All posts by Renee Cramer

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Deputy Provost 2:10 – Due dates for grants, awards, professorships

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

This is a reminder of several upcoming application due dates for faculty awards, honors, and funding coming out of the Office of the Deputy Provost.

Feb. 18 due dates:

Nominations for the Levitt Mentor Award and the Levitt Teacher Award are due to renee.cramer@drake.edu and nicki.kimm@drake.edu

March 8 due dates:

Nominations to college/school deans, and unit heads, for the Ellis and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professorships.  Self-nominations are welcomed and encouraged. Each nomination must include a letter of nomination that makes clear the qualifications of the individual to become a Levitt Professor and a current c.v.  (see this post in OnCampus for more details).

March 18 due dates:

Faculty can apply for funding to hire student assistants for their research in the coming academic year.

Applicants for the Troyer Research Fellowship should submit (via email to renee.cramer@drake.edu and nicki.kimm@drake.edu) a current curriculum vitae, a letter of application of no more than three pages, a preliminary budget suggesting how the fellowship dollars might be spent, and a one-paragraph abstract written for a non-specialist audience that summarizes the proposed research. The application letter should address the applicant’s record of scholarly accomplishment, future promise, how they will benefit and how the university will benefit if selected as the Troyer Research Fellow.

 April 1 due date:

Applications forDrake Research Grantsfor the coming academic year (July 22 – July 23). These grants can include the possibility of sabbatical research support.

Rolling due dates:

Faculty Development Grants – we particularly welcome those proposals for projects that support innovative and high impact pedagogy and curriculum development, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and professional development as a leader at the institution.

As funds are available, between now and April 1, Drake Research Grants for late-breaking needs, with a close date of the funding as June 30, 2021.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Deputy Provost 2:10 – Continuing to support students’ mental health

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

I’m passing this information along for faculty and staff to be aware of the resources available to our students, in support of their mental health.  Please share widely with the students you encounter—whether or not they appear ‘in crisis’ or ‘in need.’ Need and crisis manifest in different ways in different people—let’s assume we all could use a bit of help this semester (and always).

Anxiety Support Group
Purpose: The Anxiety Support Group serves to assist students in understanding and developing strategies to respond to anxiety. This group is for any students wanting to learn ways to support themselves with anxiety present as a student and within life.

Participants: All full-time or part-time Drake University students

When: Every Wednesday through May 11, 2022, through Spring 2022 semester, excluding spring break and finals week.

Where: Zoom (email Amber.wilkins@drake.edu for the link)

Time: 4–5p.m.

Black and Glowing (B.A.G): African American Self-Care Group
Purpose: The B.A.G. group aims to reflect on the ways you can enhance your bag of self-worth and manage and address the challenges of healing and practicing self-care as a Black person in college, in addition to your other intersectional identities.

Participants: This is a group aimed at Drake University Black women+ and men+ students. The (+) represents the spectrum of gender identity and is also inclusive of students that have experienced socialization within a specific gender. Please join us in any gender identity or expression that is important to you.

When: Women+: 1st and 3rd Tuesday, Men+: 2nd and 4th Tuesday through Spring 2022 semester, excluding spring break and finals week.

Where: Zoom (email kayla.bell@drake.edu and tyler.lewis@drake.edu)

Time: 6–7 p.m.

For more information about the counseling center services, please visit the Counseling Center’s website.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Bulldog applause goes to HVAC Mechanic, Duty Engineer, Electrician, and Plumber team

Congratulations to the HVAC mechanics, duty engineers, electricians, and plumber team who were presented with a Bulldog Applause. The Bulldog Applause lets staff know how much they are appreciated and allows the rest of the University learn more about the different departments at Drake.

Read more about this team:

How many staff members are in the department?
15 staff – 6 Duty Engineers, 5 Mechanics, 3 Electricians, and 1 Plumber

What is the primary mission of the team?
The mission of this team is to keep the entire campus operating efficiently and resolve issues so the students, faculty and staff have a safe, conditioned space to learn and work and play.

What staff member has been on the team the longest?
Ron Caudle,  34 years

Who is the newest team member and their job title?
The newest team member is Sean Spring, HVAC mechanic , who started Jan. 12, 2022.  Maurice Wright, HVAC mechanic, started Jan. 10, 2022.

What campus building/s do your team members “live” in?
The engineering building north of Facilities Planning and Management is their home base, but they consistently work in all buildings across campus.

What are some recent accomplishments that others in the University might not know about?
The team has reduced electricity usage on campus by 10%. This team works around the clock 24/7 to ensure the campus stays warm or cool as they continue to improve the efficiency of the buildings systems.

How does this staff foster a sense of community and belonging through their activities or sharing together here at Drake?  
The team works as team to professional service to all occupants on campus.  They work together as a team to accomplish tough tasks whether it’s a broken water main, or underground steam lines to solve the issues and keep disruptions to a minimum.

Other noteworthy/interesting/special information about your department/college.
This team is very familiar with all the back rooms, tunnels, and secret areas that most of the campus never sees.

Campus Announcements Archive

Rec Fest Feb. 22 at Bell Center

Drake University will be celebrating NIRSA Recreational Sports and Fitness Day on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Come to the Bell Center to enjoy a variety of activities and prizes for students. Some activities include pop-a-shot, log rolling, badminton, volleyball, basketball, mini-golf, and a prize wheel. Join us in the Bell Center on Feb. 22 for your chance to win, have some fun, and celebrate Rec Day!

— Emily Madsen, Rec Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Back to Class: Discussion with Lee Ann Colacioppo, Denver Post editor

Hear from Lee Ann Colacioppo, JO’86, about her experience as editor of The Denver Post and throughout her time in the field on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. This session will be facilitated by Kathleen Richardson, dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of their affiliation to Drake. Register.

Lee Ann Colacioppo’s first job at The Post was in 1999 as an assistant city editor, and since then she has held several editing positions, including city editor, investigations editor, and news director. She previously worked at The Des Moines Register, Greenville News (S.C.), and Kingsport Times-News (Tenn.).

— Courtney Conrad, Alumni Relations

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Try these meditation resources

Over the years, and especially during the pandemic, you may have heard the term “meditation.”  If you think meditation is only about sitting with your legs crossed and chanting, you may be surprised to know the many varieties available to you.

What is meditation, and how can it be useful? Meditation is way to help you achieve a heightened state of focused attention. It can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, improve physical and mental well-being, and help you become more resilient.

There are several ways to practice meditation. Some methods may appeal to you more than others.  It could be guided meditation, mindfulness meditation, or a physical form of meditation such as Tai Chi. Take a moment to check out these resources. Experiment, and you will likely find out what types of meditation work best for you and what you enjoy doing.

Just a little time and practice could make a significant difference in your well-being. And you are worth it!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

In memoriam: Theresa Graziano

I am deeply saddened to share that our former Drake colleague Theresa Graziano passed away on Nov. 15, 2021. Memorial Services will be held Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with the service starting at 11 a.m. at St. Augustin Catholic Church, located at 545 42nd Street in Des Moines.

Theresa served Drake and our students for more than 20 years within the Office of Residence Life and the Division of Student Affairs. Theresa enjoyed working with students, meeting families at orientation, and serving on various campus and community committees. One of our former students may have said it best when they wrote a message in remembrance of Theresa saying, “There are few people who can get you in check and make you feel loved all in the same moment. Theresa was one of the brightest spots in my time at Drake.” Theresa was a wonderful person and colleague. Her spirit lives on, shining brightly, through all of the lives she touched. We extend our sincerest condolences to her family, friends, and the many employees and students who were graced by her kindness. Our sincere sympathy goes out to all of Theresa’s family.

Read Theresa’s full obituary

— Jerry Parker, Chief Student Affairs Officer

Campus Announcements Archive

Student research symposia submission deadline Friday

This is a final reminder that the deadline for student paper (or concept) submissions for the Spring 2022 Nelson Student Research Symposia is Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. This year, the symposia seeks student presentations focused on the theme “what it means to be a changemaker in their discipline and how their discipline is addressing a contemporary global issue or societal challenge.” I encourage students to submit papers that they have written for their coursework during the past fall, J-Term, or other terms for presentation at the Spring 2022 symposia. Please keep in mind that while research presentations that support the theme are encouraged, all global topics from any academic discipline are welcome. Information regarding the submission and participation can be accessed here or https://www.drake.edu/nelsoninstitute/students/researchsymposia/callforproposals/.

— Jimmy Senteza, CBPA