All posts by Dawson Urquidez, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

Call for submissions: Nelson Student Research Symposium

The Drake Principal Center for Global Citizenship and the Nelson Institute are looking for submissions to the 2024 Nelson Student Research Symposium, which will be held March 8. This annual event promotes a university-wide discourse on global and intercultural topics. At the symposium, selected students are given a platform to share outcomes of their research on a global topic of interest, practicing presentation skills and obtaining useful feedback from Drake faculty.

We recommend that presentation topics be thematically framed by one of the 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which provide a framework for tackling complex, pressing global issues.

How to submit a proposal

While research presentations that support the theme are encouraged, all global topics from any academic discipline are welcome. Presentations will be about 15 minutes each. Papers (or concepts) should be submitted using this online form by Friday, Feb. 16, for consideration. Additional information about the Symposium and the submission process can be found at the Drake Nelson Institute website. For questions, please reach out to global@drake.edu.

— Dawson Urquidez, Global Engagement

HR Information Archive

Wellness premium incentive reminder

Many start the year out by getting their annual physical. If that sounds like you and you are on Drake’s health plan, don’t forget to take a copy of the Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form to your appointment. This form can be found on the Drake HR Internal website under DU Well-Wellness and Wellbeing.

Those on Drake’s health plan who complete a physical with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2024, and submit a completed form by Nov. 30, 2024, will qualify for the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2025, which is a savings of approximately $34 per month. 

If you already had your physical since Dec. 1, 2023, please fill out the form and turn it in now. If you turned in a form last year—great! But don’t forget, this is an annual event.

— Linda Feiden Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Check out the Spring DU Well Newsletter

Last fall, Human Resources rolled out the first edition of the new DU Well Newsletter. It highlighted upcoming wellness events, discussed relevant wellbeing topics and health observances, tested your trivia knowledge, and hopefully challenged you to try something new.

The Spring 2024 edition is now posted. Please take a few minutes to check it out, and feel free to contact us at drakehr@drake.edu, using the subject line, DU Well Newsletter, with ideas for future editions.

You can explore other ways Drake supports employee wellness on our DU Well webpage, including a list of our upcoming Spring term wellness programs and events.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive

Learn about new features in Blackboard during Ultra Hours, Monday–Friday starting Jan. 22

Come learn about new features in Blackboard, or work with an instructional designer to improve your online presence for the spring term.

Drake Online will offer Ultra Hours the week before spring term—Monday through Friday beginning Jan. 22—in the “fishbowl,” Room 201 of Cowles Library. Drop by between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for an informal, office-hours style session. You can explore new tools like flexible grading, progress tracking, and Unsplash images, or work with an expert to copy a previous course smoothly and efficiently. 

If possible, please complete this form to indicate when you plan to come and what you plan to work on. If a virtual appointment works better for you, fill out a service request and one of our instructional design staff will be in contact shortly.

— Bret Sikkink, Drake Online

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Call for nominations: Levitt Distinguished Community Service and Employee Excellence Awards

All Drake faculty and staff are invited and encouraged to nominate a colleague for the 2024 Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service and Employee Excellence Awards.

Madelyn M. Levitt established the Distinguished Community Service Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of Drake faculty and staff to the Drake community. Recipients are chosen on the following criteria:

  • A demonstrated personal commitment to volunteerism and community service
  • An outstanding record of leadership or substantial involvement in community projects, services and activities contributing to the quality of life in our region, state, and/or the nation
  • Professional and personal values and behavior that typify the ideals of “giving back to others” and “making a difference in the lives of others”

The nominee must be a current faculty or staff member with at least five years of service at Drake.

The Employee Excellence Award is presented to a staff member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to excellence in the performance of their duties. Criteria for the award includes:

  • Exceptional performance as an employee of Drake University
  • Outstanding dedication to providing courteous, prompt and quality service
  • Demonstrated commitment to University programs, initiatives, and services
  • Professional values and behavior that demonstrate exceptional service to others and a commitment to Drake University

The nominee must be a current staff member with at least one year of service at Drake.

To nominate a colleague, submit a letter of nomination to Human Resources. Nomination letters may be sent through campus mail or electronically to drakehr@drake.edu.  The subject line should read “Madelyn M. Levitt Award Nomination”.  The letter should detail specific examples of how the nominee exemplifies each of the applicable criteria. Additional letters of support are not necessary.  Nominations are due to Human Resources by Friday, March 1.

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

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Students Archive

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2024–2025 is available

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2024-2025 is now available at studentaid.gov. US Citizens and eligible non-citizens should complete the 2024–2025 FAFSA to be considered for need-based grants, federal work-study, or to take advantage of federal student loan programs in the Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 semesters.

Please note that the FAFSA will be unavailable intermittently when updates to the application are needed. If it is unavailable when you attempt to access it, try again later. If you need assistance with completing the FAFSA, please reach out to Drake’s Financial Aid Office for help.

The US Department of Education should begin sending submitted FAFSAs to schools by the end of January. Until that begins, the Financial Aid Office will not be able to confirm receipt of your FAFSA.

— Ryan Zantingh, Financial Aid Office