All posts by Karly Good

For Faculty Archive

Panopto Update: Enhancing Blackboard Access

ITS is making an important update to Panopto, our streaming video content management system for Blackboard. Effective December 19th, the “Ultra Course Panopto Video Library” link will be renamed to “Course Video Library – Panopto” to improve accessibility.

Action Required:

  1. Remove the existing link (“Ultra Course Panopto Video Library”) from your Blackboard content area.
  2. Re-add the link with the new name (“Course Video Library – Panopto”) from the Content Market in Blackboard Ultra.

Please update all references to Panopto in your course materials, including syllabi and Blackboard instructions, to avoid student confusion.

If you have questions or need assistance, submit a Blackboard Ultra Request and specify “Consultation.”

Thank you for your cooperation.

—Karly Good, ITS

Strategic Updates Archive

Sammons Plaza Update

There has been some great progress at the Sammons Plaza. The pavers are installed, and contractors are working hard on the landscaping, which will withstand the winter elements. This outdoor plaza is an extension of the Sammons Intercultural Commons and Fisher-Stelter Hall. This outdoor space will be in the heart of campus and will be a great place to hang out or host an event.

—Heather Winslow, Facilities Planning & Management

HR Information Archive

Annual Open Enrollment Period Ends Monday, Dec 2.

Drake’s annual open enrollment period will close at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. If you have not yet reviewed or made modifications to your benefits for 2025, please visit the Benefits Portal and complete the process as soon as possible. Remember that you must re-enroll in flexible spending accounts (FSA) each year, as your current participation is not automatically continued from year to year.

Additional information about benefits for the 2025 Plan Year can be accessed through this temporary open enrollment page. If you have benefit-related or open enrollment questions, please contact Human Resources at drakehr@drake.edu at any time.

—Marlene Huertz, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

United Way of Central Iowa Campaign Results

Thank you to everyone who donated to United Way of Central Iowa generating nearly $30,000. One hundred percent of these donations stay in central Iowa (Polk, Dallas, & Warren counties) with over 10,500 people served in the 50311 zip code last year. We also held a successful supply drive benefiting local DMPS schools. Thank you! You have demonstrated Drake’s commitment as an anchor institution and this is best exemplified by this quote from Bryan Coffey at United Way:

“United Way of Central Iowa strives to further develop stronger and more equitable communities. We were able to UNITE our influential partner, Drake University and five Des Moines schools! Drake University stands as one of our top supportive education entities in Central Iowa and we are proud of this partnership!”

—Nate Reagen, Chief of Staff

For Students Archive

2025-2026 RA Recruitment

The Office of Residence Life is NOW ACCEPTING Resident Assistant Applications for the 2025-2026 school year. RA’s must be leaders, role models, and resources for their residents; however, just as important, they must be team players that work with and support other staff in their own hall as well as other halls on campus.

The application deadline is Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 11:59pm (during the J-Term period).

There are two RA Informational sessions:

Friday, November 15, 2024, 6:00pm – CR 310, upper Olmsted

Saturday, December 7, 2024, 11:00am – Pomerantz Stage, Olmsted (date/time change from 12/1)

Apply here.

If you have any questions regarding the application or interview process itself, please contact Randy E. McMullin, Associate Director of Residence Life (randy.mcmullin@drake.edu).  We encourage you to reach out to your own RA or another RA should you have questions about the position from a student perspective.

—Randy E. McMullin, Residence Life

Campus Announcements Archive

Dr. Maura Lyons and the students of her Curatorial Seminar open their exhibition Acts of Projection

On Thursday Nov 7, Dr. Maura Lyons, of the Art & Design Department, and the twelve students in her Curatorial Seminar opened the exhibition they curated Acts of Projection: Magic Lantern Shows and the U.S. Civil War at the Anderson Gallery. The exhibition encompasses both the material artifacts of lantern shows – hand-painted slides and period projectors – as well as large-scale projections of digitized slides to simulate the original viewing experience. Acts of Projection also includes a site-specific work by the multimedia artist Johnny DiBlasi to demonstrate the continuing relevance of the projection format.

The exhibition will be open through January 17th, 2025 at the Anderson Gallery and there are several associated events. Click here for more information.

—Lilah Anderson, College of Arts & Sciences

Campus Announcements Archive

Dogtown Marketing Survey

The Drake University Fall Marketing Management Capstone class has partnered with the Dogtown entertainment district, located within the Drake Neighborhood. Our objective is to cultivate and promote Dogtown as a vibrant, thriving, and safe entertainment destination, and we are seeking your help to achieve this goal!

This survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete and will close on Friday, November 8th at 11:59 pm.

—Heidi Mannetter, Zimpleman College of Business

Campus Announcements Archive

Scheduled Power Outage – November 27

Facilities Planning and Management has scheduled an electrical outage for Wednesday November 27 that will affect all of campus, including the residential buildings. This outage is necessary to complete required annual preventative maintenance on the main switchgear which supplies power to a majority of the campus.

The outage is currently scheduled from 6:30am – 3:00pm and will affect all of campus.

As a result of this outage, there will be NO POWER, including the following:

  • There will be no lighting, except emergency building lighting
  • There will be no Wifi or Internet access
  • Elevators will not run
  • Booster pumps which supply hot water to showers will not function, meaning there may be no hot water for showers during this outage.

During this outage, campus dining facilities (including Hubbell and Olmsted Starbucks) will remain closed.

Facilities Planning and Management will have several staff members on campus during and after the outage to ensure power is restored, elevators are functional, and all HVAC systems are operational.

—Colin Atkinson, Facilities Planning and Management