As we prepare to begin the new academic year, Campus Postal Operations wants the campus to be aware of the mail delivery schedule for the fall semester.

Postal Operations will continue to make one daily mail pickup and delivery to each mail location on campus, as has been the process this summer. Each building has a scheduled morning or afternoon mail delivery time. If you miss your pickup time, and have an urgent package or letter, Postal Operations will work with you to try to accommodate your needs. Urgent mail can be dropped off to Postal Operations, located in the lower level of Olmsted, by 2:45 p.m. for processing that day. Postal Operations can also be contacted by phone or email to make arrangements for additional assistance.

By changing from two to one pickup and delivery each day, Postal Operations is able to achieve greater operational efficiencies and fulfill our obligation as stewards of the resources entrusted to us, while also maintaining a focus on customer service and support.

Please review the ingoing and outgoing mail processes below. For additional questions, contact Mary Cecil at mary.cecil@drake.edu or 515-271-3162.

Sending mail:

• If you wish to mail your package via UPS or Fedex, you will need to create labels and input billing information prior to pickup. Contact Mary Cecil if you need assistance setting up an account on these sites. If a package is picked up in campus mail without a UPS or FedEx label, it will be sent out via US Postal Service.
• If you would like to mail your package via FedEx, you will need to request a pickup from your location when you are preparing your mailing label (additional fee required – we do not have a daily pickup from FedEx). This process is also where you are able to input your billing (FOAPAL) information.
• If a package has a UPS label, it will be picked up by noon on the next business day (if you require next day delivery, we suggest using UPS, as they are more frequently on campus. We have daily pickups with UPS).
• There are two UPS drop boxes on campus (near Old Main and Olmsted) – feel free to drop small packages or flats in those boxes if you would like it picked up on their evening route.
• International mail needs to be separated in your mail bag. When mailing an international package, you need to fill out a customs form. Contact Postal Operations if you have questions about this process.

Receiving mail:

• Any package or mail piece can be addressed to the main campus address (2507 University Ave). Mail will be delivered to your building during the next available mail route.
• For direct package delivery to your buildings from FedEx or UPS, we suggest using your physical mailing address. This is particularly helpful if you are receiving something via next day air.

Mary Cecil, Campus Mail Operations

The University Book Store is hiring temporary team members to help with back-to-school duties from August to early September. Interested candidates should enjoy working in a fast-paced, fun, customer-service environment. If interested, apply online.

— Katie Wilz, University Book Store

Beginning Aug. 1, there will be a new director of the Drake Undergraduate Science Collaborative Institute (DUSCI). Brian Gentry, associate professor of pharmacology from the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, will step into the director role, replacing John Gitua, associate professor of Chemistry from the College of Arts and Sciences. John diligently served as director for the past five and half years.

Brian has been an active member of DUSCI for many years. He has served as a DUSCI faculty advisory board member, has been a student research mentor for summer research students, and has been active in DUCURS as a moderator/judge every year.

— Kayla Jenkins, College of Arts & Sciences

Work to repair a steam line located between the Olmsted Center and Aliber Hall began this week. The project is expected to take approximately 10 days to complete. Immediately following its completion, repairs will begin on a steam line located between Cline Hall and Forest Avenue. The repair will limit access of the east entrances of Cline Hall and Harvey Ingham Hall. Those on campus should use the south entrance of Cline Hall to access Harvey Ingham Hall.

The repair work is scheduled to be complete prior to the start of the fall semester. Facilities Planning and Management is working diligently with the contractor, Stroh Corporation, to minimize inconveniences to those on campus. There will be signage in place to direct pedestrians around campus. See the attached map for locations.

— Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management

Clearance items at the University Book Store are now 25–75% off. New markdowns have been made on Relays and some Drake items. In addition, clearance items are available online at www.drake.bkstr.com. Shop before it’s all gone.

Store summer hours:
Monday– Thursday, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Friday– Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

— Katie Wilz, University Book Store

On Thursday, July 12, ITS will perform system maintenance that will affect registrations for the DUGuest wireless network from 10 a.m. to noon. During this maintenance period, no one will be able to register a device on the guest wireless network. Devices that have been registered on the guest wireless network before 10 a.m. should not see any disruption in service. This maintenance will not affect access to any of the other campus wireless networks.

We appreciate your patience while we perform this necessary work. If you continue to have any issues after the planned maintenance window, please contact the Support Center at 515-271-3001 or visit service.drake.edu/its to report your issue.

— Carla Herling, ITS

Due to water damage from the storms on June 30, the ITS Support Center in Carnegie Hall is closed for walk-in support. Access to Carnegie Hall will continue to be unavailable for several weeks to allow for repairs. ITS staff are being relocated to the second floor of Collier-Scripps, and walk-in support should be open by the end of the week. More information to come.

Phone support is available by calling 515-271-3001 or you can use the IT Service Portal at service.drake.edu/its to report any issues you may be having.

We apologize for any inconvenience and will update you when the Support Center reopens in its temporary location.

— Carla Herling, ITS

The Office of Student Financial Planning is hosting a retirement open house for Susan Ladd, director of financial aid, tomorrow, July 11, from 2–4 p.m. in the Carnegie Hall lobby. Susan is retiring after 26 years of serving students, families, faculty, and staff at Drake University. She has held many roles over the years, including graduate assistant, assistant director, associate director, and university project manager for the Drake ERP (Banner) implementation. Additionally, she has served on numerous committees. Her official last day of employment was July 2. Please join us to celebrate her service and wish her well.

— Christine Ditter, Student Financial Planning

The Des Moines metro was hit with catastrophic flash flooding on Saturday, June 30. Drake’s campus was one of the many locations affected. The lower levels of more than 30 buildings on campus were impacted as the rapid rainfall led to power outages and overflowing storm sewers.

Facilities, Planning, and Management (FPM) has been working with the University’s insurance agent and cleanup and repair teams to assess the damage. Faculty and staff whose workspaces were affected, and will need to be temporarily relocated, were already notified by FPM. Faculty and staff who have questions, can contact Kelly Foster at kelly.foster@drake.edu.

Remediation companies SRP Environmental and Service Master are on campus and will be working until the affected buildings are cleaned and restored. Please note, SRP Environmental and Service Master are operating out of G-K lots 21 and 34.

Following the cleanup process, drywall, flooring, and other building materials, including furniture, will be replaced and restored. If you have personal belongings or specific business equipment that received water damage, please have your building contact send information/inventory to Donna Blunck at donna.blunck@drake.edu.

FPM does not expect the storm to disrupt the many construction and facilities projects underway across campus. The department is working hard to address the water damage—and confident in the progress being made—all while keeping previously scheduled projects moving forward.

We look forward to welcoming faculty and students to campus next month for the start of fall semester.

— Kevin Moran, Facilities, Planning, and Management