All posts by Linda Feiden

HR Information Archive

Employee and Family Resources fall webinars

Employee & Family Resources is continuing its series of COVID-19 related webinars through the fall and early winter months. The September and October webinars are listed below. You may also register by visiting efr.org/covid-19-webinars/.

Rural Communities & Farm Families-Mental Health First Aid as a Health Literacy Tool
Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m. 
Explore the emotional and physical cost of stress and the importance of resiliency as it relates to farmers and agriculture-related business sectors in rural Midwest.  Register.

COVID Recovery: Emotional Support For Those Impacted By COVID-19
Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. 
The current pandemic and derecho are disasters that have disrupted day-to-day activities and increased anxiety and depression for many.  The impact of compounding stress affects every aspect of a person’s life.  Learn what you can do to support yourself during these times.  Register.

Warming to a Winter Attitude of Health & Gratitude
Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. 
Instead of thinking about the dark days winter brings, consider adopting a fresh perspective on the new season that is around the corner. Calm the shaking snow globe in your head with this webinar which is all about an attitude of health and gratitude. Register.

Staying Connected in a Social Distanced World
Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m. 
It takes intention and hard work to stay engaged while navigating the challenges of social distancing, but it can be done. This webinar addresses: how and why it is important to show compassion for others given the struggles that they may be facing and what you can do to stay safely engaged with others at work and home given the COVID-induced restrictions. Register.

To view past webinars, visit: efr.org/resources/webinars/.

EFR offers a variety of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources to help you now or anytime. Reach EAP by phone (800-327-4692) or visit their website at efr.org/login/. All EAP benefits are confidential and available 24/7/365.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Register now: Virtual Sussman Lecture featuring Microsoft’s Jenny Lay-Flurrie

Hear how Microsoft has become a model of competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities, particularly in the time of COVID during The Harkin Institute’s virtual Sussman Lecture on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

This fall’s speaker, Microsoft Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie, will discuss the company’s commitment to competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities and the role Microsoft’s tools and software have played in remote work opportunities for all employees.

The Sussman Lecture is free and open to the public but registration is required. Learn more and register now.

— Emily Schettler, Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Reminder: Complete the COVID-19 online training

This is a reminder for faculty and staff to complete the COVID-19 online training course. This 15-minute course can be accessed through Blackboard via my.drake.edu. Upon selecting the Blackboard link under “Commonly Used Apps,” employees can access the course via the left hand menu under the “Courses” tab by clicking on the course entitled “Drake University Awareness Training for Returning to Campus During COVID-19” and following the instructions within the course. If the course does not appear in your Blackboard course list, you can find it by searching for the term COVID in the Blackboard search area.

As has been stated before, it is important for all of us to do our part to protect the health and safety of the Drake community, and taking this training is one step in that process.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Law School to host webinar series on systemic racism in America

The Law School will host a fall webinar series to address a broad array of policies and practices that perpetuate racial inequities in American society—from racial profiling to Afrocentric facial feature bias and environmental harms. This series of live-streamed talks, open to law students, lawyers, and the larger community, features Drake Law faculty and guests sharing their expertise about underlying structures that reinforce racism and oppression in our society.

“Working to dismantle systematic racism is a moral and ethical imperative for lawyers,” says Maura Strassberg, professor of law at Drake Law School and organizer of the lecture series. “In subtle and systematic ways, our existing structures of law operate to perpetuate inequality and oppression. Exposing the ways in which this occurs is the first step toward both acknowledging the systematic way racism has been worked into American society and recognizing what is required to truly achieve our fundamental commitments to equality, liberty, and democratic governance.”

All lectures will be held on Friday afternoons at 1 p.m. CST and are free and open to the public. One hour of Iowa Continuing Legal Education credit has been approved for each lecture. For more information or to register visit https://bit.ly/3lBJnKb.

Webinar schedule:

Friday, Sept. 4: Unbiased Policing and Anti-racial Profiling Legislation
Russell Lovell and David Walker, Professors emeriti, Drake Law School

Friday, Sept. 11: Over-representation of Minority Children in the Child Welfare System
Jami Hagemeier, interim director of the Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights, and associate clinical professor, Drake Law School

Friday, Sept. 25: The #MeToo Movement and Black Feminism: How the Mainstream White Feminist Movement Failed Black Women and Where We Go from Here
Julia Steggerda-Corey, director of the Compliance and Risk Management Program at Drake Law School; and Victoria Millet, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Associate, University of Minnesota

Friday, Oct. 9: Why Afrocentric Facial Feature Bias is a Pernicious Form of Racism
Mark W. Bennett, director, Drake Law Institute for Justice Reform and Innovation, and retired U.S. district judge, Northern District of Iowa

Friday, Oct. 16: The U.S. Supreme Court and Systemic Racism
Mark Kende, director, Drake Constitutional Law Center, and James Madison Chair in Constitutional Law

Friday, Oct. 23: Fair Cross-Section Jury Trial Reform
Russell Lovell and David Walker

Friday, Nov. 6: Environmental Justice
Jerry Anderson, dean, Drake Law School, and the Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professor of Law.

Friday, Nov. 13: Institutional Racism and the Food We Eat
Jennifer Zwagerman, director, Drake Agricultural Law Center

Campus Announcements Archive

Counseling Center support groups

The Counseling Center is currently hosting online support groups. The groups are an open format, meaning you can attend as needed.

Together, Not Alone
Starts Monday, Aug. 31, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.
A weekly mental health support group where students can talk about their resources and struggles without judgement. To participate, fill out the registration form, and we will send you the meeting details.

There’s a First Time for Everything
Starts Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 4 p.m.
A weekly first-year support group focused on skill building and connecting other students who are facing challenges adjusting to college. To participate, fill out the registration form, and we will send you the meeting details.

Wellness Wednesday 
Each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. join the counseling center for a self-care practice that will focus on mindfulness and caring for the mind, body, and spirit. Facilitated by Julie Rice, Counseling Center intern and registered yoga teacher and mindfulness expert. To participate, fill out the registration form, and we will send you the meeting details.

— Danielle Green, Health Center

News & Achievements Archive

CPHS assists with COVID-19 testing

As part of Drake University’s plan to safely move students back to campus for the Fall 2020 semester, all students were tested for COVID-19. While that was commonplace among colleges, Drake was unique in having the involvement of an engaged health professional college that took on the task of organizing the testing and collecting the samples. The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) stepped up to organize and carry out the tests for the students moving into their residence halls. Spearheaded by CPHS Clinical Sciences Department Chair Erik Maki, testing took place at designated sites on campus during the move-in period. It was no small task filling 117 volunteer slots, but the Drake community came together. A wide range of volunteers participated, from first-year health sciences students who signed up for shifts after moving into their residence halls earlier that week, to students in their final year of the PharmD program. Faculty and staff within CPHS and across the University volunteered as well.

Read more

— Kaylyn Maher, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

For Students Archive

Audition for Fermata the Blue

Drake’s one and only co-ed and competitive a cappella group Fermata the Blue is conducting virtual auditions this year through Sept. 9. Every Drake student, whether virtual or on-campus, is eligible to audition and be a part of this year’s group.

For your audition, just submit a 30-second video of you singing your favorite song a cappella. Easy peasy. Need some inspiration? Check out our Instagram (@drakefermatatheblue) or Facebook at “Fermata the Blue” for audition examples.

Ready to go? You can access the audition form at tinyurl.com/fermatatheblue2020 and email drakefermatatheblue@gmail.com with any questions along the way. Happy singing!

— Maddie Topliff, JO, AS

For Students Archive

Apply today: The Adams Leadership Institute

Drake students: Build your personal habits and leadership skills this year through the Adams Leadership Institute.

What is it?
The Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute (DVALI) is a leadership training program offered to undergraduate students at Drake University. Students admitted to the Institute are given access to personalized leadership training, co-curricular skill development, and career preparation that enhance their personal, academic, and professional lives. All students admitted to the Institute complete a three-part leadership training series, designed to equip students with self-awareness, communication, and perspective-taking skills that are immediately applicable to their personal relationships, academic coursework, campus activities, and professional goals. This co-curricular leadership opportunity is available to students from all academic disciplines and majors at no additional cost thanks to the generous support of Drake alumni and friends of Dr. Donald V. Adams, Professor Emeritus. A full description of the DVALI leadership training series can be found at drake.edu/leadershipinstitute. All three trainings meet weekly each semester and are offered every fall and spring.

How do I apply?
All first and second year Drake students are eligible to apply online at bit.ly/DVALI20 by Sept. 4. Students accepted into the Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute will be notified by Sept. 15, 2020, with the opportunity to start the DVALI training series as early as the fall 2020 semester.

Want to learn more?
Visit drake.edu/leadershipinstitute, or register here to attend a virtual information session to learn more:

  • Monday, Aug. 31 (4 or 4:30 p.m.)
  • Tuesday, Sept. 1 (11 or 11:30 a.m.)
  • Wednesday, Sept. 2 (3 or 3:30 p.m.)
  • Thursday, Sept. 3 (10 or 10:30 a.m.)
  • Friday, Sept. 4 (1 or 1:30pm)

All info sessions will be located on Zoom (online log-in instructions will be emailed to you).

Questions?
Contact Kristin Economos, director of student leadership programs, at kristin.economos@drake.edu.

— Kristin Economos, Office of Student Involvement and Leadership

News & Achievements Archive

University Advancement receives fundraising award

The Drake University Advancement (UA) office received the 2020 National CASE Educational Fundraising Award.

The CASE award is based on the University’s fundraising numbers for the Volunteer Support for Education (VSE) survey, which measures annual cash flow from philanthropy. Drake’s VSE total was more than $21.5 million in FY20 and $29.2 million in FY19.

In FY20, UA also celebrated:

  • Raising more than $32.3 million in new gifts, pledges, and documented estate gifts, surpassing the year’s goal of $25 million.
  • Exceeding the year’s goal for The Drake Fund with a final total of $3.71 million.
  • Quickly executing a successful campaign for the Student Emergency Fund, raising nearly $47,000 to help students with immediate needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

UA is grateful to its campus partners for their role in the University’s fundraising success and to all those who made a gift in support of the University in FY20.

— Elizabeth Kozor, University Advancement