Please see the flyer for Drake Recreation’s hours of operation during the Thanksgiving break.
Drake Rec’s Thanksgiving hours
All posts by Emily Madsen
DU Well Healthy Holiday BINGO
DU Well Healthy Holiday BINGO is a five-week program that runs from Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 through Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. The goal is to fill up a blank BINGO card (or two), between Thanksgiving and the New Year, with healthy activities completed from a provided list. This is a great way for you and your family to have fun while improving your wellbeing.
In January, participants will be invited to meet virtually to play BINGO for prizes with their completed cards. Everyone is welcome to fill out the BINGO card without playing the BINGO games, but who doesn’t like to play BINGO!
To register for DU Well Healthy Holiday BINGO, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. All participants will receive a packet that includes a list of DU Well Healthy Holiday activities and a blank BINGO card. Deadline to register is Tuesday, Nov. 23.
— Linda Feiden, Human Resources
Professor Jennifer Zwagerman wins 2021 American Agricultural Law Association’s Professional Scholarship Award
Professor Jennifer Zwagerman, director of the Drake Agricultural Law Center, won the 2021 American Agricultural Law Association’s (AALA) Professional Scholarship Award for her recently published article on Data Privacy in Agriculture. The article, titled “Agriculture & Data Privacy: I Want A Hipaa(Potamus) For Christmas . . . Maybe,” was published in the Texas A&M Law Review. The AALA Awards Committee considers criteria including excellence in writing and analysis, relevance to important legal issues in agriculture, and the potential impact of the research. Read her full article.
— Terri Howard, Law School
Policy update: Customized work arrangements for staff
The new Customized Work Arrangement (CWA), Dress for your Day, and revised University Closings, Delays, and Class Cancellations policies were posted for review and comment. That posting period has now closed. Thank you to those who offered comments and questions. Overall, we received 17 comments—7 on the University Closure policy, 6 on the Dress for Your Day policy, and 4 on the CWA policy.
The task force will be going back to each of those policies to make some additional edits based on your feedback. This is exactly why we have a policy review and comment period. When you are working on a policy it is easy to get lost in the details and having fresh sets of eyes consider the drafts can be immensely beneficial. The policies will end up being stronger and clearer based on the feedback provided. Thank you!
On November 10, we offered a one-hour BUILD session on Moving Forward: Discussing Drake’s Updated Customized Work Arrangement Policies and Practices. We had over forty people attend, which is a great turn-out. That training was recorded and you can access the recording here. On November 17, we will offer another one-hour BUILD session, Supervisor Spotlight: Thinking Through Flexible Work Arrangements—Key Variables & Considerations. As the title implies, we are hoping for people in supervisory positions will consider attending this session. This training will largely be scenario-based. If you plan on attending the November 17 session but did not attend the November 10 training, please watch the recording in advance.
Throughout the rest of November and December, we’ll be finalizing the policies—which will likely take effect in January. We are also working diligently on a detailed guide that will be a great resource for managers and staff alike. We plan to roll out the draft guide in December, so we have a chance to receive some feedback on it before the policies go live.
We will be offering managers additional guidance on reviewing position descriptions, which is part of any CWA request process. Additionally, we will offer guidance on how CWAs will be folded into the annual performance evaluation process. More training and guidance to come!
If you have any questions about CWAs, the process, or timeline, you can reach HR and the task force by emailing drakehr@drake.edu using the subject line “CWA Question.” We’ll get back to you!
— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources
Get prepared for multi-factor authentication changes coming in January
Earlier this month we shared in OnCampus that we will adding systems that require multi-factor authentication (MFA), and changing our MFA method from Duo to Microsoft Authenticator so that all students, faculty, and staff can be better protected.
Starting on January 4, when you login to a system set up with multi-factor authentication, you will be prompted to prove that you are the person logging in by using the Microsoft Authenticator app to verify your identity.
In order to help you prepare for this change, we’ve created a FAQ and some knowledge base guides linked below.
- Multi-factor Authentication Project (FAQ)
- Getting Started with the Microsoft Authenticator app (How-to)
- Setting up Additional Multi-Factor Authentication Options (How-to)
To encourage early preparation, we’re offering an incentive to the first 150 people who submit proof of downloading the Microsoft Authenticator app and connecting it with their Drake account. They will receive a $1 off coupon to use at the campus Starbucks. One coupon per person, and a screenshot of your phone is required. Visit https://forms.office.com/r/HGSY0L1JSf to enter and see complete rules.
We will continue to expand the FAQ and provide additional OnCampus updates as the January deadline approaches.
— Jeff Regan, ITS
Get prepared for multi-factor authentication coming in January
Earlier this month we shared in OnCampus that we will be requiring the use of the Microsoft Authenticator multi-factor authentication (MFA) app to access campus systems beginning in January. Starting on January 4, when you login to a system set up with multi-factor authentication, you will be required to prove that the login is being made by you. You will enter your email address/username and password and then be prompted, typically by a mobile app push, to verify your identity.
In order to help you prepare for this change, we’ve created a FAQ and some knowledge base guides linked below.
- Multi-factor Authentication Project (FAQ)
- Getting Started with the Microsoft Authenticator app (How-to)
- Setting up Additional Multi-Factor Authentication Options (How-to)
To encourage early preparation, we’re offering an incentive to the first 150 people who submit proof of downloading the Microsoft Authenticator app and connecting it with their Drake account. They will receive a $1 off coupon to use at the campus Starbucks. One coupon per person, and a screenshot of your phone is required. Visit https://forms.office.com/r/HGSY0L1JSf to enter and see complete rules.
We will continue to expand the FAQ and provide additional OnCampus updates as the January deadline approaches.
— Jeff Regan, ITS
Flexible spending account limit Increased for 2022
Good news for anyone enrolling in Drake’s Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA). The Internal Revenue Service has announced the Health Care FSA limit will increase from $2750 to $2850 for the 2022 calendar (plan) year. If you have already made a Health Care FSA election for the 2022 plan year, you may change it in the Benefits Portal in myDrake. Additionally, 2022 Health Care FSA participants will be able to carry over up to $570 of unreimbursed 2022 contributions into calendar year 2023.
Remember that open enrollment ends Nov. 30, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. sharp! If you have not yet made benefit elections for 2022, please don’t wait until the last minute. If you have questions or problems navigating the Benefits Portal, you may reach out to us at drakehr@drake.edu or contact Marlene directly at marlene.heuertz@drake.edu.
— Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources
Health plan enrollees must designate primary care provider
If you plan to enroll in Drake’s health plan for the 2022 calendar year, you (and your covered dependents) must designate a primary care provider (PCP) if you have not already done so. Primary Care Providers include general or family practice physicians, internists, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
To learn more about how to designate a PCP, click here. If you do not designate a PCP for yourself and your dependents in the Benefits Portal, Wellmark will be unable to issue your new insurance card(s) for the 2022 Plan Year.
— Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources
Hunger and Homelessness Action and Awareness Week
Nov. 13–20 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness and Action Week. At Drake, we are recognizing this important week with programming from the Office of Community Engaged Learning, Next Course Food Recovery, and Community Action Board. There will be a hunger simulation, a letters to legislators drop-in event, a craft and learn for YMCA Supportive Housing and a food recovery dash for a prize. Come learn about what hunger and homelessness looks like and how you can make a difference in our community and beyond.
— DJ Henson, sophomore
International Education Week featured events
International Education Week events are happening now through Saturday, Nov. 20, for Drake students, faculty, and staff. Join in to discover more about Drake as a global institution and opportunities to get involved in global engagement such as study/work abroad programs, the Drake Intercultural Community Exchange (DICE), or international research opportunities. There will be virtual and in-person events for students, faculty, and staff throughout the week.
Additionally, check out the International Books Display at Cowles and indulge in global foods at Hubbell all week long!
Get the details for all #IEW2021 events at calendar.drake.edu/ieweek.
Featured Student Events
- Summer Study Abroad Information Session, Nov. 16 at 4 p.m.
- U.S. Fulbright Program Information Session, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m.
- Global Career Talks, Nov. 18 at 4 p.m.
Featured Faculty and Staff Events
- Collaborative Photo-narrative Projects on Lived Religion: Drake, Minzu, KwaZulu-Natal, Nov. 17 at 9 a.m.
- International Research Workshop, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m.
- Faculty Lunch & Learn: Global Engagement, Nov. 17 at 11:30 a.m. Registration encouraged
- Town Hall: Global Engagement at Drake, Nov. 18 at 9 a.m.
- Global Practitioner-in-Residence Spotlight: Lessons from three international medical experiences, Nov. 18 at 11 a.m.
- Marketing Your Travel Seminar: Tips for Faculty-Leaders, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m.
Featured Events for Everyone!
- Get to Know DICE: Drake Intercultural Community Exchange, Nov. 17 at 12:30 p.m.
- International Trivia, Nov. 18, from 6–8 p.m.
- Set Sail with ISA: International Night 2021, Nov. 20, from 4:30–8 p.m.
— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement