All posts by Dina Khayrushina

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Free ESL classes for faculty and staff

Giving employees the opportunity to develop their skills is an important component of Drake’s culture. Here is a great learning opportunity, for those interested at Drake, to improve their English. Drake has a comprehensive Intensive English Program that offers intermediate and advanced level classes with an academic focus. If you feel that you may need additional help in a certain English skill area, be it advanced academic writing, grammar, or speaking, or if you simply would like to improve your pronunciation, you may consider taking one of these classes. The best news is that all Drake employees can take IEP classes free of charge.

View the schedule of classes for Spring 2020. The classes currently offered are:

  • Reading I and Reading II
  • Writing I and Writing II
  • Speaking/Listening I and Speaking/Listening II
  • Grammar I and Grammar II
  • Pronunciation and Spelling
  • TOEFL Preparation
  • American Culture (This class offers regular field trips to various Des Moines locations to help students learn more about the local culture, American values, and history. This semester’s trips may include the Des Moines Art Center, the Grand Blue Mile, the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, and even a downtown bike tour!)

Please note that these classes are not credit-bearing.

Spring classes begin Monday, Jan. 27, and end Friday, May 8. The last day to register for a class is Friday, Jan. 31. You have an option of auditing a class at any time during the semester without registering.  If you are interested in joining one of the classes or have any questions about the program, please contact Dina Khayrushina at dina.khayrushina@drake.edu. Our office is located in the International Center on 25th Street.

— Dina Khayrushina, Drake International

Campus Announcements Archive

Career Fair Feb. 13

The Drake University Career Fair will be held Thursday, Feb. 13, in the Olmsted Center. Meet with organizations and professional programs who are interested in recruiting Drake students. Don’t forget to bring copies of your resume.

 Career Fair Times:
3–3:30 p.m. – Open to only seniors and O3 students
3:30–6 p.m. – Open to all students

Professional attire required:
No jeans or sweatpants. A suit is recommended. If you don’t own a suit, wear trousers/dress pants/skirt and a button down shirt, blouse or sweater.

Need resume assistance? Come to the Drop-in Resume Critiques in upper Olmsted on Feb. 6 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

— Chrystal Stanley, Professional & Career Development Services

For Faculty Archive

Consolidate your course’s final exams

Faculty, if you teach multiple sections of a course and would like to consolidate your course’s final exams into the same room at the same time during finals week, please email the Registrar’s Office at registrar@drake.edu no later than Monday, Feb. 3. Requests received after Feb. 3 may not be accommodated.

Find more information on final exams. The full exam schedule, including courses with consolidated final exams, will be finalized by Friday, Feb. 21.

— Kevin Moenkhaus, Office of the Registrar

HR Information Archive

Free Smoking Cessation Program

If you are ready to quit smoking but need some help, the American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking program may be the answer. This free, at-work program features a step-by-step quit plan. Participants will meet once a week for eight weeks. Each class is 60- to 90-minutes long. The group format encourages individuals to work on the quit process both individually and as a group. Four to 10 participants are needed to hold a series.

For more information, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Town Hall and Provost’s Drake Social Feb. 4

Please plan to attend the next Town Hall and Provost’s Drake Social, Tuesday, Feb. 4, beginning at 3:30 p.m. in Shivers Hospitality Suite.

The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. with a Town Hall hosted by Craig Owens. The topic will be the Center for Teaching Excellence. The Provost’s Drake Social will follow immediately after.

Colleagues who exemplify the core value of All in This Together will be recognized and three individuals will be chosen at random for prizes.

The Drake Social is a family friendly event. Partners and children are welcome.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

HR Information Archive

Fleet Feet 5K, 10K, and half marathon training programs

For those who wish to train for a 5K, 10K, or half marathon, Fleet Feet is offering spring training group programs. Their groups are led by certified coaches and supported by volunteer mentors.

The spring half marathon and 10K informational open houses were held Monday, Jan. 27, and their training program begins Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. at Fleet Feet. Even if you missed Monday’s informational meeting, you are still welcome to join. The 5K informational open house is Monday, March 9, at 6 p.m. at Fleet Feet, with training beginning Tuesday, March 10, at 6 p.m.

The half marathon and 10K training programs are 12 weeks with 24 training sessions. The 5K is a 10-week program (20 training sessions). The goal race for the half marathon and 10K is the Drake Road Race on April 19, 2020.

Fleet Feet is offering Drake employees a $25 discount to participate in their programs. With the discount the training program costs are $100 for the half marathon and $50 for either the 10K or 5K programs.

For more information, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

New location for Student Services Center

The Student Services Center has a new home in the Olmsted Center! We are located on the first floor, right off the breezeway, and we are excited to serve students, faculty, and staff in our new location. We primarily assist with ID cards, parking passes, parking citations, student HR paperwork, keys and Bulldog Bucks.

In addition, Student Services Center has slightly adjusted its hours to allow for more evening and weekend availability. The Center will be open from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. during the week, and 12 p.m.–4 p.m. on the weekends.

Feel free to contact Student Services as studentservices@drake.edu, 515–271–2000, or sara.heijerman@drake.edu with any questions about this change.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

Strategic Updates Archive

Updated brand standards, style guide available

Office of University Communications and Marketing is pleased to release a revised version of the Drake University Brand Standards & Style Guide. This updated version builds on the branding work completed in 2018 and incorporates updated photography, sample work, and style definitions.

   >>> Download 2020 Brand Standards & Style Guide 

In working with any style system, points of clarity need to be made to maintain consistency when working with external and internal partners. This update includes decisions our team has made over the last year in coordination with external partners. The previous guide included theoretical designs and stock photography, while this version incorporates current photography and design samples to show how the system has been implemented.

For questions regarding the guide or how to use the system, please contact Jeremy Sievers at x2795 or jeremy.sievers@drake.edu.

— Jeremy Sievers, University Communications & Marketing