All posts by Ryan Zantingh

COVID-19’s surprise impact on out-of-state work requests

One of the interesting byproducts of COVID-19 has been a spike in remote work arrangements. As we have discussed in the past, hybrid working arrangements are likely here to stay. As we work on finalizing our new updated policies related to hybrid work, there’s a companion topic: out-of-state work.

COVID-19’s impact on the mobility of the workforce has prompted many states to review their state practices on income tax treatment of teleworking employees and the threshold requirements for employers to register as a business in their state.

Consequently, we are taking a fresh look at our existing Out-of-State Policy to assure it is clear, consistent, and adequately addresses the new landscape shaped by the COVID experience.

It is important to note that each state has different requirements for employers conducting business within their borders. A separate set of state income tax laws impact employees conducting business in any given state. This policy is designed to appropriately manage risk associated with both of these topics.

Fun Fact: As of January, 2022, Drake is conducting business in several states where we anticipate an on-going need for active registration. These include: Iowa (naturally), Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, and Vermont. There are additional states where we have temporary registration based on short-term needs, but we do not intend to continue active registration. Most states require annual registration—so this list regularly expands and shrinks over time.

However, it’s more complex than that. If we are not currently registered to conduct business in a state, we also have to review the state’s unique labor and employment laws. There could be different forms of paid leave, a state (or municipal) minimum wage, workers’ compensation, etc. If we are going to have employees in another state working on Drake’s behalf, we want to do so lawfully and ethically and this doesn’t happen without time, care, and effort.

The updated policy is now posted for public comment, and it addresses both situations where Drake may be interested in hiring a new employee who will remain out-of-state and situations where an existing employee may want to temporarily or permanently relocate out-of-state. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please share them. This will help inform final edits.

Please be sure to read next week’s OnCampus for an update on the Customized Work Arrangements policy and related policies that have also been under review.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources; Heather Travis, Controller

A welcome from Broadlawns Medical Center

Drake HR is happy to share with you a message from our new partners at Broadlawns Medical Center:

Broadlawns Medical Center is so pleased to become your Tier 1 healthcare partners in 2022! We’re committed to providing exceptional, personalized care that keeps you healthy and feeling your best. We offer a broad range of services to meet your healthcare needs, including:

You can view a complete list of offerings on our Clinics and Services page.

Here are a few resources to assist you as you familiarize yourself with Broadlawns Medical Center:

  • Find A Provider/Service: You can find a provider, specialty, or service on our website using our Find A Doctor
  • Maps and Directions: You can find directions and maps for each of our locations on our Maps and Directions webpage.
  • Patient Portal: Once you have established care, be sure to enroll in our Patient Portal. Our Patient Portal allows you to view and monitor your health information, request appointments, securely message your provider… and so much more!
  • Broadlawns Pharmacy: Our pharmacy is conveniently located on our main campus so you can stop by after your appointment. You can request refills with ease and message your pharmacist using our Pharmacy App.
  • Questions About Broadlawns Services: If you have any questions regarding Broadlawns services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via our Contact Us page.
  • Questions About Coverage: If you have questions regarding your insurance coverage, please reach out to Wellmark.

If you haven’t seen Broadlawns lately…

Here are some of the exciting things that have happened in recent years:

  • March 2016: Completion of our newly renovated 30-bed inpatient Behavioral Health Unit.
  • November 2016: Opening of Broadlawns East University Clinic.
  • March 2017: Opening of Broadlawns Medical Plaza, which houses our Family Health Center, Geriatric & Memory Clinic, Outpatient Mental Health, Dental Clinic, and Pain Management Center.
  • November 2017: Completion of our 14-bed expansion for Inpatient Behavioral Health focusing on major depression.
  • June 2018: Psychiatric Urgent Care opens (The first in the State of Iowa).
  • October 2019: Completion of the Oncology & Hematology Center renovation. Check out the photos of the new clinic.
  • August 2020: A new 42,000 sq ft hospital floor was added to our Sands building that includes a Birthing Center, Med/Surg and ICU unit. See photos of the new Birthing Center.
  • October 2020: New Connections addiction center opens in newly constructed space within the Broadlawns Medical Plaza.
  • February 2021: A brand new lab with state-of-the-art facilities.
  • COMING SOON: Broadlawns Surgery Department is doubling in size with new OR suites, Endoscopy suites, robotics, pre and post-operative patient suites.
  • Keep up to date with the latest happenings at Broadlawns by following us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter.

We look forward to getting to know you and your families and attending to your healthcare needs.

Warmly,

The Staff at Broadlawns Medical Center

Together A Healthy Community.

Inquiry opportunities for Heritage and Holocaust Travel Seminar

Faculty co-leaders Gesine Gerhard and Dorothy Pisarski are offering two more opportunities to inquire about Heritage and Holocaust, the travel seminar to Germany and Poland which departs May 30.

Details about the travel seminar, which includes visits to several concentration/extermination camps and cultural and heritage sites, are located in our travel blog https://heritageandholocaust.blogspot.com/ as well as in Drake’s Terradotta system https://drake-sa.terradotta.com/.

Join us Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m. or Thursday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. using passcode 768879 for the Zoom link (which is also available in our Terradotta site) https://drake-edu.zoom.us/j/87312589175?pwd=byt1c2JSYWNwcEYzSE9EQlJ0RmlJUT09.

— Dorothy Pisarski, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Drake Intercultural Community Exchange

The Office of Global Engagement is excited to kick off the Spring 2022 intake for Drake Intercultural Community Exchange (DICE). This volunteer program matches faculty and staff (and their families) with incoming international students for a term (or longer), with the goal of fostering meaningful connections beyond the classroom.

DICE hosts would be expected to reach out to their student two or three times a semester to grab a meal, participate in a shared interest, or meet up at DICE/ISSS-sponsored events. Participating as a DICE volunteer is open to ALL Drake faculty and staff. The only requirement is that you have a strong interest in developing an inclusive community and the desire to make our international students feel welcome.

If you are interested in becoming a DICE host, please complete our online application: http://drake.qualtrics.com/DICE_HostApplication

If you have any questions about the program, please send inquires to Jorona Johnson, international student advisor, at jorona.johnson@drake.edu.

— Jorona Johnson, Global Engagement

Tom and Ruth Harkin Center receives Best Development Award

The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center at Drake University has been selected by 1,000 Friends of Iowa as the winner of its 2021 Best Development Award for the Best of Show category. The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center was selected “for its comprehensive incorporation of smart buildings and development practices in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.” The building includes a 48.7 kW photovoltaic system that provides clean energy to the building. 1000 Friends of Iowa is a “statewide nonprofit organization focused on responsible land use.” The Harkin Center was nominated for the award by Ideal Energy and the Waldinger Corporation.

Find more information.

— Sophia Siegel, Sustainability Coordinator

Discount on internet service and devices for qualifying households

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a program that  helps low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices. Eligible households can receive up to a $30/month discount on internet service (or $75/month for households in Tribal lands), as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 for computer or tablet purchases.

Eligibility is based on household income or the receipt of certain government assistance programs, including the Federal Pell Grant, SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, Free and Reduced-Price Lunch, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and other programs. Visit acpbenefit.org for more information and to apply.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Faculty Writers’ Workshop Spring 2022: Virtual meetings, Fridays, 10–11 a.m.

Drake faculty members are invited to participate in a Faculty Writers’ Workshop (FWW) focused on working effectively on our writing and scholarship. We will meet virtually from 10 a.m.–11 a.m. on Fridays (Feb. 4, Feb. 25, March 25, April 22, May 13) to discuss issues with getting writing done and workshop work-in-progress, with optional additional meetings for writing quietly together.

Our goal will be to help set ourselves up to make progress on our scholarship over the semester. To the degree faculty are interested, we will read and discuss Joli Jensen’s book Write No Matter What. The session will also include discussion/workshop of the faculty members’ own scholarship and on-site writing time.

This writers’ workshop has been generously supported by the Provost’s Office, the Humanities Center, and the Dean of the College of the Arts and Sciences. There are spots for ten faculty participants. Should more than ten individuals express interest, priority shall be given to 1) Those who actively participated in the previous Faculty Writers’ Groups, 2) Tenure-track faculty who are not yet tenured, 3) Faculty who are members of groups under-represented. Participants who attend all five sessions will receive a stipend of $150 (approximately$109+38% benefits).If you are interested in participating, please fill out the interest form by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28.

If you have questions, please contact the co-facilitators of the FWW, Nate Holdren (nate.holdren@drake.edu) and En Li (en.li@drake.edu).

— Nate Holdren, Law, Politics & Society; and En Li, History Department

Office of Spiritual Life introduces new programs

The Office of Spiritual Life at Drake University is excited to announce several new program offerings for the Drake community this semester:

Wednesday Drop In Meditation Sessions
Drake community members are welcome to join us for standing weekly meditation sessions with instructor Jenny Jones every Wednesday in Olmsted Center, Room 310, from 12–12:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Group Spiritual Direction Opportunity
Spiritual Direction is not counseling, and it is not coaching, and it is also not necessarily religious. Rather, spiritual direction is a safe place to explore meaning and purpose and other issues that have a spiritual component, such as commitment and calling. In group spiritual direction, a small group of people meet once per month to support each other’s spiritual growth. Dr. Catherine Gillespie, who is the associate dean of the School of Education, and a spiritual director, will be present at all the meetings to act as a facilitator. There will also be an introductory meeting on Monday, Feb. 21, from 1–2:30 p.m. so that each group member can know what to expect. This group is limited to six students. Each student will have one opportunity to be the presenter. Those who are interested should sign up at: https://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1WWWSLk6HO6UIKy. Information about Catherine’s Spiritual Director services can be found at: https://www.sdicompanions.org/about/what-is-spiritual-direction-and-companionship/

Monday, Feb. 28, 2022
1–2:30 p.m.
Max Capacity: Six Participants

Monday, March 28, 2022
1–2:30 p.m.
Max Capacity: Six Participants

Monday, April 25, 2022
1–2:30 p.m.
Max Capacity: Six Participants

Individual Spiritual Direction Sessions
Spiritual Direction involves meeting with a spiritual director (also called a spiritual companion), usually for one hour once per month, to explore your own spiritual life. Dr. Catherine Gillespie, who is the associate dean of the School of Education, and a spiritual director offers individual spiritual direction sessions to students. These sessions include asking questions to help students explore the spiritual aspects of their life. These sessions can be made via STARFISH by looking for Catherine Gillespie and making an appointment.

Spiritual Counselor Update
Ted Lyddon-Hatten, who has served as Drake’s spiritual counselor is unavailable for the Spring 2022 semester. Should anyone have questions regarding Spiritual Life at Drake, please contact Rudy Trejo, assistant dean of students, at rudy.trejo@drake.edu.

— Rudy Trejo, Assistant Dean of Students