Plans to move the University Bookstore to Olmsted Center are currently being developed. This move brings bookstore operations closer to students, faculty, and staff. Drake is working with our bookstore provider to ensure the store’s location is convenient and complements existing student spaces. An unused space on the lower level of Olmsted has been identified as a possible location for textbook and course material sales, with a second space on the first level offering more general merchandise, such as clothing. A steering team of Olmsted users and staff will assist our facilities and administration team in managing the project. Once final floor plans are completed, we will post them on the Drake website.

The current bookstore location is being evaluated as the future site of Drake’s Occupational Therapy program. Watch for more information about the project in OnCampus.

—Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

The Drake libraries are in the process of migrating from our current library platforms to Ex Libris’ Alma and Primo products. We anticipate going live with the new system on May 25. Designed to increase efficiency, the new system should provide students, faculty, and staff a more streamlined research experience while also significantly reducing the time required for library faculty and staff to maintain search platforms.

New System Highlights

• You will be able to simultaneously search the library catalog and SuperSearch in a single interface, which will retain the SuperSearch name.
• Many features remain the same in the new SuperSearch, including the ability to search across print and electronic collections, limit by peer-reviewed content, and export citations.
• While you will be able to search SuperSearch without logging in, using your Drake credentials to log in will allow you to access content licensed by the libraries and provide other options, such as saving searches and accessing and managing your library account.
• The next phase of this transition, which we hope will take place in 2017, will connect SuperSearch to the print collections of several other libraries in Iowa, including the three Regents’ universities, Wartburg College, Grand View University, and others. Drake users will be able to search across the physical collections of, and place requests for physical materials from, those institutions.

You can find more information about this change on the Cowles Library blog.

—    Andrew Welch, Librarian for Discovery Services and Technology, Cowles Library

Our managed print vendor, LRI, along with Caron Findlay, director, purchasing and business services, have now met with all departmental printing representatives to confirm device needs. Devices are being ordered soon and the installation schedule is being finalized. Because there are many upcoming changes to the printing system, we’ve created a FAQ page. This FAQ has information on the benefits of Follow Me printing, as well as how users will print, copy, and scan with the new system. This page will continue to be updated as the project progresses. Additionally, there are regular updates about managed printing on the ITS Major Projects page.

—Carla Herling, IT Communications Manager

Guest Speaker for Learning Symposium

I am pleased to announce that our guest presenter for the afternoon session of the Learning Symposium will be Jennifer Godinez (AS ’97). Jennifer Godinez is associate director of Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MnEEP). As associate director, she co-leads MnEEP and is responsible for key initiatives and program evaluation. Prior to joining Minnesota Education Equity Partnership, she served as executive director of La Escuelita and is founding chair of the Latino Scholarship Fund of Minnesota. She has in-depth experience in youth development, college access program development, race equity policy and strategy development, and education policy development. At Drake she was a Multicultural Cowles Scholar, with a sociology major and multicultural studies concentration. She also holds an M.P.P. from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Policy, which she attended as a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow. She will talk with us about her academic and professional journey in developing pathways of cultural responsiveness, inclusivity, and equity action.

While I am at it, I remind you to register for the 2016 Drake University Learning Symposium.

2016 Learning Symposium: “Inclusive Excellence ”
August 19, 2016 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Sheraton West Des Moines
1800 50th Street, West Des Moines

Click on this link to register and select the sessions you would like to attend—space is limited by the size of the rooms.

We hope you join us at the Symposium to welcome our new provost into the learning community that is Drake University.

Provost Mobile Office Hour
My next scheduled mobile office hour is Tuesday, May 3, 10 a.m.–noon, Cowles Cafe.

—Joe Lenz, Interim Provost

Cowles Library will have extended hours May 1–13 to accommodate the end of the Spring semester and finals. The library will be closed May 14–15. Summer library hours begin May 16. Visit the Cowles Library website for hours.

—Leslie Noble, Assistant to the Dean and Manager, Library Support Operations

The All In campaign is this week, May 10-11, noon to noon. The challenges have been posted, so see what hilarious tasks some familiar faces will be completing: www.drake.edu/all-in/. All In is an all-online fundraising campaign for The Drake Fund that includes both on- and off-campus solicitations. There are several “challenges” throughout the 24 hours, and when goals are met, faculty and staff from across campus will take part in video-recorded entertaining activities, such as performing an interpretive dance.

Remember to wear jeans and your Drake Blue both days to show off your school spirit. Join your colleagues for the last Drake Social of the academic year on May 10 in the Shivers Hospitality Suite from 4 to 6 p.m. Griff will make special appearance from 5 to 6 p.m. at the social.

You can participate in the following ways:

• Start by going All In and giving to The Drake Fund on May 10–11, noon to noon.
• Tell your friends why you’ve given to The Drake Fund using #DrakeALLIN on Twitter and Instagram.
• Get a new cover photo and profile picture from the All In Facebook page to show everyone you’re All In.
• Encourage your friends to give (via Facebook, Twitter, email, courier pigeon) so you can see your favorite people on campus complete the hilarious tasks we’ve set up for them.

—Niki Smith, Digital Media Strategist

Information Technology Services staff has recently completed classroom technology updates in Harvey Ingham 004 and Medbury 116. They are currently working on Olin 343 and will be starting work in Howard 111 at the end of May.

ITS will also be updating the audio and video systems in Sheslow Auditorium in July. Because of scheduling, these upgrades will be made in two phases, from July 5 to 12 and then again from July 14 to 29. Updates to these projects will be regularly posted on its.drake.edu/major-projects.

—Carla Herling, IT Communications Manager

The Graduation Rate Report is online now! Want information on the graduation rate?  You can find it on the OIRA website. This includes information about the four- and six-year graduation rate, how we compare to our peers, and retention rates. As always, if you need anything from OIRA, please fill out the Request for Information form on our site.

—Sandra Harris, Administrative Assistant 2

May Commencement Ceremonies

The commencement ceremonies for those students graduating at the end of this semester will be held in the Knapp Center on Saturday, May 15 (law) and Sunday, May 15 (undergraduate and graduate), at the times listed below.   Out of respect for the students who have earned their degrees, I strongly encourage you to attend the appropriate event. 

Law:  Saturday, May 14, 7 p.m.

Undergraduate, Sunday, May 15, 10 a.m.

Graduate:  Sunday, May 15, 2 p.m.

If you are planning on attending the undergraduate and/or graduate ceremonies, please RSVP—no later than noon, Tuesday, May 10—to http://2016springcommencementregistration.eventbrite.com

Because the Law School has a separate ceremony, Law faculty should notify your dean’s office directly. 

Learning Symposium

I am pleased to invite you to register for the 2016 Drake University Learning Symposium. There is an exciting array of sessions—from creating inclusive working and learning environments to language across the curriculum, intercultural development inventory, and examining the lived experiences of students of color at Drake, among several others.  The hardest part of registration will be limiting yourself to just two sessions. If you are needing a break from the end of the semester activities, please take 5-10 minutes to register. The Learning Symposium is sponsored through a partnership with the Sheraton West Des Moines and hosted by the Office of the Provost.  

2016 Learning Symposium: “Inclusive Excellence ”
August 19 , 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Sheraton West Des Moines—1800 50th Street, West Des Moines

Register and select the sessions you would like to attend—space is limited by the size of the rooms: https://2016drakelearningsymposium.eventbrite.com

 We hope you join us at the Symposium to welcome our new provost into the learning community that is Drake University. 

Provost Mobile Office Hour 

Due to the number of events next week, I will be unable to hold my roaming office hour.  My next scheduled mobile office hour is Tuesday, May 3, 10:30 a.m.–noon, Cowles Cafe.

—Joe Lenz, Interim Provost