All posts by Chris Gill

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Workday Project Update: Where We Are and What’s Next

Drake’s implementation of Workday continues to move forward on schedule. We have just reached a significant milestone in the project – completion of the design and configuration stage of Drake’s Workday system. From both a schedule and configuration perspective, we are exactly where we expected to be at this point in the work. Importantly, testing to date has exceeded expectations, giving us confidence as we move into the more complex end‑to‑end and payroll parallel testing phases ahead.

Where We Are on the Timeline

The current focus is on completing the Platform phase of the project, which includes Workday Human Resources, Payroll, and Financials. This phase runs through 2026, with time entry beginning September 21, and go‑live scheduled for October 1. Planning and early preparedness work for Workday Student is beginning now, with detailed student planning activities ramping up over the coming months.

What Workday Will Improve for Campus

Our project teams are configuring Workday to bring significant value to campus through:

  • Greater self‑service and transparency, with tasks, approvals, and status visible in one system
  • Earlier approvals and validations, reducing errors, payroll issues, and budget overruns before they occur
  • Modern financial and HR business processes, replacing inefficient, manual processes and paper forms with automated, digital workflows
  • Real‑time reporting and insight into people, budgets, and operations with integrated data
  • Mobile access for common actions like time entry, absence requests, and expense documentation

What’s Coming Next

Over the next several months, the project will move through end‑to‑end testing, payroll parallel testing, and end‑user training. Training will begin in late August/early September, and non-exempt employees will begin using Workday on September 21 for timesheet entry. The full Platform system will go live on October 1.

As go‑live approaches, we will be providing more information, with more detail, on how Workday will impact the campus and what you need to know to be prepared. Stay tuned!

— Chris Gill, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Fake CAPTCHA Scam Targets Windows Users

Fake “I’m not a robot” checks are being used to trick Windows users into installing password-stealing malware, and we’ve recently heard reports of this scam on campus.

You’ve probably seen CAPTCHA prompts online – those little boxes or picture puzzles that help websites verify you’re a human. The prompt looks routine, but instead of a normal image puzzle, it claims there’s an “error” and gives you “simple steps” to verify.

Here’s the catch: the fake page tells you to press Windows Key + R, then Ctrl + V, then Enter. That opens the Windows Run box, pastes a hidden command from your clipboard, and runs it, potentially downloading an information-stealer (reported as StealC) that can grab things like saved passwords, browser cookies, and login details for your accounts.

What to do: If a CAPTCHA asks you to use keyboard shortcuts, close the tab – don’t do it! If you already did, disconnect from the internet, run a full malware scan, and change your Drake password using a different trusted device. You may also need to change personal passwords, such as email, banking, social media, and others.

If you need help, contact the ITS Support Center by submitting a ticket through the ITS service portal at service.drake.edu/its, calling 515-271-3001, or bringing your device to the lower level of Carnegie Hall.

— Becky Klein, ITS

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Copilot in Microsoft 365: What Changed

Microsoft has changed how Copilot is licensed. As a result, the button that previously appeared inside some Office apps is no longer available for most campus accounts.

What’s changing:

  • Beginning April 15, Microsoft stopped offering the embedded Copilot experience within Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for users who do not have a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) license.
  • You may notice the Copilot icon is no longer available on the ribbon in those apps.

What’s staying the same:

  • Copilot Chat (web-based chat experience) is still available.
  • You can continue to access Copilot Chat through the Microsoft 365 Copilot app and on the web (for example, via the Microsoft 365 portal).
  • Copilot Chat also remains available in Outlook (mail and calendar) and in Teams.

More information:

This is a Microsoft-wide licensing change (not a Drake-specific decision). Microsoft may adjust how and where Copilot features appear across Microsoft 365 apps over time as licensing and product experiences evolve.

Do I need to do anything?

No action is required. If you were using Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote, you can continue using Copilot via Copilot Chat instead. If you have questions or need help finding Copilot Chat, contact the IT Support Center by submitting a Software Request ticket on the service portal, calling 515-271-3001, or bringing your device to the lower level of Carnegie Hall.

— Becky Klein, ITS

Campus Announcements Archive

Dogtown Passport: Free T-Shirt Promotion

Visit any ten businesses in Dogtown, get your passport “validated” at each place, and get a free Dogtown T-shirt at Nos Books (limit one per person, while supplies last). Passports can be found at Lucky Horse, Dough Co, Shelf Love, Mars, Nos Books, and other area businesses.

A good community can feel like traveling the world while only going a few blocks. In Dogtown you can enjoy food from Mexico to Africa, hear music from the latest rock to ancient spirituals, and go wherever your imagination takes you through a book or a film. It’s all here.

Turn in your completed passport for a free T-shirt at Nos Books during their normal operating hours.

Plus, this passport has special offers and exclusive deals. See the world without leaving Des Moines.

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President

Campus Announcements Archive

Photos With Griff II May 12, 13, 14

Griff II will be available in front of Old Main for photos and pets from 7–8 p.m. on May 12, 13, and 14. All are welcome! He will be dressed in his cap and gown for graduates wishing to snap some graduation photos.

Plans may change in the case of inclement weather. Check @DrakeUGriff social media for announcements on any changes.

— Erin Bell, University Communications and Marketing

Campus Announcements Archive

Join Us For Honors Senior Thesis Presentations April 28–30

Honors Senior Thesis Presentations will take place April 28–30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day in the Medbury Honors Lounge.

The Honors Senior Thesis presentations showcase the distinctive, interdisciplinary research conducted by Drake Honors students across a wide range of fields. This three-day event is both a celebration of their academic work and a culminating moment in their Honors experience, as students share their research and findings and contribute to the academic life of Drake University.

All members of the Drake community are invited to attend. A detailed presentation schedule is available at www.drake.edu/honors/curriculum.

— Kendra Colbert, Drake Online and Continuing Education

Campus Announcements Archive

The Impacts Of New Legislation On PreK–12 Teaching: A Conversation With Dave Daughton

The Government Relations Director for School Administrators of Iowa (SAI), Dave Daughton, will be discussing the current legislative sessions’ impact on teaching PK-12 on April 28 from 1:30–2:30 p.m in Collier-Scripss, Room 005. The event is sponsored by the School of Education’s DEI Committee.

From Dave Daughton: “As we get closer to the end of the session, things either start ramping up or slowing down. We had a little bit of both this week. Some bills that needed additional discussion either quickly passed or came to a virtual standstill. We also had some fairly contentious debate on the floor about a few bills. Some of that had to do with “surprise” amendments onto bills.”

Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend to better understand the impact recent legislation will have on Pk-12 teaching. Including a proposed bills to make parents pay for dropped classes, an in-person mandate, guides for district investment, and a bill governing student behavior.

— Amber Graeber, Assistant Professor of Education

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Campus Steam Outage May 18–20

Facilities Planning and Management has scheduled a steam outage on campus from Monday, May 18 — Wednesday, May 20. This outage is necessary to make repairs to a condensate line near Herriott Hall as well as additional repairs to the steam system within Harvey Ingham.

During this outage, which will affect most buildings on campus, there will be no hot water. This outage will NOT affect cooling on campus.

Buildings excluded are:

Alumni House
Boys and Girls Club
Campus Suites at Dogtown
Harkin Center
Nursing Building
Jewett Hall
Occupational Therapy Building
Ross Hall

Facilities Planning and Management has scheduled this outage after careful consideration of the impacts to the greater campus community. With limited students on campus and the many camps, conferences, and orientation sessions scheduled for late May through August, this was deemed to be the most optimal time for a shutdown.

— Colin Atkinson, Associate Director, Facilities Planning & Management