All posts by Nathan Jacobson

For Students Archive

Summer 2021 Travel Seminar application deadline extended

The application deadline for Summer 2021 travel seminars has been extended to Feb. 1, 2021. If you are interested in studying abroad this summer, we encourage you to start an application today. 

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, Center for International Programs and Services

News & Achievements Archive

Drake Law School and the Iowa State Public Defender announce new Wrongful Convictions Clinic at Drake

Drake Law School and the Iowa State Public Defender are excited to announce a new collaboration creating a Wrongful Convictions Clinic.

The Wrongful Convictions Clinic at Drake Law School will begin in January 2021. The Clinic will be led by the State Public Defender’s Wrongful Convictions Division. Student attorneys in the clinic will represent individuals convicted of serious felony crimes in Iowa in post-conviction proceedings to establish their actual innocence. The Wrongful Convictions Division of the State Public Defender’s office was created by Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, LW ’09, during his tenure as State Public Defender in 2015.

State Public Defender Jeff Wright, LW ’06, explained that the Wrongful Convictions Division works closely with the Midwest Innocence Project, in Kansas City, MO, to identify, investigate, and litigate cases of individuals who are claiming factual innocence of the crimes for which they were convicted. “We are excited about this new alliance and all the possibilities which come with it. Not only will this collaboration greatly increase our capacity to review and investigate meritorious claims from Iowa inmates, but it will also help identify policies that contribute to wrongful convictions,” said State Public Defender Wright.

Students in the Clinic will assist in all aspects of assigned cases including reviewing trial transcripts and case files, visiting incarcerated clients, interviewing witnesses, collecting records, consulting subject matter experts, conducting legal research, drafting pleadings, and attending court hearings.

Erica Nichols Cook, LW ’09, Director of the Wrongful Convictions Division, will supervise the Clinic. Nichols Cook previously served as an adjunct professor of law at Southern Illinois University, teaching about wrongful convictions and supervising an externship program with the Illinois Innocence Project. Prior to that, she was an assistant appellate defender, Cook County public defender, and a staff attorney with the Illinois Innocence Project.

“I am excited to return to the Clinic where I learned how to be a lawyer and an advocate,” said Nichols Cook. “Through this new collaboration, we will more effectively represent the wrongfully convicted in Iowa and teach new generations of lawyers in the criminal justice system how to identify and remedy wrongful convictions.”

As part of the new partnership, the state Wrongful Convictions Division will relocate to the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center at Drake. “Being on campus and a part of the dynamic learning environment at the clinic will empower students and clients alike,” Nichols Cook said.

“We are honored to be able to contribute to this important work through our new Clinic,” said Drake Law Dean Jerry Anderson. “Student efforts may lead to real reform in the criminal justice system and a path to justice for the wrongfully convicted. Along the way they will develop legal skills that they will carry with them wherever their future legal careers take them.”

— Theresa Howard, Law School

Campus Announcements Archive

Nominate students for the Adams Leadership Awards

The Adams Leadership Convocation is an annual, campus-wide event that celebrates the achievements of student leaders and organizations at Drake University. Each spring we honor students and organizations who have made valuable contributions to the campus community through their outstanding commitment to leadership.

We’re opening this year’s Adams Leadership Awards nomination form early in an effort to nominate students and student organizations from this fall semester whose details may seem hard to recollect by spring!

Please see this full list of award categories and criteria and consider nominating Drake students and student organizations who’ve exhibited strong leadership and excellence throughout the fall 2020 semester by using the link below. Nominations can be submitted by any Drake student, faculty, and/or staff any time between now and Sunday, April 4, 2021.

Adams Leadership Convocation Nomination Form

In addition to submitting your nominations, please save the date for this year’s Adams Leadership Convocation on Friday, April 30th (format to be determined by COVID-19).

Questions? Contact Kristin Economos (Director of Student Leadership Programs) at kristin.economos@drake.edu.

Thanks for your work recognizing the incredible leadership skills of our Drake students!

— Kristin Economos, Office of Student Involvement and Leadership

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Finance shares Administrative Survey feedback

The Offices of Finance and Student Financial Planning would like to thank everyone for taking the time to complete the Administrative Survey in October 2020.  We have gained valuable feedback to help us maintain and improve the services we provide to students, faculty, and staff.

Ratings in nearly every question increased over the prior year.  Each of the departments individually scored between 4 and 5 on the 5-point scale.  While not a statistically significant difference, the overall satisfaction with the services provided by the Offices of Finance and Student Financial Planning increased to an average score of 4.49 this year compared to 4.38 in 2019.  While there is always room for improvement, the unit’s staff are clearly doing their best to meet our service-oriented objectives to:

  • Ensure our constituents are engaged and informed,
  • Ensure integrity and transparency,
  • Process university resources timely and accurately, and
  • Improve service excellence.

The comments included in the survey were very helpful.  Several comments related to the shift to more electronic processes as necessitated by the pandemic with many staff working from home.  There were many positive comments all centered around the staff being knowledgeable, approachable, kind, reliable, responsive, and helpful, as well as sharing an attitude of fun.  There were also several valuable suggestions for improvement.  The most significant theme identified is the need to approach interactions with a collaborative mentality rather than beginning from a place of distrust.

Thank you again for participating in the Administrative Survey and please know that your input is reviewed and analyzed by the entire staff of the Offices of Finance and Student Financial Planning.

— Adam Voigts, Finance & Administration

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Final grades (non-Law) due Dec. 16

Faculty, final grades are due by 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16. Exception: Final grades for the Law School are due on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Following these deadlines, your ability to submit final grades will be disabled.

View instructions on how to send your final grades from Blackboard to MyDUSIS.

Those of you who want to submit grades directly into MyDUSIS should begin by clicking the Grading button in the “Faculty & Advising” menu in MyDrake and then finding the “Final Grades–Submittal Link.”

The final evaluation schedule includes a listing of when courses are scheduled to meet for their final evaluations.

May all of you enjoy your winter break.

— Kevin Moenkhaus, Office of the Registrar

HR Information Archive

Important: Primary Care Provider designation

Attention health plan participants: If you did not designate a Primary Care Provider (PCP) during the annual open enrollment period, or if you listed your doctor’s name but did not include the enrollment ID number, you will receive an email from Human Resources later this week with instructions for completing the required PCP designation. If you receive an email from drakehr@drake.edu, please read it carefully and follow the instructions. A subsequent communication will also be provided by Wellmark via U.S. Mail.

Should you have questions, please contact Human Resources at 271–1901 or marlene.heuertz@drake.edu.

Everyone else will soon begin receiving their new insurance cards via U.S. Mail.  Additional cards may be ordered by contacting Wellmark at 800–362–2230.

Campus Announcements Archive

Rec Services Wellness update: Trick Shot challenge and Virtual GX

Virtual GX continues! For every five classes that you take Dec. 14 through Feb. 14, you will be entered into a drawing for a prize. There is no limit on entries, so take as many classes as your heart desires.

Here is how to access our On Demand classes: Login to your Drake Rec account, and click the Group Fitness tab. Click on “Classes” and scroll down to see our On Demand options. Once you decide on the one you like, click on the class and select the “Schedule” tab. From here, click on the class you would like, register to participate, and you will be emailed the link.

Social Media trick shot challenge: Have you seen our trick shots yet? Show us what you’ve got by tagging or submitting your videos to wellness@drake.edu, to be featured on our social media pages.

Looking to start the new decade right? Join our social media New Year’s challenge to help create goals for 2021 and learn more about the dimensions of wellness.

Make sure to follow our pages for more fun challenges and information: @DrakeRec on Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter; @DrakeRecServices on Facebook.

— Emily Madsen, Recreational Services–Wellness

HR Information Archive

Dealing with grief over the holidays

As the holidays approach, it can be a time for great joy.  For some, this is also a time for grief.  Grief is a person’s normal, healthy response to a loss.  People grieve for many different reasons, including the loss of a loved one, changes in a relationship, job, finances, health, or traditions.  COVID-19 has created many changes in our way of life, and contributed to increased feelings of grief.

The December Employee Newsletter from Employee & Family Resources addresses this topic and shares tips to help you cope with grief.  It also includes links to past webinars and podcasts you may wish to review over the holidays.

Employee & Family Resources offers a variety of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources to help you now, or anytime.  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.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Campus phone update: Headsets have been distributed

ITS has completed the headset distribution to all full-time Drake employees. If you haven’t received a headset in your campus mailbox, please let us know by submitting a Telephone Issue request.

Until the switch to using Microsoft Teams for calling in January, the new headsets can be used for online meetings and internal calls. Having any issues with your new headset? Check out the user guides at ITS Recommended Phone Headsets (FAQ).

To learn more about the upcoming change, check out the FAQ page at drake.edu/its/teamscalling/ or read our guide on Using Microsoft Teams for Phone Calls and Voicemail (How-to).

If you have a question that you don’t see covered at either the FAQ or the guide, please let us know at drake.edu/its/giveitsfeedback/.

— Chris Mielke, ITS

For Students Archive

Textbook rental returns update

Although rental books are due Dec. 11, the University Bookstore has issued a 30-day grace period to allow extra time for shipping your books back to us. During this period, all late fees will be suspended. If you have any questions on where or how to mail your books, please contact kyle.mcvay@drake.edu for assistance or log into your account at www.universitybook.com. The bookstore is also open through the break for in-person returns.

— Kyle McVay, University Bookstore