All posts by Annique Kiel

For Faculty Archive

Call for applications: DU Spain Faculty-in-Residence Spring 2022

Drake University is excited to offer a Drake semester study abroad program in Seville, Spain, starting Spring 2022. As a part of the semester experience, a Drake faculty member will teach and serve in various other capacities to support the program abroad as Faculty-in-Residence.

The DU Spain Faculty-in-Residence application is live through Qualtrics for Spring 2022. A call for future terms will be forthcoming. To learn more about this opportunity including eligibility, compensation, responsibilities, and to apply, please go to: http://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eR8Iq4KW7Qsswqq

Submissions are due Monday, May 24, 2021. If you have questions, please reach out to Maria Rohach, director of education abroad, at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

— Annique Kiel, Global Engagement and International Programs

News & Achievements Archive

Law School announces 2021 faculty award winners

Drake Law School recognized two outstanding faculty members for their contributions to the Law School’s teaching, scholarship, and research during the 2020–2021 academic year.

Melissa Weresh, Dwight D. Opperman Distinguished Professor of Law and director of legal writing, was recognized as the 2021 Stevens Faculty Scholar of the Year. The Stevens Faculty Scholar of the Year award honors the faculty member who has made the most significant contribution to academic scholarship during the previous year. Weresh’s work included publishing multiple law review articles, a book chapter, and finalizing a textbook on legal writing. Her articles and books ask important questions about instructional methods, and barriers to greater inclusiveness in law school programming and how to overcome them. Andrew Jurs, associate dean for Academic Affairs, noted: “The quality and breadth of Weresh’s writing made it stand out and ensures the lasting impact of her work.”

Anthony Gaughan, Kern Family Chair in Law, received the Student Bar Association’s (SBA) Leland Forrest Outstanding Professor Award. The Outstanding Professor award recognizes a faculty member for their contributions to the quality of legal education both in and out of the classroom. The recipient is chosen by vote of the third-year students and will lead the class in the graduation procession in May. Students selected Gaughan for his commitment to providing and supporting high quality instruction to Drake Law students from the moment they step on campus as first-years. He makes difficult and dense material easy to understand, and employs creative and effective ways to engage students in the classroom. “Not only is Professor Gaughan an outstanding teacher, his kindness and willingness to help any student in any way he can, in or out of the classroom, has remained a constant throughout our tumultuous law school careers due to the pandemic,” said Claire Davison, 2020-2021 SBA president. “He treats every person he meets with the utmost respect, and actively works to listen and understand the unique perspective they bring to the table.”

Award winners were announced during the Drake Law Supreme Court Celebration last week. For a list of previous faculty award winners and this year’s Supreme Court Celebration student award winners, visit the Supreme Court Celebration website.

— Theresa Howard, Law School

For Students Archive

Admission Office is hiring Student Ambassadors and Admission Fellows

Interested in sharing your Drake experience with prospective students and parents and making an impact in the recruitment of future Bulldogs?  The Office of Admission is accepting applications through next Monday, May 3, at 8 a.m. for the Student Ambassador and Admission Fellow positions. Students can find information about both positions, including the application, duties, hourly wage and timeline, on Handshake.

— Deneen Dygert, Undergraduate Admission

Campus Announcements Archive

Timesheet and leave report process is now a little easier

In an effort to streamline the process for submitting timesheets and leave reports, employees will no longer be required to enter their password after they have initially clicked “submit.” Because employees have accessed their timesheet or leave report through myDrake, after they have entered their user ID and password, it became apparent that re-entering the password again was an unnecessary duplication. This update will take effect May 7, 2021.

If you have questions or concerns, please email debra.wiley@drake.edu.

— Debra Wiley, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

You’re invited to Griff I’s birthday party

Griff II is throwing a birthday party for the OG (Griff I)! Students, faculty, and staff are invited to drive through the Olmsted Lot anytime between 9 and 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 8, for a socially distanced celebration of Griff II’s mentor and beloved predecessor as he turns 9 years old. Both dogs will be there, party hats on. We encourage wearing Drake blue, decorating your vehicles for the occasion, and bringing lots of enthusiasm as you wish the OG a HBD from your car. Walk-up student visitors are welcome as well, as long as social distancing measures are maintained. Like last year, the OG is requesting that instead of gifts for him, he would like you to bring non-perishable food and personal care items for the Little Free Pantries in the Drake Neighborhood. Let’s honor the OG by helping our neighbors!

— Erin Bell, University Communications and Marketing

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

April’s digital faculty member is Alisa Drapeaux 

Each month, a faculty member, nominated by their dean, is recognized for their efforts to integrate innovative technology into their classroom. April’s digital faculty member of the month is Alisa Drapeaux, assistant professor in health sciences/director of health sciences internship, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Read an interview with Alisa below: 

What course do you use this technology in? Human Anatomy 

What type of technology do you use? Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (BB Collaborate), Panopto, Kahoot, and Anatomage 

In what context do you use this technology? Human Anatomy Lecture 

How does this type of technology align with your teaching pedagogy? Prior to lecture, I am using Panopto to record each lecture. I release the recording on Blackboard 48–72 hours prior to lecture, so students have a broad understanding of the content before coming to class.  

In lecture, I use BB Collaborate to provide both my in-person and remote students a synchronous format. BB Collaborate permits lecture slides, PDF files, and anatomical diagrams to be uploaded to the live session prior to lecture, which promotes instructor organization and preparation. Furthermore, BB Collaborate includes the digital whiteboard, which I use to draw flow charts, anatomical features, or create interactive study guides for both the remote and in-person students to view. All of these strategies help align with my teaching pedagogy to promote student interaction, engagement, and a flipped classroom. 

Where did you get the inspiration to make a change? The change to BB Collaborate was prompted by the pandemic, in order to provide a synchronous component for our 10-15% remote students in Human Anatomy. In addition, I partnered with Anatomage to provide interactive, cadaver 3D images to allow the students to improve visualization of the organ systems for the students.  

How long did it take for you to implement this technology? BB Collaborate was easy to navigate and configure for Human Anatomy. The tool bar, uploading of files, sharing screen, and creating the weekly sessions for lecture took minimal time. In addition, ITS provided several guides to assist with set up.  

Since transitioning to remote teaching, how has your use of this technology changed, if at all? Technology, Panopto and BB Collaborate, have improved my teaching pedagogy by improving student engagement and interaction in lecture. With pre-recording the lectures through Panopto for student viewing prior to lecture, the students are able to have a base understanding of the specific content prior to coming to lecture. Therefore, I am able to create a more ‘flipped classroom’ by using BB Collaborate in lecture with using the whiteboard features.  

Since transitioning to remote teaching, have you started using any new technology in your teaching? BB Collaborate, Panopto, and Anatomage are all tools that I have started to use to enhance pre-class preparedness and also engagement in class. With transitioning to full, in-person lectures, I plan to maintain the same format and utilize each of these technology tools as I believe it aligns with my teaching pedagogy to improve student engagement and learning.   

Overall, what lessons (if any) do you think you have learned while transitioning to remote teaching?  Although remote teaching is a challenge, there are several technology tools that exist that create an active, engaged lecture. Instead of being a “sage on the stage,” the above technology tools promote a “guide on the side” if you utilize the interactive features (e.g., smartboard, breakout groups).   

Both before and during this transition, did Drake ITS assist you in implementing any of these technologies? If so, how? Drake ITS is “always there” to assist with any technology issues in the classroom, responding to a submitted IT ticket quickly, and also providing several guides on the ITS website.  

Are you interested in trying out new technology in your classroom? Want help from ITS staff? Schedule a technology adoption consultation. 

Want to learn more about using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra or Panopto in your course? Explore these resources from the ITS Knowledge Base: 

—Jon Hurdelbrink, CPHS, and Carla Herling, ITS 

 

For Faculty Archive

Course materials: The importance of timely adoptions

Faculty, please submit your textbook selections using the Follett Discover tool. Here are three reasons why it is important to submit your adoptions in a timely manner:

  1. Timely adoptions mean a greater buying power and savings for students. The earlier adoptions are submitting, the sooner we are able to secure used copies from fellow bookstores across the U.S and our used book distributors.
  2. Early adoptions mean we can buy back books from students. We buy books based on need from open enrollment and future adoptions. If you don’t submit an adoption, we can’t use our buyback leverage.
  3. HEOA compliance. HEOA laws indicate the availability to view all costs involved in a class including textbook pricing. Timely adoptions help facilitate this compliance with pricing available through our website.

Please follow the steps below to submit your information. To Access Follett Discover:

  1. Log into myDrake
  2. Click on the Blackboard icon under Commonly used Apps
  3. Log into Blackboard using your Drake ID and myDrake password
  4. Find the Tools channel, scroll down and click the Follett Discover link OR find the FD channel and click the Launch Discover link
  5. Start Discovering

— Kyle McVay, University Bookstore

Campus Announcements Archive

Summer Language Institute: English classes online

Drake University’s Intensive English Program (IEP) is now offering an online Summer Language Institute for those who wish to improve their English skills. Click here to view course fees and additional information.

Courses will run from July 5–30 and will follow a two-track format: An Academic English track for those who are pursuing or planning to pursue a degree in the United States and a General English track for those who want to improve practical English skills.

Apply now! Applications for admission are due June 11. For additional information, the application, or questions, contact kendra.hossain-morehead@drake.edu.

— Kendra Hossain-Morehead, Director of International Student and Scholar Services

HR Information Archive

Join the ‘Walk this May’ challenge

This is a reminder to join our upcoming Walk this May team step challenge.

This team challenge will run through the month of May. A kick-off meeting will be held via Zoom on April 30 for all participants. Team captains will report weekly step totals and participants will receive motivational emails, including an update on team points. At the end of the month there will be a challenge celebration via Zoom, with a prize package awarded to the participants of the winning team.

You may register as a team of four or five people or register individually and you will be placed on a team. To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu with your team members (or just yourself if registering alone) by April 28. Let’s get moving!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Give a shout-out to a deserving colleague!

Due to the overwhelming response we had to the shout-outs last month, we are going to continue this program. If there is a shout-out you would like to give, please email it to linda.feiden@drake.edu, and we will publish them once a month in OnCampus.

Shout-outs are a great way to recognize your colleagues for their hard work, talent, support, and creativity. Giving a shout-out is quick and easy—simply write one or two sentences thanking a co-worker or team for a job well-done, going the extra mile, or showing support during an ever-changing year.

Submit a shout-out today!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources