All posts by Linda Feiden

HR Information Archive

Ways to remain socially connected

We have all heard the term social distancing and know the importance of increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. We also know that human connection is essential for good health, especially when life presents situations that create anxiety, and COVID-19 has certainly done that.

The good news is that social distancing (I prefer physical distancing) doesn’t mean being alone. Here are some tips for staying engaged and connecting with others to stay positive and healthy.

Connect digitally. Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can be a positive way to communicate with others, learn and share ideas.

Combining smartphones, computers, and tablets with videoconferencing software and apps allows you to interact with people face-to-face. Most platforms are free or have a free version.  Microsoft Teams has an “at-work” videoconferencing option.  Other platforms include Zoom, Skype, and Google Duo.

Once you connect, get creative. Start the day with friends over coffee or host an end-of-day happy hour.  Host a digital dinner party or virtual cooking lesson, read a grandchild a bedtime story, play games, or watch a TV show together. Netflix Party allows you to watch a program on Netflix at the same time as other users, pause it together, and chat about it in real time.

Attend a class or event virtually. Fitness clubs, yoga studios, and some local and national attractions like the Smithsonian are offering virtual classes and tours. And, most are free. Drake Group X instructors have created “at home workouts” through their Drake Rec app. Email wellness@drake.edu for more information.

Reconnect with family. Enjoy time at home with your family. And, start checking off those items on your to-do list. Cook and eat together, bring out games and puzzles, paint a room or plant a garden.

Have a neighborhood hangout. Social distancing doesn’t mean total isolation. Driveways, yards, and sidewalks make it easy to set boundaries while allowing neighbors to get outside and connect.

Make a phone call. Sometimes just hearing someone’s voice can be enough to lift both your spirits. Sending an email, text, postcard, or handwritten note are good ways to connect as well.

Remember, if social media becomes too much, it is okay to take a break. Take time to practice self-care and reach out if you are having a hard time coping with current events. You can contact Employee and Family Resources (EFR) at 800-327-4692.

Beginning April 8, EFR is also offering weekly webinars to address different aspects of emotional health. Join EFR on Wednesday, April 8, at 10 a.m. for a webinar on how COVID-19 has impacted our emotional well-being and relationships. During this webinar, they will explore ways to cope and build resiliency.  Register here.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Air conditioning to turn on soon in campus buildings

Iowa is rapidly approaching warmer weather and air conditioning will be available soon. April 15 is the approximate date the official switch over from heating to cooling will take place. HVAC staff monitor the forecasted temperatures closely to determine the best date to switch from heating to cooling. This process takes about a week to complete, but with the above normal temperatures central Iowa is experiencing, HVAC staff have already started opening valves and filling the loop. Once the switch over is complete and outside air temps are above 65 degrees, cooling will be available and heat will be turned off until the fall. Since most of our buildings are lightly occupied, the setting buildings cooling temperatures will be a little warmer than usual to conserve energy. Jewett and Morehouse both have individual A/C units for each room, which are controlled by the student for their comfort. If anyone has questions or concerns with heating or cooling, please contact Brett Lovelady at 515-271-4728 or brett.lovelady@drake.edu.

— Mitch Wieczorek, Facilities Planning and Management

For Students Archive

Textbooks and course materials: Additional support

The Drake University Bookstore is offering various options to support students during this time of remote learning.

  • Access to eBooks AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE: Visit the campus store website, to gain access to eBooks at no additional charge with your .edu email address. Each student can access up to 7 eBooks free of charge.
  • No Cost Shipping on Rental Returns & Deadline Extensions: The Bookstore is also offering free shipping return labels and is also extending the non-return period without penalty to assist with increased returns by mail. Click the COVID-19 message on the home page of the campus store website for details.

The Bookstore is also offering free online order shipping with no minimum purchase. This includes course materials, supplies, apparel, and gifts.

In addition, textbook providers Cengage, Pearson, and Cambridge are offering free access to textbooks at this time.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

HR Information Archive

Welcome new Bulldogs

Please join the Human Resources department in welcoming 10 new full-time Drake University employees for the month of March.

Ruben (Esteban) Goetz Gonzales, Arts & Sciences, Research Scholar
Bret Sikkink, Online Programs, Instructional Technology Specialist
Tyler Koehler, Office of Admission, Admissions Counselor
Lauren Sharp, Office of Admission, Admissions Counselor
Heather Winslow, Finance & Administration, Administrative Services Specialist
Julia Gwebu, Finance & Administration, Director, Student Account Services
Stephen Flynn (P/T to F/T), Athletics, Assistant Football Coach
Deana Cunningham, Cowles Library, Information Services Associate
Emily Fleming, Law School, Administrative Assistant
Ryan Wise, School of Education, Dean, School of Education

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Student Emergency Fund; All In Postponed

Due to circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we are postponing All In 2020, Drake’s annual giving challenge, scheduled for April 2–3. 

While we look forward to hosting the giving challenge in the future, there is an immediate need within our community: Students are facing difficult circumstances and disruptions to campus and academic life as a result of the pandemic.

Drake has established a Student Emergency Fund to help students bear this burden. Your gift to the fund will help students facing unforeseen and urgent financial needs as a result of the pandemic. One hundred percent of all donations will go to students who are most significantly impacted. 

Thank you for your commitment to Drake at a time when we are all facing challenges. Your generosity has always fueled excellence at Drake. Today, it will help us stand together as one community and care for Bulldogs in need. 

Please note: If you know a student in need of financial assistance, please direct them to fill out the online Qualtircs form. Students will be awarded emergency funds on a case-by-case basis with the maximum award being approximately $250.

— Alicia Chilton, University Communications and Marketing

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Virtual sessions on using Microsoft Teams for meetings and chat

Microsoft Teams is a tool that ITS has been rolling out at Drake for file sharing, communication, and collaboration. Since we’ve started working and teaching at a distance, people want to learn how to use Teams more effectively, especially for virtual communication.

Come to this virtual session to learn about holding meetings in Microsoft Teams, how to better communicate with your colleagues at a distance, and ask ITS staff questions you may have about using Teams.

Follow the link below each date at the time listed to join. You’ll need to join using the Teams desktop app, the mobile app, or on a computer using a Chrome or Edge browser.

Wednesday, April 1, from 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Join meeting.

Thursday, April 2, from 3–4 p.m. Join meeting.

Friday, April 3, from 10–11 a.m. Join meeting.

Can’t make it? More information is available in our guide at Holding Virtual Meetings Using Microsoft Teams (Best Practices).

— Carla Herling, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Access to Chronicle of Higher Ed, NYT, WSJ

Remember that you can access the Chronicle of Higher Education, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal from wherever you are. Cowles Library provides site licenses to these resources for all Drake faculty, staff, and students. If you’re not set up yet, here’s the info:

Chronicle: https://blogs.library.drake.edu/2015/07/24/chronicle-of-higher-education/

NYT: https://researchguides.drake.edu/nyt

WSJ: https://blogs.library.drake.edu/2019/07/09/wall-street-journal-now-available-at-drake/

— Jill Gremmels, Dean of Cowles Library

For Students Archive

Student Emergency Fund

Drake has established a Student Emergency Fund to help students (undergraduate, graduate, professional) facing hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the fund was developed to support students in navigating and overcoming a variety of barriers that could limit their ability to complete the spring semester.

Students in need of financial assistance should complete the online Qualtrics form. Emergency funds will be awarded to students on a case-by-case basis with the maximum award being approximately $250.

— Jerry Parker, Dean of Students

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Better (not best) practices in remote teaching and learning

Thank you for your patience as we all work to get better at remote teaching and learning practices.

To help you keep learning how to best support students at a distance, our Academic and Emerging Technology (AET) team will be holding additional sessions to support your needs for teaching and learning remotely.

Assessing Student Learning with Multiple Options
Wednesday, April 1, at 10 a.m. via Blackboard Collaborate

Blackboard Learn has many tools available to assess student learning. As you identify how you want to assess student learning on any given learning objective, we can help you identify what tools match your assessment goals. This session will cover assignments, tests, surveys, and other gradable interactions among students, and between students and instructors.

Remote Presentations and Breakout Groups in Collaborate Ultra
Thursday, April 2, at 10 a.m. via Blackboard Collaborate

Many classes are upholding the requirements listed on their syllabi to include individual or group presentations while participating in remote teaching and learning. We will provide you with options of how you can support your learning objectives to complete remote presentations or have your students work in breakout groups during live sessions.

NOTE: If some or any of the work can be done in an asynchronous manner, we still recommend that approach. Live sessions are complicated and involve an additional learning curve. We hope to help lessen that learning curve by providing some better practices and approaches.

A few other suggestions:

  • Please be mindful that students have other commitments during these changing times and we need to have conversations with the students before changing requirements. Please consult with your students about their availability before switching schedules.
  • Remote learning does not equal best practices in distance or online learning. Many universities have had this discussion and all agree that remote learning is a way to conduct what were once face-to-face courses in a different format and yet not be held to the same standards as distance or online learning programs. This is an important distinction to make.

We are working with the best tools we have available to make the best of a situation. This does not mean that you are now conducting a program that must meet distance or online learning standards. Please continue to do the best with what you have, but understand that reality is a changing landscape and our learning environment will continue to need to be fluid in its delivery model.

— Academic and Emerging Technology (AET) Team, ITS

For Students Archive

Drake Counseling Center offering support groups online

Adjustment Support Group
Offered every Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

Join Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 578 431 398
Password: 351002

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Anxiety Support Group
Offered every Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Join Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 957 176 049
Password: 335011

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

— Danielle Green, Student Health Center