Drake Dining facilities will have adjusted hours of operation leading up to, during, and following Thanksgiving break. Please review and bookmark these flyers for a schedule of campus dining hours. If you have any questions, please email dining@drake.edu. Note that these hours are subject to further change.
Pre-Thanksgiving break dining hours (Nov. 16–20)
Thanksgiving break dining hours (Nov. 20–29)
Post-Thanksgiving dining hours (Nov. 30–Dec. 11)
— Casey Morgan, Dining Services
The campus community is invited to join Professor Brian Gentry on Monday, Nov. 30, at 2:30 p.m. as he discusses coronaviruses, what makes SARS-CoV-2 special (and more dangerous) compared to the other coronaviruses, the two primary scientific reasons this virus caused a pandemic, current and experimental pharmacotherapies for the treatment of COVID-19, and the outlook for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
— Kaylyn Maher, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
About Module 4 : Module 4 is being released this week. This self-paced module is expected to take less than two hours and is focused on adding course content in the Ultra Course View. All Fall 2021 courses will be built using the Ultra Course View.
You will be spending more time creating content and discovering new workflows in your sandbox course sites than learning from this Orientation course module. You have multiple sandboxes so that you can design more than one course simultaneously in the Learn Ultra Course View.
Need Assistance with your Ultra Sandbox Courses? If you don’t see the sandbox courses in Ultra Course View in your Courses list (sandbox course names follow this formula: Ultra Sandbox #: Drake ID), please submit a Blackboard Site Creation request in the IT Service Portal.
What’s Next: The end of the semester is a busy time so module 4 is the final module for the fall semester. In Spring 2021, likely late March, we will launch additional modules covering more advanced tools in Blackboard Learn Ultra Courses.
This should allow you sufficient time to prepare your Fall 2021 courses in the Ultra Course View. In addition, a team of about 20 colleagues will be available for consultations around pedagogy and technology.
Watch for more information in OnCampus in early spring.
— Karly Good, ITS
DU Well Healthy Holidays is a five-week program that runs from Nov. 30, 2020, through Jan. 3, 2021. It consists of a series of one-day challenges that you can do at home or at Drake. From taking a walk break, to phoning a friend, or checking the batteries on your smoke detector, there is something for everyone. Simply check off the challenges as you complete them on the tracking form you will be provided. If you complete a daily challenge on 30 of the 35 days, you will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win prizes.
As an added bonus, the tracking form will include a place to record your weekly weight. This is optional, but if you maintain (or lose) weight over the holidays, it will count as completing three (3) daily challenges.
To register for DU Well Healthy Holidays and receive your tracking form, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.
— Linda Feiden, Human Resources
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
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
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.
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
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
Please note the following schedule for payment processing through Accounts Payable to accommodate winter break.
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
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.
