All posts by Emily Madsen

Campus Announcements Archive

How Rec Services is using QR codes; intramural deadlines

Have you ever wondered how to use a machine at the gym? Rec Services has you covered! All of our machines have QR codes that will take you to a video for that specific machine. Each video will walk you through the purpose as well as how to use and adjust each machine.

Intramural events coming up:
Saturday, March 20: HORSE Tournament
Sunday, March 21: Super Smash Bros Tournament

 Wellness is hiring!
Wellness is hiring group instructors and office assistants. Contact wellness@drake.edu for more information.

— Emily Madsen, Rec Services

For Students Archive

FinAid Forms is here

In January, the Office of Student Financial Planning announced exciting new enhancements to students’ financial aid experience at Drake, including:

  1. Award notifications that will be delivered via email (beginning for 2021-2022 award year)
  2. Access to your personal financial aid information through the Financial Aid Portal
  3. FinAid Forms will digitize nearly all financial aid requirements while also offering secure document upload and e-signatures.

This announcement provides more information about FinAid Forms. Students who have financial aid document requirements for award year 2021-2022 will begin receiving email notices this week to register their FinAid Forms account. The email will come from finaidforms@drake.edu.

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Students will log into FinAid Forms using their Drake ID and password. However, before accessing FinAid Forms students will need to authenticate their identity by providing information that matches the information provided on the 2021-2022 FAFSA (including social security number).

When setting up your account you will provide an email address to receive notifications when new financial aid requirements have been assigned. You can also provide a mobile number to receive text message alerts about new requirements.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus Labs updated to single sign on earlier today

ITS updated Campus Labs earlier today in order to facilitate single sign on (SSO). Campus Labs is the company that CPHS and SOE use to administer their course evaluations.

If you are still unable to access Campus Labs, please contact the support center at 515-271-3001 or visit service.drake.edu/its to report your issue.

You should no longer have to enter your credentials a second time when you access Campus Labs links if you’re already signed into another Drake system connected with SSO.

You can learn more about how SSO works at Single Sign On (SSO) and Drake applications (FAQ).

— Carla Herling, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Vote now for this year’s Beautiful Bulldog contestants

Drake University students, faculty, and staff will vote to decide the 20 English Bulldogs that will compete in the 2021 Beautiful Bulldog Contest.

Over 100 English Bulldogs across the country registered to vie for the title of Most Beautiful Bulldog. All current faculty, staff, and students are eligible to vote for 5 of the 20 Bulldogs once. Voting will close next Tuesday, March 23, at 1 p.m.

Vote now

Password: ilovebulldogs

The contest will be held Sunday, April 18, time TBD, in the Knapp Center, and open to a limited audience. The contest will also be livestreamed at facebook.com/beautifulbulldog.

About the 2021 Contest
There will be no family festival and no animal rescue festival at this year’s contest. While the event is still free to attend, there will be assigned and ticketed seating to ensure social distancing. Priority seating will be given to the families of contestants, the contest sponsor, and Drake University students. Remaining ticketed seats will be open to the general public.

Griff is once again collecting donations of adult pet food for area animals in need. Learn how to contribute.

Follow the Beautiful Bulldog Contest Facebook page for up-to-date information.

— Niki Smith, University Communications and Marketing

For Students Archive

Volunteer at Dogtown After Hours

Scan the QR code to see the Dogtown After Hours event schedule.

Volunteer for a variety of fun activities the week of March 15 during Dogtown After Hours. There are lots of times and slots open. Student organizations can sign up to host an activity or individuals can sign up to volunteer at particular events. Organizations looking to host an activity, or anyone with questions should email olivia.cantrell@drake.edu. Individuals can sign up using this link.

To get the list of events for Dogtown After Hours scan the QR code. For questions, email allison.burke@drake.edu.

— Allison Burke, BN’23

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Automatic captioning in Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Panopto

With the recent addition of automatic captioning by Zoom, we now have access to two platforms (Zoom and Microsoft Teams) that provide automatic transcriptions as well the ability as enable automatic transcripts to recorded content using Panopto. Recordings made with Zoom or Microsoft Teams can be uploaded to Panopto to include captioning in the recording.

To assist faculty and staff with using these features, ITS staff has created a new knowledge base article with instructions and information. Learn more by reading Using Automatic Transcription Services (How-to).

— Clayton Mitchell, ITS

For Students Archive

Scholarships available: Apply for first-generation student conference

Attention all first-generation students. Applications to attend the Circle of Change First Generation Student Virtual Career Leadership Experience is now open for interested first-generation students. This two-day virtual conference on April 9–10 will provide first-generation students with insight on career success and leadership skills. Students will attend various sessions to hear from former first-generation students who are now successful professionals in their respective fields. This is a great opportunity for first-generation students to feel supported and well-equipped as they transition into the job market after graduation.

At Drake, we define a first-generation student as a college student whose parents/legal guardians have not received a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university.

If selected, the cost of attendance will be covered by the Slay Fund for Social Justice.

Apply by March 19

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

For Students Archive

Get paid for your business or business idea

Applications are now being accepted for the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition. Sponsored by John Pappajohn and Equity Dynamics Inc., the Pappajohn Student Entrepreneurial Venture Competition is open to any Iowa college or university student of any major who has an interest in starting their own venture. If you have a business or a business idea, this is a great way to get seed money for your idea/venture.

Regional winners in the Pappajohn competition receive $500 and three statewide finalists will receive $5,000. 

Applications are due at 11:59 PM on Sunday, April 4, 2021.

Visit https://bit.ly/30kvcPX to learn more and download a PDF of the application, visit https://bit.ly/2OpySgU to apply online, or email jpec@drake.edu for more information.

— Stephanie Cardwell, Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

For Students Archive

Make a difference with the remote phonathon team

Are you looking for a job where you can make a difference and prepare for your future career? Drake Phonathon is hiring for the Spring 2021 semester. On our team you will develop the communication and interpersonal skills employers are looking for while building connections with alumni and members of the Drake community. Apply to be a Remote Ambassador at Phonathon. We are a great team that offers amazing scheduling, flexibility, and the ability to work remotely from your dorm or home. Pay is competitive with regular increases and the opportunity to advance into supervisory roles for long-term employees. To apply, please contact Liz.Seffrin@drake.edu.

— Becca Widmer, Director of Annual Giving

Strategic Updates Archive

Give a shout-out to a deserving colleague

Giving a shout-out is a great way to recognize your colleagues for their hard work, talent, support, and creativity during a very challenging year, and it can simply brighten their day. 

As part of Staff Appreciation Month, Human Resources is encouraging every staff member to submit a shout-out (formerly called Spotlight Stories) for a fellow colleague. Simply post a message on Twitter and Instagram using #DrakeBulldogs or submit a sentence of appreciation to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Shout-outs will be compiled and shared in OnCampus at the end of the month as well as on the University’s social media pages. Giving a shout-out is quick and easy—simply write a sentence or two thanking a co-worker or team for a job well-done, going the extra mile, or showing support during an ever-changing year.

To help you get started, here are a few shout-outs I would like to give:

  • Facilities Planning and Management team: Thank you for the wonderful job you have done this past year maintaining our campus and buildings during the pandemic. We appreciate everything you do!
  • All Staff Council:  Thank you for your hard work this past year finding ways to support staff both on campus and remotely.  From coordinating water cooler events to organizing the Called to be True Blue program, you are the best!

As an added bonus, everyone who sends in a shout-out will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win prizes. 

Please take a few minutes to post or send in a shout-out to show your gratitude for our amazing colleagues!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources