All posts by Amanda Martin

For Students Archive

Community Engagement Peers office hours

Are you interested in getting involved in the local community? Are you/do you want to be a changemaker but you’re not sure how to get started? The Community Engagement Peers (CEPs) in the Office of Community Engaged Learning want to meet with you!

CEPs are trained in best practices for community engagement and are highly connected to the campus and Des Moines’ communities.

They can:

  • Share about current/potential partnerships and volunteer opportunities
  • Provide perspective on community engagement opportunities
  • Offer insight into the student service experience
  • If you’ve taken the Pathways for Civic Action & Social Change survey, they can review your results with you
  • Discuss possible collaborations

Each of the Community Engagement Peers hold office hours in the Office of Community Engaged Learning (lower level of Cowles Library) and would be thrilled to meet with you.

Learn more about the CEPs and their interest areas and schedule a 1-1 meeting in Starfish. Contact servicelearning@drake.edu for more information.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

Immersive opera to premiere at the Anderson Gallery

Cadence of Life is a new one act immersive opera commissioned by the Anderson Gallery in collaboration with Drake Opera Theatre.

The performance will be held Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Gallery.  Attendance is free, but a reservation is required.

The opera was composed by Nathan Felix, inspired by the works of Judy Pfaff currently on exhibition at the Anderson Gallery. This commission was made possible by a generous grant from the Friends of Drake Arts.

In this unique interdisciplinary event, Drake Opera Theatre and Chamber Music students will perform the world premiere of Cadence of Life in the Anderson Gallery, surrounded by the works of Judy Pfaff. This immersive experience brings together music and art.

Attendees will stand and walk throughout the performance. If seating is required, please contact andersongallery@drake.edu beforehand to request assistance.

For more information about the Anderson Gallery and Judy Pfaff’s exhibition Freehand, visit the Anderson Gallery website.

— Lilah Anderson, Anderson Gallery Exhibitions and Community Engagement Manager 

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

2023 Great Colleges to Work for Survey: Focus areas

As a reminder from President Martin’s email to campus, the results of our 2023 Great Colleges to Work For (GCTWF) survey are available here. Thank you to the 600 faculty and staff who participated in the survey this past spring.

Our overall percent positive score on the 2023 survey improved 4%. The qualitative responses in the survey serve as a reminder of our strengths: working well with colleagues, supportive supervisors and department chairs, the flexibility to work from home, and more.

Based on our survey results, Drake University has been officially recognized as a “Great College to Work For” by ModernThink, the company that delivers and manages the survey. Our recognition areas are “Supervisor/Department Chair Effectiveness” and “Faculty & Staff Well-being.” It is wonderful for the institution to be recognized in this way.

We use our GCTWF results to define and focus on areas for improvement that will advance creating a strong workplace culture. For the current academic year, our areas of collective improvement are:

  1. Robust and transparent communication
  2. Professional development and annual evaluations
  3. Extending a generosity of spirit to colleagues across campus

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the survey, please reach out to Nate Reagen or Maureen De Armond.

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President; Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

National Wireless Emergency Alerts test Oct. 4

Drake University Emergency Management would like to inform the campus that on Wednesday, Oct. 4, FEMA, in coordination with the FCC, will conduct a nationwide test of both Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System at approximately 2:20 p.m.

Most people will received the WEA test message on their mobile phones.  This is NOT a test of the Bulldog Alert system but a FEMA and FCC test.

Find more information.

— Scott Law, Public Safety & Operational Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Walk the Bulldog Mile Oct. 4 as part of Healthiest State Walk

Grab your walking shoes and join the Healthiest State Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 4. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to meet at noon at the start of the Bulldog Mile. This one-mile path begins outside the Olmsted Center (just southeast of the building). Along the route there will be stops where you can pick up playing cards and stickers.  At the end of the walk, those with the highest ‘poker hands’ will be placed in a drawing for a chance at prizes.

If it is raining, we will move the event to the indoor track at the Knapp Center.  Come alone, bring a friend, or make it a team or department event. Let’s get moving!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

COVID reminders; free government-provided COVID tests

Unfortunately, COVID-19 has not gone away. In fact, in recent weeks, we have seen an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations both nationally and within the State of Iowa. We want all of our employees and students to remain healthy and be in the best position to recover quickly if they do get sick.

Sharing Is Not Caring…During Flu Season: Whether the cause is COVID-19, the flu, or a strong cold, if you have active symptoms (a fever, runny nose, cough, congestion), please do not come to campus. Have a plan: test for COVID. Call in sick, if you need to. Work from home if you are feeling okay but concerned you could be contagious. Visit our COVID-19 and Other Contagious Illnesses page for additional guidance.

Have COVID Tests on Hand: Starting on Sept. 25, the government is once again allowing households four COVID free tests that can be ordered from Covidtests.gov. If you do not have COVID tests at home, we encourage you to order more free test kits to have on hand.

Get Your COVID Booster: Boosters are now available and the CDC recommends updated COVID-19 vaccine for fall/winter virus season. It is easy to schedule online a time to get your booster with CVS or another pharmacy.

Get Your Flu Shot, Too: You can get your flu shot when you receive you COVID booster. Thanks to our friends in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Hy-Vee, there are also still flu shot dates available to receive your shot on campus.

As we head back into cold and flu season, please be thinking about both yourself and others.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

For Students Archive

Admission Cole-ition Volunteer opportunity

As you will recall from your own college search, the most influential person you talked with during your college visits were current students. The interaction that you have with prospective students and family members will impact their future interest in Drake and ultimately play a significant role in the student’s decision-making process. 

The goal of the Office of Admission is to articulate and communicate Drake’s mission statement which serves as a promise. As a representative of Drake, it is critical that you know, understand and communicate the tenets of the mission of the University through information and stories. As a member of Cole-ition you will provide tours to families, interact with prospective students, meet Drake staff and students, get service hours, develop speaking skills, and have a great resume builder!

If you are interested fill out this form with your information:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2jSVnZdysnZkexJTxJPoIDL6qv3DqpPzft26VCVz6OUmn-A/viewform?fce_id=bd75ed72-d919-4544-b0eb-3c0e94ce726b

An informational session will be held on Friday, Sept. 29, from 1:30–2:15 p.m. in Sussman Theatre.

For questions, email admissioncoleition@drake.edu.

— Reed Nenonen, Senior, School of Education

HR Information Archive

ESF e-form overview and training

Human Resources is excited to officially roll out the new intuitive, easy-to-use and track Employee Status Form (ESF) e-form supported by ProcessMaker.

During the past several months, Human Resources has worked with Tyler Spoon, assistant director, enterprise applications in ITS, to convert this commonly used Word doc form into a digital process that automatically routes information to the appropriate approver.  We also appreciate the time, patience, and insights of staff within Drake University Head Start and the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences as they agreed to be our testing population in the soft launch of this form.  ESFs are a form that is primarily used by Budget Office Managers and other authorized employees to change an employee’s status. (Learn more about ESFs on our ESF webpage)

Are you interested?  We would love to provide the campus community an opportunity to learn more about the new e-form—and begin using it.  We have scheduled two opportunities (a virtual and an in-person) for you to see—and begin using—this form, both occurring during the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 28.  If Thursday doesn’t work for you, no problem. We can also schedule ad hoc times on the registration form below.  We know that once you see it, you will love it.

Thank you in advance for your interest in this enhanced form.  Please let us know which session you would like to attend by completing the registration.

— Debra Wiley and Teresa Downs, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Slay Fund call for applications: Receive funding for a social justice-oriented project, event, or partnership

The Slay Fund for Social Justice invites proposals for the 2023–2024 year, which are available to Drake faculty, staff, and both undergraduate and graduate students. We are proud to offer this opportunity to support social change initiatives on campus (or with the community), to sponsor events which raise social justice consciousness and advance equity on campus, and to develop innovative experiences which meet the moment to help make Drake, Iowa, and our world a more just and inclusive place to live.

This fund is made possible through the generous support of Drake alumni, Brent and Diane Slay, who share these goals and their love of Drake University with us.

What types of projects are funded?

There are four broad categories for small- and large-scale grants:

  • Student research/internships
  • Pedagogy for social justice
  • Campus-wide events and speakers
  • Long-term programs with community partners

Descriptions of past projects, including the most recent annual report, are available on the website to help potential applicants develop their proposals. Typical awards range from $1,000 to $7,500, with multi-year projects also considered by the selection committee.

How do I apply?

To apply to the Slay Fund, please visit our website to consider your project’s fit with the goals of the Slay Fund. Proposals (and questions) should be sent to the Jill Allen, Director of the Slay Fund, at slayfund@drake.edu. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis during the year, with a cut-off date of December 5th in fall, and May 5th in the spring.

—Jill Allen, Associate Professor of Psychology & Director of The Slay Fund for Social Justice

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

International scholar reception Sept. 28, 4 p.m., Levitt Hall

Drake University is delighted to be hosting six international scholars from around the world on campus this fall, the most we have hosted in more than a decade.  The international scholars are serving in various capacities, including teaching, research, and mentorship, and they bring a unique global perspective to our community.

The Office of Global Engagement is hosting a welcome reception for the international scholars in Levitt Hall on Sept. 28 from 4–6 p.m. Please come and meet the scholars, help welcome them to campus, and expand your global network.

The scholars include:

Ines Rojas
Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish and Communication & Cultural Literacy
College of Arts & Sciences and Bright College
Home Country: Venezuela

Zahir Cerkini
Fulbright Scholar
Law School
Home Country: Kosovo

Suryani Wijaya
Fulbright Scholar
College of Arts & Sciences
Home Country: Indonesia

Yajuan Jiang
Research Scholar
Law School
Home Country: China

Hua Zhang
Research Scholar
Law School
Home Country: China

Juan Del Valle Rosales
Research Scholar
College of Arts & Sciences
Home Country: Mexico

Please join us as we celebrate these scholars and their contributions to our campus community.

— Bonnie Ehler, Global Engagement