All posts by Alejandro Hernandez

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Volunteer opportunity with Al Éxito University on campus July 16

Drake is getting ready to host Al Éxito University on campus in July and there is an opportunity for faculty and staff to engage in a volunteering opportunity during this college experience camp designed specifically for Latinx students from around Iowa. This program aims to empower students by equipping them with the tools and confidence they need to succeed in higher education.

The organization is seeking volunteers to assist students in a critical aspect of their journey—crafting a compelling first draft of their scholarship essays. To provide personalized one-on-one support, Al Éxito has a goal of securing 60 volunteers. Following are details about the opportunity:

Volunteer Role Details:

  • Task: Assist students in drafting their first scholarship essay.
  • Support: Provide personalized feedback and insights.
  • Objective: Ensure every scholar leaves with a strong essay draft to kickstart their scholarship applications.

Event Details:

  • Date: Tuesday, July 16
  • Time: 3:15–6:30 p.m.
  • Location: Drake University (More details as the dates gets closer)
  • Additional Info: Training and dinner provided. Extensive writing expertise not required. Al Éxito will train volunteers to best support scholars during this event.

Interested faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up through this link:  https://bit.ly/VolunteerAEU24.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Dean, Zimpleman College of Business

HR Information Archive

Time to play HealthyU Bingo

Join us in July for HealthyU Bingo. The goal is to fill up a blank bingo card (or two), during the month, with healthy activities completed from a provided list, and then play some games of HealthyU Bingo for prizes.

To get started, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Deadline to register is Friday, June 28.  All participants will receive a packet that includes a list of HealthyU Bingo activities and a blank bingo card.  You are welcome to make copies for your family.  This is a fun activity that you can share with them. For questions, contact Linda Feiden.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Wellness premium incentive reminder

As a reminder, employees on Drake’s health plan who wish to continue receiving the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2025 need to complete a physical exam with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2024, and submit a Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form by Nov. 30, 2024.  This is an annual event, so if you submitted one last year, you need to do it again this year.

If you already had your physical since last December, please fill out the form and turn it in now.  If you have not scheduled your annual physical yet, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.  Some physician’s offices require a long lead time for appointments. Also note that our Wellmark health plan allows for one physical per calendar year, so you should not need to wait a year and a day between physicals.

Besides receiving a premium discount, an annual physical is a great way to receive important health information through age and gender specific examinations, schedule recommended preventative screenings, and create a doctor-patient relationship.

Please contact linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions on the wellness premium discount physical form.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Staff Archive

All Staff Council open positions

Following the spring elections for the Drake All Staff Council, additional opportunities have become available. The following positions and committee members are needed for the 2024–2025 year.

All Staff Council is a good way to network with other campus staff and work to help promote a positive and collaborative campus work environment. If you are classified as a staff member, interested, and committed to serving, please contact Kevin Saunders, 2024–2025 ASC chair, at kevin.saunders@drake.edu.

Executive Committee, Chair-Elect

Members of the Executive Committee (chair and chair-elect) conduct the monthly Executive Board meetings, help to coordinate efforts of the committees, and respond to issues or recommendations brought forth by members. The chair-elect provides support for meeting minutes and agendas. The chair-elect will serve as chair in the following term.

Governance Committee

The Governance / Policy Committee finalizes the structure of the ASC by developing rules. This committee conducts yearly elections and attends to any rules changes, recommendations, or policies proposed.

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.

For more information on the All Staff Council visit https://drakeedu.sharepoint.com/sites/AllStaffCouncil.

— Ryan Harris, on behalf of All Staff Council

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Collaborate contract expiring July 1

The ITS contract with Class Collaborate, formerly Blackboard Collaborate, expires July 1. If you’ve previously used or have been planning to use Collaborate, it won’t be available after July 1. Our Zoom institutional license is available as an alternative and integrated into Blackboard Learn courses. 

To save any recordings you made with Collaborate, download them before July 1 and upload into Panopto. To ask questions or request assistance with this transition, visit the ITS service portal at service.drake.edu/its and submit an Academic Technology Consultation ticket. 

— Becky Klein, ITS

 

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Ice cream week July 9–13

Ice cream week is coming! From July 9–13, Provost Mattison invites you to gather some colleagues, take a walk down to Black Cat Ice Cream on Cottage Grove, and enjoy a free cup or cone of one of their amazing ice cream or sorbet flavors.

You can pick up your ticket for one free cup at the Provost’s Office in Old Main from July 9–12.

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

June group fitness classes

Every Tuesday and Thursday in June, Gail Witte will be teaching Functional Fitness from 12:15–12:45 p.m. Functional Fitness is a dynamic and versatile training program designed to improve your everyday life through exercises that mimic real-life movements. By focusing on movements that you perform daily, such as lifting, pushing, pulling, and twisting, Functional Fitness aims to enhance your strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility. This approach not only builds muscle and burns fat but also increases your overall mobility and reduces the risk of injury.

— Gail Witte, Recreational Services

HR Information Archive

Time to play HealthyU BINGO

Join us in July for HealthyU BINGO.  The goal is to fill up a blank BINGO card (or two), during the month, with healthy activities completed from a provided list, and then play some games of HealthyU BINGO for prizes.

To get started, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Deadline to register is Friday, June 28.  All participants will receive a packet that includes a list of HealthyU BINGO activities and a blank BINGO card.  You are welcome to make copies for your family.  This is a fun activity that you can share with them.

Please feel free to contact Linda Feiden with questions.

 — Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Welcome Mandela Washington Fellows at reception

Drake is proud to host 25 Mandela Washington Fellows as part of the Young African Leaders Initiative for six weeks this summer. Join us to welcome the Fellows at a reception at the start of their time on Drake’s campus.

The Drake community, along with those partners who will be interacting with the Fellows during their time here are welcome to attend. The Reception will be held Tuesday, June 25, at 4:45 p.m. in Parents Hall South in the Olmsted Student Center.

Please contact yali@drake.edu with any questions regarding this reception or the program in general.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

HR Information Archive

Check out the Summer 2024 DU Well newsletter

The summer 2024 edition of the DU Well newsletter is now posted.  Please take a few minutes to check it out.  It highlights upcoming wellness events, discusses relevant wellbeing topics and health observances, tests your trivia knowledge, shares fun recipes, and challenges you to try a healthy change.

If you have ideas for future editions, please feel free to contact us at drakehr@drake.edu, using the subject line, DU Well newsletter.

You can explore other ways Drake supports employee wellness on our DU Well webpage, including information about our Employee Assistance Program, the Wellness Premium Discount, and much more.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources