All posts by Ryan Zantingh

For Students Archive

FAFSA for 2025-2026 Year Available Now

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2025-2026 is now available at studentaid.gov. We recommend that you review Tips for Completing the FAFSA to help avoid the most common issues that students experienced with the 2024-2025 FAFSA.

US Citizens and eligible non-citizens should complete the 2025–2026 FAFSA to be considered for need-based grants, federal work-study, or to take advantage of federal student loan programs in the Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Spring 2026 semesters.

—Ryan Zantingh, Financial Aid Office

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

University Budget Town Hall, December 3rd at 3 pm, Parents Hall; Provost’s Social to Follow

As President Martin shared in a recent message to campus, the University will hold a budget town hall on Tuesday, December 3rd at 3 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Parents Hall. All faculty and staff are encouraged to attend to learn more about the fiscal year 2024 results, overall financial health, fiscal year 2025 budget, and a look ahead to future fiscal years. 

If you have questions you would like addressed at the town hall, please send them to president@drake.edu.

Provost’s Social immediately following the town hall 

The Provost’s Social will be held following the town hall in Olmsted 312, across from Parents Hall.  Refreshments at the social will include an assortment of beverages and light snacks. 

—Adam Voigts, Finance & Administration

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

2024 Holiday Payment Processing Schedule

Please note the following schedule for payment processing, through the Finance Self-Service portal, to accommodate the 2024 holiday break:

For Winter Break:

  • Monday, December 16, 2024 – All Payment requests (including wires) are due, with proper approvals, and received in the AP queue by the end of the business day. Requests received by this deadline will be processed for payment before Winter Break.
  • Thursday, January 2, 2025 – Normal payment processing will resume this week.

The accounts payable office will be closed during the winter holiday break.

Thank you for your help coordinating requests to ensure we meet all needs during the upcoming season.

Please contact Jeni at ext. 4509, or Jenifer.Baugher@Drake.edu, with any questions you may have.

—Jeni Baugher, Accounting

HR Information Archive

Last Chance to Receive Your Wellness Health Insurance Premium Discount

Time is running out.  Employees on Drake’s health plan, who want to receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2025 need to complete a physical with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2024, and submit a Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form by Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, to receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2025.

If you had your physical since Dec. 1, 2023, please fill out the form and turn it in now. If you haven’t scheduled your annual physical yet with an in-network provider, you need to do it now.  If you cannot get into your provider, you may contact Broadlawns Medical Center on University – across the street from the Drake campus – to inquire about their availability prior to the deadline.  Be sure to let them know you are from Drake and bring a copy of the physical form with you.

You can read more about the wellness premium discount program on the Wellness Premium Discount webpage.

Please email linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

You Can Still Join the Stop, Drop, and Roll, Holiday Challenge

The holiday season can be a challenge when it comes to taking care of ourselves, so we have brought back a holiday challenge to help ‘Stop’ the potential holiday weight gain, ‘Drop’ some bad habits, while picking up a few good ones, and ‘Roll’ into the New Year on a healthier path.

This program started Monday, Nov. 25 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 29.  Each week participants focus on different topics from healthier eating and physical activity to sleep, self-compassion, and making social connections. This is a program you can do on your own or with family members over the holiday season.  And even if weight gain isn’t a problem or priority for you, this program covers wellbeing topics pertinent to everyone.

Send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu today to register.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Cowles Library Featured Collections: December

Break’s Coming—Find Your Perfect Read!

Need a cozy escape for the break? Swing by the library and check out our Award Winners collection. This month’s display features some of the most celebrated books in literature, including titles recognized by the Booker Prize, National Book Awards, and Pulitzer Prize.

Stop by the library every month and explore our featured  materials. From inspiring reads to hidden treasures, there’s always something new to discover.

—Joanna Stankiewicz, Cowles Library

Campus Announcements Archive

Holiday Timesheet Deadlines for Payroll

Deadlines for monthly direct pays and ESFs are:
  • 12/10/24 for payroll direct pays and ESFs for the December monthly payroll
Deadlines for biweekly direct pays and ESFs are:
  • Pay period 11/18/24-12/1/24 direct pays and ESFs are due Monday 12/2/24 at 10:00 AM
  • Pay period 12/2/24-12/15/24 direct pays and ESFs are due Monday 12/16/24 at 10:00 AM
  • Pay period 12/16/24-12/29/24 direct pays and ESFs are due Wednesday 12/18/24 at 10:00 AM
Deadlines for student direct pays are:
  • Pay period 11/1/24-11/30/24 direct pays are due Monday 12/02/24 at noon
  • Pay period 12/1/24-12/31/24 direct pays are due Thursday, 01/02/25 at noon
Deadlines for the biweekly time sheets are:
  • Pay period 11/18/24-12/01/24 timesheets must be submitted by Monday 12/02/24 at 10:00 am and approved by Monday 12/02/24 at noon. Payment date is 12/6/2024
  • Pay period 12/2/24-12/15/24 timesheets must be submitted by Monday 12/16/24 at 10:00 AM and approved by Monday 12/16/24 at noon. Payment date is 12/20/2024
  • Pay period 12/16/24-12/29/24 timesheets must be submitted by Wednesday 12/18/24 at 10 AM and approved by Wednesday 12/18/24 at noon (remember to estimate your hours for the holiday break). Payment date is 1/3/2025.

*Medical, Dental, and Vision insurances for the biweekly payrolls will be deducted on the 01/17/25 and 01/31/25 paychecks*

Deadlines for student time sheets are:
  • Pay period 11/1/24-11/30/24 timesheets must be submitted by Monday 12/02/24 at NOON and approved by Monday 12/03/24 by NOON
  • Pay period 12/1/24-12/31/24 timesheets must be submitted by Thursday 1/02/25 at NOON and approved by Friday, 1/03/25 at NOON

If you will be out of the office, plan ahead to ensure these tasks are completed by the stated deadlines. Instructions to set up a proxy to approve time sheets in your absence are at https://www.drake.edu/hr-internal/managerstoolkit/ under Online Time reporting.

—Lisa Etnyre, Controller

For Faculty Archive

Panopto Update: Enhancing Blackboard Access

ITS is making an important update to Panopto, our streaming video content management system for Blackboard. Effective December 19th, the “Ultra Course Panopto Video Library” link will be renamed to “Course Video Library – Panopto” to improve accessibility.

Action Required:

  1. Remove the existing link (“Ultra Course Panopto Video Library”) from your Blackboard content area.
  2. Re-add the link with the new name (“Course Video Library – Panopto”) from the Content Market in Blackboard Ultra.

Please update all references to Panopto in your course materials, including syllabi and Blackboard instructions, to avoid student confusion.

If you have questions or need assistance, submit a Blackboard Ultra Request and specify “Consultation.”

Thank you for your cooperation.

—Karly Good, ITS

Strategic Updates Archive

Sammons Plaza Update

There has been some great progress at the Sammons Plaza. The pavers are installed, and contractors are working hard on the landscaping, which will withstand the winter elements. This outdoor plaza is an extension of the Sammons Intercultural Commons and Fisher-Stelter Hall. This outdoor space will be in the heart of campus and will be a great place to hang out or host an event.

—Heather Winslow, Facilities Planning & Management

HR Information Archive

Annual Open Enrollment Period Ends Monday, Dec 2.

Drake’s annual open enrollment period will close at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. If you have not yet reviewed or made modifications to your benefits for 2025, please visit the Benefits Portal and complete the process as soon as possible. Remember that you must re-enroll in flexible spending accounts (FSA) each year, as your current participation is not automatically continued from year to year.

Additional information about benefits for the 2025 Plan Year can be accessed through this temporary open enrollment page. If you have benefit-related or open enrollment questions, please contact Human Resources at drakehr@drake.edu at any time.

—Marlene Huertz, Human Resources