Unfortunately the ASC service project scheduled for April 15 and the kickball tournament scheduled for May 19 have been canceled. Keep your eye out for a spring virtual event! If you’d like to be added to the All Staff Council listserv, send an email to ascspecialevents@drake.edu.
— Amelia Klatt, Alumni Relations/All Staff Council
Celebrate Drake and support the University’s bright future during All In 2020 on June 4–5. Join with the Drake community to share and celebrate what it means to be a Bulldog: resilient, innovative, adaptable, and loyal.
This day will also be an opportunity to make your generosity go further. Watch for challenge matches from generous donors during All In that can double, and even triple, your gifts!
Visit the All In website and RSVP on Facebook.
— Alicia Chilton, University Communications & Marketing
Reminder: ITS is automating the restart process after Drake-owned Windows computers download and install security patches. When it’s time to restart after a patch has been installed, your computer will show you a reminder in the lower right corner of the screen. You have the option to restart immediately or reschedule to a more convenient time within the next two days. If you haven’t restarted your device two days after patches have been applied, your computer will restart automatically between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
While working from home, the notification and restart process may be slightly delayed, depending on how you connect to the campus network.
If you have any questions about these changes, please reach out to Peter Lundstedt, director, information security & compliance, at peter.lundstedt@drake.edu.
—Peter Lundstedt, ITS
Employee and Family Resources (EFR) is offering weekly webinars to help address our stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Past topics include “All about Attitude, Coping with COVID-19, Stress and Resiliency,” and “Navigating Change in Times of Uncertainty.” Access recorded webinars.
EFR has also created a series of podcasts called Emotion Well Podcast. These can also be found on Apple Podcasts.
If life is weighing you down, EFR offers a variety of Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) resources to help you now, or anytime. 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.
— Linda Feiden, Human Resources
Join us for a HealthyU BINGO challenge in May—with a twist.
As usual, the goal is to fill up a blank BINGO card (or two) with healthy activities you complete from a provided list. This will be done over the month of May. The twist: Instead of getting together as a group to play HealthyU BINGO for prizes in June, we will set up a video BINGO game using Microsoft Teams.
You are not required to participate in the online BINGO games if you wish to complete the card without the game. But, I think you will have fun!
To get started send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Deadline to register is Thursday, April 30. All participants will receive an email with an attached packet that includes directions, a list of HealthyU BINGO activities, and a blank BINGO card. You are welcome to make multiple copies of this card.
Please feel free to reach out with questions. This is a great event for your whole family.
— Linda Feiden, Human Resources
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has spurred a surge in financial stress and anxiety. It can be a scary, stressful time for many reasons. And, if you have to worry about how to get by financially, the added stress may cause you to feel completely overwhelmed.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to address both your financial situation and your mental health, so you can make the best decisions for you and your family during this difficult time.
First, accept that your life is going to be different for a while and focus on tasks you can control. Prioritize your own physical, mental, and emotional health. Keep active, sleep right, limit alcohol and caffeine, make healthy food choices, practice mindfulness and stay connected to family and friends. Additionally, follow the CDC guidelines to socially distance, wash your hands, and stay home. If the news is creating anxiety, limit your exposure, while still staying informed.
Next, it is time to make a plan. Here are a few suggestions to get you on financial track.
Take stock of where you are with your money. Make a list of everything you own, owe, earn, and spend. This is your starting point and your method to find out where you are at right now.
Start or build an emergency fund. If you are just starting out, aim to put aside $1,000. Begin by taking some of the dollars you might normally spend on dining out and entertainment and put some of those dollars into this emergency fund each month. Over time, build this up to the equivalent of 3–6 months worth of living expenses.
Take a page from Marie Kondo. Take a look at your loan statements, credit card bills, memberships, and subscriptions. What are you paying? Are there better deals out there? Do you really need it right now? For example, since fitness facilities are closed, can you pause or stop your gym membership? There are plenty of free resources that will allow you to keep active while socially distancing.
Swap take-out for home meals. It is always a great idea to help local restaurants by ordering take-out. But if you are watching your finances, reduce take-out dining to once a week and try to create some new recipes at home.
Check your interest rates. If you are using multiple credit cards for your purchases, try to use the card with the lowest interest rate so you will be paying less in interest when you do pay off your bill. Even a few percentage points difference can save you money.
Become familiar with community and government resources. State and federal governments are continually taking steps, including the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the recent CARES Act, to help provide relief. Check websites such as usa.gov, iowa economic development, and coronavirus.iowa.gov. Locally, some cities are providing free meals for children as well as other programs to ensure families are getting through this tough time.
Become familiar with the Drake University COVID-19 website. You will find information, including steps Wellmark is taking to help Drake Health Plan participants with respect to COVID-19.
Keep calm about your investments. Right now you might be tempted to pull out of the volatile markets and retreat to safety. But if you are feeling uneasy, take a deep breath and make an appointment with your financial advisor to go over your portfolio.
Ask for help. If you are struggling financially or emotionally, don’t keep it to yourself. There is help out there. EFR offers a variety of Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) resources to help you now, or anytime. 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.
Lastly, take a moment to appreciate yourself. You are going through a hard time and you’re approaching it with incredible resilience. We will get through this together.
— Linda Feiden, Human Resources
The Student Services Center is reducing their in-office hours for the remainder of the semester (through May 15). We will be staffing the desk on Mondays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. If possible, please visit during those hours for assistance. If you cannot visit on Monday mornings, please email studentservices@drake.edu to make an appointment for an alternate visit time.
Key pickups are temporarily being handled at Public Safety (1227 25th Street) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Contactless key returns can be done at the blue drop boxes at the SSC and Public Safety. Please fill out an envelope and leave keys in the drop box.
The best way to contact us during this time is via email (studentservices@drake.edu). If you need additional/urgent campus assistance, please contact Public Safety at 515–271–2222.
— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center
Swap your single-use mug for reusable this Earth Day. Visit the University Bookstore’s online site for 25% off drinkware now through April 22. The discount is only available online.
— Katie Wilz, University Bookstore
If you haven’t already, please submit your textbook adoptions for Fall 2020 course materials. The University Bookstore has a simple tool for you to use this adoption season – Follett Discover.
Adopting on time contributes to course material affordability. By submitting adoptions by the due date, the Bookstore has time to source used and rental inventory which translates to savings for your students. If you consistently use the same book from term to term, please let the Bookstore know as this will translate into even larger savings for students.
Another important aspect that relies on timely textbook adoption is compliance to the HEOA. The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) aimed at making college more affordable and accessible, calls for full disclosure and transparency related to the selection, pricing, and use of course materials when registration for courses begins . HEOA was enacted into federal law in 2010. At Drake, the Bookstore is the collection agent for textbook adoptions, posting the adoptions submitted and thus ensuring the University’s compliance to the HEOA.
Follett Discover allows you to easily discover, research, and adopt course materials all in one place. In addition to adopting traditional print materials, Follett Discover makes it easy to search and adopt non-traditional materials such as YouTube videos, open education resources, and MOOC content.
Two easy steps to access Follett Discover via Blackboard:
1. Log into myDrake.
2. Find the Tools channel, scroll down and click the Follett Discover link OR find the Follett Discover channel and click the Launch Discover link.
If you have any questions about the tool or how it works, please contact Donna Hallstrom at donna.hallstrom@drake.edu.
— Donna Hallstrom, University Bookstore
Cowles Library has launched a new Research Guide highlighting resources and services to assist with remote learning and instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. The library remains closed, but chat assistance is available Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students, faculty, and staff can make an appointment for a virtual research consultation with a librarian. If you currently have books checked out, due dates have been extended to August 31, 2020. If you need to return items, our book drop outside the north entrance of the library is open. If you are able to keep your books until the library reopens, please do.
Updates or changes to services will be posted to the Research Guide and shared on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
— Carrie Dunham-LaGree, Cowles Library
