All posts by Linda Feiden

HR Information Archive

National Bike Month, Global Running Day

If you have been sitting in front of your laptop these past few weeks, now is the time to head outdoors for a walk, run, or bike ride—while maintaining social distance.

Normally we celebrate National Bike Month in May. As with everything else, this year looks different due to COVID-19. To adjust, Bike to Work Week has moved to September 21–27, 2020, with National Bike to Work Day scheduled for Tuesday, September 22.

Despite these changes, you can still dust off your bicycle and get pedaling now. If your bicycle needs a tune-up, a number of local bike shops are open for business. There are also mobile bicycle repair trucks that will come to your home to service your bicycle while maintaining social distance.

If you are not a bicyclist, how about heading outdoors for a walk or run? Do you need a nudge? The first Wednesday in June (June 3) is Global Running Day. It can be a stroll around the block or a 5-mile run. Do it alone or with your family.

If you would like to participate in a formal event, Fleet Feet is hosting “My Big Run Virtual Race” on June 3. You can choose from five distances: 1 mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon. Simply pick a distance and submit your results. The $10 registration fee will get you a virtual race-day kit, training tips, and chance to win some prizes. Find more information.

See you—from a distance—on the trails!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Summer textbooks available online, modified in-store pick-up

Shop online 24/7 for summer course materials, as well as great Drake merchandise, at www.drake.bkstr.com. For your convenience, the University Bookstore has resumed a modified in-store pick-up process. Call the number posted on the Bookstore’s front door, and we will set your order outside the door. In-store pick up is available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Store visitors may park in the Olmsted Center parking lot. As a reminder, Bulldog Bucks can be used for online shopping.

— Katie Wilz, University Bookstore

Campus Announcements Archive

Sexual Assault Prevention online course survey findings

In the fall of 2019, 954 first year and transfer students took part in the Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates online course.  We had a 93% completion rate for undergraduates.

The surveys from this course allow us to see how students view the topic of sexual assault prevention and gives feedback on the value students see in the course.  According to the survey, 80% of students agreed that this course helped them identify characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships.  78% reported that the course increased confidence in their ability to intervene when they witness a concerning behavior.

A notable statistic from this survey was that 93% of undergraduates felt that Drake University offered good resources for students going through difficult times. This course helped students increase their awareness of support resources and reporting options. The pre-course survey indicated that 64% knew how to report a sexual assault on campus and  the post-course survey increased to 82% knowing how to report a sexual assault.

Additionally, 641 graduate students completed the course Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduates with an 86% completion rate. The survey indicates that these students increased their overall knowledge of sexual assault prevention by 15%. Other notable increases included recognizing relationship abuse from 74% in the pre-course survey to 95% post-course. Students also increased knowledge of understanding Title IX from 63% pre-course to 86% post-course. 90% of graduate students felt that Drake offers good support to those going through difficult times.

Our partnership with Everfi will continue over the next three years as we continue to establish programming across campus that supports the healthy majority and develops a strong positive culture on campus.

This year we are excited to add the Everfi, Equity and Inclusion module to our Bulldog Foundations classes. This well designed and engaging course will allow students an additional opportunity to have conversations related to Drake’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

For more information or a full copy of the Everfi Impact Report please contact Lynne Cornelius, violence prevention coordinator, at lynne.cornelius@drake.edu.

— Lynne Cornelius, Violence Prevention & Programming

Campus Announcements Archive

All Staff Council election results

All Staff Council is pleased to congratulate and welcome its newest members:

Governance Committee: Bridget Arrasmith, Chris Bass, Donita Greenough, Leslie Noble

Recognition Committee: Erin Bell, Teresa Downs

Special Events/Community Service: Kevin Saunders, Sydni Jennings, Lynne Cornelius, Mariah Mohler

Special Interest: Lori Richman, Rashmee Virmani, Megan Franklin

Chair Elect: Andy Verlengia

For more information on All Staff Council and its current members, visit drake.edu/asc/.

— Michelle Huggins, Facilities Planning & Management

Campus Announcements Archive

Bb Annotate to replace New Box View for inline grading and feedback in Blackboard Learn

Bb Annotate is a new tool in Blackboard Learn for inline assignment grading that will be available starting May 25. Bb Annotate replaces the New Box View integration. Bb Annotate offers new features for instructors to provide customizable feedback to students including a sidebar summary view, freehand drawing tools, and various color selections.

Migration Timeline
The file migration from New Box View to Bb Annotate will begin starting on May 25and could take several hours to days to complete depending on the number of files that need to be migrated. This ensures all older documents also use the same inline grading system and that no data is lost during the transition.

Existing Grading
All pre-existing annotations created through New Box View will be migrated and visible in Bb Annotate. If a user is actively annotating a file using New Box View during the migration, the file will not migrate to Bb Annotate until the user has completed that session. Upon loading the submission file again, it will display in the Bb Annotate viewer. User will be able to delete annotations as well as add new comments to any existing comment created using New Box View.

Mobile App Compatibility
Bb Annotate will work with the Blackboard Instructor app, but not the Blackboard app. Students should access their assignment submission through a web browser to see annotations.

More Information
The links provided below is where you can find all relevant information about inline assignment grading with Bb Annotate.

— Karly Good, ITS

For Students Archive

Finland J-Term 2021 info session

The ‘Finland: Perspectives on Education’ J-Term 2021 travel seminar will have a Zoom information session on Wednesday, May 20, at 12 p.m. Attend to learn from the lead instructor, Professor Trent Grundmeyer, about the course, about the excursions and activities included in the program, and to ask any questions you may have about this travel seminar.

Access the Zoom meeting on Wednesday, May 20, at 12 p.m.

Learn more about all of Drake’s J-Term 2021 travel seminars, including how to apply.

— Nathan Jacobson, Drake International

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Final grades (non-Law School) due May 20

Faculty, final grades are due by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20. Exception: Law School grades are due Tuesday, May 26.

You may enter your final grades directly in MyDUSIS or  send them from Blackboard to MyDUSIS (with proper configuration).

The Final Grade Submittal page in MyDUSIS now displays each student’s grade mode, and the drop-down menus display only the grade options applicable to each student’s grade mode.  For example, only “credit” or “no credit” will display for students who have opted for the credit/no credit option.

You may send your grades from Blackboard to MyDUSIS for only the students earning standard letter grades or only for students earning CR/NC grades, using MyDUSIS to directly enter grades for the opposite set of students.  Or, you may send grades for both sets of students by repeating certain steps in Blackboard.  The Blackboard instructions page has been updated with step-by-step instructions.  After sending your grades to MyDUSIS, it is wise to double-check the Final Grade Submittal page in MyDUSIS to do ensure MyDUSIS received all of them.

For questions about final grades, please email registrar@drake.edu.

Thank you for all of the adaptations you have made this semester and your efforts to submit your final grades on time.

— Kevin Moenkhaus, Office of the Registrar

Campus Announcements Archive

Summer Language Institute moves online

Drake University’s Intensive English Program (IEP) is now offering an online Summer Language Institute for those who wish to improve their English skills. IEP courses are free for current students, faculty, and staff. View course fees for other applicants.

Courses will run from July 6–31 and will follow a two-track format: An academic English track for those who are pursuing or planning to pursue a degree in the United States and a general English track for those who want to improve practical English skills.

Apply now. Applications for admission are due June 1. For additional information or questions, contact kendra.hossain-morehead@drake.edu.

— Kendra Hossain-Morehead, Drake International

Campus Announcements Archive

Printing outage scheduled for May 21, 1–3 p.m.

ITS is migrating print services to a new server. As a result, access to campus printing (PaperCut) will be completely unavailable between 1–3 p.m. on Thursday, May 21.

We appreciate your patience while we perform this necessary work. If you continue to have any issues after the planned maintenance window, please contact the support center at 515-271-3001 or visit service.drake.edu/its to report your issue.

— Carla Herling, ITS