A revised add/drop form is now available for students to download online. This form replaces the half-sheet, carbon-copy add/drop form, which is considered obsolete as of the Spring 2017 semester.

Like the previous form, the revised form may be used for students to request and receive permission to add or drop a class after the semester has begun. Students must use the form to obtain signatures from various officials, including the instructor of the class, and submit the form to their college/school dean’s office.

Please be aware that dean’s offices and academic departments may no longer have hard-copy versions of this form available in their offices now that the form is available online.

Best wishes to all of you as we begin the spring semester.

—Kevin Moenkhaus, Student Records and Academic Information

Back in September, Facilities Planning and Management (FPM) prepared a list of future deferred maintenance projects for the campus. I am excited to announce FPM has purchased a new chiller for the east chiller loop of the campus and work will begin Jan. 23. The funding for this project was made possible from a onetime allowance from the Board of Trustees for decreasing the backlog of deferred maintenance on the campus.

The chiller project will begin with demolition of the old chiller and the cooling tower. During February, work will include structural steel install, electrical work, and new piping installs. The new chiller and cooling tower will be delivered on Feb. 28. The cooling tower startup is scheduled for March 22. The chiller start up is scheduled for April 19.

This will cause some issues in the loading dock and small parking lot located at the north end of the Harmon Fine Arts Center. A crane will be used to unload and set the new equipment, and a dumpster will be in same area for construction debris. Please email me with any concerns or issues during the completion of this project: jolene.schmidt@drake.edu

—Jolene Schmidt, Director of Operations & Support Services

Drake Postal Operations has moved to a new location. We are no longer on 24th Street. Feel free to stop in and see our new space in the lower level of the Olmsted Center. When placing orders to be shipped to Drake, please use the following addresses:

For large deliveries:  Ship to 1315 30th Street and use the loading dock.
For all other deliveries and service:  Ship or go to the lower level of the Olmsted Center located at 2875 University Ave.

For any questions about deliveries or services, call us at 515-271-4717.

—Tricia McKinney, Public Safety

As users and consumers of a worldwide internet, each of us has a role to play in protecting our private information. Data privacy is about your freedom—who has access to your personal activities, information, and ideas? Much of our day-to-day activity and work takes place on the internet or on an internet-capable device, but how often do we pause to consider who has access to our information, and how they are using this information?

These concepts are the theme of Data Privacy Day, an internationally recognized day on Jan. 28 that encourages every global citizen to learn how to better protect private information in a world that is increasingly connected. Here are some excellent resources about how to take back your privacy and keep your information safe:

• Cookies and your behavior: It’s no secret that organizations use your browsing habits to offer specific products or modify prices—learn how to control what these organizations know about you.
• Mobile devices: These convenient devices are also convenient for data thieves. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risk to your information when you access the internet or download an app.
• Online shopping & banking: An ever-increasing number of websites are accepting credit card information and allowing you to view or change financial information. Two-factor authentication can offer additional protection.
• Tax season: It’s a good time to think about how our financial information stays secure, whether online or on paper. Check out this ITS blog post for information about how to avoid becoming a victim of tax fraud, and how to recover quickly if it happens to you.

ITS is coordinating the third annual Drake shred event this spring! Bring your confidential documents and have them shredded free of charge on Thursday, April 20, from 12 to 3 p.m. Look for more information in a future OnCampus issue.

Learn even more about how to secure your digital life by visiting our blog at its.drake.edu/category/security-blog/.

—Peter Lundstedt, Information Security Manager

Applications are being accepted for the Olson Global Service-Learning Match Grant to support projects taking place in the spring or summer 2017. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the funding is gone.

Match grants are awarded to student global service-learning projects with faculty/staff support where funds or in-kind donations have been appropriated or raised, but where additional funds would be beneficial. The Olson Global Service-Learning Match Grant funds are designated to enhance global service-learning projects by providing additional funds that would otherwise not be accessible. Global service-learning at Drake is defined as the intersection of service-learning, immersion in global contexts, and intercultural education.

Requirements:

• Funds or in-kind donations of at least $500 must have already been raised
• Projects must have a strong global service-learning emphasis
• Student applicants must have demonstrated faculty/staff support

Please note that we are NOT able to reimburse for individual’s mileage or personal costs. Visit the service-learning website for more information and the link to apply.

Contact: Amanda Martin, community engaged learning program coordinator, at amanda.martin@drake.edu.

—Amanda Martin

The Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA) has updated the Databook with Fall 2016 Faculty information. You can find it here. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work on the next evolution of Databook to support decision making.

—Christine Marchand, OIRA

With the recent outbreak of influenza across Iowa, the Student Health Center is encouraging all students, staff, and faculty to get their flu vaccine. Anyone is welcome to receive a flu vaccine for $20 at the health center. Please contact our office at 271-3731 to set up an appointment.

—Mary Beth Olander, Student Health Center

Doors to most buildings will be locked for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday (Monday, Jan. 16). 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.

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

—Sara Heijerman, Campus Card Office

Drake reimburses mileage for use of personal automobiles by employees for actual miles driven during business travel. The reimbursement rate is based on the current standard mileage rate issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

Please note that the IRS has recently issued the 2017 standard mileage rate. Effective Jan. 1, 2017, the standard mileage rate is 53.5 cents per business mile driven, down from 54.5 cents for 2016.

The standard mileage rate is evaluated annually by the IRS and is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile.

If you have any questions regarding the reimbursable mileage rate, please visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Standard-Mileage-Rates or contact Accounting at accounting@drake.edu.

—Jennifer Baugher, Accounting