All posts by Carla Herling

Campus Announcements Archive

Update from the chief information technology officer

It has been a busy, yet quiet summer, and it is wonderful to see more activity on campus again. As we start another school year, I want to share some updates to ITS services and projects we are working on. 

This fall, the support center in Carnegie Hall is open again for student walk-in assistance, however ITS recommends using the IT service portal at service.drake.edu/its (or click the ITS Support button in myDrake) or calling 515-271-3001 for assistance. ITS staff will first try to resolve issues remotely. In-person appointments for faculty and staff will be scheduled if remote resolution isn’t successful. 

New Systems and Services  

  • Some of the most important technology ITS supports is in the classroom. Last year, ITS received funding to begin a two-year project to update classroom technology across campus. You’ll start to see new equipment and designs in classrooms this fall! Tools for online instruction also got a major boost this year with the upgrade to Blackboard Ultra.
      
  • We are currently working with our vendor, LRI, to replace campus printers and copiers. While our goal was to have all printers installed before classes began, global supply chain delays in equipment delivery will extend the roll out into the school year. Please bear with us as we work to distribute and install new equipment as quickly as possible.
  • One of the most exciting projects of the summer was the full upgrade of the wireless network in residence halls. New wireless access points have been installed in every room and relocated in common areas to provide stronger and more consistent wireless coverage.
     
  • Last year ITS began moving all campus telephones from the old analog system to Microsoft Teams Voice over IP (VoIP) services. Our 20-year-old telecom system is no longer vendor supported. We are more than halfway through the transition to VoIP. Call quality and service should return to normal as we complete this move and are able to fully decommission our old system.

Information Technology Security 

Cybersecurity, data breaches, ransomware and phishing at colleges and universities have become frequent headlines. To ensure our personal and institutional information is protected, ITS is implementing several new security measures.  

  1. Longer password requirements that are stronger and harder to crack
    Password length is more effective than frequently updating your password. Until recently, Drake’s minimum requirement was eight characters including upper- and lower-case letters, symbols and numbers. This combination now takes less than 8 hours to crack, compared to 34,000 years for a 12-character password. ITS has increased the minimum required password length to 12 characters and is extending the reset schedule from every year to every two years.
  2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for students
    Using multiple methods of verification is the most effective way to prevent compromised email accounts. Rather than just signing in with your username and password an additional authentication method such as a PIN or mobile app will be used to access email and other Drake accounts.  

In closing, on behalf of all ITS, I want to thank you for your support as we roll out these technology changes. We look forward to another year of supporting our community and furthering the innovative use of technology to enhance the Drake experience for students, faculty, and staff.  

— Keren Fiorenza, Acting CITO, Information Technology Services 

HR Information Archive

Time is running out to receive your wellness premium discount

Important reminder: Employees on Drake’s health plan who wish to receive a wellness health insurance premium discount in 2022, need to complete a physical with their Primary Care Physician (PCP) between Dec. 1, 2020, and Nov. 30, 2021, and submit a Physician Exam Completion Form by Dec. 2, 2021. This is the only option to receive the discount in 2022.

Besides receiving a premium discount, an annual physical is a great way to receive important health information through age and gender specific examinations, schedule recommended preventative screenings, and create a doctor-patient relationship.

If you have not scheduled your annual physical yet with your PCP, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

Please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Help Drake win this year’s Walktober Step Challenge

Drake University has again challenged Des Moines University and Wesley Life to a step challenge in October.  We are the reigning champions but need your help to keep the title!

As a member of the Drake team, you will receive a journal and instructions to track your daily steps both on and off campus during the month of October.  Any movement that records steps will count toward the total.  Along the way you will receive fun facts and have a chance at individual prizes.  If you are looking for a reason to get moving, this may be the answer.

This event is open to all faculty, staff, and students.  To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.  Registration deadline is Thursday, Sept. 30.

Strategic Updates Archive

2021 Great Colleges to Work For survey results are in

We are happy to share the results of the 2021 Great Colleges to Work For survey. We are thankful to the 553 employees who participated in the survey last spring. As a reminder, this is Drake’s primary annual employee survey. The more employees who participate, the better informed and more reflective of our community the results will be.

Please take the time to review the University-wide results linked above. We believe sharing this information is important—and consistent with our Core Values which embrace transparency, communication, and accountability. The results also serve as a powerful resource as we reflect on what is working well and what needs improvement. Based on the survey results, we have identified three primary areas of focus for this year:

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

You may ask, how do we proceed from here? At this point, we want to narrow the focus of feedback to determine how we make improvements in these three targeted areas. We will facilitate virtual brain-storming sessions and will follow up with short pulse surveys for each of the three areas. It may be that all three areas interest you or perhaps only one or two. You can pick and choose whether and how you provide feedback. Your feedback will help determine specific goals, programs, and other defined steps needed to make improvements in these three areas.

You may already be aware that campus leaders are provided with detailed survey results for their respective areas. In addition to university-wide focus areas, campus leaders are expected to adopt goals to address the more focused results from their areas. In this way, the Great Colleges to Work For survey is particularly helpful—it provides big picture feedback for institutional efforts, while also drilling down into the unique challenges that individual units may face.

We acknowledge that many employees offered thoughts on compensation. Please know that this topic is not being ignored or overlooked by senior leaders. However, that topic is one that heavily relies on a budgetary solution. For purposes of collaborative improvement, the three focus areas identified here are intended to be topics where we can collectively pursue cultural and operational improvements. We are already working diligently, across a number of areas, to address the budgetary solutions needed to improve compensation. President Martin addressed this in the June town hall and will again be providing an update on our budget later this semester.

As we identify ways to continuously improve and innovate, we also want to take time to celebrate the amazing efforts of the Drake community and its individual members, particularly over the past year. This has been a trying chapter and it has revealed areas for improvement. It has also highlighted tremendous strengths—including a caring and compassionate sense of community, flexible and dedicated employees, innovative leaders, and an unflappable resolve to pursue our institutional mission, despite the challenges of the times. Thank you for your efforts and hard work. Thank you for your dedication to our students. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, ideas, and concerns through this survey. Please help us continue to make Drake an ever-better institution.

In the coming weeks, please watch for opportunities to help Drake address the three focus areas identified above. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions now, please reach out directly to Maureen De Armond or Nate Reagen.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources, and Nate Reagan, Office of the President

For Faculty Archive

University Curriculum Committee: AOI application deadline for first meeting

The University Curriculum Committee meets for the first time this year on Thursday, Sept. 30. Faculty who want to apply for a course to meet an AOI or propose a new INTD (interdisciplinary) course should submit applications by Wednesday, Sept. 22, to be considered this month. AOI applications are accepted on a rolling basis and considered at UCC’s monthly meetings.

— Carrie Dunham-LaGree, Cowles Library

For Students Archive

First-year students: Apply for a J-Term 2022 experience

First-year students have 10 opportunities to participate in a J-Term experience, including travel experiences, a retreat, and virtual courses. Apply for a J-Term first-year experience now. Applications are open until Sept. 21 on a first come, first served basis..

Travel abroad experiences:
1. Belize: Ethical Chocolate: How does that cacao actually get into my chocolate bar?
2. England: Responsible Global Citizenship in Action: Exploring Cultural Identity through the British Experience

To apply for a first-year J-Term abroad experience, visit Terra Dotta, Drake’s online application portal for travel experiences. Use your Drake ID and password to login. For questions about a specific program, contact the seminar leader. For general study abroad questions or issues with Terra Dotta, contact studyabroad@drake.edu.

Retreat experience:
3. Every Bulldog a Changemaker

Virtual experiences
4. Mental Health First Aid
5. Mindfulness: what, why, how?
6. Prevention Ambassador Training
7. Social Change Leadership
8. Unchain Your Motivation
9. Unleashing Your Genius
10. You DU Follow Through

To learn more about these experiences and to find registration instructions, students should visit the First-Year J-Term Experience website. For questions, contact Laura Shell at laura.shell@drake.edu. For questions specific to abroad experiences, contact Maria Rohach at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

— Maria Rohach, Director of Education Abroad, and Laura Shell, Access and Success Coordinator

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Policy for requesting changes to University spaces

Last year, a new policy was developed to help ensure appropriate resources and planning are in place for any changes to University buildings or grounds. Even small changes may impact other systems or conditions, such as electrical load, air quality, or technology infrastructure. In addition, Facilities Planning and Management staff need to be aware of any safety, cleaning, or HVAC requirements created by the project.

The Capital Project Approval Process requires that all projects involving space on campus begin with Facilities Planning and Management construction management team, regardless of funding source. If the project is $5,000 or less, it may be submitted using the work order system and for projects greater than $5,000 the policy provides a process for prioritization, scheduling, and oversight.

Questions may be directed to Michelle Huggins (Michelle.Huggins@drake.edu) or Kevin Moran (Kevin.Moran@drake.edu).

The full policy can be found in the University Policy Library.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Campus Announcements Archive

Get your flu shot on campus Sept. 13–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.

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 Sept. 13 through Oct. 15.

IMPORTANT: Approximately 10–14 days prior to your appointment, you will receive an email from nora.stelter@drake.edu with a secure link from Hy-Vee to complete the online vaccination consent form and enter your prescription insurance information.

You must complete this online consent form at least two days prior to your scheduled flu vaccination 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, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice