All posts by Linda Feiden

Check your hearing

Do you hear everything you should?  If you are not certain, a simple hearing screening will check how well you hear certain sounds. A UnityPoint mobile unit will be at the Drake University Tennis Center on Tuesday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m.—1 p.m. to conduct hearing screenings. Cost is $15. You may pay online or in person at your appointment. Payment accepted includes credit card (no American Express), cash, or check payable to UPH. You will receive same day confidential results.

Register online. Registration deadline is Monday, Nov. 25, at noon.

If you have questions, please contact Jody McKeehan, COHC, at jody.mckeehan@unitypoint.org or 515-229-5104.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Reminder: Access changes to Drake computers

Just a reminder that ITS is removing always-on administrator access from Drake-owned computers. When changes requiring administrator access are needed, like software installation and changes, the Make Me Admin tool can be used to receive up to 30 minutes of administrator access at a time. 

There are guides available in the IT service portal on how to use the Make Me Admin tool: 

How-to guide for Macs
How-to guide for Windows 

For questions about these changes, please contact Peter Lundstedt, director, information security & compliance, at peter.lundstedt@drake.edu.  

—Peter Lundstedt, ITS  

Switch to eduroam before DUFacStaff goes away

This fall, ITS launched eduroam (education roaming), a new wireless network at Drake. Faculty, staff, and students can access the eduroam wireless network at any eduroam-participating institution worldwide. By connecting to eduroam on campus, using your Drake email and password, you will be able to use the eduroam network whenever you travel to an eduroam-participating institution. In Iowa, that includes University of Iowa, Iowa State, and University of Northern Iowa.

The eduroam network is replacing DUFacStaff on Dec. 31. You must log into eduroam using your Drake email address, rather than your Drake ID number. This ensures that your credentials are passed securely anywhere you connect to eduroam.

The eduroam network is available in over 1,000 locations in 100 countries, so if you lead a J-Term travel course, or attend a conference, you may be able to take your wireless network with you.

Learn more about eduroam on our FAQ page and make the switch today.

— Carla Herling, ITS

Thanksgiving Feast at Parents Hall

CORRECTION: The meal is at Parents Hall not Hubbell Dining as previously stated.

Kick off your Thanksgiving holiday with friends and a feast full of fun! Celebrate at Parents Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m.– 1:30 p.m. We’re serving all your holiday favorites, including roasted turkey, hickory smoked ham, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and more. We will also have a Simple Servings station set up for allergen free dining.

This will be a Zero Waste Event, and all plates and utensils used will be composted. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend. Price is $7.40 plus tax (or $7.92 total.) Students can use a meal swipe.

— Jennifer Bowersox, Dining Services

GroupX Schedule and Thanksgiving Update

Check out our GroupX schedule for the rest of the semester, attend 15 classes and get a free incentive T-shirt.

Thanksgiving Update: Our last GroupX class before break will be Body Blast at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday the Nov. 24; classes will resume on Monday Dec. 2. The last day of classes for the semester will be Thursday, Dec. 5.

— Emily Madsen, Recreational Services

Tips and reminders to simplify booking travel

Read the following tips and reminders for using the Short’s travel portal.

Registering for the first time: When first registering for the Short’s travel portal, you must use your Drake email rather than your personal email. Otherwise, it will kick back and require additional approval.

Agent Requests: Some Drake travelers have been concerned with fares they have received because they could find cheaper fares on their own. Agents only have as much information as they are given in the initial request. In many of these cases, we found that the traveler was searching alternate dates, times, and even airports to come back with the lower fares. If your travel is flexible and you would like the agent to research alternate options, please include it in your initial request.

Basic Economy: Basic Economy flights continue to be a challenge with Drake travelers. We do not recommend Basic Economy however if you do wish to book this fare, please remember that Short’s Travel will book Basic Economy  but you are responsible for letting them know you wish to book Basic Economy. This is something that is only done for Drake as a courtesy and requires an approval process by the agent’s supervisor. Basic Economy fares were created with the leisure traveler in mind. These fare are highly restrictive and will not allow the same flexibility for changes as standard economy fares. Agents are required to advise of the restrictions prior to completing your booking.

Fares unavailable in STO (Short’s online booking system): Some airlines do not participate in the GDS (Global Distribution System) that is used to manage inventory and that the agent team uses to book travel. Just because you do not see a flight online, does not mean we can’t book it for you. If you do not see the option you wish to book, please contact the agent team. These will come up most often with Southwest “Wanna Get Away” fares (online availability expected late 2020), Allegiant, and other low cost carriers, however, this may occur in other situations with major airlines. The best practice is to always contact the agent team if you don’t see the fare you wish to book online.

Student Travel: A Drake Faculty member is required to request student travel, as students do not have profiles and the agent team needs to be advised of the student who is authorized to travel, along with any reimbursement limits, travel restrictions, etc.  There are cases where certain student travel is an exception to booking with Short’s. Please contact Caron Findlay if you have questions.

FindIt: The FindIt extension must be downloaded from the Drake Travel Portal home page before using. FindIt should not be used if users are wishing to book basic economy, trips for more than one traveler, multi destination, or international travel. There is a user guide on the Travel Portal that users should review before they use FindIt to make sure they understand functionality.

Profile Information: Please ensure all profile information is accurate. If any information is added to your profile after a reservation has been made, it will not automatically update. For significant name changes, please contact the agent team.

Frequent Flier/Known Traveler Information: This information must be in your profile at the time of booking for it to attach to your reservation. Your legal name must also be listed the same in your profile and in the frequent flier profile for it to attach correctly.

— Caron Findlay, Finance & Administration

Apply to be a resident assistant

The Office of Residence Life is now accepting resident assistant applications for the 2020–2021 academic year. RA’s must be leaders, role models, and resources for their residents; however, just as important, they must be team players that work with and support other staff in their own hall as well as other halls on campus. The application deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. View the application

Information sessions:
1. Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, at 6 p.m. in the Carpenter Hall lobby
2. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, at 7 p.m. in the Pomerantz Stage, Olmsted Center.

If you have any questions regarding the position or process itself, please feel free to discuss these questions with your RA, hall coordinator, or contact Randy E. McMullin at randy.mcmullin@drake.edu.

— Randy E. McMullin, Associate Director, Residence Life

Bark Tank winners

On Saturday, Nov. 9, the Entrepreneurship Centers hosted the annual Bark Tank Competition. We would like to thank and congratulate all the participants for their pitches and extend a special congratulations to the four prize winners:

  • First Place: $750 to Alex Mathison, EC VR
  • Second Place: $500 to Tim Zuo, The Herban Webinar Series
  • Third Place: $250 to Kellen Karls, Echobreakers
  • Honorable Mention: $250 to Amir Chaouch, Babylon – Rooftop Gardens

We would like to thank our judges, Tyrek Washington (2018 Second Place Winner), Kaleigh DeBont (2017 First Place Winner), Seth Hartman (2017 First Place Winner), and Professor Brian Sweeney. This was the seventh Bark Tank competition and it is sponsored by alum, Dan Sinykin, JO ’86.

— Stephanie Cardwell, Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Uganda: The place to be in May

The Uganda: Sustainable Development travel seminar will have another information session on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 5 p.m. in Meredith Hall, Room 229.  Come learn about the amazing experience you can have exploring a developing country in-depth. This course is a 6-credit Drake faculty-led trip that brings together Drake students with native Ugandans from our partner university, the Makerere University Business School (MUBS).Learn more and view the application.

— Stephanie Dana Ely, Center for International Programs and Services

Drake Social preceded by International Education Week town hall

The Drake Social on Thursday, Nov. 21, will be preceded by a Town Hall at 3:30 p.m. in celebration of International Education Week. The event will be held in the Cowles Library Reading Room.

Drake faculty and staff who exemplify the Core Value of Generosity of Spirit will also be honored at the social.

To nominate a colleague, please use this Qualtrics form. You can nominate up to five colleagues on each form. Feel free to fill out multiple forms. All those nominated will be recognized on a rolling display. Generosity of Spirit is defined as colleagues who trust, empower, and presume the best of each other; who practice civility, caring, and respect; and who commit to equity and inclusion.

When you nominate colleagues, be prepared to describe how each colleague meets these descriptions. From among those nominated, several will be chosen at random for prizes.

Refreshments will include wine, beer, soft drinks, and light snacks. This is a family friendly event.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost