The All Staff Council Recognition committee would like to congratulate the following people for receiving a True Blue award:

Utilities FPM Team
James McNab
Alicia Chilton
Kelsey Faybik
Sydni Jennings
Amelia Klatt

A staff member who is called to be True Blue is someone who:

1. Epitomizes the values of leadership, teamwork, and integrity, and exhibits their commitment to the Drake community
2. Has shown others what it takes to get a task or project done, and accomplishes that by working well with others
3. Is able to be honest and fair in the situations they face
4. Does all of these things for the betterment of Drake and its values and goals.

Does this sound like someone you know? Submit a nomination today! https://www.drake.edu/asc/recognition/calledtobetrueblue/.

— Amelia Klatt, On behalf of All Staff Council

Drake’s All Staff Council Recognition Committee recently celebrated SJMC staff with a Bulldog Applause. Read the spotlight below to learn more about the team.

Spotlight: SJMC Staff

How many staff members are in the department?  3

What is the primary function of the team? The SJMC educates strategic, global thinkers with diverse media and communication skills and a solid ethical underpinning who are prepared to respond to a rapidly changing media culture.   Empowering voices since 1919, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication is celebrating its centennial this year.

Who has been with the team the longest? Mallory Quinn, Assistant to the Dean, has been with the team since February of 2016.

Who is the newest team member? Denise Ganpat, joined the SJMC team a year ago in October 2018.  She has worked at Drake since September 2011.

What campus buildings do your team members “live” in? Our team “lives” in Meredith Hall – designed by internationally famous architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

What are some recent challenges and accomplishments of note that others in the University might not know about?Ray recently led efforts to remodel and re-engineer the TV studio, podcast rooms, radio station, and other resources in the lower level of Meredith Hall.  Mallory works with faculty on an SJMC curriculum that allows students the flexibility to customize their education.  Starting in Fall 2020 it will include an online undergraduate BA in Journalism and Mass Communication, targeted to students with associate’s degrees who want to complete their bachelor’s degrees.  Denise works on a variety of SJMC tasks.  A new aspect of her position is supporting faculty advisors and student leaders on Board of Student Communication activities.

The family of the late Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady, who passed away Friday, has confirmed plans to observe and celebrate his life. 

A public memorial service will take place at the Knapp Center on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 10 a.m. Justice Cady was a proud Drake alumnus who earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Drake. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early; doors will open at 9 a.m. The public is invited to enter the Knapp Center on the Forest Avenue entrance only.

For more information, read a statement from the Iowa Judicial Branch.

On Friday, Nov. 29, electricity will be shut off to Aliber, Cartwright, and Jewett from approximately 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. so Facilities Planning and Management can safely clean three high voltage vaults on campus. Please remember to turn off your computers and electronic devices before leaving for Thanksgiving. Please contact Ron Tart, chief electrician, if you have any question or concerns.

— Ron Tart, Facilities Planning and Management

The Offices of Finance and Student Financial Planning would like to thank everyone for taking the time to complete the Administrative Survey in October.  We have gained valuable feedback to help us maintain and improve the services we provide to students, faculty, and staff.

Ratings in nearly every question increased over the prior year. Each of the departments individually scored between 4 and 5 on the 5-point scale with only one exception. While not a statistically significant difference, the overall satisfaction with the services provided by the Offices of Finance and Student Financial Planning increased to an average score of 4.38 this year compared to 4.26 in 2018. While there is always room for improvement, the unit’s staff are clearly doing their best to meet our service-oriented objectives to:

• Ensure our constituents are engaged and informed,
• Ensure integrity and transparency,
• Process university resources timely and accurately, and
• Improve service excellence.

The comments included in the survey were very helpful. There were many positive comments all centered around the staff being knowledgeable, approachable, courteous, service-oriented, responsive, and helpful, as well as displaying a ‘can do’ attitude. There were also several valuable suggestions for improvement. The most significant theme identified by our staff pointed to the need for continuation of our focus on process improvements. Two recent examples of already implemented process improvement include the automation of our payment processing using the services of Paymerang and the transition of the tuition rebate application to an online form rather than paper. Additional process improvement initiatives are already in the works, such as efficiencies in processing transactions from restricted and endowed funding sources. Other initiatives will continue as staff time and IT resources allow.

Thank you again for participating in the Administrative Survey and please know that your input is reviewed and analyzed by the entire staff of the Offices of Finance and Student Financial Planning.

— Adam Voigts, Chief Financial Officer

DU Well Healthy Holidays Challenge is a five-week program that runs from Dec. 2, 2019, through Jan. 5, 2020.  It consists of a series of one-day challenges that you can do at home or at Drake. From taking a walk break, to phoning a friend, or checking the batteries on your smoke detector, there is something for everyone.  Simply check off the challenges as you complete them on the tracking form you will be provided.  If you complete a daily challenge on 30 of the 35 days, you will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win prizes.

As an added bonus, the tracking form will include a place to record your weekly weight.  This is optional, but if you maintain (or lose) weight over the holidays, it will count as completing three (3) daily challenges.

To register for DU Well Healthy Holidays and receive your tracking form, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources