The Advancement team in the Kinne Center is moving. John Smith and Erica Hartschen are already located in the President’s Office suite. During the week of Oct. 30, Advancement Officers will move to the Alumni House and all other Kinne staff will be relocating to the third floor of Old Main. Old Main’s third floor will soon house the annual giving team, records, and donor engagement.
— Heather Winslow, Facilities Planning and Management
Drake University Phi Beta Kappa is excited to welcome Dr. Anna Brickhouse, University of Virginia, to campus Oct. 26–27 as part of the National Visiting Scholars program. Her visit will include work with Bright College, English, Pharmacy & Health Sciences, and World Languages and Cultures. All are invited to her public lecture ““Curse and Doom:” Writing the Americas as Catastrophe on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium co-sponsored with the Susan Glaspell Writers and Critics Series.
— Jeff Kappen, Zimpleman College of Business
The fourth week of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a reminder that you as an individual make all the difference in keeping yourself and Drake safe and secure. Everyone on campus is part of our security culture, and you play the most important role in keeping yourself safe.
Trust your gut and stay vigilant for phishing attempts, suspected ransomware, use of bots, and unsafe social media practices. Remember good cybersecurity practices, such as keeping your software updated, strengthening your passwords, and verifying information you find online. Make it a habit to report suspicious emails and contact ITS with questions, concerns, and for other tech assistance.
Your contributions and actions keep everyone at Drake safe. While Cybersecurity Awareness Month may be coming to an end, good cybersecurity practices apply year-round. Learn more about cybersecurity, watch videos, and become a part of Drake’s security culture at drake.edu/its/csam.
There’s still time to take the cybersecurity quiz! The first 150 people to complete the quiz will receive a coupon to use at the campus Starbucks, and all student participants will be entered into a random drawing for 1 of 10 Griff II t-shirts. Complete the quiz by October 31, 2023.
For ITS assistance, submit a ticket at service.drake.edu/its, visit the lower level of Carnegie Hall, or call 515-271-3001.
— Chris Mielke, ITS
The wellbeing of Drake employees is very important to us. So in addition to the existing programming, we are rolling out a new DU Well Newsletter. Each edition will highlight upcoming wellness events, discuss relevant wellbeing topics and health observances, test your trivia knowledge (for prizes), and hopefully challenge you to try something new.
Please take a few minutes to check out the first edition of this new resource, 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 new DU Well webpage. We have some great employee perks that will also make it easier for you to focus on your wellness.
If you haven’t yet explored the new Drake HR internal website, you should. It is your go-to site for the latest information about your employment and the support services we provide. In addition to the pages linked above, you can also access information about employee benefits, check out upcoming BUILD learning & development classes, and much more. Spend a few minutes exploring and let us know what you think. If you have suggestions for additional enhancements, we’d love to hear them.
— Linda Feiden, Human Resources
A space heater approval policy has been developed to ensure the safe operation of space heaters on campus. The policy will help prevent electrical circuit overloads and direct FPM to possible heating issues.
A reminder that this does not pertain to residence halls, as space heaters are not allowed in those buildings.
If you have any comments, please use the comment function through the Policy Development Page.
— Hannah Remke, Sustainability Coordinator
Please join us in congratulating our most recent recipients of the True Blue Award. Here is a little information about our honorees with excerpts from their nominations.
Kayla Bell, Director of Broadlawns Drake University Counseling Center, Drake Counseling Center
“Kayla has moved mountains to make changes at Drake’s Counseling Center, specifically to make it a more welcoming environment for ALL students. The fear of getting help due to shame or stigma does not exist at the center anymore. Kayla is actively involved and always looking for new ways to be inclusive, give back to the Drake community, and teach others how to be the same.”
Katherine Coady, Julie Olinger, and Cindy Liska, Zimpleman College of Business
“Thank you to Katherine, Julie, and Cindy for your leadership and teamwork. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for your ability to deliver a well-organized and highly successful conference.”
Korrine Jackson, Payroll Coordinator, Finance
“Korrine is the epitome of Drake’s core values commitment to mission and all in this together. She is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that all aspects of payroll are done correctly and on time. Korrine has a meticulous eye for detail and pays close attention to all of the small particulars that could otherwise go unnoticed. In addition, she also has a kind spirit and is easy to work with.”
Laura Krossner, Electronic Resources & Access Services Librarian, Cowles Library
“Laura acts as a team member invested in the success of my courses, and she exemplifies the “we’re all in this together” value that Drake prizes. I would not be able to teach my courses and deliver the educational value that Drake promises without the expert assistance Laura has provided.”
Matt Probasco, Budget Director, Finance and Administration
“Thank you, Matt, for the work you do. Every equation has a story behind it, and inside those you’re working on you’re helping create room for access to higher education for more students, giving a stronger sense of security to our team members, and helping strengthen the future of this institution.”
Jorge Romero-Castro, Administrative Assistant/Office Manager, Music
“He is incredibly organized, helpful, professional at all times, though approachable and warm, and is such an asset to our department. His assistance with recruiting (meeting with parents and students, as well as audition days) is invaluable – so many parents and students have commented on how helpful and kind he is as they navigate this process.”
Kyle Schura, Assoc Director, Customer Relations Management System Strategy, Admissions
“Kyle is incredibly thoughtful about student and family experiences. He is always striving to make sure the online systems are accessible and user friendly. He also considers the in-person experiences and how we can be sure we are creating a comfortable and inclusive environment when students and families come to visit campus.”
Do you know of a staff member or department that has gone above and beyond to exemplify True Blue spirit? Nominate them today!
— Betsy Wilson, On behalf of All Staff Council
Midterms can be stressful! Feeling behind or not happy with your grades at this time—it’s not too late. Let us help you get back on track. Make an Academic Coaching appointment or keep your eyes open for workshops offered through Access & Success. We can help you prioritize your time and help you catch up in your classes.
Also, don’t forget about tutoring. It’s not too late!
All of our services can be found on Starfish or our website: https://www.drake.edu/access-success/
— Michelle Laughlin, Access & Success
Midterms can be a time of high stress for students. Students have been coming to Access & Success to talk about how to catch up in their classes, how to study for upcoming exams, how to make the most of the second half of the semester, etc. Thank you for sending them our way!
I want to be here for you, too. If there are any questions you have about accommodations, how to best support our students and more, I want to talk to you.
I am offering Walk In Wednesdays to faculty, staff, and students. If you have a concern or a question, feel free to contact me. Every week my plan is to do walk-in hours in various places on campus. I will share where I will be each week through this page.
This week I will be participating in the Wellness Conference. On Nov. 1, I will be in Olmsted from 9–11 am. I welcome any questions, comments, and concerns you may have.
— Michelle Laughlin, Access & Sucess
Each year, the Adams Leadership Institute hosts the annual Sussman Leadership Conference; bringing together undergraduate student leaders from across campus to share their experiences, exchange ideas, and gain skills that can be applied to their personal lives, leadership roles, and professional goals.
This year’s Sussman Conference, “One Better World,” features renowned keynote speaker, Dr. Vernon Wall, and will take place on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Olmsted Center (Parents Hall). Conference registration fees and gourmet buffet brunch are provided free of charge for all Drake students who register to attend.
Space is limited! Please visit bit.ly/sussman23 to learn more and reserve your seat by November 6.
— Kristin Economos, Adams Leadership Institute
The President’s Committee on Supporting Persons with Disabilities has begun its work, meeting several times this semester. The committee is developing a framework for integrating disability inclusion into campus initiatives and planning, while also identifying some concrete steps that will result in short-term progress. The committee has identified the following categories of focus: student support, campus culture, campus facilities, employment, and technology. These are categories the committee identified; however we recognize that other members of the campus community might have additional suggestions for areas of inquiry. The next steps include a comprehensive inventory of existing best practices and challenges faced by units across campus. In addition, the committee is engaging with campus units, groups, and organizations to gather feedback and input. Any member of the campus community who wishes to provide feedback to the committee, offer ideas, or suggest topics of future discussion can e-mail the committee at disability.inclusion@drake.edu.
— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer