Have you checked out the Policy Library? This is a great place to start if you are looking for University policies, which are now all centrally located in the Policy Library, so you are sure to find the most current versions. The categories help to organize the policies into logical groupings, but you can use the library search tool as well.

To get started with the development or revision of a policy, you will want to reference the Policy Development and Review web page. In addition, the Policy Development, Approval and Communication policy includes tools for the development or revision process.

—Andrea McDonough, Finance & Administration

The pruning and removal of trees around campus will begin this Wednesday, Jan. 31, and continue for the next couple of weeks, depending on weather. The tree work comes as a result of an assessment completed by Facilities Planning and Management with the expertise of Mindy Charron, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist with Perficut Companies.

A detailed visual inspection of the trees and surrounding conditions identified several trees with health concerns or hazardous issues that are a priority for pruning or removal. Pruning improves the aesthetics, safety, and overall health of the tree’s canopy. Tree removals are necessary for a number of reasons: Structural problems, disease or insect infestation, storm damage, overall health condition, and the proximity of the tree to walkways or buildings, which could pose a safety concern for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Trees that will be pruned or removed are listed below and shown on the attached map:

Signage and detours around work areas will be in place during these operations. Due to the defects in the trunks or the particular species of trees, the wood from the removals are not worth keeping for other projects around campus. Facilities Planning and Management will be planting trees on campus this spring to continue improving the aesthetics of the campus and increase tree canopy.  An Arbor Day event is being planned for April; stay tuned to OnCampus for more information.

—Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning and Management

Last Sunday was Data Privacy Day, an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of respecting privacy, safeguarding data, and enabling trust. As we are reminded on the Data Privacy Day website, “all companies are data companies today,” and we all must remain committed to safeguarding our own personal information and that of our fellow students and employees.

I urge you to show great caution when clicking on links within email messages. Account phishing is the most likely way for the University to be attacked by identity and information thieves. The University and all of our private data is at ever-increasing risk, and we need to be vigilant.

Please always keep in mind the following tips:

• Slow down and look carefully
• Check the message source
• Think before you click
• Be wary of attachments
• Don’t give anyone your password

When in doubt, report it. Learn how here.

If you’ve been watching OnCampus, you’ve likely seen regular updates and information from ITS. One of our primary goals over the past year has been to improve our communication with campus, and we are using OnCampus as one of our primary methods.

In general, this is how we communicate with campus. For each type of message, we may use one or all methods depending on the audience:

• For community-wide informational messages – OnCampus, ITS website
• For professional development and learning opportunities – OnCampus, ITS website
• For planned maintenance outages – ITS website/blueView login screen/IT Service Portal, Twitter (follow us at @DrakeITServices), and Facebook Student Central
• For campus-wide outages – email, ITS website/blueView/IT Service Portal, Twitter, and Facebook Student Central
• For targeted information – targeted email (e.g. Banner Users group, Print Superusers group, etc.)

If you want to know more about ITS or get help with an issue:

• For basic information about ITS, visit the ITS website.
• For help with technology issues, call ext. 3001, visit the IT Service Portal, or email helpdesk@drake.edu.

ITS has recently made some significant changes to the IT service portal to help our users find what they are looking for. In particular, we have added a My Open Requests button to the page. You can use this link to review all of the service requests you have made to ITS. Open requests appear by default after you log into the site, but all current and previous requests can be viewed. Detailed information about each request can be found by clicking on the title of the request.

We have also redesigned the service catalog list, accessible from the Request Assistance button, and the list of self-help (knowledge base) articles on the Find Answers button. Please let us know what you think. We hope you’ll find this new layout more friendly and helpful.

Finally, please take a look at the upcoming topics for Tech Tuesdays and EdTech Workshops. Tech Tuesdays are lively and entertaining one-hour sessions on different IT topics; they have been a hit with those who have attended. If you take a look, you’ll find something to attract your interest and we’re sure you’ll find them informative and useful.

Our own resident Blackboard expert, Dr. Karly Good, is also hosting regular EdTech Workshops specifically designed to help faculty advance the use of technology in their pedagogy. Karly has a great list of upcoming sessions for the spring semester.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any member of my team if you have questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for improvement.

— Chris Gill, ITS

Drake uses the Ethics Point reporting tool to enhance communication and empower individuals to promote safety, security, and ethical behavior. Over the past few months, the site has been enhanced to make it easier to use. Please take a moment to review the site, familiarizing yourself with what types of reports can be submitted and how to file a report.

The Ethics Point reporting tool allows for both online and telephonic reports. The tool is an independent, third-party provided system that allows for direct dialogue with the appropriate University employee who can respond or ask questions without having to know the identity of the reporter.

– Venessa Macro, Finance and Administration

Drake is prepared to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a major emergency such as a snowstorm, tornado, hazardous materials accident, or shooting occurs, the Incident Command Team will direct the University’s emergency response.

In order to prepare for emergencies:

• Familiarize yourself with the information in the Emergency Procedures Manual.
• Make sure your contact information is up to date in the Bulldog Alert database (located in the Campus Life tab in blueView) so that you receive emergency notifications in a timely fashion.
• Know the escape routes for locations you visit frequently. Escape routes are posted in building lobbies.

Please note: Public Safety is willing to conduct active shooter response trainings for faculty, staff, and students. Trainings typically last 45-60 minutes and can be requested by contacting Scott Law at scott.law@drake.edu. A BUILD session regarding active shooter response is also planned. Look to OnCampus for more information.

Additional emergency resources:

Run, Hide, Fight–What to do in the Event of an Active Shooter

Campus Designated Severe Weather Shelters

Drake Guardian Mobile App.

Snow Routes and Ordinances

Please contact Public Safety if you have any questions.

— Scott Law, Public Safety & Operational Services

The Olmsted Lot (Lot 16) will be closed this spring on two occasions: Thursday, Feb. 8 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a campus-wide career fair and from April 25 to 29 for the Drake Relays.

— Scott Law, Public Safety & Operational Services

Book Store hours Jan. 27 – Feb. 8

Textbook refund policy

Text refunds are calculated from the beginning of the term (Jan. 29), not from the date of purchase. The refund schedule is as follows:

Last day for refund with receipt: Feb. 5 

Last day with drop slip/receipt Feb. 12

• You must have your cash register or order receipt. All credit card purchases will be refunded to the card.
• New books marked in any manner will be considered used, and will be refunded at the used book price. The item you are returning must be in the condition that it was purchased (no marks, or damage, original packaging, no missing pieces, shrink wrap has not been broken, etc.)
• There will be a one-week full refund from the start of any weekend classes or classes that begin at a time other than the start of the semester provided the class does not end before the policy time.
• All labels must be in place and intact to receive a refund. Course packets are non-refundable.

Receipt is required for all textbook refunds.

Katie Wilz, University Book Store

Drake International is excited to welcome incoming international students to Drake for the spring semester. To prepare them for the journey ahead and success at Drake, the department has developed a new orientation program that will acclimate them into our community. The program is more comprehensive than in years past and involves the participation of several departments. View the orientation schedule, and help us provide a warm welcome to these students.

— Jacquilline Nagila, Drake International

The Office of Finance is researching the benefits of using a centralized travel firm to manage and enhance travel for faculty, staff, and students. A team has been gathered and is working to send a request for proposals to seven firms in February. Teresa Krejci is sponsoring the initiative; the team is comprised of Caron Findlay (chair), Renae Chesnut, Joe Campos, Dave Haskin, Maria Rohach and Jeni Baugher. The hope is that through a dedicated vendor relationship, Drake will receive the lowest possible rates for travel, easy reuse of unused tickets, one stop shopping for all travel needs, risk management for travelers, and comprehensive reporting capabilities. We plan to communicate our progress in OnCampus, and there will be additional opportunities for input as the initiative takes shape. If you have questions regarding this project, contact Caron Findlay at caron.findlay@drake.edu.

— Caron Findlay, Finance and Administration

Each month ITS offers a different Tech Tuesday session designed to provide you with resources to use technology more efficiently in your job (and possibly your life). All sessions are held in the Dial Center Large Conference Room from 2 to 2:50 p.m. with time allotted for a Q&A and cookies. Attendance counts toward BUILD credit. Sign up for one or all four of the upcoming sessions.

Tuesday, Feb. 13: Tech Troubleshooting
Instructor: ITS staff

What do you do when your tech acts up? Learn what steps to take, where to go for troubleshooting information, and how and when to bring in help.

Tuesday, March 6: Keeping your Identity Safe
Instructor: Peter Lundstedt, director, Information Security & Compliance

Six months after the Equifax breach, how do you protect your identity when exposure is common?

Tuesday, April 10: Getting Help with Microsoft Office
Instructor: ITS staff

Spreadsheets lacking? Email out of control? Find out where you can learn more and start on the path to becoming a Microsoft Office pro.

Tuesday, May 8: Video Conferencing
Instructors: Karly Good and Clayton Mitchell

Need to connect face to face with someone off campus? Learn about the video conferencing tools available to faculty and staff.

— Carla Herling, ITS