Visit the Community Engaged Learning Blog to read how this year’s cohort of Engaged Citizen Corps members have been engaging with and serving in the community. The Engaged Citizen Corps is an academic plus service year experience for first year students at Drake. Recent blog posts include “Meet the Engaged Citizen Corps members,” which highlights the work of Service Learning Ambassadors, and “Just Sustainabilities J-Term Course,” which demonstrates how students explored advocacy for alternative transportation in downtown Des Moines. Engaged Citizen Corps is currently accepting applications for the 2018-2019 academic year. If you know of a high school senior who would be a good fit for the program, please encourage them to apply. The application deadline is March 1.

If you would like to be a guest blogger and share your community engagement work, email amanda.martin@drake.edu. Follow Community Engaged Learning and Service on Facebook and Twitter.

— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning and Service

The Bell Center has a Wellness Library that contains books and DVDs to help you learn more about health and wellness. Resources are available over spring break, so check out a book if you are planning on relaxing and reading.

— Drake Wellness

February’s digital faculty member of the month: Jill Van Wyke, associate professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Each month, a faculty member, nominated by their dean, is recognized for their efforts to integrate an innovative technology into their classroom. Read an interview between ITS and Jill below.

What type of technology (hardware/software) do you use?

Slack, a messaging app that streamlines workflow by centralizing communication and document sharing.

In what context do you use this technology?

We use Slack as our sole communication channel in the capstone. It replaces email, texting, and private messaging. Before we switched to Slack, our communication was splintered and fractious. Slack puts it all in one place. It syncs nicely with Google Drive, and it also archives all communication.

What course(s) do you use this technology?

Our journalism senior capstone joins students from three majors (news, digital media production, and magazine media) to publish the nationally recognized online publication Urban Plains. The class is run as a professional publishing staff. Students are responsible for the entire publication: writing, producing, photography and videography, editing, art, marketing, promotion, web design and analytics, social media, and so on. 

How does this type of technology align with your teaching pedagogy?

Our capstone attempts to simulate a real-world professional media company. It runs at a breakneck pace, with a sense of urgency and immediacy. Students often need us at odd hours, and we often need instant answers from them. With Slack, everybody is easily accessible at all times, wherever we are. The basic version of Slack, which allows 5G of storage, is free. Depending on the size of the class, we exchange 15,000 to 25,000 messages in a semester.

Where did you get the inspiration to make a change?

Our students and alumni reported a few years ago that they were using Slack in their internships and jobs. We decided it would be another way to prepare our students professionally.

How long did it take you to implement this technology?

No time at all. At least not any longer than it takes to set up an app. Students take to it quickly. The learning curve isn’t steep.

Are you interested in trying out new technology in your classroom? Want help from ITS staff? Schedule a technology adoption consultation.   

—Erin Ulrich, CPHS, and Carla Herling, ITS 

Drake will not hold a Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lectureship this spring; the next lecture will occur in fall 2018. The event will mark the 40^th Bucksbaum lecture. Stay tuned for more details. For questions, or to submit speaker recommendations, contact Erica Hartschen, at 515-271-4990 or erica.hartschen@drake.edu.

— Erica Hartschen, University Advancement

Take 15 GroupX classes and receive a free GroupX T-shirt or tank top. We offer a wide variety of classes (15 different kinds). Download the free IMLeagues app or visit imleagues.com to register for classes.

— Drake Wellness

As a reminder, formal risk management domestic trip/travel processes and guidelines that address university driver approval, trip registration, releases, and emergency contacts can be found here.

These tools help to mitigate risk when traveling on domestic required class trips or voluntary trips. Examples of voluntary trips include travel by student organizations, mock trial, debate, field trips, etc.

It’s important to note that a formal process was implemented last July for use of vehicles that seat more than eight passengers. A checklist and approval process to drive vehicles that transport nine or more, can be found online here. The new driver protocols are being implemented to improve Drake’s current vehicle/driver safety program and to help reduce potential accidents and losses.

For questions, contact Donna Blunck at donna.blunck@drake.edu or the trip advisor.

— Donna Blunck, Finance & Administration

Last spring, 1,418 students completed the Drake Student Survey. Noteworthy findings include: strong student ratings for general satisfaction and overall quality, high ratings of skills and learning gains, the positive influence of out-of-class experiences, and the impact of relationships with faculty. When asked about ways to enhance students’ experience, one major theme was concern regarding campus climate (diversity and inclusion, political).

Drawing from the results of the Drake Student Survey and other instruments, we will be hosting another “Data to Action” workshop that will focus on diversity and inclusion on Feb. 26 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Cowles Library Reading Room. Similar to the previous workshop, we look forward to a robust discussion about how data might inform steps we can take as a community to create a more positive climate.

Read the full Drake Student Survey report, which includes longitudinal and college/school data.

— Kevin Saunders, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment

Hubbell Dining is hosting three themed meals this week. Today, Feb. 13, attend a Mardi Gras dinner from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tomorrow, Feb. 14, eat lunch at Hubbell for a chance to decorate a heart shaped cookie. Friday, Feb. 16, celebrate Chinese New Year during lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Faculty and staff can dine for just $5 by showing their Drake ID to the cashier.

— Jennifer Bowersox, Hubbell Dining

ITS is excited to announce an improved process for accessing the guest wireless network. Guests no longer need to register through email or text message, so connecting to the guest wireless network is much easier. Campus visitors simply need to select the DUGuest network and enter a few details to connect for the day. View step-by-step instructions for signing into the guest wireless network.

Just a reminder, the guest network is designed for campus guests to obtain temporary access to the Internet. It is not a secure network and is intended only for web browsing. Students, faculty, and staff should use the secure DUStudent and DUFacstaff networks on all their devices.

— Chris Mielke, ITS

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