All posts by Carla Herling

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Updates to Blackboard Learn Ultra category in IT Service Portal

ITS has been working to streamline and consolidate our service options in the IT Service Portal over the last year to make it easier for faculty, staff and students to know which service to use. The most recent changes have taken place in the Blackboard Learn Ultra category.

Where there were previously a number of services available to choose from, there are now only two options: Blackboard Learn Ultra Issue and Blackboard Learn Ultra Request.

The Blackboard Learn Ultra Issue will continue to be used in the same way as in the past. If you have an issue, are seeing errors, or need assistance with troubleshooting a problem, submit a Blackboard Learn Ultra Issue.

The new Blackboard Learn Ultra Request option combines multiple previous ticket types into one. Use the Blackboard Learn Ultra request for any of the actions below:

  • Add/change/remove user access
  • Consultation on how to best use Learn Ultra features
  • Training
  • Create custom course/site
  • Merge courses
  • Restore archived course
  • Share/copy course content

When you submit your request, the form will guide you through a series of questions to determine the nature of your request and ensure you provide the necessary information for ITS staff to assist you.

The IT Service Portal is the preferred method of requesting assistance from ITS staff and allows for the best experience.

— Karly Good, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

54th Drake Road Races opens registration

The Drake Road Races are BACK ON TRACK for 2022 with half marathon, 10k, and 5k distances—all finishing on the iconic Blue Oval. The races will take place on Sunday, April 24, 2022, to kick-off Drake Relays week.

Registration is now open with a Flash Sale offering 50% off race weekend prices for all three distances. The Flash Sale ends on Oct. 19 at 11:59 p.m.

All finishers of the 5k, 10k, and half marathon receive a commemorative finisher’s medal and a premium Drake Road Races apparel item.

— Tanner Nissen, Drake Relays

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus printing update 

Last week, new printers were installed in the residence halls. These were the first new printers to arrive since August due to ongoing global supply chain issues. As new machines arrive, our partners at LRI are coordinating installation and training with department contacts. Our project team will continue to adjust our rollout schedule whenever machines arrive and update the list at Printer Locations (FAQ).

Get instructions on how to use the features of the new printers in the Printing category of our IT service portal. Learn more about the overall printing project by visiting our FAQ page at drake.edu/its/printing/.

—Kris Brewster, ITS

For Students Archive

Become an Orientation Leader

Orientation leaders are dedicated to providing incoming students and their families with all of the information and resources necessary to ensure their transition to Drake is a smooth and enjoyable one.

We need you to help make this happen. Each year we recruit current Drake students to become part of the orientation leader staff. Orientation leaders play a vital role in this exciting process, working closely with new students and their families on a wide variety of topics including academics, student involvement, housing options, and more.

We highly encourage you to attend the final information session being offered on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m., Zoom session. Click here to sign up for a session.

You will be compensated for your time and effort and gain valuable skills in this position.

Learn more about the position. For questions, contact Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

HR Information Archive

Mark your calendar: Open enrollment and benefits fair

Open Enrollment is the time of year when faculty and staff have an opportunity to elect or change their benefits for the upcoming plan year, which will begin on Jan. 1, 2022. We want every eligible employee to be aware of this opportunity to review the generous benefits offered by Drake and elect benefits which best support them and their eligible dependents.

During the annual open enrollment period, employees can review and make changes to their current participation for the following Drake benefits:

  • Health insurance (which includes vision care)
  • Prescription drug coverage
  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (health care and dependent care)
  • Voluntary Life Insurance

Drake’s annual open enrollment period for the 2022 Plan Year begins Nov. 1 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2021. All benefit elections made during the enrollment period will become effective Jan. 1, 2022.

While we are not able to share benefit changes until Nov. 1, we can remind you of the new Broadlawns partnership, which will create special pricing for employees participating in Drake’s health insurance effective Jan. 1, 2022. This new partnership will supplement the choices already available to eligible employees and their dependents.

We are also excited to announce we will soon have a beautiful, informative digital benefits guide to share with you. It will contain Plan Year 2022 information and provide a detailed and easy-to-digest overview of the core benefits offered to Drake employees and their eligible dependents. We can’t wait to share it with you!

SAVE THE DATE for the Benefits Fair on Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Olmsted Center, Parents Hall South. More information about the Benefits Fair and open enrollment will be coming soon.

— Marlene Heuertz, Benefits Specialist, HR; Maureen De Armond, Executive Director, HR

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Support first-generation students

First-generation college students are an important part of the Drake community—about 14% of our campus community are first-gen students. Drake defines this as a college student whose parents/legal guardians have not received a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university. The office of New Student Programs offers resources and programs to support first-generation students at Drake. We will be celebrating National First Generation Student day on Nov. 8. We would like to include first-generation faculty and staff in this celebration. First-generation faculty and staff can play a huge role in supporting and mentoring first-gen students.

If you are a faculty or staff member that identifies as first-generation and would like to participate in first-generation student programs and connect with these students, please email Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

Campus Announcements Archive

DU Good Month: DU Good Mile, submit your volunteer hours

DU Good Mile
Join the Bulldog community in registering to participate in the DU Good Mile, on your own time, throughout the weekend of Oct. 22–24. Your $5 entry fee will go toward buying food to stock the Little Free Pantries around Drake, which provide nourishment to the people in our neighborhood who are facing food insecurity. Get running and walking! Post on social media with #DUGoodMonth and tag @drakealumni to share your mile with others. If you’re in the Drake neighborhood, consider walking or running the Bulldog Mile! 

Submit Your Volunteer Hours
Remember to submit the hours that you volunteer for a chance to win some Drake swag.

DU Good Month
During DU Good Month, we encourage students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of Drake to give back to their community and DU Good throughout the month of October. Visit the DU Good Month website to see how you can get involved—share your volunteering/community service story, submit volunteer hours, volunteer in your community, join us for the DU Good Mile, and more. Share how you are DUing good this month on social media with #DUGoodMonth and by tagging @DrakeAlumni.

For questions, contact Courtney Conrad, assistant director of regional engagement, at courtney.conrad@drake.edu or 515–271–3378.

— Courtney Conrad, Alumni Relations

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

All Staff Council presents: Walking the Dog

Grab your walking shoes and join the All Staff Council in walking the Bulldog Mile every Friday at noon through Nov. 19.

It’s simple: show up at the start of the Bulldog Mile (sidewalk southeast of the Olmsted Center) and follow the signage and large blue paw prints while enjoying the fresh air and a conversation with a colleague. An ASC committee member will greet you (weather permitting), and walk the Bulldog Mile with you. We look forward to seeing you there!

— Sydni Jennings, On behalf of All Staff Council

Campus Announcements Archive

Annual notice of services for domestic violence and other sexual harassment/violence

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Drake University wants to remind all its faculty, staff, and students of the various student and employee resources that are available both through the University and in the Des Moines/Iowa community.

Information about various events occurring at Drake University and in the Des Moines community to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month is available on Drake University’s social media accounts @drakeprevention.

— Jessica Morgan-Tate, Finance & Administration