All posts by Carla Herling

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Reminder: Blackboard Learn changes coming Sunday, Aug. 9

Starting Aug. 9, when you log into Blackboard, your landing page will look different. Learn more about the updated navigation at Getting Started with Ultra Base Navigation in Learn Ultra (How-to). The basic background and colors will all be a standard Drake color scheme.

Faculty can, however, customize a course by uploading a banner image. Learn more about customizing course images including guidance around image quality, size, and fair use at Creating Course Card Images/Course Banners in Learn Ultra (Best Practices).

Learn more about the larger Learn Ultra upgrade project, who to contact, and the proposed timeline at our FAQ page at drake.edu/its/learnultra/ and we will continue to add help documentation to the Learn Ultra category in the Knowledge Base of our IT service portal.

— Karly Good, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Katie Wilz retires after 36 years at University Bookstore

Katie Wilz, University Bookstore manager, is retiring Aug. 7 after serving the University Bookstore for 36 years. Katie said it has been a true honor to represent and serve the students, faculty, staff, and fans of Drake University.

Following her retirement on Aug. 7, please direct any Bookstore questions or concerns to Donna Hallstrom or Derek Pollock.

Congratulations, Katie, and thank you for your commitment to the Drake community!

Donna Hallstrom
1623txt@follett.com
515 274-3401

Derek Pollock
dpollock@follett.com

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Back to Class series for Drake alumni

Are you working on an interesting campus project or research topic? Our Drake alumni network would like to hear from you!

The Office of Alumni Relations is looking for faculty & staff to be speakers in a new virtual ‘Back to Class’ series. This is an opportunity for alumni to connect with campus and a chance for you to share your knowledge. The topic and time can be decided based on your schedule. After the session is completed, the video will be accessible on the alumni website.

To sign up or learn more, take this survey. For questions, reach out to alumni@drake.edu.

— Amelia Klatt, Office of Alumni Relations

HR Information Archive

Take advantage of Drake’s Employee Assistance Program

You may have heard the phrase: “We are done with the Coronavirus but it isn’t done with us.” The ongoing pandemic has disrupted our work and home lives and it is difficult to know when it will get better.

If you are taking steps to manage your worry and anxiety but it doesn’t seem to be helping, Employee & Family Resources (EFR) offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all full-time Drake employees and their family members. It includes counseling with a licensed mental health therapist as well as financial and legal consulting, eldercare and childcare resources. You can reach EAP by phone (800-327-4692) or visit their website at https://www.efr.org/login/. All EAP benefits are confidential and available 24/7/365.

Besides the Employee Assistance Program, EFR offers additional resources to help us navigate these stressful times.

Webinars. If you did not get a chance to view the EFR weekly webinar series this summer, they are still available for viewing online when your schedule allows.  They cover a variety of topics pertinent to our times.

Podcasts. EFR created a series of podcasts called Emotion Well Podcast.  The podcasts are available on their website, as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

COVID-19 Resources. EFR’s website has links to COVID-19 resources, including online groups, work from home tips, exercising from home, and mental health tips.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Staff Archive

Call for True Blue nominations

Do you know of a staff member or department that has gone above and beyond to exemplify True Blue spirit? Nominate them today for a True Blue award! A staff member or team that is True Blue epitomizes the values of excellence, integrity, leadership, teamwork, and commitment to the Drake community. 

— Amelia Klatt, Office of Alumni Relations/All Staff Council

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Construction affecting streets around campus

As faculty and staff return to campus this week, please be aware that construction is still affecting the streets surrounding the University.  University Avenue will have one lane open in both directions and some closure of the south parking lane as the Harking Center and Home2 Suites complete their streetscape. Access to parking lots off University Avenue will remain open. The intersection of 25th Street and Forest Avenue and 24th Street between Carpenter and Forest are currently closed for storm sewer installation and should reopen the week of Aug. 10 after street paving is completed. For those who park in the Fine Arts Lot east of 25th Street, please access the lot from the south off of University Avenue.

— Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning & Management

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Zoom Integration with Blackboard is complete 

ITS has completed the work to integrate Zoom with Blackboard and Zoom is now ready for academic use across campus. Zoom uses single sign-on (SSO), so once you’ve logged into Blackboard, you won’t also need to log into Zoom.    

There are instructions and links to Zoom training in the knowledge base area of the IT service portal at https://drake.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/2025/Portal/KB/?CategoryID=18578 

Getting Started with Zoom (FAQ) is full of helpful links for both you and your students including links to videos tutorials, longer recorded presentations, and webinars hosted by Zoom.   

If you encounter issues with accessing or using Zoom, please submit a Zoom Issue online or contact the support center at 515–271–3001.  

–Jerome Hilscher, Information Technology Services 

For Students Archive

Now hiring: Residence hall front desk assistant

The Office of Residence Life is now accepting applications for Desk Assistant positions in the residence halls.

A Desk Assistant is a student who serves as the primary resource and customer service representative for a particular residence hall. Desk Assistants will assist residential students and guests at Drake University through carrying out the daily operations of the residence hall community desk, maintaining safety and security through guest procedures, aiding in the fostering of community among the residential students, and responding to requests by guests, residents, and hall staff.

Apply and find more information

For questions, contact Sara Schilling, area coordinator, at sara.schilling@drake.edu.

— Randy McMullin, Office of Residence Life

Campus Announcements Archive

Fall parking permit sales

Fall parking permit sales will open online for students, faculty, and staff through the Parking Registration link in myDrake starting Monday, Aug. 3. This is the first year that we will require ALL permit registrations be completed online, including payroll deduct payment methods. Please email studentservices@drake.edu if you have questions or need assistance with this process.

Permit pricing will not change for the 2020–2021 school year, and permits are sold on a first come, first serve basis.

Blue lots (resident passes) — $375

Yellow, Red, and Green lots (commuter passes) — $250

Orange and Purple lots (commuter passes) — $125

Evening/weekend passes (any commuter lot after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends) — $100

If you are unsure of which permit you need to buy, please review the parking lot colors on the campus map. If the pass type you prefer is sold out, please purchase your second choice and email studentservices@drake.edu to be put onto a wait list for your first choice.

Permits will be distributed in a variety of methods to assist with social distancing. Your confirmation email will give you further instruction on how your permit should be acquired.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center