All posts by Maureen De Armond

For Staff Archive

Task force for remote and flexible work update: The home stretch

If you have been monitoring our updates, you already know that the task force has been busy examining options for staff policies addressing remote work and flexible work arrangements. The task force is currently putting its recommendations in writing and finalizing some related draft documents. At present, the task force remains on track to complete its work in the first week of October.

From the perspective of the task force members, this has been a really interesting journey, but not necessarily an easy one. We are trying to think about a post-crisis landscape, while we still navigate through the existing pandemic. We also recognize that Drake is a complex organization and options that may work beautifully in one unit may not be feasible in another. We do not want to make recommendations that are so broad that they are useless, yet they cannot be so specific that they lack the flexibility to be applicable across the institution.

The task force has come to appreciate that Drake made some adjustments—and possibly even some compromises—during the darkest days of the pandemic because we had to. In examining practices for long-term adoption, we must apply a different lens. For purposes of the task force’s work, we have focused on sustainable change and modernization of how the institution can manage and engage staff.

Nevertheless, the task force is optimistic about what lies ahead. “From the survey results to industry articles, it is clear that employees desire increased flexibility and autonomy in determining how they accomplish the tasks of their role. While this requires a needed shift to assessing performance based on productivity versus presence, I believe we can collectively excel,” observes task force member Andy Verlengia, director of Alumni Relations.

In the end, we hope our hard work and recommendations will help the institution take an important and lasting step forward. We would like to think that this is an example of positive change and meaningful collaboration stemming from a most challenging time—a silver lining for both the institution and its staff.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

Strategic Updates Archive

Great Colleges To Work For: Focus on communication

In last week’s OnCampus, the Drake community reviewed highlights from the 2021 Great Colleges To Work For (GC2WF) survey. Based on themes in survey responses, three focus areas have been identified for the year. As a reminder these are:

  1. Ensure a consistent and robust cascade of communication;
  2. Facilitate re-connection and attend to our culture; and
  3. Leverage internal, professional development opportunities for leaders.

While the GC2WF survey results are insightful and enlightening for big picture purposes, we need to drill deeper to identify concrete opportunities for improvement for each of these three focus areas. Your targeted suggestions and specific ideas for change and innovation in each area are what we need now. From there, we will work on pulling together proposals and initiatives for concentrated efforts in each these areas.

For the next few weeks, we’ll focus on idea-gathering relating to the first priority. Please share your ideas on ensuring a consistent and robust cascade of communication is shared with and accessible to faculty and staff.

How can you contribute?

First, you can complete this short survey. It consists of 3 questions asking for your ideas, suggestions, and observations about communication. The survey should only take a couple minutes, but it will be of tremendous help to us. This survey is open now and will be open through Oct. 5.

Another option is to attend one of two virtual brain-storming sessions. In these sessions, we will first talk a bit more about the GC2WF survey, review existing communication practices, and then we’ll share ideas for how to improve communication practices:

  • Communication Brainstorming Session 1: Thursday, Sept. 23, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join via Teams.
  • Communication Brainstorming Session 2: Friday, Sept. 24, from 2–3 p.m. Join via Teams.

In future OnCampus issues, we’ll share your feedback and focus on what actions can be taken to ensure there is a consistent and robust cascade of communication. Once we feel we have a firm plan of action addressing the first priority, we’ll move on to the second priority focusing on connection and culture.

Quick Note on Pulse Surveys: Drake regularly relies on surveys to gather ideas and feedback. As a reminder, the GC2WF survey in the spring and the Administrative Services survey in the fall are the two primary annual surveys used to gather regular and general feedback from campus. Some colleges and departments conduct targeted annual surveys as well.

You should also expect to see periodic invitations to respond to short, pulse surveys—such as the one linked above—designed to solicit either quick feedback or diver deeper into a narrow topic. While we expect employees to participate in the GC2WF and Administrative Services surveys and comply with college or department expectations for responding to targeted surveys, pulse surveys are optional, even if participation is encouraged and helpful.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources, and Nate Reagan, President’s Office

For Faculty Archive

Curriculum, croissants, and conversation

The Deputy Provost’s Office will be hosting a series of open meetings for interdisciplinary conversations about how to make sure our curriculum delivers on its promises. We’ll announce a full schedule soon; some of these meetings will be focused on particular areas of the curriculum, some will be meant to help departments and units collaborate across institutional boundaries. All of them will be open-ended and meant to help faculty ask good questions, know where to find good answers, and think across disciplines.

This first conversation is wide open, and especially welcoming of department chairs and associate deans who want to talk about leading curricular change. We will meet in person in Howard Hall in the Academic Affairs conference room (2nd floor) on Thursday, Sept. 23, from 3:30–5 p.m. There will be croissants from La Mie. No need to sign up—just show up—but feel free to email renee.cramer@drake.edu with questions or thoughts prior to the gathering.

— Renee Cramer, Provost’s Office

Strategic Updates Archive

Get your flu shot on campus now through Oct. 15

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is partnering with Hy-Vee Pharmacy to offer flu vaccinations on campus at the Harkin Center, 2800 University Avenue, for Drake University faculty, staff, and students.

Step 1: Sign up for an appointment
Appointments will be offered on Mondays, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Fridays, 12 to 3 p.m., from now through Oct. 15.

Step 2:
IMPORTANT: Two to three days prior to your appointment (and not earlier than two weeks prior), please complete the online Hy-Vee vaccination consent form and enter your prescription insurance information at: https://tinyurl.com/HyVeeFluForm .

  • Please note on the Hy-Vee online form: You will be asked to select an appointment time, so please select the same day/time you selected for your scheduled appointment on this Drake sign-up form you are completing now.
  • You must complete this online consent form at least 2 days prior to your scheduled the flu clinic appointment.

Prescription insurance is required for this flu vaccination clinic. (We are unable to accept cash/credit card payments for services at this clinic). Most insurance plans cover the cost of a flu vaccination.

For individuals without prescription insurance, flu vaccinations are available for $25 at the Drake Student Health Center. Contact the Drake Student Health Center to make an appointment at: 515–271–3731.

— Nora Stelter, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Faculty and staff affinity groups begin

The Office of Campus Equity and Inclusion is glad to support faculty and staff affinity groups. Please see the following descriptions, schedules, and contact information for existing and emerging groups. If you are interested in starting an affinity group that aligns to further Drake’s stated institutional mission for diversity, equity and inclusion, please reach out directly to Associate Provost for Campus Equity and Inclusion Jennifer Harvey.

The AAPI Faculty and Staff Affinity group welcomes all AAPI faculty and staff to join. You will be able to connect and network with other AAPI faculty and staff on campus. Please come to our visioning meeting on Monday, Sept. 27, at 3:30 p.m. We will meet outside at the covered space just east of Colliers-Scripps to determine how we can support the AAPI campus population. We will plan meetings and events based on what serves AAPI faculty and staff best. Please contact Maureen Yuen (maureen.yuen@drake.edu) with any questions and also  if you are unable to attend the meeting but wish to be included in AAPI Affinity communications and future events.

The Black Faculty and Staff Affinity group welcomes all Black faculty and staff to join us for our virtual Brown Bag Lunch Fellowship on Microsoft Teams. You will be able to connect and network with other Black faculty and staff on campus. We will meet on the first Friday of each month starting Oct. 1. We will hold space between 12 and 1:30 pm. You may join us from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 pm or anytime in between. To receive a Teams invite, email brandi.l.miller@drake.edu.

The Jewish Affinity group: Shalom and welcome to a new school year at Drake! Jewish faculty staff are welcome and encouraged to join Drake’s Faculty and Staff Jewish Affinity Group. The group supports each other—and Jewish students on campus—at many times of the year. In the past, Jewish faculty and staff have noshed together on bagels, enjoyed Shabbat dinner and Passover Seders with Drake Hillel, and more. Affinity group members will also be on our email list for future communications. Please email Lilianna.bernstein@drake.edu to join our group.

The Latinx Affinity group is a space for LatinX faculty and staff to get to know one another socially and provide support for each other. We will be planning an outdoor gathering later this fall. Please email marina.verlengia@drake.edu to be included on our distribution list and to get information about our fall gathering. We also have a Facebook group, please click here to join.

The Office of Campus Equity and Inclusion is particularly interested in exploring whether faculty and staff with disabilities and/or who identify as lgbtq+ would like to form an affinity group to provide mutual support and connection. Please reach out directly to Jennifer Harvey if you would be interested in facilitating such a group.

— Jennifer Harvey, Campus Equity and Inclusion

Campus Announcements Archive

Get a taste for these new chefs’ culinary skills

Meet Executive Chef Angela Shultz
Chef Angela is originally from Hancock, Iowa, and received her AAS in Culinary Arts from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids—but it wasn’t long until her education and pursuit of her craft took her to the pacific northwest where she gained extensive experience in everything from fast-food to fine dining.

She’s been with Sodexo for seven-plus years now, and recently moved from Seattle to get back to her Iowa roots with the Drake Dining team, and we’re thrilled to see chef in action at Hubbell Dining Hall. “I love new challenges,” she said. “We have so much diversity in our kitchen and I can’t wait to work alongside our team and learn their food and culture. I’m so excited about all the possibilities this new dining hall can offer.”

Chef Kevin Fletcher
Chef Kevin was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, where he cut his teeth and honed his culinary skills in fast-paced casino kitchens and healthcare systems where high-volume food production was the name of the game. He joined the Drake Dining team in Spring of 2020. Chef Kevin’s favorite ingredient to work with is lamb, but also loves to experiment with different types of chocolate.

He’s eager to flex his culinary chops in the newly remodeled Hubbell Dining Hall, and says, “I’m most excited to show the new, innovative and fun ideas that we’re cooking up for the new school year!” Look for Chef Kevin next time you dine at the Hubb!

— Casey Morgan, Dining Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Outdoor movie events to benefit Varsity Cinema

The Des Moines Film Society will be hosting outdoor movie events on September 17 and 18 at the corner of 25th Street and Carpenter Avenue, just steps away from the Varsity. All proceeds go to the redevelopment and reopening of the Varsity Cinema.

Popcorn, snacks, and soft drinks will be available for purchase. Bring a chair or blanket, sit on the lawn, and enjoy the show! Limited tickets are available. Advance purchase is recommended.

The Friday, Sept. 17, show will be Moon Rise Kingdom. A pre-show DJ set from The Dust Bros., inspired by the music of Wes Anderson, will begin at 7 p.m.

The Saturday, Sept. 18, show is a special advanced screening of Storm Lake. There will be a post-screening Q&A with the film’s directors and Art Cullen, editor of the Storm Lake Times.

Find more information

— Ryan Arnold, Director, Community Engagement

For Students Archive

Drake track and field tryout

The Drake University track and field program will hold tryouts Wednesday, Sept. 29,  from 3:30–4:45 p.m. for both men’s and women’s track and field. To participate:

  • Email Asha Gibson at asha.gibson@drake.edu with intent to tryout.
  • Attend an interest meeting Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m. Location details will only be provided to individuals who submit email of intent to tryout.

— Asha Gibson-Smith, Head Track & Field Coach

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Learn about Drake’s Sprout Garden

All Staff Council invites you to the Sprout Garden to learn about composting initiatives on campus with Sophia Siegel, sustainability coordinator. Bring your lunch Friday, Sept. 24, at 12 p.m. The Student Alumni Association (SAA) will provide lemonade and cookies. The Sprout Garden is located on 30th Street across from GK residence hall.

You will learn about Sprout Garden and are encouraged to collect food scraps during the week leading up to the event. The food scraps can be brought and placed in the compost bins at the Sprout Garden during the event. Food scraps to compost include produce waste (banana peels, apple cores, vegetable scraps, etc.), coffee grounds or loose tea, rinsed eggshells, and bread/tortillas. Please see the flyer outlining items not to be composted at the Sprout Garden. Contact Sophia Siegal if you need a container for your compost.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

Beware of back-to-school scams

The expense of returning to school often entails far more than the cost of tuition. Students and the parents/caregivers who support them are wise to look for the best deals possible, but scammers, spammers, and phishers are looking to outsmart you at every turn.

These common back-to-school scams offer the perfect study guide for protecting yourself from security threats.

1. SMS giveaways and freebies

Congratulations! You’ve just received a text message saying you’ve been awarded a free back-to-school shopping spree. You just have to visit a website, provide your email address… and you will be “rewarded” with endless emails, texts and automated phone calls from the company you’ve just given your information to.

Bonus: You’ll also get solicitations from the marketing companies they’ve sold your information to if you happen to agree with their privacy policy before catching on to the phony SMS message.

Most companies don’t market via SMS. If you’re curious about whether the deal is legitimate, search for the company and the deal it’s claiming to offer online. If you don’t see your offer listed, you are being phished.

2. Social media scams

You know the familiar Facebook sidebar, advertising deals, offers and giveaways that seem too good to be true; and they often are. Common back-to-school scams show up in the form of ads promising desirable mobile devices, $1000 gift cards and department store vouchers for a fraction of the price.

These seemingly unbeatable deals often lure curious Facebook users away from their news feeds to investigate further. They are particularly dangerous because they often only depend on the user clicking the advertisement. Instead of being one click away from a $19.99 iPad, you’re downloading malware onto your electronic device.

3. Advertisements

Whether they’re arriving by pop-up, sidebar or email, always inspect back-to-school advertisements and promotions closely. A poorly constructed malicious ad will often feature spelling errors, bad grammar and distorted or unfamiliar company logos, but many scam advertisements are hard to spot at first and even second glance.

One way to ensure an advertisement is authentic is to search for the language appearing in the ad along with the company name through a reputable search engine. If nothing comes up (or if the search results look just as suspicious), the ad is likely a fraud.

Scammers and phishers purposely make it easy to click your way right into a situation that compromises your private data. Ensure your security software is up to date on all devices you use for web browsing and be wary of clicking on links from unknown sources. To help you identify fraudulent emails, ITS will continue to simulate phishing and assign training to those most susceptible. If you believe you’ve been targeted by phishing, see Reporting a Phishing Message (How-to).

— Carla Herling, ITS