On Friday, Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Drake University’s Learning Symposium will convene with the theme “Returning.” Programming for the day will support faculty and staff as we begin working back on campus, welcoming students back to in-person learning, and transitioning to post-pandemic campus life. We’ll explore the impacts of COVID-19 on higher education, learn about projects and initiatives on campus, and gather to celebrate our return.
— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost
The All Staff Council Recognition Committee and Human Resources invites you to attend a virtual celebration on Thursday, May 13, at 10 a.m. for all of this year’s True Blue winners. One individual and one group will be named the Sapphire Award winners.
There will also be a special in-person portion of the event (also streamed via Zoom) to recognize all of the essential workers on campus.
Zoom Information:
https://drake-edu.zoom.us/j/89496706182?pwd=TkZ1WDJlZVNOZGVRZmxLaHJqTzlMZz09
Meeting ID: 894 9670 6182
Passcode: 424405
For questions, contact Amelia Klatt at amelia.klatt@drake.edu.
— Amelia Klatt, All Staff Council recognition committee chair
Drake Intramurals is looking for students to join their team in the fall. Available positions include both officials and scorekeepers. Knowledge of sports is not required. Email intramurals@drake.edu for more information and to apply.
Summer Lifeguards: Flexible schedule, convenient location at the Bell Center, and you can work as a lifeguard and another Rec position at the same time. $10/hour for summer work. You MUST be Lifeguard Certified to apply. Email ryan.parriott@drake.edu for more information and to apply.
Group Instructors: Looking to workout, encourage and guide others to reach their exercise potential? GroupX instructors have the opportunity to teach a variety of formats, including HIIT, Cardio Kickboxing, Yoga, Pilates, Hip-hop, and more. Prior experience is not required for this position, instead, each instructor undergoes a thorough training program before teaching independently. Email wellness@drake.edu to apply.
— Emily Madsen, Rec Services
Drake faculty/staff golf league will be a doubles league held at Grandview Golf Course/A.H. Blank Golf Course in Des Moines. Nine holes will be played each week on Wednesdays with tee times starting at 4 p.m. for Grandview and 4:30 p.m. for A.H. Blank. The first day of play will be May 19 and will continue through July 28 (10 weeks).
To register, email Ryan Parriott at ryan.parriott@drake.edu.
— Emily Madsen, Rec Services
ITS is making updates to Banner. As a result, access to MyDUSIS, Banner Administrative Pages, Workflow, ODBC, eTranscripts, Online Balloting, and DSAP will be intermittently unavailable between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 1. This upgrade is being made to apply upgrades and patches related to security and other functionality.
We appreciate your patience. If you are unable to access these systems after the planned maintenance window, please contact the support center at 515-271-3001 or visit service.drake.edu/its to report your issue.
— Tyler Spoon, ITS
We often hear about the medical benefits of receiving a vaccine. But, receiving the COVID-19 vaccine has benefits that go across multiple dimensions of wellbeing.
Physical benefits. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccine will help keep you from getting COVID-19. Based on current data, experts believe getting a COVID-19 vaccine also helps keep you from getting seriously ill, even if you do get COVID-19. Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is a great way to keep you, your family, and your community safe.
Social benefits. Once you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing more. For example, you can gather in a home or private setting without masks with other people who are fully vaccinated. This is the first step in re-establishing those in-person connections that are so important in our lives. The more folks we get vaccinated, the more in-person social connections we can make!
Emotional and mental health benefits. No area of wellbeing has taken a bigger hit this past year than our emotional and mental health. The pandemic has created overwhelming stress. When we experience prolonged stress, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel becomes imperative for recovery. Receiving the vaccine is a way to reclaim hope and find some “normalcy” in our lives again.
Financial benefits. The financial hit from COVID-19 was felt by most across the country and world. Unemployment rates increased, fewer people ventured out to spend money which resulted in businesses closing, retirement accounts were affected, and the law of supply and demand escalated prices on goods and services. It will take a while for our economy to bounce back, but the sooner we get people vaccinated, the sooner we can restore our confidence and increase our economic activity.
As many have said, battling COVID-19 has been a marathon, not a sprint. In a marathon, some runners “hit the wall” as they near the last leg of the race, feeling fatigued and stopping or slowing to a walk. We are at that point in this pandemic. We can see the finish line. We have the tools to get there. But we need to keep going, get the vaccine and cross the finish line. It will take all of us to get there.
All Iowans 16 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The University strongly encourages any member of the Drake community who qualifies for immunization to receive it as soon as possible.
If you have questions about the vaccine, good informational resources can be found at the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccination FAQ, Wellmark.com/Coronavirus, or the Wellmark Blue article, “Questions about the Covid-19 Vaccine.”
— Linda Feiden, Human Resources
Drake University is excited to offer a Drake semester study abroad program in Seville, Spain, starting Spring 2022. As a part of the semester experience, a Drake faculty member will teach and serve in various other capacities to support the program abroad as Faculty-in-Residence.
The DU Spain Faculty-in-Residence application is live through Qualtrics for Spring 2022. A call for future terms will be forthcoming. To learn more about this opportunity including eligibility, compensation, responsibilities, and to apply, please go to: http://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eR8Iq4KW7Qsswqq
Submissions are due Monday, May 24, 2021. If you have questions, please reach out to Maria Rohach, director of education abroad, at maria.rohach@drake.edu.
— Annique Kiel, Global Engagement and International Programs
Drake Law School recognized two outstanding faculty members for their contributions to the Law School’s teaching, scholarship, and research during the 2020–2021 academic year.
Melissa Weresh, Dwight D. Opperman Distinguished Professor of Law and director of legal writing, was recognized as the 2021 Stevens Faculty Scholar of the Year. The Stevens Faculty Scholar of the Year award honors the faculty member who has made the most significant contribution to academic scholarship during the previous year. Weresh’s work included publishing multiple law review articles, a book chapter, and finalizing a textbook on legal writing. Her articles and books ask important questions about instructional methods, and barriers to greater inclusiveness in law school programming and how to overcome them. Andrew Jurs, associate dean for Academic Affairs, noted: “The quality and breadth of Weresh’s writing made it stand out and ensures the lasting impact of her work.”
Anthony Gaughan, Kern Family Chair in Law, received the Student Bar Association’s (SBA) Leland Forrest Outstanding Professor Award. The Outstanding Professor award recognizes a faculty member for their contributions to the quality of legal education both in and out of the classroom. The recipient is chosen by vote of the third-year students and will lead the class in the graduation procession in May. Students selected Gaughan for his commitment to providing and supporting high quality instruction to Drake Law students from the moment they step on campus as first-years. He makes difficult and dense material easy to understand, and employs creative and effective ways to engage students in the classroom. “Not only is Professor Gaughan an outstanding teacher, his kindness and willingness to help any student in any way he can, in or out of the classroom, has remained a constant throughout our tumultuous law school careers due to the pandemic,” said Claire Davison, 2020-2021 SBA president. “He treats every person he meets with the utmost respect, and actively works to listen and understand the unique perspective they bring to the table.”
Award winners were announced during the Drake Law Supreme Court Celebration last week. For a list of previous faculty award winners and this year’s Supreme Court Celebration student award winners, visit the Supreme Court Celebration website.
— Theresa Howard, Law School
Interested in sharing your Drake experience with prospective students and parents and making an impact in the recruitment of future Bulldogs? The Office of Admission is accepting applications through next Monday, May 3, at 8 a.m. for the Student Ambassador and Admission Fellow positions. Students can find information about both positions, including the application, duties, hourly wage and timeline, on Handshake.
— Deneen Dygert, Undergraduate Admission
In an effort to streamline the process for submitting timesheets and leave reports, employees will no longer be required to enter their password after they have initially clicked “submit.” Because employees have accessed their timesheet or leave report through myDrake, after they have entered their user ID and password, it became apparent that re-entering the password again was an unnecessary duplication. This update will take effect May 7, 2021.
If you have questions or concerns, please email debra.wiley@drake.edu.
— Debra Wiley, Human Resources
