Portable electric space heaters can be a convenient source of supplemental heat in cold weather. Unfortunately, they can pose significant fire and electric shock hazards if not used properly. Space heaters without adequate safety features, those placed near combustibles, or space heaters that are improperly plugged in can cause fire and electrical hazards.

Space heaters used at Drake should meet the following safety criteria:

• Tip-over power cut-off switch 
• Automatic thermostat control 
• Overheat protection device (shuts power off if unit overheats)
• UL approval 
• Housing that is cool to touch 

Safety should always be a top consideration when using space heaters. Here are some tips for keeping safe and warm when it’s cold outside:

• Make sure your space heater has the label showing that it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory.
• Before using any space heater, read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels carefully.
• Inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections before each use. If frayed, worn or damaged, do not use the heater.
• Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when you’re leaving a room or going to sleep.
• Proper placement of space heaters is critical. Heaters must be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing and rugs.
• Locate space heaters out of high traffic areas and doorways where they may pose a tripping hazard.
• Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.
• Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, or furniture
• Always unplug and safely store the heater when it is not in use.

Chris Nickell, Environmental Health & Safety

Online Graduate Programs has merged with several professional and continuing education programs across Drake to form Drake Online and Continuing Education. Christina Trombley will serve as the executive director and includes what was formerly Executive Education out of the President’s Office and has stronger ties with the work done through the Center for Professional Studies and training and development at The Robert D. and Billy Ray Center. 

Drake Online and Continuing Education will strengthen collaboration and centralize many services, increasing both efficiency and effectiveness of Drake’s continuing and professional education services while eliminating duplication of efforts and confusion in the marketplace. Drake Online and Continuing Education will oversee all new business moving forward, including decisions on pricing, contracts, marketing, curricular and programmatic changes, and responsibilities. 

The new team has spent the last three months strategizing and developing major goals for the next year. These goals establish both the direction for this new team and the guidelines for how Drake will proactively work to become a resource for businesses and organizations in the Des Moines metro and the state of Iowa. The goals are as follows:

• Develop the model/processes to create “multiple touches” from DSM businesses
• Clarify markets and customer benefits to streamline sales
• Identify new opportunities and leverage goodwill within DSM and Iowa
• Develop and maintain human capital resources to provide training/consulting
• Clarify financial management and budgets for programs
• Develop system(s) and processes for registration and reporting to quantify economic data impact

Drake University has ample opportunity for market penetration and product development. By working together under the umbrella of Drake Online and Continuing Education more businesses can be reached without duplicating efforts. In addition, by focusing on business and customer needs, new products and programming can be developed to meet the changing needs of businesses. Currently, work is happening to strengthen marketing efforts for Leading Others, determine specific stand-alone programming for both open enrollment and customized training, and to develop certificate programs for the area’s workforce.   

Christina Trombley, Drake Online and Continuing Education

Drake Relays ticket packages go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 30.  Drake faculty and staff receive a discount on ticket packages and single-session tickets.  To get the best available seats, purchase All-Session tickets today.

Faculty and staff pricing can be found at DrakeTix.com/drakerelays.  Discounted tickets can be purchased by visiting the Knapp Center Ticket Office and displaying your Drake ID.

For more information, please contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or visit DrakeRelays.org.

Ryan Harris, Athletics

Beginning this spring, students may add classes via MyDUSIS through Friday, Feb. 1. Students may drop classes via MyDUSIS through Friday, Feb. 8. Paper add/drop forms will no longer be necessary to add or drop a class once the semester begins.

Additionally, wait lists that exist at the beginning of the semester will continue to be automated through Friday, Feb. 1. This means that waitlisted students will receive an email notification when a seat has become available, and they will have 12 hours or until noon of Friday, Feb. 1 (whichever comes first) to claim the seat via MyDUSIS. 

However, once the semester begins, students will no longer be able to place themselves on wait lists.

Once the spring semester begins, students and instructors will receive an email whenever a student adds or drops a class. Nevertheless, we strongly encourage students to review their class schedules and instructors to review their class rosters for accuracy, as the enrollment validation policy will remain in effect.

Students who add a class after it has begun are responsible for contacting the instructor to discuss course expectations, catch up on any missed content, and ask any questions they have about the syllabus.

The online add feature does not apply to courses that belong to the Law School, Drake Online graduate programs, or classes that meet on weekends. 

The intent of this change is to enhance students’ ability to make timely schedule adjustments and ensures the schedule of classes reflects accurate seat availability in courses.

Kevin Moenkhaus, Associate Registrar

Earlier this year, Facilities Planning and Management staff walked the campus with a registered arborist from Perficut Companies to develop a maintenance plan for trees on Drake’s campus.  The work includes crowning, pruning away from buildings, and removal.  The trees being removed have begun to decay and have become safety hazards. Removing them helps to preserve the health of remaining trees and maintains the safety of everyone who visits campus from falling limbs that have died. Perficut will be on campus over the next 2–3 weeks completing the tree work depending on weather and accessibility to the trees with equipment.  View a map to see the areas and trees in this year’s plan.  If you have questions, please contact Patrick Williams, grounds supervisor, or Aaron Edwards, building and grounds manager.

Aaron Edwards, Facilities Planning and Management

As we look to the spring semester and all the visitors we’ll welcome to campus, please remember our neighborhood businesses such as the Holiday Inn Express.

The Holiday Inn Express is located at 1140 24th Street, just blocks away from campus. To reserve a room call 515-255-4000 or visit the Holiday Inn Express website.

Ryan Arnold, Community Relations

University Communications and Marketing holds open portrait sessions during the fall and spring semesters. The sessions rotate around campus making it more convenient for the campus community. These sessions are free to all faculty, staff, and students. High-resolutions portraits are made available for download through SmugMug.

Spring headshot sessions:

• Jan. 18, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., University Communications & Marketing (1229 25th St.)
• Feb. 15, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., SOE, Collier-Scripps Hall, 2nd Floor (Dean’s Conference Room)
• April 12, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., location TBD

No appointment necessary.

Jeremy Sievers, University Communications and Marketing

Doors to most buildings will be locked for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 21). Card access will still allow you to access your authorized buildings, but they will be locked to the general public due to decreased staffing and foot traffic. Regular door schedules will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Cowles Library open hours/after-hours are listed on their website library.drake.edu.

Please contact Public Safety at 515-271-2222 if you have a door access emergency during this time. Feel free to email Student Services Center at studentservices@drake.edu if you have a general (non-emergency) card access question or concern.

Sara Heijerman, Student Services Manager

As a step toward process improvement, and to assist you in a speedy delivery of your requested keys, the Student Services Center is planning to discontinue the use of the paper key forms starting Jan. 28. Submitting your key requests through the online Team Dynamix work order system is the preferred method of key requesting.

As has been done in the past, key requests will continue to be done by a designated building key approver. Key approvers can use the links below to request keys. If you are unsure of who is a key approver for your building/department, please contact Steven Blaylock at steven.blaylock@drake.edu.

New Key Request
Lost Key Request
Card Access Issue

Keys will be available for pickup at the Student Services Center (located in Lower Hubbell Hall through the spring semester). Keyholders are alerted via email when their key is ready, and Team Dynamix work orders are closed once keys are picked up by their owners. Please feel free to reach out to studentservices@drake.edu or steven.blaylock@drake.edu with questions about this process.

Sara Heijerman, Student Services Manager

Drake University has exclusively contracted with Office Depot/Max for the purchase of all office supplies. They provide next day desktop delivery, unless an item is on backorder. This is the same contract that the Iowa Regent Universities are using so we have discounted pricing due to our consortium volume.

Please refrain from using Amazon, Walmart, Target, Staples etc. for office supplies. As one of the largest office supply companies in the U.S., they can typically find the item you need at the lowest price.

If you find that an item is higher with Office Depot, you can contact Bryan Bellis at bryan.bellis@officedepot.com and he will work with you to find an equivalent item or obtain bulk pricing if needed. If you need to shop in an actual store, there is a card you can print out from the purchasing website to take with you to use with your Drake P-Card so you will receive the same discounting.

Caron Findlay, Director of Purchasing & Business Services