All posts by Amelia Klatt

For Staff Archive

All Staff Council: True Blue, upcoming events, committee updates

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!

A staff member or team that is True Blue epitomizes the values of excellence, integrity, leadership, teamwork, and commitment to the Drake community.

Trivia @ the Social
All Staff Council is joining forces with the Provost’s Office to host Trivia on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the faculty and staff social in Shivers Court Side Club. Trivia teams will register on site at the social. Trivia teams are limited to five members with a total of 10 teams. There will be raffle prizes awarded between rounds with a grand prize awarded to the winning team. Participants can also sign up to win the annual parking pass giveaway. Don’t forget to bring non-perishable foods and items for Drake’s Little Pantry initiative. Questions? Please contact ascspecialevents@drake.edu.

University Book Club
Join the University Book Club, sponsored by the ASC and Cowles Library. This fall the book club is reading The Good Neighbor—The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King. The group will meet Oct. 22 at Freedom Blend Coffee.

Meals From the Heartland event recap
Twenty-five Drake staff and faculty volunteered at Meals From the Heartland on Friday, Sept. 27, and helped package 61,000 meals to be delivered to those in need locally and globally. Thank you to all who participated!

Bring your suggestions, questions, or concerns to the Special Interest Committee
The Special Interest Committee explores initiatives, questions, and/or concerns presented to All Staff Council through research, planning, and collaboration with appropriate offices on campus. This committee seeks your suggestions, questions, or concerns. All suggestions are kept confidential.

The Special Interest Committee Chair is Andy Verlengia. Additional members of the committee are Laura Bjurstrom, Jenny Jones, Carla Herling, Greg Lin, Niki Smith, and Patrick Williams. If you have anything to reach out to the committee regarding, please direct inquiries to Committee Chair Andy Verlengia at andy.verlengia@drake.edu or 515-271-3077.

— Amelia Klatt, On behalf of All Staff Council

News & Achievements Archive

Levitt Distinguished Professor of Education

Sally Beisser, Ph.D., is the Ellis and Nelle Distinguished Professor of Education at Drake University in teacher education, doctoral qualitative research methods, and service-learning on campus, in Belize, and South Africa. Recently she conducted pedagogy workshops at University of Gjokova and University of Prizren in Kosovo. She has presented at the Oxford Round Table in the UK on gifted education and studied gifted programs in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia.

She will be a keynote speaker on Identifying the Young Gifted Child: Dynamic Assessment through Observation at the October 13-15 Iowa Talented and Gifted (ITAG) conference.

Sally been an elementary school teacher of gifted children for 15 years and taught gifted education in higher education for 20 years. She has published in Gifted Child Quarterly, Gifted Child Today, co-chaired the NAGC Parent and Community Committee, presented numerous times at the Iowa Talented and Gifted (ITAG) and the national NAGC gifted conferences, and serves on the NAGC Teaching for High Potential Advisory Board. She has received the ITAG Distinguished Service Award. Since 2007 Dr. Beisser has directed the Drake University Online Talented and Gifted Endorsement (pK-12 TAG) program, having served students from 29 states and 8 countries.

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Provost’s “Open Office @ Cowles” begins Oct. 7

Provost Sue Mattison will offer 90-minutes of “Open Office @ Cowles” twice per month, beginning in October. Please stop by the Cowles Coffee Shop to chat, ask a question, or offer ideas.

Discussions around university communication flow led Craig Owens to suggest the plan at a recent Deans’ Council meeting. Sue readily agreed, and the first two “Open Office @ Cowles” are scheduled for Oct. 7 from 1–2:30 p.m. and Oct. 24 from 9–10:30 a.m.

Watch the Drake events calendar for future dates.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

For Students Archive

Take the ITS Student Phishing Quiz Oct. 1–18

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). To celebrate the 15th year of NCSAM, ITS is holding a Phishing Quiz through Oct. 18. The Phishing Quiz is a contest where Drake students can learn about how to identify phishing emails and fraudulent websites and stay safe online. Everyone who completes the quiz will be entered to win a prize package–if you’re one of the first 100 students to enter, you’ll get an additional prize entry. Visit www.drake.edu/its/phish today to take the quiz.

— Peter Lundstedt, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Annual Sigma Phi Epsilon flu shot clinic

Sigma Phi Epsilon will be hosting the third annual flu shot clinic on Oct. 19 from 3–5 p.m. at 1243 34th Street in Des Moines. For each flu shot that is administered $3 will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and 12 meals will be donated to the Food Bank of Iowa. Let us know if you are interested so we can reserve a shot for you.

We will also run your insurance, and in the event that it is not covered, the cost will be $35. Help keep our campus safe from influenza and help raise money for a good cause. If you have any questions, contact Nevin William Radechel at nevin.radechel@drake.edu or at (515)402-2284.

— Nevin William Radechel, P3

For Students Archive

Travel to Uganda in May

Ever wanted to do research on an environmental issue in an African nation? How about human rights in a developing country? Want to implement a service learning project? You can do all these things and more in Uganda on the Uganda: Sustainable Development travel seminar! All majors and interest areas welcome and encouraged to enroll.

Applications are now available on Terra Dotta.You can also learn more at an information session:

  • Wednesday, October 9, 5:00 PM in Aliber 004
  • Thursday, October 10, 5:00 PM in Meredith 229​
  • Wednesday, November 6, 5:00 PM in Aliber 004
  • Thursday, November 21, 5:00 PM in Meredith 229

Questions? Email: stephanie.dana@drake.edu.

— Stephanie Dana Ely, International Partnerships and Customized Program Coordinator

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Survey of Administrative Services: Your feedback is needed

The following message was sent to campus from President Martin on Monday, Sept. 30.

An important aspect of our Continuous Improvement Plan is assessing our performance in delivering services to the campus. To that end, I encourage you to complete this year’s survey of administrative services. It is completely anonymous and often takes less than five minutes to complete.

The survey focuses on six areas: Facilities Planning and Management, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Public Safety, and University Communications and Marketing. The survey was developed by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment in collaboration with several other of our colleagues. Continuous improvement efforts such as this are meant to drive intentional and strategic action. Your feedback will help us better meet the needs of our University.

Thank you in advance for your participation by Thursday, October 10th.

Sincerely,

Marty

Campus Announcements Archive

Update: Campus review of LMS 

Drake University’s Learning Management System (LMS) review task force has conducted three of their proposed eight meetings during the fall semester. The team has established a foundation for understanding the future of LMSs and has developed criteria to use to review two LMS vendors. This is being accomplished through demonstrations and pilot experiences. For further information, please visit www.drake.edu/its/lmsreview and/or reach out to your area’s representative on the task force.

— Karly Good, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Join the Healthiest State Walk

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to join the Healthiest State Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 2.  This walk is part of the Healthiest State Initiative and its goal of making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation.

The walk will begin in the Olmsted Center breezeway at 12 p.m. and follow a one mile path around Drake’s campus.

We are again combining efforts with Sodexo’s Mindful Mile program.  Thanks to Sodexo and the Drake Athletics department we will have giveaway cooling bandanas, Grand Blue Mile tech shirts, and protein drink samples available, as supplies last, for faculty, staff, and students.  There will also be maps of the walking route and a hydration station in the breezeway to quench your thirst.

If it is raining or lightning outside we will move the walk to the indoor track at the Knapp Center.

For more information, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Learn about change management

How are you when it comes to change?  On Oct. 8, Lisa Gardner from Employee & Family Resources will lead a presentation on the evolution and importance of change management. The class will be held from 1–3 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Rooms 310 & 311, and discuss how to handle change and the inevitable twists and turns of daily life. It will also explore the concept of resiliency.

To attend the class, register online or send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources