday, April 30. Food will be provided.

Job Duties include:
– Selling tickets in the ticket windows
– Assisting with AXS mobile app questions
– Scanning Tickets at Gates
– Other duties as assigned

A very high percentage of tickets will be delivered to people’s smartphones. For a preview of the app and commonly asked questions, click here: Draketix.com/axsmobileid.

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfY0bZVCPkCHfiweTsFh5bsx-1oNkCOAjlUj7UQD5U9g71IRQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

— Logan Krause, Athletics

Campus Announcements Archive

Follow-up panel April 13: Ongoing war in Ukraine

Please join faculty from the Department of Political Science and the Department of History for a second panel discussion about the ongoing war in Ukraine. This event will be held Wednesday, April 13, from 12:30–1:45 p.m. in the Reading Room at Cowles Library. The Iowa United Nations Association will be streaming the event on Facebook Live.

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.

This panel will offer a follow-up to the forum we offered last month focusing on the history of the conflict and region. Our follow-up panel on April 13 will be particularly focused on international security and international law concerns related to the war in Ukraine. Panelists will make brief introductory remarks, and a majority of our time will be devoted to audience questions and discussion. Light refreshments will be served.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

Hubbell dinning hours during Ramadan

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. To support our Muslim community, Hubbell will extend dinner service to 8:30 p.m. beginning Saturday, April 2, and continue through Monday, May 2.  To learn more about Ramadan, visit:

livescience.com/61815-what-is-ramadan.html

urdupoint.com/islam/des-moines-ramadan-calendar-sehar-aftar-timing.html

islamiccenterdm.com/

— Division of Student Affairs

Campus Announcements Archive

Nominate students for the Adams Leadership Awards

The Adams Leadership Awards are an annual, campus-wide tradition to celebrate the achievements of student leaders and organizations at Drake University. Each spring we honor students and organizations who have made valuable contributions to the campus community through their outstanding commitment to leadership.

Please consider nominating any Drake students and student organizations who have exhibited strong leadership and excellence throughout the 2021–2022 academic year. Nominations can be submitted by any Drake student, faculty, or staff member. Award categories include:

  • Outstanding Bright College Student
  • Outstanding Transfer Student
  • Outstanding Equity and Inclusion Program
  • Oreon E. Scott Outstanding Senior of the Year
  • …and many more!

View a full list of awards and the nomination form here. The nomination deadline is Sunday, April 10th at 11:59 p.m.

All award nominees and winners will be recognized at the Adams Leadership Awards ceremony and reception, taking place in Sheslow Auditorium on Wednesday, May 4, at 6 p.m. (Save the date! All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend.)

If you have any questions, please contact Kristin Economos, director of student leadership programs, at kristin.economos@drake.edu.

— Kristin Economos, Office of Student Involvement and Leadership

Campus Announcements Archive

Back to Class: Antibiotic Resistance with Andrew Miesner

Hear from Andrew Miesner, PH’07, about his research related to antibiotic resistance on Monday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. Anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of their affiliation to Drake. Register.

Andrew Miesner, PH’07, serves as an associate professor of pharmacy practice at Drake University and as a clinical pharmacist at Broadlawns Medical Center in the Department of Internal Medicine. Andrew Miesner graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Drake University in 2007. His research interests include internal medicine, infectious diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, clinical teaching methods and interprofessional education.

— Courtney Conrad, Alumni Relations

Campus Announcements Archive

Teams calling update and maintenance

On Friday, April 8, at 4:30 p.m., ITS and our service provider, Lumen/CenturyLink will complete the move of campus telephone numbers to voice over IP (VOIP) service. The migration process could last up to four hours during which brief voice outages could occur on each number as it is moved to the new service.

This is the last major milestone in migrating away from Drake’s outdated phone systems to Microsoft Teams Calling. ITS acknowledges the transition to Teams for voice services has been difficult and caused frustration across campus due to poor call quality and dropped connections. We are optimistic that completing migration will address these issues by eliminating the need to route calls through old voice equipment. A pilot group of numbers was moved to the new voice trunk lines late last year and we have seen a marked improvement in voice quality and reliability in that group.

Additionally, ITS staff have been working with a third party vendor over the past several weeks to ensure Drake’s configuration of Teams Calling adheres to Microsoft’s best practices, prepare for the migration on Friday, and facilitate a smooth changeover to the new service. ITS is committed to improving Teams voice quality and trusts this investment will be another factor in improving the reliability of the system.

Thank you for your patience and support during this long transitional period away from our legacy voice system to Teams Calling.

— Chris Mielke, ITS