Please join us from 3:30-5:30 pm on October 24th in Howard Hall 212 to celebrate the opening of the brand new faculty lounge! Come enjoy some refreshments, music, and conversation as we break in the new space. This is an open house, so please feel free to come and go as you please.
Soda, wine, beer, and an assortment of appetizers will be served.
—Madison Bemus, Provost’s Office
This year’s Benefits and Wellness Fair will be held Friday, Nov. 1, from 9-11:30 a.m. in Levitt Hall in Old Main. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending this “come and go” event.
Representatives from our benefits partners will be present to answer your questions, including: Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Broadlawns, Delta Dental of Iowa, TIAA, Long Term Care Strategies, The Hartford, HealthEQUITY, Avesis, and Employee & Family Resources. Chat with registered dietitian Samantha Matt and folks from Drake Recreational Services. Stop by the table hosted by the Drake Athletic Training Club to get your blood pressure taken and visit with the Drake Kinesiology students.
There will be beverages, freebies, and the chance to win prizes. Most importantly, this is an opportunity for you to be sure you understand and take advantage of the benefits and perks offered to you as an employee of Drake University and help prepare you to make benefit elections during the month of November, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
Don’t forget to pick up a bingo card when you arrive and have the vendors you visit stamp/mark it. If you secure a blackout (filling in all vendor spots), we’ll enter your name in a drawing for prizes.
—Linda Feiden, HR
Reminder: As you saw from President Martin’s email, please complete this year’s Survey of Administrative Services by October 22 if you have not already. It is completely anonymous and often takes less than five minutes to complete. You will only be asked to provide feedback on the areas you work with regularly. We’re off to a great start with 173 responses so far with a goal of 350+. Thank you for your input!
— Nate Reagen, Office of the President
Get ready to be part of a historic tradition! The 57th Annual Drake Road Races are coming, and registration opens this Monday, October 21! This year, we’re offering our lowest prices of the year during a special flash sale—but hurry, the sale ends Tuesday night.
Choose from the 5k, 10k, or half marathon, and experience the thrill of crossing the finish line on the historic Blue Oval. Now’s your chance to lock in your spot at one of Iowa’s most iconic road races. Sign up early, save big, and join us in celebrating 57 years of running excellence.
Flash Sale Dates:
🗓️ Monday, October 21 – Tuesday, October 22
Event Date:
🏅 Sunday, April 19, 2025
Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer. Register now at drakeroadraces.org before prices go up!
—Ben Huftalin, Athletics
The University is pleased to announce the observance for Thanksgiving will be extended to include the entire day of Wednesday, November 27.
In previous years, faculty and staff were given aspirational goals to support the annual United Way campaign – with a goal culminating in extra time off at Thanksgiving. This year, we have a unique scenario that requires a significant power shutdown required by FP&M. So, embracing a generosity of spirit in support of this years’ United Way campaign and this unique opportunity, the morning of Wednesday, November 27 has been awarded in advance.
The United Way of Central Iowa employee campaign at Drake is an invitation to demonstrate our commitment to the Des Moines community. With the United Way campaign, every dollar donated stays within central Iowa by providing essential funding for hundreds of local social service nonprofits. Watch your email later this month for additional information about how you can get involved.
At Drake, we are a community of individuals who have much to be thankful for. We encourage you to remember those who may be less fortunate and demonstrate our value, generosity of spirit – through providing financial resources to the organizations that the United Way serves.
Thank you for your consistent commitment to Drake University and our community. Happy Thanksgiving.
—Debra Wiley, HR
Heads up, Bulldogs! The Des Moines Marathon will be making its way through Drake University’s campus on Sunday, October 20, and this exciting event will cause some temporary road closures in the area. Please plan accordingly if you’ll be around campus that morning.
In addition to the road closures, we’re inviting everyone to come out and cheer on the marathon runners as they arrive at Drake Stadium to run a lap around the historic Blue Oval! This is a great opportunity to support these athletes as they push through one of the most challenging points of the race. The first runners are expected to reach Drake Stadium around 8:40 AM.
Join us in showing your Bulldog pride and help create an unforgettable atmosphere for the athletes as they pass through this iconic part of their marathon journey. Let’s make some noise and give them a warm Drake welcome!
—Ben Huftalin, Athletics
Every superhero faces villains, and in the digital world, social engineering is a sneaky trick used to outsmart the unwary. But with the right knowledge, you can spot these villains from a mile away.
What is Social Engineering? It’s a technique used by cybercriminals to deceive you into revealing sensitive or personal information. It can take many different forms but usually uses tactics like creating a sense of urgency, preying on your fears, or impersonating others in hopes of tricking you into sharing information.
Here are some examples:
Use these Superhero tips to protect yourself:
Ultimately, you’re the hero of your cybersecurity story—don’t let social engineering villains trick you. Now, take the CSAM 2024 quiz to sharpen your powers of detection!
—Becky Klein, ITS
The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is partnering with Broadlawns Medical Center Outpatient Pharmacy to offer flu vaccinations on Monday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. in Harvey Ingham, Room 107, for Drake University faculty, staff, and students.
The flu vaccinations are available through a scheduled appointment (strongly preferred), or on a walk-up basis. Walk-up vaccinations will require additional time on the day of vaccination for completion of paperwork. Signing up at least two days in advance is highly encouraged.
Sign up for a flu vaccination appointment at: https://tinyurl.com/DrakeFlu2024
IMPORTANT:
— Jamie Pitlick, CPHS
The search for the next Executive Director of Human Resources is going well, with several highly qualified candidates submitting application materials. The search committee consisting of Scott Law (chair), executive director of Public Safety and Operational Services; Alejandro Hernandez, dean of Zimpleman College of Business; Kevin Saunders, director of Institutional Research and Academic Assessment; and Heather Travis, controller, have identified a group of eight semi-finalists. After virtual semi-finalist interviews a group of finalists will be identified for on-campus interviews. The on-campus interview process is likely to take place in late October and will include a wide array of campus constituencies. Thank you to the search committee and to Tricia McKinney for supporting the committee’s work and ensuring a smooth experience for our valued candidates.
— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer
Do you love social media, building connections with other students, and Drake University? Apply to be a Bulldog Shop campus store social media ambassador! Applications are open now on Handshake.
What do campus store ambassadors do?
Perks of becoming an ambassador:
— Bulldog Shop