All posts by Linda Feiden

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Nominate staff for a Called to be True Blue award

Staff Appreciation Month is a great time to nominate a Drake staff member or team for a Called to be True Blue award. Those that are “True Blue” go above and beyond expectations to serve students, colleagues, and the Drake Community and possess these characteristics:

  • Epitomizes the values of leadership, teamwork, and integrity, and exhibits their commitment to the Drake community.
  • Has shown others what it takes to get a task or project done, and accomplishes that by working well with others.
  • Is able to be honest and fair in the situations they face.
  • Does all of these things for the betterment of Drake and its values and goals.

The All Staff Council Recognition Committee is accepting nominations using their online form.  True Blue honorees will be presented with a certificate, and those who receive a True Blue award prior to April 1 will be entered into this year’s Sapphire Award nomination and recognized at the annual Sapphire Awards event.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

News & Achievements Archive

Brandi Miller voted president elect of Iowa financial aid association

Brandi Miller, assistant director of new student programs in the Office of Student Financial Planning, has been voted President Elect of the Iowa Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (IASFAA). Brandi has 21 years of experience in financial aid administration and has been actively involved in the work of IASFAA, most recently serving as treasurer. This peer-bestowed honor is fitting recognition of Brandi’s professional achievements and her tireless advocacy for students with financial need. Please join me in congratulating Brandi!

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake Constitutional Law Center’s Spring 2021 lecture featuring Prof. Erika George

Professor Erika George will present “Rethinking Rights to Protect Democracy in the Digital Age: Reflections on Incitement and Inequality” as part of the Congressionally-endowed Drake University Constitutional Law Center’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The event will be delivered virtually on Thursday, March 25, at 3 p.m. CST. The lecture is free and open to the public but advanced registration is required. Register here.

Erika George is the Samuel D. Thurman Professor of Law at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law and directs the Obert C. and Grace A. Tanner Humanities Center at the University of Utah. She teaches constitutional law, international human rights law, international environmental law, and seminars in corporate citizenship. She is the author of numerous articles on topics ranging from human rights, women’s rights, environmental policy, business law, and corporate responsibility. Her book, “Incorporating Rights: Strategies to Advance Corporate Accountability” will be published this spring by Oxford Press.

The Drake Constitutional Law Center Distinguished Lecture Series brings some of the nation’s leading constitutional scholars to campus each year to engage students and faculty on the important issues of the day. To learn more about the Drake Constitutional Law Center and the Distinguished Lecture Series visit drake.edu/law/clinics-centers/conlaw/.

— Theresa Howard, Law School

Strategic Updates Archive

Great Colleges to Work For survey: Your participation is needed

The Great Colleges to Work For (GCTWF) survey is back after a year off. On March 22, full time faculty and staff will receive an email invitation to participate.

What is the Great Colleges to Work For survey?
The Great Colleges to Work For survey is the primary employee survey used by the University to gather feedback on our workplace culture. The survey is administered by ModernThink, a management-consulting firm focusing on workplace quality in higher education. More information about the Great Colleges to Work For survey is available at greatcollegesprogram.com.

Why should I participate?
Your voice matters and your responses help the University identify opportunities to improve workplace satisfaction and engagement. Your responses provide valuable insight into employee opinions and needs. Overall responses are reviewed to identify actionable areas for improvement over the next year.

Is participation mandatory?
Participation is voluntary, although we do hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to share your feedback and make sure your voice is heard. A high response rate will help ensure an accurate representation.

Are my responses confidential?
By having a third-party provider facilitate the survey process, your participation and the feedback you provide will be completely anonymous and confidential. No one at Drake will be able to trace results back to individuals. Drake will receive reports summarizing the results, but will not have access to individual response data. Furthermore, ModernThink will not report back results for areas that have less than five respondents.  Learn more by reading the Statement of Confidentiality.

When and how do I participate?
The survey period begins Monday, March 22, and ends Friday, April 2. The survey is administered online. Full-time faculty and staff will receive an email invitation to participate in the survey from ModernThink on March 22.

How long will it take to complete the survey?
It typically takes about 10–15 minutes to complete the survey depending on the amount of feedback you provide.

How is the data used and will the results be shared?
A summary of the findings will be shared with employees and will be used to identify our strengths and opportunities for improvement. Several key measures and targets in the University’s continuous improvement plan (CIP), and in many unit-level CIP’s, are tied directly to feedback from the survey. In addition, ModernThink provides valuable benchmark data against which we can compare our results. With this evidence in hand, senior leaders and individual units can make informed, strategic decisions about new initiatives.

Can I complete the survey during work hours?
Yes. Faculty and staff are encouraged to complete the survey during working hours. Completing the survey is an important contribution that you can make to strengthen our campus community.

For further questions, contact Nate Reagen.

Thanks for your support in advance!

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake Road Races launches in-person registration

The Drake Road Races will be held in-person Sunday, April 18. Limited spots are available for the event so register today.

Races will start outside Drake Stadium and finish on the iconic Blue Oval with appropriate COVID-19 protocols in place. The event will take on a hybrid model with participants retaining the ability to participate virtually anywhere from April 17–25.

— Tanner Nissen, Drake Relays

For Students Archive

Community Engaged Learning is hiring

The Office of Community Engaged Learning is hiring for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Community Engagement Peers help connect fellow students to local non-profit organizations, causes, and volunteer opportunities. They also each have their own project/responsibilities.

Applications are due March 18. See what positions are available and for a full position description.

For questions, contact amanda.martin@drake.edu.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

Campus Announcements Archive

How Rec Services is using QR codes; intramural deadlines

Have you ever wondered how to use a machine at the gym? Rec Services has you covered! All of our machines have QR codes that will take you to a video for that specific machine. Each video will walk you through the purpose as well as how to use and adjust each machine.

Intramural events coming up:
Saturday, March 20: HORSE Tournament
Sunday, March 21: Super Smash Bros Tournament

 Wellness is hiring!
Wellness is hiring group instructors and office assistants. Contact wellness@drake.edu for more information.

— Emily Madsen, Rec Services

For Students Archive

FinAid Forms is here

In January, the Office of Student Financial Planning announced exciting new enhancements to students’ financial aid experience at Drake, including:

  1. Award notifications that will be delivered via email (beginning for 2021-2022 award year)
  2. Access to your personal financial aid information through the Financial Aid Portal
  3. FinAid Forms will digitize nearly all financial aid requirements while also offering secure document upload and e-signatures.

This announcement provides more information about FinAid Forms. Students who have financial aid document requirements for award year 2021-2022 will begin receiving email notices this week to register their FinAid Forms account. The email will come from finaidforms@drake.edu.

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Students will log into FinAid Forms using their Drake ID and password. However, before accessing FinAid Forms students will need to authenticate their identity by providing information that matches the information provided on the 2021-2022 FAFSA (including social security number).

When setting up your account you will provide an email address to receive notifications when new financial aid requirements have been assigned. You can also provide a mobile number to receive text message alerts about new requirements.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus Labs updated to single sign on earlier today

ITS updated Campus Labs earlier today in order to facilitate single sign on (SSO). Campus Labs is the company that CPHS and SOE use to administer their course evaluations.

If you are still unable to access Campus Labs, please contact the support center at 515-271-3001 or visit service.drake.edu/its to report your issue.

You should no longer have to enter your credentials a second time when you access Campus Labs links if you’re already signed into another Drake system connected with SSO.

You can learn more about how SSO works at Single Sign On (SSO) and Drake applications (FAQ).

— Carla Herling, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Vote now for this year’s Beautiful Bulldog contestants

Drake University students, faculty, and staff will vote to decide the 20 English Bulldogs that will compete in the 2021 Beautiful Bulldog Contest.

Over 100 English Bulldogs across the country registered to vie for the title of Most Beautiful Bulldog. All current faculty, staff, and students are eligible to vote for 5 of the 20 Bulldogs once. Voting will close next Tuesday, March 23, at 1 p.m.

Vote now

Password: ilovebulldogs

The contest will be held Sunday, April 18, time TBD, in the Knapp Center, and open to a limited audience. The contest will also be livestreamed at facebook.com/beautifulbulldog.

About the 2021 Contest
There will be no family festival and no animal rescue festival at this year’s contest. While the event is still free to attend, there will be assigned and ticketed seating to ensure social distancing. Priority seating will be given to the families of contestants, the contest sponsor, and Drake University students. Remaining ticketed seats will be open to the general public.

Griff is once again collecting donations of adult pet food for area animals in need. Learn how to contribute.

Follow the Beautiful Bulldog Contest Facebook page for up-to-date information.

— Niki Smith, University Communications and Marketing