All posts by Mady Nachtman

Campus Announcements Archive

Tune in to Everclass with alumnus Al McCoy Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.

Join us Thursday, Nov. 16, at 5 p.m. to experience a one-of-a-kind conversation with legendary Phoenix Suns broadcaster, Al McCoy, FA’54. Recently retired after an incredible 51 seasons as “The Voice of the Suns,” Al McCoy is a true NBA icon. Join us for an exclusive opportunity to delve into his incredible career, hear unforgettable stories from Suns history, and get a behind-the-scenes look at his remarkable journey from the small town of Williams, Iowa, to Drake and the NBA.

This is a virtual event and it is open to alumni, faculty, staff, and students.

Register here.

Questions? Reach out to Mady Nachtman at mady.nachtman@drake.edu.

HR Information Archive

Diabetes Awareness Month

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. With diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.  When this happens, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream.  Over time, this can cause serious health problems, including heart and kidney disease, vision loss, and stroke. Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States (and may be underreported).

In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled.  That might include you, and you may not even know it.  More than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 5 don’t know they have it.  Another 96 million U.S. adults have prediabetes, which increases your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, yet more than 8 in 10 don’t know it.  So how do you know if you have diabetes?

First, are you at risk?  There are three main types of diabetes; type 1, type 2, and gestational, but over 90% of those diagnosed with diabetes have type 2.  To check your risk of type 2 diabetes, take this 60-second quiz from the CDC.  Second, check for any possible symptoms (thirsty, tired, losing weight, blurred vision, etc.).  Even if you pass the risk and symptom test, the only way to truly know for sure if you have diabetes is to have your blood sugar checked by your primary care physician.  It is a simple blood test.

If you are diagnosed with diabetes, your health care team will guide you.  If you are at a high risk for diabetes, you can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes today by staying at (or getting to) a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, and being active.

For those on Drake’s health plan, inpatient and outpatient training, and education for the self-management of all types of diabetes is covered. All covered training or education must be prescribed by a licensed physician and outpatient training, or education must be provided by a state certified program.  You can go to Wellmark.com, click “Find a facility”, “Places by type”, and then type in “diabetic education” to find a list of in-network facilities that offer this education.

The steps you take today can make all the difference tomorrow.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Volunteers needed for CHARACTER COUNTS! Day with Drake Women’s Basketball

The Ray Center and Drake Women’s Basketball Team are excited to again be hosting the CHARACTER COUNTS! Day with Drake Women’s Basketball game! Thousands of K-8 students will join us on Dec. 8 for a morning full of fun, character education, and basketball. The Ray Center is looking for volunteers from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help thousands of students on and off buses, find their assigned seats, carry in coolers with sack lunches, assist teachers, help with concessions, etc. If you are interested in volunteering for this fun event, please email Megan Wesselink at Megan.Wesselink@drake.edu. Please RSVP by the end of the day Thursday, Nov. 9, to receive a free game day T-shirt. Go Bulldogs!

— Megan Wesselink, The Robert D. & Billie Ray Center

For Students Archive

Financial Aid information and resources

Information about the types of financial aid at Drake, financial aid policies, and other helpful information can be found at drake.edu/finaid. For example, you can:

If you have questions, the Financial Aid Office is here to help! Please contact our office or stop by Carnegie Hall.

— Ryan Zantingh, Office of Financial Aid

Campus Announcements Archive

“Cute as a caucus button” event at the Drake University Archives

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to the Drake University Archives on Friday, Nov. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a caucus-themed button making event. Stop by Cowles for to make your own button, take a look at the Archives’ political button collection, and meet special guest Griff II. This event is sponsored by the Iowa Caucus Project and the Drake University Archives. No RSVP required, please feel free to stop by any time between 11 a.m.– 2 p.m.

— Libby Johnson, Junior, College of Arts & Sciences

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Student Success Spotlight: Claire Muselman, assistant professor in Zimpleman College of Business

Welcome back to the Student Success spotlight, an opportunity to recognize the people and resources that make a difference in Drake students’ lives. Each week, we’ll shine a light on the outstanding individuals and initiatives that contribute to the success and growth of our community.

This week features Claire Muselman, assistant professor of practice in leadership, HR, organizational behavior, and The Happiness Wall.

Regarding The Happiness Wall:
The Happiness Wall began as a heartfelt extension of a practice I introduced when I started teaching at Drake in 2019 – the “Tell me three good things since the last time we saw each other.” As an adjunct for a night class, my time with the students was limited. I yearned to create genuine connections and look for mutual connection points to foster a sense of belonging and trust. I continued this and still do in all of my classes. Now that I am full-time faculty, it is time to create something that will make the world awesome and expand the depth of this gratitude practice.

With the Happiness Wall & Three Good Things in the classroom, I aimed to:|
1. Make each student feel seen, heard, and acknowledged. For those moments, time is theirs. 100% undivided attention.
2. Cultivate a positive environment because a positive mindset is always more open to learning.
3. Emphasize the undeniable health benefits of gratitude, supported by numerous studies.
4. Learn about my students – their hobbies, values, and joys – fostering deeper human connections. This is a great way to learn about where they spend their time, talent, and treasures. <- Truly the only things that we have in life.
5. Set each student up for success by creating an optimistic culture wherein they feel encouraged to explore, make mistakes, and grow.
6. Control the classroom environment to ensure it is supportive and conducive to student growth.
7. Facilitate easy ice-breakers to kickstart each session.

When the pandemic hit, the importance of focusing on the good things and expressing gratitude became even more pronounced. The activity not only became a way to keep spirits high but also a beacon of resilience. I still feel this way even post-pandemic because of the mental health crisis we see all around us. Finding even the simplest of joys within a day can be a small sliver of hope someone needs to keep going.

Advice for others who are interested in this initiative:
It is simple and powerful. Start small, be consistent, and always come from a place of genuine interest in the well-being and success of your students or team.

Highlights:
Seeing students’ faces light up, witnessing their growth, and observing deeper bonds forming among peers have been the most heartwarming outcomes. The Happiness Wall has become more than just an activity; it is a testament to the strength and resilience of our community.

Specific wins of note:

– I had my first therapy session today.
– Saturday night in San Diego after the win was one of the best nights I’ve ever had.
– My last-second play made ESPN’s Sports Center Top 10.
– I watched my friend win the MVC Championships.
– I shared a meal of food with my roommates.
– The holiday season is approaching, meaning more time with friends & family.

My favorite things about teaching and advising Drake students:

It is witnessing their transformative journey – from being unsure freshmen to confident individuals ready to take on the world. Their passion, enthusiasm, and dedication inspire me every day.

For Students Archive

International graduation stoles: Order by Nov. 15

The International Student & Scholar Services department (ISSS) wants to continue the tradition of offering an international stoles. Stoles allow you to display pride during commencement—pride in your academic achievements, in your student clubs or professional organizations, and in the place (or places) you call home. We are working with a company called Vision Wear International, and they provide a discount for bulk orders. You can look at the options available on their website at: https://www.visionwear.com/.

Please let Jorona Johnson (jorona.johnson@drake.edu) know directly if you would like to order a stole and, if so, which type. Be sure to include the flag name(s) in your email. We will need a response no later than Nov. 15 so we will have enough time to collect payment and place the order.

— Jorona Johnson, Global Engagement

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Nominations open for the Faculty Global Citizenship Award

The Drake Principal Center for Global Citizenship is pleased to announce that it is now accepting nominations from Drake faculty and staff for the 2024 Principal Global Citizenship Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to global engagement and internationalization of the campus and curriculum on the part of faculty or staff.

The selected awardee will receive a plaque and a stipend of up to $3,000. A screening committee, appointed by the Provost, reviews all nominations and makes recommendations to the Provost.

A letter of nomination should be submitted recommending an individual for the award and explaining the context and manner in which the nominator has come to know the faculty or staff member:

Pursuant to the University’s mission to prepare students for “responsible global citizenship,” this letter must also explain how the nominee has made outstanding contributions toward at least one of the following priority areas:

  • High impact global learning
  • A globally-engaged campus
  • Access to global opportunities
  • Enhanced global and intercultural competency (students)
  • Increased global and intercultural capacity (faculty and staff)

The nominee must be a faculty or staff members in their fourth year of service at the University, at minimum. The nominee cannot have won this award within the past five years. Faculty and staff members who work directly for Global Engagement are ineligible.

Nominees who indicate a willingness to be considered will be invited to submit a CV and a statement discussing their contributions to the above goals. One or two additional letters of support from faculty, staff or students will be accepted; this is optional.

Any individual who was nominated for the award in the preceding year may be re-nominated if the nominator resubmits a letter offering the individual for consideration this year. A record of previous nominees is maintained for two years. If a faculty or staff member is re-nominated, the nominator will be invited to review the file from the previous year to ensure that the nomination details are current.

The window to submit nominations for this academic year is November 3, 2023, through February 11, 2024. Nomination letters should be submitted via this online form.

Questions may be directed to Annique Kiel, Executive Director for Global Engagement and International Programs.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

Nominations open for new student Global Citizenship Award

The Drake Principal Center for Global Citizenship is pleased to announce that it is now accepting nominations  from the Drake campus community for the annual Global Citizenship Award, recognizing one current Drake student for their outstanding global and intercultural competency. The selected awardee will receive a plaque and an award of up to $1,000.

Eligibility

The nominee must be a current student enrolled in any Drake degree program and who is in good academic standing. This individual must be at Junior (third year) standing or higher at the time of nomination. Full-time international students and students enrolled in graduate/professional programs are eligible for this award. The nominee cannot have won this award within the past five years.

Timeline

Nominations for this award will be accepted from November 7, 2023, through February 11, 2024. Nominees will be reviewed by the Global Engagement Advisory Council (GEAC), and the selected awardee will be announced at the Global Citizen Forum in March 2024.

Nomination

A letter of nomination should be submitted recommending an individual for the award and explaining the context and manner in which the nominator has come to know the student. This may be submitted by any member of the Drake campus community, including faculty, staff, administration, current students, and alumni.

Students may self-nominate for this award, which will require that a letter of support from a member of the campus community be included in their nomination form.

Pursuant to the University’s mission to prepare students for “responsible global citizenship,” the nomination or support letter must explain how the nominee has made outstanding contributions toward enhancing their global and intercultural competency during their Drake career. Preference will be given for demonstrated leadership and impact.

Nominees who indicate a willingness to be considered will be invited to submit a resume/CV and a brief statement. One or two additional letters of support from faculty, staff, or students may be submitted to support the nomination; this is optional.

Any individual who was nominated for the award in the preceding year may be re-nominated. A record of previous nominees is maintained for two years. If a student is re-nominated, the nominator will be invited to review the file from the previous year to ensure that the nomination details are current.

Nominations should be submitted via this online form.

Please direct questions to global@drake.edu.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

Help our campus become better balanced by participating in the Healthy Minds Study (HMS)

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, students, faculty, and staff will be invited to participate in the Healthy Minds Study (HMS), which will be delivered via email. Two versions of the survey will be administered concurrently—a student version and a faculty/staff version.

The Healthy Minds Network (HMN) is one of the nation’s premier research organizations contributing to adolescent and young adult mental health.  HMN is dedicated to improving the mental and emotional well-being of young people through innovative, multidisciplinary scholarship.

Be assured: all your answers will remain confidential. You will not be identifiable as an individual and your participation in this project is completely voluntary. The HMS will conduct the study to prevent anyone at Drake University from having access to the raw data and HMS will not share your individual responses with any 3rd parties. Once the survey is complete, HMS will only provide aggregate data sets to relevant individuals on campus. This data will then be used to identify areas that should be targeted during the quality initiative as well as informing other related projects being conducted by several colleges/schools.

By participating, you will be contributing to a full understanding of where our campus is relative to well-being and mental health. This information will be used to improve campus life and you will be contributing to a broader goal of promoting well-being within higher education.

Drake will be completing weekly prize drawings for anyone who completes the survey. One student will be randomly selected each week and will be able to choose AirPods, a sunrise alarm, or a weighted blanket. One faculty/staff member will be randomly selected each week and will be able to choose a student to take to lunch (using a $40 Bulldog Bucks credit). Additionally, all invited participants will be entered into the national sweepstakes and have a chance to win a gift card of up to $500.

More information about the Healthy Minds Network is available here: https://healthymindsnetwork.org/

Questions about the survey can be directed to Laura Shell, Strategic Director for Student Retention & Success.

— Laura Shell, Academic Excellence and Student Success