All posts by Carla Herling

For Students Archive

Change coming to Microsoft-connected login screens Aug. 30

As a result of some changes to facilitate remote management of Drake-owned campus computers, ITS will be changing the login screen for all Microsoft 365 applications on the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 30.

After this change, all logins to Microsoft 365 applications will require you to use your Drake email address as your username instead of your 9-digit Drake ID.

This change will only effect Microsoft-connected applications like myDrake, Teams, and Outlook. Non-Microsoft 365 applications like MyDUSIS will continue to accept either your Drake email address or 9-digit Drake ID as a username. After the change, you may also be prompted to re-log in to any open sessions on your computer and other devices.

More information and screenshots of the new login screen can be found at Signing in to Microsoft-connected systems (How-To).

— Christopher Mielke, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake single sign-on 4-hour, planned outage Aug. 25

ITS is making a required certificate update to the Drake Single Sign-On (SSO) system beginning on Tuesday, Aug 25, at 10 p.m. As a result, between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 2 a.m. Wednesday, myDrake, myDUSIS, Blackboard Learn, the IT/Facilities service portal, and other applications that use Drake’s SSO functionality will be unavailable. For a complete list of affected applications please see  Single Sign On (SSO) and Drake applications (FAQ) .

We appreciate your patience while we perform this necessary work. If you continue to have any issues after the planned maintenance window, please visit service.drake.edu/its or contact the Support Center at 515–271–3001 to report your issue.

— Carla Herling, ITS

HR Information Archive

Happiness challenge: Try one mood-boosting tip each week

This year has created one storm (literally and figuratively) after another.  Every time you think you have your head above water, here comes another big wave. The good news is that you can still find happiness.  Although you cannot control your circumstances, you can take small steps to brighten your outlook. Here are some mood-boosting tips from Mindful by Sodexo that may help. Try one a week and let’s see what happens.

Week One: Start with a smile. Try greeting others with a smile to start your day until you are sharing smiles all day. Start with your family and friends at breakfast. Smile with your co-workers during virtual meetings.  Although it is hard to show your smile behind a face mask, when you smile, your whole face lights up, and that everyone can see.

Week Two: Take it outside. Regardless of your schedule, spend some time each day outside. Being outdoors improves your mood and concentration, and increases Vitamin D levels. Take a break from work and go for a walk, take your lunch outside to eat, or have a virtual visit on your deck.

Week Three: Set a goal. Whether large or small, striving for (and completing) something can make you happier.  Find a task you have procrastinated, like decluttering a room or drawer in your home, and complete it this week.

Week Four: Embrace self-care. This week is all about taking care of yourself and being in the moment. At the start of the week, take 10 minutes for yourself doing something that makes you feel present and at peace. It could be focusing on your breath, meditating, or making a cup of tea. As the week goes on, connect with a friend and share your thoughts. At the end of the week, curl up with a great book or a refreshing drink, and have a quiet moment, leaving your frustration and stress behind.

None of these items alone is guaranteed to change the world, but if we each do our best to find happiness for ourselves and for others, we might just surprise ourselves.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

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?
First and second year 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:

  • Friday, Aug. 28 (1 or 1:30 p.m.)
  • 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.)

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

Campus Announcements Archive

Cowles Library update

Cowles Library will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, through Friday, Aug. 28, for contact-free materials pickup only.

The library will reopen to the campus community on Aug. 31 at 8 a.m. For more information about the library’s Fall semester hours, go to: library.drake.edu/about-us/hours/.

Thank you for your patience as we work to safely welcome everyone back to the library. We look forward to seeing you soon!

— Leslie Noble, Cowles Library

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

‘Back to Class’ alumni series looking for speakers

The Office of Alumni Relations is looking for faculty and staff to be speakers in a new virtual ‘Back to Class’ series. This is an opportunity for alumni to connect with campus and a chance for you to share your knowledge. The topic and time can be decided based on your schedule. After the session is completed, the video will be accessible on the alumni website.

To sign up or learn more, take this survey. For questions, reach out to alumni@drake.edu.

— Amelia Klatt, Alumni Relations

Campus Announcements Archive

Revised Title IX policies

Drake has revised its Sexual Harassment Policy (formerly the Sexual and Interpersonal Misconduct Policy) and the Code of Student Conduct to bring the University into compliance with new Title IX regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Education in May. Members of the Drake community are encouraged to review and comment on these policy revisions by Aug. 24, 2020, and to watch for upcoming updates about a new online Title IX training course.

— Jessica Morgan-Tate, Title IX Coordinator/Equity and Inclusion Policy Specialist

HR Information Archive

Wellness premium incentive program reminder

This is a reminder that due to COVID-19, Drake University has made the decision to waive the physician exam requirement to qualify for the wellness premium discount in 2021. All participants enrolled in Drake’s medical plan will receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2021.

We will return to the physician only option in 2021 to receive the health insurance premium discount in 2022. Employees on Drake’s health plan will need to complete a physical with a PCP between Dec. 1, 2020, and Nov. 30, 2021, and submit a Physician Exam Completion Form by Dec. 2, 2021, to receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2022.

Until then, we encourage all employees to participate in the wellness programs offered at Drake University and to utilize the resources available to enhance your health and wellbeing.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake deepens its commitment to sustainability

Drake is enthusiastic to introduce our first-ever Sustainability Coordinator Sophia Siegel. Sophia recently graduated from Drake in May with a degree in environmental sustainability and resilience. As the Sustainability Coordinator, her role will be to coordinate and support all projects and initiatives relating to sustainability at Drake. This includes coordinating and promoting activities and actions that incorporate social, environmental, and economic sustainability into existing and future planning and operations. She is looking forward to leading and supporting the University’s deepening commitment to sustainability by collaborating with faculty, staff, and students.

Drake has renewed its membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) to further campus efforts toward building a thriving, equitable, and ecologically just world. AASHE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization that empowers higher education faculty, administrators, staff, and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. Through membership in AASHE, Drake will receive continued support in advancing its sustainability initiatives throughout the institution and in the community. You can view a list of AASHE’s 900+ members.

AASHE enables higher education institutions to meet their sustainability goals by providing specialized resources, professional development, and a network of peer support and knowledge sharing. We invite and strongly encourage students, faculty, and staff to create an AASHE account. Membership extends to every individual at our institution, so the entire campus community can take advantage of member benefits.

Below are more details about AASHE’s member benefits, services, and programs:

Individual Member Accounts
To access member-only pages on AASHE’s website and take advantage of member benefits, individuals must first create their own account. To create an individual account, go to the register page and complete a user profile using your campus email address. After you receive an email with your password, go to the login page, enter your email address (username) and new password, and you will have access to the entirety of online resources.

If you have any questions about AASHE or our benefits as a member, email sophia.siegel@drake.edu. Again, every individual on our campus can take advantage of these membership benefits from AASHE, so be sure to set up an account and get started today.

AASHE e-Newsletters
We encourage everybody to subscribe to AASHE’s e-Newsletters. AASHE Bulletin is a weekly publication that delivers the latest in campus sustainability news, resources, opportunities, events, and jobs and internships. AASHE Announcements is a monthly publication that highlights news, events and important information about AASHE and its members. STARS Update is a periodic publication designed to keep participants up-to-date on the latest STARS technical developments, publications, deadlines, tips and tools.

Online Resources
AASHE’s Campus Sustainability Hub is an online resource library that provides access to thousands of valuable resources for campus sustainability practitioners, enabling AASHE members to share and learn about all aspects of sustainability in higher education. Resources are organized by sustainability topic (e.g., curriculum, public engagement, energy, investment) and content type (e.g., academic program, case study, conference presentation, photography).

Professional Development
AASHE presents or co-sponsors workshops and webinars throughout the year, as well as an annual conference that serves as the largest stage in North America for higher education sustainability practitioners to take advantage of face-to-face networking in a collaborative environment. These events offer opportunities to connect with our colleagues at regional, national, and international levels to share resources. As members, we receive discounts on registration for all AASHE events. Check this listing for upcoming events.

Product and Service Discounts
AASHE business and nonprofit members offer exclusive product and service discounts for institutional members.

Publicity and Recognition
We can submit news, opportunities, resources, events, and job postings to the AASHE Bulletin (be sure to read the submission guidelines first). The Bulletin informs more than 9,000 subscribers in the campus sustainability community.

Professional Awards
Our campus can submit applications for any of the AASHE Sustainability Awards, in the categories of Campus Sustainability Achievement, Campus Sustainability Research, and Student Sustainability Leadership.

Campus Sustainability Perspectives Blog
AASHE’s Campus Sustainability Perspectives blog features opinions and reports by staff and guests related to campus sustainability. You can read the blog and comment on posts. You can also reach out to marketing@aashe.org if you are interested in being a guest blogger.

AASHE Member Logo
We can post the AASHE Member Logo on our website to emphasize our commitment to sustainability. The logo may also be used on any signage, reports, brochures, and publicity or display materials. Be sure to read the usage guidelines before publishing.

Governance, Councils, Committees
Anyone from our campus is welcome to submit for consideration to serve on AASHE’s Board of Directors, Advisory Council, STARS Steering Committee or STARS Technical Advisors.

— Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning and Management