All posts by Ryan Zantingh

For Students Archive

Student finance and registration one-stop shop

The Offices of the Registrar and Student Accounts (including cashier), previously located in the lower level of Old Main, have joined the Office of Student Financial Planning in the main level of Carnegie Hall to create a “one-stop” student experience for all matters related to student finance and registration. Because billing and financial aid are closely related to course registration, this restructuring will provide a more seamless service for Drake students.

However, this change also increases the potential for foot traffic to Carnegie Hall. For your safety, we strongly encourage you to make an appointment prior to visiting the Offices of Student Accounts, Registrar, or Student Financial Planning (see details below):

  • Office of Student Financial Planning: Visit the Student Financial Planning profile in Starfish to schedule appointments, view contact information, and more.
  • Registrar: Visit the Registrar webpage to view our services, common FAQ’s, how-to instructions, and more. Contact registrar@drake.edu for virtual assistance, questions, or to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment.
  • Student Accounts: Visit the Student Accounts webpage to access contact information for our office, as well as other helpful billing information.

Whenever possible, virtual meeting options such as video or audio calls will be encouraged. Microsoft Teams is available to all Drake students and provides a great platform for screen sharing, file transmission, and other powerful features.

If you visit Carnegie Hall, please be aware that the north doors (facing Carpenter Avenue) are designated as entrance-only. The south door (facing Cole Hall) will be designated exit-only. To access ITS Support in the lower level of Carnegie, use the ramp on the east side of the building (facing Old Main).

Welcome back, and we look forward to serving you!

— Offices of the Registrar, Student Accounts, and Student Financial Planning

Strategic Updates Archive

Campus construction project update

Bulldog Plaza:
Building our Future on the Foundations of Our Past . . . literally.

During our excavation to place the footings for the new granite walls along University Avenue in front of Old Main, we discovered the foundations of a previous building. The existing foundations mirrored nearly the same path needed for our new project, and were proving to be nearly impossible to remove given their size. We verified with our structural engineer, and in the end, chose to embrace the past, and use the abandoned footings as our new base.

Over the next few weeks, the project will really begin to take shape with the completion of the granite wall, sidewalk, and plaza paver installations, including the masonry base construction for our newest bulldog sculpture on campus. Remaining construction items are planned for completion the week of Aug. 24. As the construction activities wrap up, temporary fence will be removed, with site restoration, grading, and landscaping to continue. Funding for this project is made possible through multiple philanthropic gifts.

Hubbell Dining Renovation:

We have had an incredible summer of construction at Hubbell Dining Hall. While students are counting the days until the start of the fall semester, contractors, design teams, and Drake staff are working hard to make that a return to the new, instead of the old. The thousands of planning, design, and construction hours needed to transform Hubbell Dining Center are nearing the finish line. The new finishes, kitchen spaces, and serving stations, are just a part of the improved overall dining experience available for students returning to campus in a couple of weeks.

Our teams have also been working diligently on providing a safe dining experience compliant with other COVID protocols we are using throughout campus.  Funding for this multi-million dollar remodel is provided by our dining partners, Sodexo.

— Michelle Huggins, Facilities Planning & Management

News & Achievements Archive

Dean Chesnut installed as chair-elect of the AACP Council of Deans

Dean Chesnut took an oath as the 2020-2021 chair-elect of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Council of Deans Administrative Board in July during the 2020 virtual AACP annual meeting.

The mission of the Council of Deans is to identify and address major issues related to the conduct of professional, post-professional and graduate education, research and service in pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences.

— Kaylyn Maher, Dean of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Reminder: Blackboard Learn changes coming Sunday, Aug. 9

Starting Aug. 9, when you log into Blackboard, your landing page will look different. Learn more about the updated navigation at Getting Started with Ultra Base Navigation in Learn Ultra (How-to). The basic background and colors will all be a standard Drake color scheme.

Faculty can, however, customize a course by uploading a banner image. Learn more about customizing course images including guidance around image quality, size, and fair use at Creating Course Card Images/Course Banners in Learn Ultra (Best Practices).

Learn more about the larger Learn Ultra upgrade project, who to contact, and the proposed timeline at our FAQ page at drake.edu/its/learnultra/ and we will continue to add help documentation to the Learn Ultra category in the Knowledge Base of our IT service portal.

— Karly Good, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Katie Wilz retires after 36 years at University Bookstore

Katie Wilz, University Bookstore manager, is retiring Aug. 7 after serving the University Bookstore for 36 years. Katie said it has been a true honor to represent and serve the students, faculty, staff, and fans of Drake University.

Following her retirement on Aug. 7, please direct any Bookstore questions or concerns to Donna Hallstrom or Derek Pollock.

Congratulations, Katie, and thank you for your commitment to the Drake community!

Donna Hallstrom
1623txt@follett.com
515 274-3401

Derek Pollock
dpollock@follett.com

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Back to Class series for Drake alumni

Are you working on an interesting campus project or research topic? Our Drake alumni network would like to hear from you!

The Office of Alumni Relations is looking for faculty & 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, Office of Alumni Relations

HR Information Archive

Take advantage of Drake’s Employee Assistance Program

You may have heard the phrase: “We are done with the Coronavirus but it isn’t done with us.” The ongoing pandemic has disrupted our work and home lives and it is difficult to know when it will get better.

If you are taking steps to manage your worry and anxiety but it doesn’t seem to be helping, Employee & Family Resources (EFR) offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all full-time Drake employees and their family members. It includes counseling with a licensed mental health therapist as well as financial and legal consulting, eldercare and childcare resources. You can reach EAP by phone (800-327-4692) or visit their website at https://www.efr.org/login/. All EAP benefits are confidential and available 24/7/365.

Besides the Employee Assistance Program, EFR offers additional resources to help us navigate these stressful times.

Webinars. If you did not get a chance to view the EFR weekly webinar series this summer, they are still available for viewing online when your schedule allows.  They cover a variety of topics pertinent to our times.

Podcasts. EFR created a series of podcasts called Emotion Well Podcast.  The podcasts are available on their website, as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

COVID-19 Resources. EFR’s website has links to COVID-19 resources, including online groups, work from home tips, exercising from home, and mental health tips.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Staff Archive

Call for True Blue nominations

Do you know of a staff member or department that has gone above and beyond to exemplify True Blue spirit? Nominate them today for a True Blue award! A staff member or team that is True Blue epitomizes the values of excellence, integrity, leadership, teamwork, and commitment to the Drake community. 

— Amelia Klatt, Office of Alumni Relations/All Staff Council

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Construction affecting streets around campus

As faculty and staff return to campus this week, please be aware that construction is still affecting the streets surrounding the University.  University Avenue will have one lane open in both directions and some closure of the south parking lane as the Harking Center and Home2 Suites complete their streetscape. Access to parking lots off University Avenue will remain open. The intersection of 25th Street and Forest Avenue and 24th Street between Carpenter and Forest are currently closed for storm sewer installation and should reopen the week of Aug. 10 after street paving is completed. For those who park in the Fine Arts Lot east of 25th Street, please access the lot from the south off of University Avenue.

— Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning & Management