Category Archives: Campus Announcements Archive

Campus Announcements Archive

“Spring”ing forward with action

In the fall of 2015 Drake released the results of the Campus Climate survey. Among the many areas of strength and opportunities for growth, we quickly noted a need for additional support of efforts aimed at achieving meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus. Since the release of that report, multiple students and student organizations have continued to elevate the discussion regarding the need for a strategic commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Division of Student Life and Academic Excellence and Student Success are excited to announce several changes in response to those needs. The changes are immediate; you will see them beginning in spring 2016.

Through the efforts of the Dean of Students Office, STIL has restructured an existing position to become: director of student engagement, equity, and inclusion. This position will report directly to the associate dean of students with the primary job duty of advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in Student Life. Tony Tyler, currently the director of Olmsted Center and student organizations, will be transitioning to this role during J-Term.

Marina Verlengia, currently director of campus programming, will be transitioning to a realigned role, director of new student programs. This position will operate out of the associate provost’s office, and will focus on supporting the success and retention of all new students through programs such as Welcome Weekend, New Student Orientation, and Transfer Orientation. Marina will continue to office in STIL and work collaboratively with student life colleagues.

STIL will also appoint a coordinator for student organizations and activities. This position will advise student organizations and the Student Activities Board; we hope to fill the role during the Spring 2016 term. Until this role is filled, Marina Verlengia will stay as SAB’s primary advisor.

Finally, Student Involvement and Leadership will now be known as Student Inclusion, Involvement, and Leadership (STIIL). It is important to note that all these changes will be implemented within the existing budget. No additional/new funds are being expended to facilitate this restructuring.

Students who have been advocating for a more inclusive and equitable experience at Drake are central to this transition. This realignment is an important step, but we acknowledge there is more to be done and look forward to supporting the continued work of the climate assessment project. We are eager to more fully support the exceptional learning environment of students at Drake and to equip students for professional accomplishments and responsible global citizenship.

If you should have any questions and/or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact Melissa Sturm-Smith, associate provost for academic excellence & student success, and/or Jerry Parker, acting dean of students.

—Submitted by Jerry Parker, Acting Dean of Students

Campus Announcements Archive

Operations updates

Electrical shutdowns over winter break
A scheduled electrical shutdown for the campus will occur during the Winter Break time. This scheduled shutdown is part of the pre-construction phase prior to the construction of new School of Education and the Science Connector Building.The electrical shutdowns will be on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29. The work will begin at approximately 7:30 a.m. each morning. The following is a list of the affected buildings:

  • Dec. 28: The electrical shutdown will affect The Knapp Center, Fieldhouse, Bell Center, Shivers, and the Greenhouse. The power outage will last approximately 12 hours. Once this work is completed, the power will not be reconnected to the Greenhouse.
  • Dec. 29: The electrical shutdown will affect Jewett Hall, Olin Hall, and Cartwright Hall. The power outage will be approximately two to four hours.

The communication duct work will be completed on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31. This may interrupt telephone and Internet services to Olin, Fitch, Harvey Ingham, Medbury, and Cline halls; Facility Services; Environmental Health & Safety; the Fieldhouse; and Bell Center. DTS will be sending out more information on the communication duct work next week.

—Submitted by Jolene Schmidt, Director of Operations & Support Services

 

Building hours and access over break
Door schedules will change for the holiday break. We will adopt “administrative hours” for most of the buildings following commencement. Buildings will be open on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 21–23. Doors will then be locked for the holiday break from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3.

Faculty and staff will still be able to utilize their authorized access plans (for example, 24/7 access to their office buildings), but student plans will be shut off during this time. Regular building hours will resume at the start of January Term, Jan. 4.

Please contact Public Safety (515-271-2222) if you have a door access emergency during this time, or contact the Student Services Center (515-271-2000 or studentservices@drake.edu) if you have a general card access question or concern.

Happy Holidays!

—Submitted by Sara Heijerman, Manager, Campus Card Office


Construction Update
27th Street will stay open until construction starts on the new School of Education. 27th Street usage will change once construction starts. Please read OnCampus in late January/early February for more information regarding the usage of this street.

—Submitted by Jolene Schmidt, Director of Operations & Support Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Inauguration update

A few weeks ago you saw the Save the Date announcement for President Martin’s inauguration—Thursday, April 28, 2016, 1:30 p.m. in The Knapp Center. I am announcing now that all classes will be suspended from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on that day. Normal class schedule will resume at 3:30 and evening classes will be held.

The inauguration of a president is a rare and important event in Drake’s 134-year history, one that has happened, at most, just 12 times previously. It has been 17 years since we last welcomed a new president. We want to make it possible for all members of the Drake community—faculty, staff, and students—to honor Marty Martin at the formal initiation of his presidency, to witness this historic moment, and to celebrate with him the start of something big.

During the coming weeks and months there will be more announcements about events and schedule pertaining to the Inauguration. There will be pomp, there will be circumstance, there will be a good time had by all.

—Interim Provost Joe Lenz

Campus Announcements Archive

Electrical shutdowns over winter break

A scheduled electrical shutdown for the campus will occur during the Winter Break time. This scheduled shutdown is part of the pre-construction phase prior to the construction of new School of Education and the Science Connector Building.The electrical shutdowns will be on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29. The work will begin at approximately 7:30 a.m. each morning. The following is a list of the affected buildings:

  • Dec. 28: The electrical shutdown will affect The Knapp Center, Fieldhouse, Bell Center, Shivers, and the Greenhouse. The power outage will last approximately 12 hours. Once this work is completed, the power will not be reconnected to the Greenhouse.
  • Dec. 29: The electrical shutdown will affect Jewett Hall, Olin Hall, and Cartwright Hall. The power outage will be approximately two to four hours.

The communication duct work will be completed on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31. This may interrupt telephone and Internet services to Olin, Fitch, Harvey Ingham, Medbury, and Cline halls; Facility Services; Environmental Health & Safety; the Fieldhouse; and Bell Center. DTS will be sending out more information on the communication duct work next week.

—Submitted by Jolene Schmidt, Director of Operations & Support Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Nominate a Global Practitioner in Residence

The nomination deadline has been extended to Jan. 4, 2016, for The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship Global Practitioner in Residence. These experienced professionals will engage with the campus and community through teaching, public lectures, and joint research projects while drawing upon their professional networks to help our faculty, students, and the institution as a whole develop new and fruitful external collaborations.

Global Practitioner candidates should be nominated by the academic unit to which they will be attached. Nominations must be accompanied by appropriate supporting materials, including a nomination letter that discusses the qualification of the candidate and the expected contributions the candidate would make to the life of the University; biographical information about the candidate; a letter of interest from the candidate; and a letter of support from the dean. Nominations should be directed to the vice provost for international programs, who will review nomination packages in consultation with the Global/International Programs Academic Council. Upon the vice provost’s recommendation, the University president will send a letter of invitation to successful candidates. Units considering a nomination are encouraged to consult with Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship’s director, David Skidmore.

Among the criteria to be considered are:

  • A record of recognized international leadership and distinguished professional accomplishment in any field
  • A documented commitment to international understanding and global citizenship
  • An ability to bring unique perspectives and experiences to bear in relation to engaging with Drake faculty, staff, students and members of the local community
  • A willingness and ability to offer courses that complement the existing curriculum and meet rigorous academic standards

Nominations are due by Jan. 4. Additional information is available on the CGC site.

—Submitted by Drake International

Campus Announcements Archive

Sports and Recreation Complex winter break hours

Drake University Sports and Recreation Complex winter break hours:

Friday, Dec. 18
Bell & Knapp Center: 6:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tennis Center: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Pool: 6:30–8 a.m. & 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Underground Fitness: CLOSED

Dec. 19–20—All Facilities CLOSED

Dec. 21–23
Bell Center & Knapp Center: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tennis Center: CLOSED
Pool: CLOSED
Underground Fitness: CLOSED

Dec. 24—Jan. 3—All Facilities CLOSED

^Specific facility hours will change on basketball games days: Dec. 22
_____________________________________________________________
Jan. 4–22*

Monday–Thursday
Bell Center & Knapp Center: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ^
Tennis Center: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. & 5–7 p.m.
Bell Center Pool: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. & 4–6 p.m.
Underground Fitness: CLOSED

Friday
Bell Center & Knapp Center: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. ^
Tennis Center: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. & 4–5:30 p.m.
Bell Center Pool: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. & 4–5:30 p.m.
Underground Fitness: CLOSED

Saturday–Sunday
Bell Center & Knapp Center: 1–5 p.m. ^
Tennis Center: 2–4 p.m.
Bell Center Pool: 2–4 p.m.
Underground Fitness: CLOSED

*All facilities will be closed Monday, Jan. 18 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)

^Specific facility hours will change on basketball game days: Jan. 6, 15, 17, & 20

Schedule subject to change—Drake Card required for entrance
For specific facility availability, call the Bell Center at 515-271-3173.

Campus Announcements Archive

Building hours and access during winter break

Door schedules will change for the holiday break. We will adopt “administrative hours” for most of the buildings following commencement. Buildings will be open on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 21–23. Doors will then be locked for the holiday break from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3.

Faculty and staff will still be able to utilize their authorized access plans (for example, 24/7 access to their office buildings), but student plans will be shut off during this time. Regular building hours will resume at the start of January Term, Jan. 4.

Please contact Public Safety (515-271-2222) if you have a door access emergency during this time, or contact the Student Services Center (515-271-2000 or studentservices@drake.edu) if you have a general card access question or concern.

Happy Holidays!

—Submitted by Sara Heijerman, Manager, Campus Card Office

Campus Announcements Archive, For Faculty Archive

Deadline to submit final grades

Instructors, your ability to submit final grades will end at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23. (Online grade entry for the Law School will remain open until Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016.) This deadline was set by the faculty and appears in Section 2.135 of the faculty manual.

I greatly appreciate your efforts to submit your grades by the 10 a.m. deadline.

From that point, staff from your dean’s office and the Student Records Office will work together—expeditiously—to reconcile grades for courses that students have repeated (for a better grade) and to calculate students’ GPAs. This work must be done quickly yet carefully so that, among other reasons, informed decisions can be made with regard to students’ academic probation/suspension.

We will begin this process promptly at 10 a.m. on Dec. 23, as we must complete it by close of business, before the University adjourns for winter break.

If you have any questions about how to submit your final grades, please contact your dean’s office or Kevin Moenkhaus (kevin.moenkhaus@drake.edu or 271-3902) in the Student Records Office.

Thank you, and best wishes as your semester draws to a close.

—Submitted by Kevin Moenkhaus, Director, Student Records and Academic Information

Campus Announcements Archive

From the Provost: Important end-of-semester updates

The Day Free for Study
As we approach the end of the semester, this is a reminder of Drake policy related to performance evaluation and grading (Faculty Manual 2.131) and the Day Free for Study:

  1. Student Records and Academic Information publishes a final evaluation schedule for the last week of fall and spring semesters. A two-hour evaluation period is designated for each class and all classes are expected to meet at the designed time and place for a final session. If a final examination is given in a class, it must be given during the designated final evaluations period. Deviations from the final evaluation schedule require authorization of the dean.
  2. The last class day prior to the beginning of the final evaluation period is designated as a “Day Free For Study”, commonly called “Dead Day.” During this time, no committee meetings (for which students or faculty unable to attend would be at a disadvantage) may be held, and classes do not normally meet. Individual colleges and faculty members may schedule voluntary review sessions for their classes, with the provision that attendance by students is voluntary and no new materials can be presented which will be included in the final evaluation. Laboratory reports and term papers previously assigned may be assigned due dates during the Day Free for Study. No final evaluations may be given during the Day Free for Study.

Commencement
The commencement ceremony for those students—graduate and undergraduate—graduating at the end of this semester will be held in The Knapp Center on Saturday, Dec. 19, beginning at 10 a.m. If faculty are planning on attending—as I encourage you to do—please plan to be in the Bell Center for robing and assembly no later than 9:30 a.m.

To assure that we have a sufficient number of chairs on the floor for faculty, please RSVP to https://drakefallcommencement2015.eventbrite.com no later than Tuesday, Dec. 15. Please, only RSVP is you DO plan to attend. As this is President Martin’s first commencement at Drake. I ask that you do him—and the students who have earned their degrees—the honor of your presence.

If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Geiger at x3095 or nancy.geiger@drake.edu.

Being Social
The final faculty/staff social of the semester will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., immediately following the campus community budget discussion (4–5 p.m.) in the Shivers Hospitality Suite. Please attend both the campus discussion, led by Chief Financial Officer Teresa Krejci and President Martin, and the social. It has been a long and productive semester, and it will be pleasant to end it in each other’s company. Nearby parking is available in Lot 2 east of Shivers at the NE corner of Forest and 25th Street.

—Joe Lenz, Interim Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

Service-learning match grants

The Ronald and Jane Olson Endowment for Global Service-Learning is providing support for two $500 service-learning match grants for the 2015–2016 academic year. Applications are currently available with a due date of Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. Applicants will be notified by Dec. 22 regarding award status. Apply today!

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.

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.

Direct additional questions to Maria Rohach, global learning program coordinator, at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Maria Rohach