All posts by Amanda Martin

Campus Announcements Archive

Recognize civically-engaged projects and individuals

The Office of Community Engaged Learning invites you to recognize civically-engaged projects, alumni, and community partners by nominating them for an Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact “Engaged Campus Award.”

Nominations are due Feb. 24. View the nomination form.

  • Emerging Innovation Award: A recent project, program, or initiative making unique and innovative contributions that demonstrate strong future potential, including student-led projects.
  • Community Collaboration Award: A collaboration co-created with community organizations, leaders, and/or partners that is deep, reciprocal, and transformational.
  • Civic-Minded Employer Award: An Iowa or Minnesota business nominated by a member institution for its commitment to corporate social responsibility and employee engagement in community.
  • Alumni Leadership Award: An alum of a member institution making strong contributions to their community and demonstrating the values of the civic mission of higher education.

The CEL office also invites your feedback on three other awards. If you know of a student, individual/group, or community partner that you feel is deserving of one of the following awards, please send a paragraph of justification to amanda.martin@drake.edu no later than Feb. 15. If selected, you will be contacted for further information.

  • Student Leadership Award: This award is for an individual student or a student organization that models a deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership, evidenced by initiative, innovative and collaborative approaches to addressing public issues, effective community building, and integration of civic engagement into the college experience.
  • Civic Engagement Leadership Award: This award is for a member of the faculty, administration, or staff or for a group (e.g., advisory committee, task force, project team) that has significantly advanced their campus’ distinctive civic mission by forming strong partnerships, supporting others’ civic and community
  • Community Partner Award: This award is for a community-based individual or organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and has engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with the college or university, thus enriching educational as well as community outcomes.

Read about last year’s winners.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

For Students Archive

Enhancements to your financial aid experience

The Office of Student Financial Planning has been working to implement several exciting enhancements that will improve the financial aid experience for students at Drake. These enhancements include:

  • Electronic financial aid award notifications: Financial aid award notifications for the 2021–2022 academic year will be sent via email. As a result, students will receive their financial aid notifications more quickly and will be able to access them from any internet-connected device.
  • Financial aid information in MyDrake: From MyDrake, students will be able to view and accept financial aid awards (beginning with 2021–2022) as well as view their financial aid document requirements.
  • Smart digital forms with e-signature: Pre-populated digital forms with skip logic, data validation, secure document upload, and electronic signatures will allow students to complete their financial aid requirements more quickly and accurately, from the device of their choice.

These changes will be rolled out over the next few months. Additional information will be provided in the near future.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Call for nominations: Principal Global Citizenship Award

Nominations are invited for the Principal Financial Global Citizenship Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to global engagement and internationalization of the campus and curriculum on the part of faculty or staff. The selected awardee will receive a plaque, up to $3,000, and will be announced at the 2021 Global Citizen Forum in March. A screening committee will review all nominations and make recommendations to the Provost. Nominations should be submitted to Bonnie Ehler at bonnie.ehler@drake.edu by Friday, Feb.12, 2021. Please review the following details:

A letter of nomination should be submitted recommending an individual for the award and explaining the context and manner in which the nominator has come to know the faculty or staff member. This letter should speak to the following qualifications:

Pursuant to the University’s mission to develop “responsible global citizens,” explain how the nominee has made outstanding contributions at Drake toward realizing the following:

  1. Serve as a global knowledge hub that brings value to external partners in local, national, and international settings.
  2.  Infuse global and multicultural perspectives across the campus and curriculum.
  3. Develop infrastructure, resources, and communication systems to support internationalization and global engagement.

The nominee must be a faculty or staff member with at least four years of service at the University. The nominee cannot have won this award within the past five years. Faculty and staff members who report directly to Global Engagement are ineligible.

Nominees who indicate a willingness to be considered will be invited to submit a c.v. and a statement discussing their contributions to the above goals. One or two letters of support from faculty, staff, or students will be accepted (this is optional).

Any individual who was nominated for the award in 2020 may be re-nominated if the nominator resubmits a letter offering the individual for consideration this year. Files of previous nominees are maintained for one year. If a faculty/staff member is re-nominated, the nominator will be invited to review the file from the previous year to ensure that the nomination is as current as possible.

Past recipients include:

2020 – Jody Swilky, Ellis and Nelle Levitt Professor of English

2019 – Pramod Mahajan, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutical, biomedical and administrative sciences

2018 – Tim Knepper, professor of philosophy

2017 – John Rovers, professor of pharmacy & health sciences, pharmaceutical, biomedical and administrative sciences

2016 – Ellen Yee, professor of law

Nomination letters are due by Feb. 12, 2021, and should be sent as an attachment to bonnie.ehler@drake.edu.  Questions may be directed to Annique Kiel, executive director of Global Engagement and International Programs, at annique.kiel@drake.edu.

— Annique Kiel, Global Engagement

For Students Archive

Apply for a Summer 2021 travel seminar: Deadline Feb. 1

Interested in studying abroad this summer? Apply for a summer 2021 travel seminar! Applications are due by Feb. 1.

Summer 2021 travel seminars:

To apply for a travel seminar, visit Terra Dotta, Drake’s online application portal. Use your Drake ID and password to login.

For questions about a specific travel seminar, contact the course instructor. For general study abroad questions or issues with Terra Dotta, contact studyabroad@drake.edu.

— Nathan Jacobson, Education Abroad Coordinator

Campus Announcements Archive

New finance policies for review and comment

Drake has developed two new University policies focused on implementing ongoing security measures in the handling of its financial transactions and accounts. The “Identity Theft Prevention Policy” describes the process Drake will use to identify, detect, and respond to potential or confirmed instances of identity theft. The “Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS) Policy” establishes clear policies for the processing of payment card transactions to insure institutional compliance with PCI-DSS requirements.

All interested members of the Drake community are encouraged to review and comment on these policy revisions by Jan. 23, 2021.

— Jessica Morgan-Tate, Finance & Administration

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

New: Global Enhancement Grants applications now open

In light of restricted international mobility due to COVID-19, this new grant program has been developed to support Drake faculty and staff in bringing virtual global enhancement to their existing courses and programs. Examples may include (but are not limited to):

  • Inviting a guest speaker or expert panel to present virtually on a specific global topic
  • Incorporating a virtual tour of a site or location abroad to complement coursework
  • Developing a module or project that includes virtual connectivity with students in another part of the world

Assistance is available through the Office of Global Engagement to connect Drake faculty and staff with provider organizations and global partner institutions that can serve as resources for potential projects. Contact Annique Kiel at annique.kiel@drake.edu for more information on resources.

Eligibility and criteria
Full-time faculty and staff members are eligible to apply for Global Enhancement Grants for activities beginning in January 2021. Preference will be given to proposals that:

  • Identify a specific set of activities with intended outcomes
  • Demonstrate global learning impact on Drake curriculum and students
  • Support involvement by individuals who have not previously incorporated a global component into their courses/programs
  • Align with existing course or program objectives and learning outcomes
  • Build new partnerships or programs

Application process

  1. Submit the online application via Qualtrix, which includes a description and budget for the proposed activity. (Note: Grant funds will not be awarded for stipends for Drake faculty.)
  2. There is a rolling application deadline and submissions will be reviewed following the last day of the month by a committee. Funding decisions will be announced by the 15th of the month.  Applications must to be submitted prior to the proposed activities.  Grants will be awarded on an ongoing basis until funds are expended.

— Annique Kiel, Global Engagement

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Call for nominations: Principal Global Scholar/Practitioner-in-Residence Program

The Office of Global Engagement invites nominations for the Principal Global Scholar/Practitioner-in-Residence Program for 2021–2022, seeking to attract talented individuals from academia or the professions who have outstanding international expertise to teach a course, mentor students, give public lectures, work on joint research with faculty, and aid the global capacity-building of the institution as a whole through fruitful external collaborations. Nominations will be considered for fall, spring, or the full academic year.

Nomination Instructions:
Candidates should be nominated by faculty or administrators within the academic unit to which they will be attached. (Candidates must be non-Drake faculty or employees). Please submit the following supporting materials:

  • A nomination letter discussing the qualifications of the candidate and expected contributions to the department and Drake University as a whole
  • Candidate’s biographical information
  • A letter of interest from the candidate
  • A letter of support from the department chair and college/school dean

Nominations should be directed to Annique Kiel, executive director of Global Engagement and International Programs, by Feb. 12, 2021. Units considering a nomination are encouraged to consult with Annique prior to submission.

Among the criteria to be considered for the nominee:
1. A record of recognized international leadership and distinguished professional accomplishment in their field
2. A documented commitment to international understanding and global citizenship
3. An ability to bring unique perspectives and experiences to the Drake community
4. A willingness and ability to offer courses that complement the existing curriculum and meet rigorous academic standards.

In recognition of their contributions, Global Scholars/Practitioners receive a stipend, a travel allowance, an appropriate workspace in the host college/school, and access to university facilities. Global Scholars/Practitioners will be affiliated with an appropriate academic unit for at least one semester and offer at least one course per term.

This program is proudly sponsored by the Principal Center for Global Citizenship, housed within the Office of Global Engagement.

— Annique Kiel, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

Intensive English Program offers free learning opportunities

Drake’s Intensive English Program (IEP) provides free learning opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to improve English skills. Our IEP offers intermediate and advanced level classes with an academic focus. If you feel that you may need additional help in a certain English skill area, be it advanced academic writing, grammar, or speaking, or if you simply would like to improve your pronunciation, you may want to consider taking one of our classes. The best news is that full-time Drake students, including exchange students, staff, and faculty can take IEP classes free of charge! We also offer an American Culture course for anyone who is interested in a deeper understanding of the U.S. and its various cultural aspects.

All classes for the Spring 2021 semester are being offered remotely. Please note that these classes are not credit-bearing.

Our classes begin Monday, Feb. 1, and end Friday, May 7. The last day to register for classes is Friday, Feb. 5. If you are interested in joining a class, wish to see the schedule, or have questions about the program, contact Kendra Hossain-Morehead at kendra.hossain-morehead@drake.edu.

— Kendra Hossain-Morehead, Director of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

For Staff Archive

Bulldog Applause goes to Dean of Students Office

The All Staff Council Recognition Committee recognized the Dean of Students office this month with a Bulldog Applause. Read an interview below to learn more about this great team. A huge thank you to the Dean of Students Office for all your hard work and dedication to the University.

How many staff members are in the department? 27

What is the primary function of the team? Do you have a mission/vision/motto? To complement the University’s academic curriculum by providing integrated learning experiences that fosters personal growth, integrity, responsibility and accountability in a changing global society.

 Who has been with the team the longest, and what is their job title and length of employment? Lorissa Sowden, assistant dean and director of Residence Life, 21 years.

Who is the newest team member, and what is their job title and month/year of start? Brooke Saunders, student disability services coordinator, 1 year

What campus buildings do your team members “live” in?  Olmsted Center, Resident Halls, Health/Counseling Center, Bell Center, Old Main

What are some recent challenges and accomplishments of note that others in the University might not know about? Our team has worked non-stop and collectively with other departments to support students as we navigate the global pandemic.

— Amelia Klatt, Office of Alumni Relations

Campus Announcements Archive

ITS support center and tech assistance through J-Term

Even though the support center in Carnegie Hall (lower level) is closed for walk-in visitors through at least the start of the spring semester, ITS is still available to help with your tech needs.

You can always call 515-271-3001 or browse for guides or submit a request for assistance at our service portal at service.drake.edu/its.

If ITS staff are unavailable, whether over holiday breaks or in the evenings, we have after-hours support answering our main number 24/7 at 515-271-3001. They are not able to assist with every tech problem, but can always open requests on your behalf that will be responded to when ITS staff return.

To be sure you’re reaching an ITS technician if you call the support center, see the schedule below:

  • Through the end of the semester, regular hours will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Holiday break begins Dec. 21 and runs through Friday, Jan. 1.
  • Starting Jan. 4 through the end of J-Term, hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

— Carla Herling, ITS