Category Archives: Campus Announcements Archive

Campus Announcements Archive

Sentwali Bakari says bon voyage—for now

Dean of Students Sentwali Bakari has been granted a leave of absence for the 2015 fall semester to serve as the Dean of Student Life for Semester at Sea—one of the world’s unique and leading study abroad programs. Sentwali will return to Drake as dean of students for the 2016 spring semester.

In Sentwali’s absence, Jerry Parker, associate dean of student life, will serve as the acting dean. Jerry will assume leadership and management for the Division of Student Life and direct supervisory responsibilities for the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, Counseling and Health centers, Residence Life, Office for Sexual Violence Prevention and Healthy Relationship Promotion, as well as oversight of student conduct.

Sentwali will lead the Semester at Sea student life team and work collaboratively with faculty, lifelong learners, world leaders, and students from around the world to promote an exceptional comparative global learning experience. This is a tremendous honor for Sentwali and for Drake. We wish Sentwali the very best and look forward to his return to help advance Drake’s mission of preparing our students for responsible global citizenship.

—Submitted by Provost Joe Lenz

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus researchers: Information you need to know

The Institutional Research Board (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and use Committee (IACUC) will no longer utilize Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative materials for training. If you need to update your research training—both IRB and IACUC require researchers update every three years in order to have continued approval—or wish to send someone to train, please visit:

Please contact Christine Marchand (x1865 or christine.marchand@drake.edu) with any questions or concerns.

—Submitted by Christine Marchand, Institutional Research and Academic Compliance Coordinator

Campus Announcements Archive

New online room request system available

This system, the Virtual Events Management System or VEMS, allows you to browse for space, look up room capacities, view pictures of certain spaces, plus many more easy-to-use functions—all online 24/7. It also streamlines the room-scheduling process for those who manage Drake’s spaces.

To access this system and for more information, click the “Room Scheduler (EMS)” link on the Faculty & Staff home page or go to https://ems.drake.edu/VirtualEms/

—Submitted by:
Matt Miller, University Office of Events
Kevin Moenkhaus, Office of Student Records and Academic Information

Campus Announcements Archive

Register today for global service-learning webinar

What: Service Through Learning: Ethics, Partnerships, and Best Practices webinar
When: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2–3:30 p.m.
Where: Meredith 207

What is an ethical partnership? How can we create ethical partnerships that support communities and the students who serve or train in them? How can students and institutions, through their work and learning paradigms, empower these communities?

Share in discussion about the answers to these questions and learn best practices during this webinar, which will feature the editor of Developing Global Health Programming: A Guidebook for Medical and Professional Schools.

Throughout the conversation, presenters and participants will:

  • Explore questions about ethics related to service-learning and how to develop ethical partnerships
  • Examine how service-learning programs can provide global learning experiences and empower communities
  • Share experiences and best practices with global service-learning in the fields of health care and applicable disciplines

Please RSVP to Maria Rohach, global learning program coordinator, at maria.rohach@drake.edu

—Submitted by Maria Rohach

Campus Announcements Archive

Applications open for faculty and staff travel seminar

The Office of Community Engagement and Service Learning is pleased to offer a new professional development opportunity for the first time in 2015–2016, “Best Practices in Global Service-Learning: A learning community and travel seminar for faculty and staff.” The cohort will consist of faculty and staff from a variety of disciplines and departments.

Who should apply:

  • Faculty or staff who have developed a global service-learning course (on campus, as a travel seminar, or at a partner institution)
  • Faculty or staff interested in developing a global service-learning course
  • Faculty or staff involved with experiential learning at Drake

Find more information on learning goals, program components, what’s included, and the application here. 

Questions? Contact Maria Rohach, global learning program coordinator at maria.rohach@drake.edu

—Submitted by Maria Rohach, Global Learning Program Coordinator

Campus Announcements Archive

New, mandatory sexual and interpersonal and violence prevention course for students

Drake University takes acts of sexual and interpersonal misconduct seriously and is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment. In keeping with this goal, Drake is requiring all students to complete an online educational program on sexual and interpersonal violence prevention. This effort also complies with the Violence Against Women Act and the Office for Civil Rights federal guidelines.

Student advisers and other faculty or staff who assist students with registering for classes should be aware that a hold will be placed on each student’s account until he or she has completed the online program—called Haven—which will prevent course registration for the subsequent semester. The mandatory portion, Part 1, must be completed by Oct. 15.

Using an online format to educate is the most efficient way to disseminate important regulatory information to college students. A Drake committee reviewed several online programs to make a final decision on utilizing Haven. Haven has also been the product of choice in many Iowa institutions of higher education—delivering positive student user feedback—which will position us for uniformity across the state.

Haven promotes student health and safety by educating students about the elements of healthy relationships, the importance of sexual consent, and the role of bystanders in creating safe, healthy communities. This science-based prevention program offers a confidential, personalized experience for each student, educating them on the issues associated with sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking while also taking into account their unique perspectives and experiences. It will also cover campus-specific policies, procedures, and resources.

—Submitted by Alysa Mozak, Coordinator for Sexual Violence Response and Healthy Relationship Promotion

Campus Announcements Archive

Parking at Drake University 2015–2016

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New Parking Regulations for 2015–2016:

  • Lot 16–Olmsted Lot—is now a commuter parking lot.
  • Residential permits are now allowed in Lots 1 and 4 from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
  • Commuter permits are now allowed in Lots 18n and 24 from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
  • The east side of 27th Street between Carpenter Avenue and Forest Avenue is available for commuter parking. The west side of 27th Street is now a fire lane, and no parking is permitted.

Vehicle Registration and Permits
All students, faculty, and staff may register up to two vehicles to park on campus. An official parking decal must be properly affixed to the inside of the bottom left corner of the rear window. Vehicles without a visible, valid decal are considered unregistered and are subject to ticketing and/or towing.

Possession of a valid, University-issued parking permit does not guarantee a parking space.

Faculty, staff, and student vehicles with state-issued handicap license plates or permits must still display a valid Drake University parking decal or permit to park on Drake property.

Permits are non-transferable. It is a violation of University policy and parking regulations to resell or give away a permit to another person and may subject both parties to tickets and disciplinary referral.

Parking Regulations Overview
Vehicles may only be parked in clearly designated, legal parking spaces. Areas posted with signs restricting parking (handicap, service vehicles, loading zones, fire lanes, etc.) must be observed and complied with. Parking in any travel lane, taking more than one parking space, blocking another vehicle, or parking on the lawn are all prohibited. Vehicles are prohibited from all lawns, except when specifically authorized. Driving or parking on sidewalks or pedestrian ways is strictly prohibited. Parking regulations are in effect year-round, including breaks in the academic calendar.

Drake has two types of parking lots, designated by signage:

  • Commuter lots: Open seven days a week, 6 to 2 a.m.
  • Residential lots: Open 24/7

View this map for an overview of parking areas on campus, including lot numbers.

For questions on parking rules and detailed regulations please review the Drake University Parking Regulations 2015–2016 or contact Drake Public Safety at 515-271-2222.

—Submitted by Drake Public Safety

Campus Announcements Archive

New self-service password reset system

Today, Drake Technology Services will introduce a new self-service password reset (SSPR) system for campus, allowing you to change your own password without the assistance of the Support Center. The SSPR system makes changing campus passwords and setting security questions more intuitive; resetting forgotten passwords is also straightforward.

You don’t need to change your password immediately once the new password reset system is introduced. You can wait until your password is about to expire before accessing SSPR. Passwords will continue to expire one year after being changed, and you will continue to be notified as expiration approaches. However, notices from SSPR will be better identified making it clear that the notification is sent from Drake.

Using the SSPR
Upon logging in to SSPR for the first time, users will be asked to choose and answer three security questions, which you will need to answer if you forget your password. The three security questions are private and cannot be accessed by anyone other than you.

SSPR also introduces a fourth security question that Support Center staff can see. If you need to call in for assistance, Support Center staff can ask this fourth question to verify identity.

You will also be asked to add a personal (non-Drake) email address and mobile phone number, which can be used for additional validation if a password is forgotten.

The new system incorporates characteristics of other online password management systems, such as those for online banking, Apple’s iTunes, and Microsoft’s Live.

When you need to change your password, or to utilize the new system, visit https://password.drake.edu/ and try Drake’s Self-Service Password Reset!

—Submitted by Drake Technology Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Iowa Private College Week recap

A total of 455 prospective students and their families visited Drake Aug. 3–7 for Iowa Private College Week. They enjoyed beautiful weather, and the giant blow-up Spike out on the lawn by Cole Hall was a fun photo op.

The Office of Admission would like to extend a thank you to all who helped make the week a success, including 25 faculty members, 40 Drake students, and 50 staff members and administrators. Additionally, the Office of Alumni Relations welcomed graduates and legacies back to campus daily at the Alumni House.

Due to the impressive number of Drake students who assisted with tours, tour size remained small, which is imperative for a quality tour experience.

“We received many positive comments from prospective students and families about how much they appreciated the opportunity to learn about a specific area of study through a visit with a faculty member. Hosting nine academic breakout sessions and small campus tour sizes for ten visit programs in five days is a reflection of the campus-wide team approach to recruitment that is a hallmark of Drake University,” said Deneen Dygert, associate director of admission.

The Office of Admission will continue to welcome prospective students and their families on an individual basis, Monday–Friday, throughout the rest of the year. The next visit programs are Campus Preview Days (Oct. 12 and Nov. 9) and Campus Preview Half-Days (Oct. 15 and Oct. 16).

—Submitted by Lilianna Bernstein, assistant director, admission

Campus Announcements Archive

Parking changes on 27th Street effective today

Drake has assumed ownership of 27th Street (between Carpenter and Forest avenues) and Carpenter Avenue (between 25th and 27th streets). Effective today, Aug. 17, there will be significant changes to parking on 27th Street. Parking on the east side of the street will be considered commuter lot parking, requiring a commuter permit. The west side of the street will be treated as a fire lane and no parking will be permitted.

Parking and traffic flow on Carpenter Avenue will remain unchanged; however speed bumps will be installed to slow traffic and enhance safety. The speed bumps will help regulate traffic speed on streets that are no longer regulated by city ordinance or patrolled by Des Moines police.

The purchase of these two streets was approved by the board of trustees in preparation for the next phase of the STEM@DRAKE project. Construction of the School of Education and Math and Computer Science facility and the new science connector building between Olin and Fitch Halls will require that 27th Street be available for construction access and equipment. Thus, once construction begins, it is likely that 27th Street will close. In the long term, 27th Street and Carpenter Avenue will become an integrated part of campus, with plans for a pedestrian-orientated plaza and enhanced green space.

Gates will also be installed along 27th Street to allow for street closure when work begins. Access to the Jewett parking lot will continue for at least the fall semester.

For more information about the changes affecting Carpenter and 27th Street please see our frequently asked questions.

If you have any questions or concerns about this information, please contact Venessa Macro, chief administration officer, at venessa.macro@drake.edu.