All posts by Libby Johnson

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

HR Information Archive

Benefits open enrollment happenings

Thank you to everyone who attended the Benefits & Wellness Fair on Friday, Nov. 3. We had approximately 70 people come through to meet vendors, play games, grab coffee, and enjoy snacks.

This Friday, Nov. 10, there are two informational sessions (they will cover the same material, so no need to attend both). If you have time and interest, please join us!

  • In-Person Event: 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Study Room in Cowles Library
  • Virtual Event:  1:30-2:30 p.m. Click here to join the virtual session (or email drakehr@drake.edu to be added to the meeting invite).

During these sessions, we’ll share highlights of the plan changes taking effect on January 1. 2024.  Drake HR and some of our key consultants and vendors will be on-hand to answer your questions. We will record the virtual session for people who are unable to attend either session, and share that link in the Nov. 21 issue of OnCampus.

Remember that Open Enrollment runs throughout the month of November with a hard stop at 11:59 PM on November 30. During Open Enrollment, you may make changes to your current health, dental, vision and voluntary life insurance effective January 1, 2024. In addition, if you wish to participate in the health or dependent care flexible spending account plans (FSAs) during 2024, you must enroll, or re-enroll, if you are currently participating in Drake’s FSA plans.

If you are looking for additional open enrollment information, check out our temporary Open Enrollment webpage. If you have not yet explored it, our new internal website also has a Benefits page and a page dedicated to Perks.

— Marlene Heuertz and Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Celebrating National First Generation Student Day

Nov. 8 is National First Generation Student Day. Drake defines a first-generation student is a college student whose parents/legal guardians have not received a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university. At Drake, about 20% of our incoming students are first generation students. The Office of New Student and Family Programs and Drake First Gen Student Organization are partnering to celebrate Drake first generation students, staff, and faculty.

Here are some ways you can get involved in the celebration:

Wednesday, Nov. 8:

  • We will be tabling on Helmick Commons or Olmsted Breezeway (depending on weather) from 1–4 p.m. passing out snacks and First Gen Bulldog stickers. We hope you can stop by for a sticker and some snacks!
  • Zimpleman College of Business Students: Join us in the Aliber 1st floor lobby starting at 9 a.m. to celebrate National First-Generation Day! If you are a first-generation student, we encourage you to stop by for your “I am FIRST” button and a treat. If you are faculty or staff and a first-generation student, please come get a button to show your first-gen pride. Everyone is invited to grab a donut to help us celebrate this special day.
  • College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Students: Join us in the Cline Hall lobby at 10 a.m. to celebrate National First-Generation Day! First-gen students, faculty, and staff are invited to contribute quick notes of encouragement and pride to the first-gen community on the “Why I’m First” wall. Everyone is invited to grab a donut to help us celebrate this special day. We look forward to seeing you there!

Thursday, Nov. 9:
We will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with other first gen faculty, staff, and students during a social hour from 5-6 p.m. in Olmsted Center Conference Rooms 312-313. Snacks will be provided!

Friday, Nov. 10:

Drake First Gen Bulldogs student organization will be hosting a panel from 5-6pm. This will be an opportunity to hear from first gen faculty and staff about their experiences. The panel will be live streamed from the Drake Broadcasting System youtube channel and available to watch afterwards. There is limited seating at the panel, email Erica Sawyer (erica.sawyer@drake.edu), if you are interested in seeing the panel in person.

We encourage First Generation students, staff and faculty to join our Facebook group and follow on Instagram.

We look forward to seeing you at some of the First-Generation Student Day events!

— Marina Verlengia, New Student Programs

For Students Archive

Commuter students are invited to have dinner with the dean

Join Dean of Students Hannah Clayborne for a chance to have dinner and catch up on things that are happening at Drake University this semester. This is a great opportunity to make connections with fellow students along with the Dean of Students. Dinner will be provided for students who just sign up in advance, but space is limited to 10 students. This dinner is for commuter students only. Please review the available time slots below and sign up.

Questions about this event, please contact Gina Ryan at gina.ryan@drake.edu with questions.

— Gina Ryan, Dean of Students Office

For Students Archive

Summer 2024 Uganda travel seminar

The Summer 2024 Uganda travel seminar is a three-week, six-credit course where Drake students visit Uganda to study sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. The course will take place in the first three weeks of Summer 2024.

Interested students can learn more about the program by attending information sessions on the following days/times:

  • Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. in Aliber Hall, Room 112
  • Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. in Aliber Hall, Room 112

Please contact Professor Henderson (heath.henderson@drake.edu) with any questions.

— Heath Henderson, Associate Professor of Economics