All posts by Marlene Heuertz

HR Information Archive

Market proof your Drake retirement contributions

Market proof your Drake retirement contributions.

Drake University sponsors both mandatory and voluntary 403(b) retirement plans as part of its overall benefit package. Full-time faculty and staff are required to participate in Drake’s Mandatory Retirement Plan after one year of full-time service. Upon eligibility, Drake contributes eight percent of annual base compensation while employees contribute three or five percent, dependent on position classification.

Additionally, all Drake faculty and staff are eligible to participate in Drake’s Voluntary Retirement Plan, regardless of the number of hours worked. Drake’s pre-tax savings retirement plans provide all employees an excellent opportunity to prepare for retirement.

To further assist you in your preparation for retirement, Drake is sponsoring A TIAA Financial Essentials Webinar, June 11. See this brochure to register for this live event.

–Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

MyDUSIS Planned Outage on Friday, June 7 from 5–6 a.m.

MyDUSIS will be unavailable on Friday, June 7 between 5–6 a.m. while ITS applies a critical security patch. During this brief window, all MyDUSIS functionality (including time sheets, leave reports, degree audits, and viewing grades) will be unavailable.

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

–Carla Herling, Information Technology Services

Campus Announcements Archive

In memoriam: Dale Miller

It is with great sadness we share the passing of Dale Miller, professor emeritus of religion. His daughter shared the following obituary.

Dale Miller—former-pastor, author, activist, educator, and friend–passed away on May 21, 2019, where he was living at Brookdale Senior Living. He was 96.

Dale had a BA and MA in Religion from Phillips University (1944, 1945); a BD in Theology from Vanderbilt (1949); and a PhD in Church History from University of Chicago (1955). He taught religion at Drake University from 1954 until 1993 before earning emeritus status.

Among his other accomplishments, he was the first pastor at the new Disciples church in Huntsville, Alabama; was active in the Civil Rights Movement, and published three books: A Special Kind of Mother (1974), An Adult Son: A Study of the Gospel of Mark (1974), and The Gospel of Mark as Midrash on Earlier Jewish and New Testament Literature (1990).

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at Foxwood Springs Living Center, Bromwell Hall, 1500 W. Foxwood Dr. Raymore, Missouri 64083.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Betty, their 6 children, and many grandchildren. Dale was a professor, minister, and political activist. He lived a life of generous service and love.

Those who wish may donate in Dale’s memory to St. Andrews Church, Raymore Christian Church, or the Foxwood Springs Fellowship of John.

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Summer football camp registration discount for Drake employees

Bulldog Football Camps at Drake University would like to extend an invitation and discount to any employee who has a child interested in attending a summer football camp. There are a variety of options in both June and July, with age groups ranging from kids entering 3rd grade up to prospects about to begin their senior year of high school. Visit drakefootballcamps.com for more information about each type of camp, and contact todd.stepsis@drake.edu with questions about additional registration information. Hope to see you this summer!

–Todd Stepsis, Drake Football Head Coach 

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Drake’s Amazon Master Business Account

Drake now has a master business account with Amazon.  We’d like to have departmental or individual Amazon business accounts you may be using converted to the master business account by the end of June.  Please do not use your personal Amazon accounts to order items for Drake University. Please email caron.findlay@drake.edu for instructions on how to make the transition to the master account.  It is quick and takes minimal effort.

Thank you!

–Caron Findlay, Finance and Administration 

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Participate in the Des Moines Corporate Games

It is not too late to register! The Des Moines Corporate Games is an eight-week company based competition (June 1–July 31) that promotes teamwork and company pride. Events range from team-based to individual and competitive to recreational. Whether you are a trivia buff or a triathlete, there is an event for you.

All activities are held in the evening and on weekends, and are free (except for golf cart rental). You may participate in one or more events and they are open to all full-time and regular part-time employees, interns, and retirees. Drake is competing against other local companies for a chance to win individual and team medals as well as the Corporate Games trophy.

For registration information, email linda.feiden@drake.edu.

–Linda Feiden, Human Resources

News & Achievements Archive

Nancy Geiger retirement

Colleagues,

I’m writing to share the news that Nancy Geiger will retire from Drake on June 30. She will bring to a close 35 years of dedicated service to the University. It is very much in keeping with Nancy’s humble style to hold off on announcing her retirement until after graduation, to avoid taking the spotlight away from students on their big day.

Nancy started her Drake career on July 2, 1984, as registration manager. Since that time, she has served as assistant registrar, interim registrar, registrar, and student information analyst. Nancy helped navigate two administrative systems conversions–one merged two mainframes and eliminated the use of punch cards, while the other migrated the University from Information Associates to Banner. Additionally, Nancy has served as Faculty Senate secretary for 27 years, missing only three meetings during that time. She has also managed 34 years of commencement ceremonies, as well as two presidential inaugurations.

We will begin working on plans for Nancy’s farewell celebration, as well as a succession plan for her role. For now, please join me in thanking Nancy for 35 years of dedicated service and commitment to Drake’s mission, and congratulating her on this well-deserved retirement.

–Sue J. Mattison, Provost’s Office

HR Information Archive

HealthyU BINGO

Join the fun this summer with HealthyU BINGO! Simply fill up a blank BINGO card (or two) during the month of June with healthy activities you complete from a list. Then take your completed card(s) to the Olmsted Center, Room 310/311 at noon on Tuesday, July 2, or Thursday, July 11, to play HealthyU BINGO for prizes. You are welcome to play one or both days.

To get started, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Deadline to register is Friday, May 31. All participants will receive a packet with directions, a list of HealthyU BINGO activities, and a blank BINGO card. There’s a broad range of activities to choose from, and you may complete them at Drake or at home, so don’t miss out!

–Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Grab a bike and go

We are coming to the end of National Bike Month but are just entering the prime bicycling season. If you haven’t done so yet, dust off your bicycle, grab your helmet, and let’s get moving!

If you are looking for organized events around town, BIKEIOWA has a list. If you are looking for nearby trails or a bicycle route to work, check out the Iowa DOT Bikes Interactive Map or Travel Iowa. You may also consider downloading an app such as Google Maps.

If you don’t own a bike, there are a couple options around campus:

Drake Bike Library. Drake employees and students can check out a bicycle for the day for free by bringing their Drake ID to the Student Life Center in Olmsted. You must sign a liability waiver and will be given a helmet to wear and a key to the bike lock.

BCycle.  Drake employees and students can buy an annual pass at the discounted price of $20.00 (normally $84.80), to rent a BCycle for an unlimited amount of 1-hour rides.  BCycle memberships can be purchased at DesMoines.BCycle.com; using your drake.edu email address and the promotional code: Bulldogs2019.  There are four BCycle stations around campus, offering faculty, staff, and students a convenient way to bike around campus and Des Moines.

No matter what your age – give bicycling a try this summer!

-Linda Feiden, Human Resources