All posts by Alicia Mann

Reminder: Required Return of Drake-owned Technology policy

As we begin a new semester, please be reminded that Drake-owned technology is required by policy to be returned to the ITS Department.

When a faculty member, staff member, or student employee leaves Drake, the Drake-owned technology (e.g., laptops and docking stations) must be returned to ITS by the employee’s manager or direct supervisor within 10 business days of the last date of employment. For technology replacement or to receive a loaner computer, the previous technology must be returned within 10 days of deployment of the new technology. Please submit tickets to Computer/Peripheral Request in the ITS Service Portal.

For more information and detailed steps, please see the full Required Return of Drake-owned Technology Policy at https://www.drake.edu/its/about/itspolicies/.

Please reach out to Alicia Mann, Budget and Office Manager, at alicia.mann@drake.edu with questions or concerns.

— Alicia Mann, ITS

Scanning to OneDrive

There are two options when using the campus Xerox machines to scan your documents. When using your Drake ID to log in to Papercut, you can choose “Scan to My Email” or “Scan to OneDrive.” When using “Scan to My Email,” you may only be able to scan documents of up to 30 pages with minimal images. Also, transmitting documents that contain sensitive information such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, or bank account information is highly discouraged.

When using “Scan to OneDrive,” you are able to scan documents of any length. Documents will be automatically saved to your OneDrive account. Please see Scanning to OneDrive from a Xerox MFD (How-to) for detailed steps and to locate your files. We strongly encourage you to use “Scan to OneDrive” option.

If you have issues scanning or using the Xerox machines, please submit a Printing Issue ticket, call 515-271-3001, or visit the lower level of Carnegie Hall.

— Chris Mielke, ITS

International teaching opportunity in Mexico

Drake’s global partner institution in Mexico, Tecnológico de Monterrey (TEC), is seeking faculty members to participate in a short-term international teaching opportunity on their campuses across Mexico Nov. 6–10.

International Faculty Week 2023 connects faculty members from universities all over the world, providing the opportunity to come to Mexico to teach in a multicultural environment while engaging with TEC undergraduate students from all areas and networking with international colleagues. This program is an opportunity to experience teaching at Mexico’s top private university!

Drake faculty from any discipline are eligible to participate, and the language of instruction for any topic can be English or Spanish. Learn more about this unique international opportunity by reviewing this overview document and FAQ.

To apply, complete the online registration form by Sept. 22. You will need to provide a CV (in English or Spanish) and proposed lecture topics. Selected candidates will be notified in early October.

Past participant experiences

“This opportunity to represent the Zimpleman College of Business at Drake University at this global event reminds me of the words of UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim ‘…to teach if we are called upon, to be taught if we are fortunate.’”

— Dean Alejandro Hernandez, Zimpleman College of Business, March 2023, Mexico City Campus

“Dr. James Sacco was assigned to the Tecnológico de Monterrey School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Monterrey, where he taught several classes on diverse toxicology topics to graduate and undergraduate students attending various programs, including Bachelor of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, and Biotechnology. He also had the opportunity to observe study and research facilities for students and faculty and laid the foundation for future collaboration in both research and teaching projects.”

—James Sacco, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, March 2023, Monterrey Campus

Funding available through Global Engagement

Drake Global Engagement is pleased to accept funding requests to cover travel expenses. Complete our online application form to request grant funding through the Global Engagement Grant. Applications must include a proposed budget and a letter of support from the head of your academic unit. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. More information about funding for international activities can be found on our website.

Please direct questions related to this opportunity, Drake’s international partnerships, and funding for international activities to global@drake.edu.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement

It’s not too late to order your books

You can get textbooks and course materials quickly with free two-day shipping to the Bulldog Shop when you order online at drake.ecampus.com.

Need quicker access? Go digital! Choose an eBook option at checkout and easily access everything in your personalized Digital Bookshelf.

Don’t want to commit to something permanent? We’ll save you up to 80% on textbook rentals. Amazon no longer offers rentals, but we do! Drake University’s Online Bookstore has the guaranteed right books that your professor chose.

Need help ordering? Follow our 6-step instructions guide HERE to get started.

— The Bulldog Shop

The Speaking Center is open for appointments

Social distancing and remote learning created a period of reduced or altered opportunities to practice oral communication techniques that we all need in a variety of situations. Drake University’s Speaking Center is here to support students, faculty, and staff in our shared efforts to develop and advance these crucial skills.

Students can book appointments to meet with a tutor or the director for help in preparing, composing, and delivering speeches and presentations—or even to get advice for initiating difficult conversations and participating in interactive discussions. We can accommodate students who need presentations to be recorded in a private venue for a small audience. We also work with students, faculty, or staff on strategies for navigating situational anxiety related to public speaking, stereotype threat, and/or imposter syndrome.

Location and Hours: The Speaking Center will be holding appointments in our tutoring space downstairs in Cowles Library, Room 039. Please follow the signs through the tutoring areas back to the SW corner to find our new locationTutoring appointments are currently available Monday–Thursday afternoon.

To make an appointment: Visit http://library.drake.edu/speaking to schedule a personal meeting with a tutor.

Appointments are scheduled for 30 minutes each, and students are encouraged to schedule multiple times while preparing for a single event if they wish. Any questions or concerns should be directed to speaking-help@drake.edu.

Speaking Center Services: Speaking Center tutors have experience and training in speech pedagogy and are prepared to assist students when selecting and narrowing topics, organizing ideas, drafting and revising an outline, preparing visual aids, and practicing delivery. The Speaking Center’s staff also facilitates access to research and resources that can help speakers and presenters and can address a variety of oral communication issues.

Faber McAlister, Associate Professor of Rhetoric

Help welcome new and returning students to campus

The start of a new academic year is an exciting and busy time.  Efforts across campus are underway to provide a warm welcome back for all Drake students—and you are invited to join in the fun! You can find the whole calendar of events here for the week of Aug. 28 through Sept. 1.

It’s not too late to be part of the effort.  Hang a welcome sign on your door, set out some treats for students in your office area, invite a student to lunch … get creative!  Here’s to an excellent new year.

Melissa Sturm-Smith, Associate Provost for Academic Excellence and Student Success

A Room Full of Sisters

A new, special event is happening this fall called “A Room Full of Sisters.” It is being held Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Olmsted and is open to undergraduate women+ students (the plus indicates any students who identify as or have been socialized as women).

This event will provide resources on navigating a PWI (predominantly white institution), relationships, finances, graduate school, and intergenerational conversations among women. Guest speakers will feature faculty, staff and students from Drake. It’s a wonderful opportunity to grow and learn ways to strengthen your relationships and future.

This event is free, and breakfast and lunch will be provided. A limited number of spots are available. Register here.

Sponsored by the Dean of Students Office, Broadlawn’s Counseling Center, Office of Community Engaged Learning & Service, and Office of Campus Equity & Inclusion.

Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning & Service

New arrivals at Cowles Library

Cowles Library is always expanding our catalog of books, databases, streaming services, news subscriptions and digital resources. We’re excited to now offer audio and ebooks as part of our ever-growing selection of new popular titles. You can also always access our featured collections to explore more curated topics.

Come visit us in the library to browse our collections and start the academic year off right.

— Erin Menardi, Cowles Library

There is still time to order your course materials

If you haven’t ordered your books yet, there’s still time, but hurry! There’s no guesswork when you order because Drake University’s Online Bookstore has the exact course materials your professors chose. You can choose from the best selection of budget-friendly formats like new, used, rental, eBook, or Marketplace options.

We even offer FREE 2-day shipping when you select the Ship to Campus option at checkout online. We’ll hold the books at Bulldog Shop for you and notify you by email or SMS once they’re ready to be picked up.

Get prepared for class and unlock success by ordering online today at drake.ecampus.com! Need help ordering? Follow our 6-step instructions guide HERE to get started.

New ESF e-form coming Sept. 28

We are excited to announce the new intuitive, easy-to-use and track Employee Status Form (ESF) e-form supported by ProcessMaker. The anticipated ‘go-live’ date for this e-form is September 28. This new digital process is designed to simplify the ESF process by dictating the flow according to the type of change being requested. The e-form is automatically forwarded from the submitter to approver to HR for processing. Once an ESF is completed, a detailed, final PDF will be emailed to all parties.

If you work with ESFs, we invite you to review the new changes on the ESF website page located under the HR Manager’s Toolkit: Employee Status Form (ESF). This page will be updated soon include a link to the new e-form and training.  HR will be working directly with the Budget Office Managers and Head Start between now and the go-live date of Sept. 28.  Once initiated, individual Teams instruction can also be requested by emailing teresa.downs@drake.edu.

The new e-form will be more efficient and will make the process more transparent. However, we recognize there will be a learning curve with the new form. Drake HR is here to assist anyone with individualized training on the new process (it is pretty intuitive—we think you’ll love it!). Once the form is live, you are welcome to provide suggestions for additional improvement. Please provide us with feedback by emailing drakehr@drake.edu. Your ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

ESFs in a Nutshell: ESFs are utilized by Budget Office Managers and other authorized employees to change an employee’s status.  There are four types of changes:  Additions, Changes, Leaves of Absence, and Removal.  The new ESF process will provide departments with a straight-forward form that only populates data points for the change being made.

— Teresa Downs, Human Resources