All posts by Mitch Wieczorek

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

FPM survey results and annual Golden Bulldog Award

An important aspect of Drake’s Continuous Improvement Plan is to examine our processes. The Administrative Services Survey greatly assists us in this.

This fall’s survey was issued to faculty and staff with the focus on Human Resources, Facilities Planning and Management (FPM), Information Technology Services, Public Safety, Finance, and Communications.

This feedback helps the departments understand where service gaps may exist and how to improve the services of our University. Continuous improvement efforts are meant to drive intentional and strategic action. Responses to this survey shape the University’s future efforts.

Survey respondents provided largely positive feedback about FPM services. Responses were provided on a five-point scale, with five being the highest.

Overall satisfaction—Total Average 4.39 (4.14 last year)
Overall satisfaction is above average, but FPM still looks for areas of improvement.  In reviewing the data and reflecting on the comments provided by the respondents, FPM will be focusing on providing more frequent communications on work and projects that affect the campus.  FPM is very pleased with the increase of satisfaction of our services and will continue to provide them in a professional manner.

In continuing to praise our team for their hard work they do every day, as well as create some spirited competition, a roaming trophy, The Golden Bulldog, was created last year for FPM. That inaugural year was won by our Grounds staff with an overall rating of 4.54. Although they improved their score this year with a 4.63, it wasn’t enough to hold the trophy for another year. Please help me congratulate the 2020 Golden Bulldog winners, Skilled Trades, with a 4.82! In addition, I want to recognize all of our departments, which all scored above 85% satisfaction on this year’s survey!

— Mitch Wieczorek, Facilities Planning and Management

Campus Announcements Archive

Intramural deadlines and Rec Services hours

November Rec Services hours

Bell Center: Closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, through the week of Thanksgiving

Underground: Closes at 12 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20. until Spring 2021 semester

Intramural deadlines
Nov. 12: Pickleball doubles
Nov. 14: 3-point shoot out
Nov. 17: Trivia

Follow our social media for challenges and activities during the virtual period of the school year.

Facebook: DrakeRecServices; Instagram: drakerec; Twitter: DrakeRec; Tiktok: drakerec.

— Emily Madsen, Recreational Services

For Students Archive

Become an Orientation Leader

Orientation leaders are dedicated to providing incoming students and their families with all of the information and resources necessary to ensure their transition to Drake is a smooth and enjoyable one.

We need you to help make this happen. Each year we recruit current Drake students to become part of the orientation leader staff. Orientation leaders play a vital role in this exciting process, working closely with new students and their families on a wide variety of topics including academics, student involvement, housing options, and more.

We highly encourage you to attend one of the information sessions being offered via Zoom. Sign up for a session.

  • Friday, November 13, 2020, at 12 p.m.
  • Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at 6 p.m.

You will be compensated for your time and effort and gain valuable skills in this position.

Learn more about the position. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

HR Information Archive

Action required: Annual open enrollment period

If you are planning to participate in Drake’s Health Plan during 2021, you must designate a Primary Care Provider (PCP) for yourself and all dependents enrolled in the plan. Each covered member may select a different PCP from Wellmark’s list of general or family practice physicians, internists, and pediatricians. Female members who wish to designate an obstetrician or gynecologist (OB/GYN) as a co-care provider must contact Wellmark Customer Service at 800-362-2230.

How to select a PCP:

Step one: Selecting a PCP consists of a two-step process.  First, you must obtain the required information from Wellmark’s website.  This brief video demonstrates how to search for a PCP, and locate his/her enrollment identification number and organization name.  If you already have a PCP, you may visit  wellmark.com/finder to determine whether he/she is a PCP in the Blue Choice Network.  Should you have questions about how to access information on the Wellmark website, call Wellmark Customer Service at 800-362-2230.

Step two: Once you have chosen a PCP, you must record his/her required information in the Benefits Portal.  This video demonstrates how to enter the information in the Benefits Portal. Instructions detailing this process can be found here. It is important to note co-care provider (OB/GYN) information cannot be entered in the Benefits Portal. To learn more about designating a PCP, see these frequently asked questions.

— Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Holiday payment processing schedule

Please note the following schedule for payment processing through Accounts Payable to accommodate winter break.

  • Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020 – All payment requests (including wires) are due to Accounts Payable by the end of the business day.  Requests received by this deadline will be processed for payment before Winter Break.
  • Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 – Normal payment processing will resume this week.

The accounts payable office will be closed during winter break.

Thank you for your help in coordinating to ensure we meet all needs during the upcoming season.

Please contact Jeni Baugher, accounting supervisor, at ext. 4509 or jenifer.baugher@drake.edu with any questions.

— Jeni Baugher, Accounting

For Faculty Archive

J-Term 2022 travel seminar proposals due Nov. 6

A reminder to submit your proposal to lead a J-Term 2022 travel seminar by Friday, Nov. 6, through Qualtrics.  A travel seminar is a short-term, faculty-led study abroad (or domestic) program. This is an opportunity to teach a course that integrates an academic experience with intercultural and experiential learning while traveling.

Submit a proposal or review the proposal process

For questions, contact Maria Rohach, director of education abroad, at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Major update coming to campus phones in January

ITS is upgrading the campus phone system and moving faculty and staff to using Microsoft Teams for calling in early 2021. The Microsoft Teams client will replace traditional handsets and allow faculty and staff to make and receive telephone calls using their office extension from anywhere they are connected to the Internet.

To prepare for this change, ITS will be distributing headsets to employees who haven’t already received one. Watch your email for a Qualtrics survey request to let ITS know your headset choice. Please complete the survey by Nov. 20. Headsets will be distributed through campus mail prior to the Thanksgiving break and can be used for online meetings and internal calls before the phone system changes next year.

Additional information on headset options can be found at ITS Recommended Phone Headsets (FAQ).

Want to learn more about using Microsoft Teams for calling? See Using Microsoft Teams for Phone Calls and Voicemail (How-to).

— Chris Mielke, ITS

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Call for proposals: FY22 Global Partnership Grant

Description: Drake University has established formal partnerships with multiple institutions abroad. Joint faculty and staff projects with our global partner institutions may be eligible for financial support through the Global Partnership Grants. Contact Hannah Sappenfield at hannah.sappenfield@drake.edu for more information or to get connected with a global partner institution.

Eligibility and criteria: Full-time faculty and staff members are eligible to apply for Global Partnership Grants for activities taking place during FY22. Preference will be given to proposals that:

  • identify a specific set of activities with distinct outcomes with one (or more) of our partner institutions
  • demonstrate specific impact on Drake curriculum, students and current global partnerships
  • advance Drake’s global engagement with existing partners in new ways
  • support involvement by individuals who have not previously been globally engaged
  • are financially supported by the school, college, or department of the individual submitting the proposal
  • align with internationally or globally focused unit objectives and/or the University’s Continuous Improvement Plan

Application process:

  1. Discuss the proposed activity with your unit Director or Dean prior to submission to help determine its strategic value and if it aligns with the unit’s global engagement priorities. The discussion will help determine the unit’s interest and ability to support the proposal with financial resources.
  2. Submit the online application via Qualtrix, which includes a description and budget (*see note) for the proposed activity. Deadline: December 18, 2020
  3. Deans/Directors will review all proposals for their unit with the Global Partnerships Coordinator and the Executive Director of Global Engagement for prioritization and to make collaborative funding decisions. Final award decisions will be announced in February 2021.

*Global Engagement grant funds are not typically awarded for stipends for Drake faculty and staff; however, stipend requests may be considered for funding by your unit’s Dean/Director on a case-by-case basis. The College of Arts & Sciences will not fund stipends.

Travel restrictions: At this time, any travel outside of Iowa on behalf of the University is currently suspended, unless deemed critical and approved by the senior administrator in your area. This policy applies to all University-sponsored travel, including international, academic, athletic, conferences, and workshops, and research-related travel, and will continue until further notice. Although grant funds may be awarded for travel purposes, these funds may not be expended until the University’s travel restrictions have been lifted.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Partnerships Coordinator

HR Information Archive

De-stress course begins Nov. 9

COVID-19 and other events surrounding 2020 have contributed to increased anxiety and stress.  We may not be able to eliminate the stressors, but there are resources to address the stress.  Here is an upcoming program you may wish to check out.

Drake has collaborated with CoreBuilt Wellness to bring you a 10-Day series to support you in managing the stress in your life. This program runs Nov. 9–20.

Participants will receive one weekday email with a short video on a stress relief technique, access to additional videos, an optional daily accountability text message from the CoreBuilt coaching team, and a chance to win prizes (including a Hy-Vee gift card) just for participating.

To register for this free 10-day De-Stress challenge, please send an email to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu by Friday, Nov. 6.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Staff Archive

All Staff Council book club

The University Book Club will continue to meet virtually through the 2020–2021 academic year. We like to read four books together each year, usually scheduled for a casual discussion around the “breaks” during the year.  Our books and meeting times for this year are listed below. Please reach out to sara.heijerman@drake.edu or dan.chibnall@drake.edu if you would like to participate in any of these discussions, or would like to join our email notification list.

  • The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore – November 30 at 4:30 p.m.
  • Anxious People by Fredrik Backman – January 27 at 4:30 p.m.
  • Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb – March 31 at 4:30 p.m.
  • Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi – June 7 at 4:30 p.m.

— Amelia Klatt, Alumni Relations/All Staff Council