The Office of Community Engaged Learning invites you to recognize civically-engaged projects, alumni, and community partners by nominating them for an Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact “Engaged Campus Award.”

Nominations are due Feb. 24. View the nomination form.

• Emerging Innovation Award: A recent project, program, or initiative making unique and innovative contributions that demonstrate strong future potential, including student-led projects.
• Community Collaboration Award: A collaboration co-created with community organizations, leaders, and/or partners that is deep, reciprocal, and transformational.
• Civic-Minded Employer Award: An Iowa or Minnesota business nominated by a member institution for its commitment to corporate social responsibility and employee engagement in community.
• Alumni Leadership Award: An alum of a member institution making strong contributions to their community and demonstrating the values of the civic mission of higher education.

The CEL office also invites your feedback on three other awards. If you know of a student, individual/group, or community partner that you feel is deserving of one of the following awards, please send a paragraph of justification to amanda.martin@drake.edu no later than Feb. 15. If selected, you will be contacted for further information.

• Student Leadership Award: This award is for an individual student or a student organization that models a deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership, evidenced by initiative, innovative and collaborative approaches to addressing public issues, effective community building, and integration of civic engagement into the college experience.
• Civic Engagement Leadership Award: This award is for a member of the faculty, administration, or staff or for a group (e.g., advisory committee, task force, project team) that has significantly advanced their campus’ distinctive civic mission by forming strong partnerships, supporting others’ civic and community
• Community Partner Award: This award is for a community-based individual or organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and has engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with the college or university, thus enriching educational as well as community outcomes.

Read about last year’s winners.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning

Drake has developed two new University policies focused on implementing ongoing security measures in the handling of its financial transactions and accounts. The “Identity Theft Prevention Policy” describes the process Drake will use to identify, detect, and respond to potential or confirmed instances of identity theft. The “Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS) Policy” establishes clear policies for the processing of payment card transactions to insure institutional compliance with PCI-DSS requirements.

All interested members of the Drake community are encouraged to review and comment on these policy revisions by Jan. 23, 2021.

— Jessica Morgan-Tate, Finance & Administration

Due to winter break, the next issue of OnCampus will be delivered Tuesday, Jan. 12. To submit a story for the Jan. 12 issue, complete the submission form on the OnCampus website.

— Ashton Hockman, University Communications and Marketing

As we head into winter break and J-Term, there will continue to be a low occupancy on campus. Therefore, Facilities and Operations along with Drake Public Safety asks all Drake Commuter Parking pass holders to park in Lot 1 (FAC), Lot 13 (Ray Promenade), or Lot 16 (Olmsted) between Dec. 12 and Jan. 24. Should inclement weather conditions arise, this will allow Facilities to address snow and ice operations in these lots and routes to buildings for use by faculty and staff in a timely fashion. All other lots on campus will be cleared as time permits.

— Scott Law, Director, Public Safety & Operational Services

Drake’s Intensive English Program (IEP) provides free learning opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to improve English skills. Our IEP offers intermediate and advanced level classes with an academic focus. If you feel that you may need additional help in a certain English skill area, be it advanced academic writing, grammar, or speaking, or if you simply would like to improve your pronunciation, you may want to consider taking one of our classes. The best news is that full-time Drake students, including exchange students, staff, and faculty can take IEP classes free of charge! We also offer an American Culture course for anyone who is interested in a deeper understanding of the U.S. and its various cultural aspects.

All classes for the Spring 2021 semester are being offered remotely. Please note that these classes are not credit-bearing.

Our classes begin Monday, Feb. 1, and end Friday, May 7. The last day to register for classes is Friday, Feb. 5. If you are interested in joining a class, wish to see the schedule, or have questions about the program, contact Kendra Hossain-Morehead at kendra.hossain-morehead@drake.edu.

— Kendra Hossain-Morehead, Director of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

Even though the support center in Carnegie Hall (lower level) is closed for walk-in visitors through at least the start of the spring semester, ITS is still available to help with your tech needs.

You can always call 515-271-3001 or browse for guides or submit a request for assistance at our service portal at service.drake.edu/its.

If ITS staff are unavailable, whether over holiday breaks or in the evenings, we have after-hours support answering our main number 24/7 at 515-271-3001. They are not able to assist with every tech problem, but can always open requests on your behalf that will be responded to when ITS staff return.

To be sure you’re reaching an ITS technician if you call the support center, see the schedule below:

• Through the end of the semester, regular hours will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Holiday break begins Dec. 21 and runs through Friday, Jan. 1.
• Starting Jan. 4 through the end of J-Term, hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

— Carla Herling, ITS

Don’t miss a chance to earn a Wellness long sleeve T-shirt. Log into imleagues.com/drake or the Drake Rec App to take our virtual group exercise classes. Reach 15 classes before Sunday, Dec. 13, at 11:59 p.m. and the shirt is yours! Our classes don’t end there. We will be offering virtual classes until the Spring semester. For every five classes you take between Dec. 14 and Feb. 14 your name will be entered into a prize drawing. There are no limits on entries.

Show us your best trick shot this break! Complete a trick shot and tag @drakerec in the post or email it to wellness@drake.edu.

— Emily Madsen, Recreational Services–Wellness