All posts by Gregory Lin

Campus Announcements Archive

Celebrate Pride with Drake University at the Capital City Pride Parade

June is Pride Month and our opportunity to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community at Drake and their accomplishments, as well as the ongoing pursuit of equal justice for the community.

Come celebrate all these things and more, and walk with Drake University at the 2023 Capital City Pride Parade on Sunday, June 11, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the East Village. Afterwards, we invite you to join us for a post-parade social. All members of the Drake community are welcome, including students, staff, faculty, and alumni, and allies are encouraged to walk with us as well.

Also, did I mention that Griff II will be there! Our official parade vehicle is the Griffmobile, although it’s too hot for him to be walking in the Parade, he will be cruising down in the air conditioning.

If you would like to walk with us, please register at the website here. This lets us know how many people to expect and how many materials to bring. All attendees are encouraged to wear their Drake Blue!

— Gregory Lin, Alumni Relations

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Office of the Provost internal leadership search 

Drake University seeks a Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs to provide leadership for faculty success initiatives and strategic academic affairs priorities.   

The DPAA reports to the Provost, and has direct supervisory responsibilities of an administrative assistant and the director of the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration.  The DPAA works strategically and collaboratively across campus, and is an integral member of Provost’s Council (OIRA, Global Engagement, Registrar, Student Success, Online, Admissions, Campus Equity and Inclusion) and Academic Affairs Council (Provost’s Council and Academic Deans).

This position is a three-year renewable appointment. Please submit cover letter, CV, and diversity statement by Monday, June 12, to Madison Bemus.

Primary Functions:

Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) (60%)
— Support faculty success:  
— Articulate a vision for the CTE. 
— Plan and implement data-informed initiatives to support successful teaching, research/scholarship, and service. 
— Support faculty honors and awards functions.  
— FYS staffing, training, and evaluation.
— Quality Initiative for reaffirmation of HLC accreditation: 
— Co-direct campus-wide QI initiative that is integrally connected to FYS and CTE. 
— Honors program, Speaking Center, and Writing Center. 
— Oversight of budget and administrative roles, and strategic support.

New Faculty and Academic Chair orientations and mentoring (20%)
—Develop programs and activities to support and mentor new faculty onboarding and retention.  
— Develop programs and initiatives to support and mentor new and continuing department chairs.

Other strategic priorities (10%)

Office of Sponsored Programs Administration (5%)
— Lead and oversee strategic growth in external funding for scholarship and innovative teaching.  
— Oversight of the Office of Sponsored Programs director, three additional staff, and budget.

Communications to campus (5%)

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Be a full-time (tenured or consecutive term) faculty member at Drake University at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. 
  • Provide evidence of leadership (formal or informal) by collaborating, problem-solving, and capacity-building.    
  • Demonstrate high-level communication skills, including listening, writing, and speaking. 
  • Demonstrate informed decision-making using data. 
  • Demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through concrete actions.

—Sue Mattison, Provost

For Faculty Archive

DU England: Harlaxton Faculty-in-Residence application deadline extended

The deadline has been extended for faculty to apply for the DU England: Harlaxton Faculty-in-Residence position for Fall 2024. Submissions are due Monday, July 10, 2023. To learn more about this opportunity including eligibility, compensation, responsibilities, and to apply, please go to: https://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b3N99sIS5gq8Kge.

Drake is developing semester-long, cohort-model study abroad programs where a Drake faculty member travels abroad with a group of students teaching and supporting the program in various other capacities. Faculty will teach two 3-credit undergraduate courses meeting an AOI and taking advantage of the program location. One course will be a lower-level intro course with broad appeal, with the second course being upper-level. Drake students on the program will be required to take one of the two courses.  As you are thinking about what courses you could offer, consider what course offerings would allow for a cohort of students from your department to study abroad and stay on track for graduation.

This is an opportunity for you to teach and live abroad in a 100-room Victorian Manor constructed in 1831, with magnificent gardens, spectacular architecture, and beautiful woodlands. Set in 300 acres of beautiful countryside in the heart of England, Harlaxton allows you to enjoy the British Midlands with the ability to be in London in about an hour.  Harlaxton’s central location in Lincolnshire also brings other major cities and towns within easy reach, allowing academic and culturally important sites to be visited in a day out or weekend away.

Questions? Reach out to Maria Rohach, director of education abroad, at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

— Maria Rohach, Global Engagement

Campus Announcements Archive

Jen Rasmussen named Drake’s new Environmental Health & Safety Director

Jen Rasmussen will serve as Drake’s next Director of Environmental Health & Safety. Jen comes to Drake from the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council were she was an Environmental Health & Safety consultant and trainer. She also served as an Environmental Compliance Specialist at EFCO Forms in Des Moines. Jennifer has a Certificate in Occupational Safety from Iowa State University where she also secured degrees in psychology and sociology. Jennifer has an extensive knowledge and background in developing and implementing health and safety programs and leading legal compliance efforts. We are excited to welcome Jen to Drake.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Grants available for projects that advance social change and spark joy

Dr. Richard Deming is the Medical Director of Mercy One Cancer Center, and his compassion and desire to create positive change, and his ability to help others find joy will be an enduring legacy with the lives and organizations he has touched.

Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Deming and his gift to The Ones Campaign, we are pleased to announce the availability of grants of up to $2,500 for faculty teaching community-engaged learning courses or student organizations whose proposed initiatives aim to advance social change and ultimately spark joy for those impacted by the work.

Criteria:
—Spark joy for those being served and those who are serving
—Projects should have a long-term impact; addressing systemic challenges preferred
—Be tied to a CEL course or student group/organization working with off-campus partners

Funds can be used on supplies, equipment, food, etc.

We are currently accepting applications for the 2023–2024 academic year.

Ready to spark joy and ignite change? Read more about the criteria and apply.

Contact Amanda Martin, amanda.martin@drake.edu and Ryan Arnold, ryan.arnold@drake.edu with any questions or to discuss an idea.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

Campus Announcements Archive

First annual Drake wellness conference

Mark your calendars for Oct. 25, 2023, for the first annual Drake wellness conference. The conference will include relaxed social time to get to know the faces of the various departments, presentations, and lectures, as well as experiential activities and breakout sessions.  There are many opportunities to participate in the day and even win some prizes! Keep an eye out for updates. If you would like to be a part of this conference as a facilitator, please reach out to gail.witte@drake.edu.

— Gail Witte, Assistant Director of Recreation Service

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Des Moines Corporate Games: Please join!

The Des Moines Corporate Games are a great way to have fun with co-workers, celebrate your health, skills, and knowledge, and represent Drake while doing so.

We need help filling upcoming teams with June deadlines.  Please consider joining us.

Track & Field.  Deadline to register is June 7 before 10 a.m.  Events are held Tuesday, June 13, at the Drake stadium beginning 5:30 p.m.  Events include 100 meter dash, 400 meter run, 800 meter run, long jump, shot put, and a couple relays. All ages welcome.

Dodgeball.  Deadline to register is June 7.  Event held Wednesday, June 21, at 6 p.m. at Pioneer Columbus Community Center. Need at least two more men and women—more are welcome.

Kickball.  Deadline to register is June 7.  Event held Saturday, June 24, at Savage Softball Fields beginning at 9 a.m. Need at least four more men and five more women—more are welcome.

Trivia.  Deadline to register is June 14. Event held Tuesday, June 27, at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. Check-in at 5:30 p.m. and competition begins at 6:30 p.m. Opening for up to three more men or women.

Bowling (coed, women’s, men’s). Deadline to register is June 28.  The coed team plays Tuesday, July 11, and the men’s and women’s teams play on Wednesday, July 12, at Bowlerama Lanes, beginning at 8 p.m. Five players per team. Plenty of openings on all teams.

In addition to the team events, there are several individual events coming up in June that you may be interested in, including yoga (June 17 at Gray’s Lake Park at 9 a.m.) a virtual fitness walk (anytime from June 16–19), and a virtual fitness class (June 29).  If you are not into sports, they also have an opportunity for you to donate blood or package meals at Meals from the Heartland.

Signing up is easy—email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu if you are interested in participating in any (or many) of the events above.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Student timesheet approval deadline changed to July 5

July 3–4 will be a University holiday. Therefore, the student payroll approval deadline will be changed. The deadline for students to submit timesheets will not change. Students will still have until July 1 at 12 p.m. to submit, but approvals will need to be completed by 11:59 p.m. on July 5.  It is imperative that everyone meets the deadline as this student payroll will be completed in a shorter timeframe. If you will be taking vacation over the summer, consider Adding a Proxy for your approvals.

— Heather Winslow, Administrative Services Specialist

Campus Announcements Archive

Bulldog Shop under new management, 75% off sale

The Bulldog Shop in Olmsted Center is now open under new management as Drake’s new course materials and retail merchandise vendor, eCampus.com, has begun to serve the Drake campus.

Currently, everything in the store is marked 75% off while supplies last. In addition, you will notice many other merchandise and store enhancements taking place over the summer months.

We are also pleased to announce that Kyle McVey is returning to Drake to serve as the Bulldog Shop manager. Please be sure to stop in and say hello to Kyle and his team.

Updates to the website are also in progress to ensure the store is referred to as the Bulldog Shop rather than the Drake Bookstore. The Bulldog Shop website has lots of great information including detailed instructions on how students can order course materials. Students will now select course materials online and receive them on campus prior to the start of classes.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer