Gear up for the last two weeks of the semester, Bulldogs! Bring your favorite blanket for a deep rest reset with our Yoga Nidra workshop on Dec. 5. This workshop helps promote stress relief and rejuvenation just in time for finals week. Need to rally before finals? We’ve got you covered for that too! Light up the night with our Holiday Glow Light party on Dec. 8. Sign up for these, as well as our regularly scheduled classes, on the Drake Rec App and invite your friends! Our last GroupX class of the semester will be Barre Fusion on Wednesday, Dec. 13, we hope to see you there!

— Gail Witte, Rec Services

For nearly 35 years, the Chronicle of Philanthropy has been the premier source of news, information, analysis, and opinion in the rapidly growing nonprofit world.

The Chronicle’s special reports, popular webinars, and free briefings provide indispensable information from top nonprofit experts.

You can register with your Drake email address to directly access content at philanthropy.com.

— Erin Menardi, Cowles Library

Building schedules will change for the holiday break. Following commencement weekend, we will adopt “administrative hours” for most campus buildings while classes are not in session (most buildings will be open from 7:30 am – 4:30 pm, December 18 – 20).

Doors will be locked for the winter break from December 21 – January 2, with J-Term students and campus employees returning to campus on January 3 to their normal building schedules/hours.

Faculty and staff will still be able to utilize their authorized access plans over the break (for example, 24/7 access to their office building), but extended hour student plans will be shut off during this time.

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

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

We hope you’ll take some time in the coming weeks to visit Panka, the newest merchant on our off campus Bulldog Bucks program. A sister store to the Ingersoll restaurant, Panka is a fast casual restaurant that serves delicious Peruvian fusion street food, breakfast items, and delicious South American coffee.

Our partners at Panka are ecstatic to have Drake Bulldogs visit, so much so, that from now until the end of the semester (December 15) they are offering a free muffin with any purchase using your Bulldog Bucks account!

Remember – off campus locations cannot take your Dining Dollars, but they will happily accept Bulldog Bucks! More Bulldog Bucks can be added online in the myDrake portal, and they can be used at both on and off campus locations, in the GrubHub app, at the Bookstore, at the Mailroom, and at campus printers.

Current restaurants participating in the Off Campus program are Rico’s, Gursha, Fernando’s, Dough Co, Hummus, anything on the Grubhub app, and now…PANKA! Feel free to contact the Student Services Center in Olmsted if you have any questions about this program (studentservices@drake.edu).

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

Starting in the spring semester, the new Drake Mobile ID will be available to campus.

Do you misplace or forget your Drake ID card? Do you frequently use campus services, including the dining halls, Bulldog Bucks, recreational services, and the library? You can soon access these services and more using just your mobile phone or smart watch. 

The Drake Mobile ID is a new, secure way for you to use Drake services from the convenience of your phone or watch. In order to use the mobile ID, you must have a picture on file with Student Services. Next, you will download the Transact E-Accounts application and add your Drake Mobile ID to your Apple or Samsung wallet. Then, simply hold your phone or watch to a card reader to scan your ID. No need to turn your device on or search for your card. More instructions and detailed information will be available before the launch date. 

A group of select students, faculty, and staff have graciously tested these features, and the Drake Mobile ID will be released to campus on January 29, 2024. Participation in the Drake Mobile ID is not required but encouraged. You are not required to dispose of your physical ID card if you choose to participate in the Drake Mobile ID. 

The Drake Mobile ID is subject to the same terms and conditions as a physical ID card. Any misuse, including sharing your credential with any other individual, is in violation of Drake University Student Conduct Code and will result in disciplinary action. The Drake Mobile ID uses the native NFC technology within each device that is also utilized for any other ID or payment function. Additionally, the ID credential stored within the Drake Mobile ID is encrypted and can only be read by readers deployed by Drake with the proper decryption. 

Please contact the Student Services Center with questions or concerns by emailing studentservices@drake.edu, visiting the office located in Olmsted, or calling 515-271-2000. 

— Scott Law, Public Safety

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— Lisa Murphy, Rec Services

Deadlines for payroll around the holidays:

Due to the extended winter break communicated by President Martin last week (the University will now be closed Thursday, Dec. 21, through Tuesday, Jan. 2), payroll deadlines have changed and will be condensed.

Please follow this schedules to ensure all employees are paid timely and accurately.

Deadlines for monthly direct pays and ESFs are:

• 12/13/23 for payroll direct pays and ESFs for the December monthly payroll

Deadlines for biweekly direct pays and ESFs are:

• Pay period 11/20/2023-12/3/2023 direct pays and ESFs are due Monday 12/4/2023 at 10:00 AM
• Pay period 12/4/2023-12/17/2023 direct pays and ESFs are due Thursday 12/14/2023 at 10:00 AM
• Pay period 12/18/2023-12/31/2023 direct pays and ESFs are due Tuesday 12/19/2023 at 10:00 AM

Deadlines for student direct pays are:

• Pay period 11/1/2023-11/30/2023 direct pays are due Friday 12/01/2023 at noon
• Pay period 12/1/2023-12/31/2023 direct pays are due Wednesday, 01/03/24 at noon

Deadlines for the biweekly time sheets are:

• Pay period 11/20/23-12/8/23 timesheets must be submitted by Monday 12/4/2023 at 10:00 am and approved by Monday 12/4/2023 at noon. Payment date is 12/8/2023
• Pay period 12/4/23-12/17/23 timesheets must be submitted by Thursday 12/14 at 10:00 AM and approved by Thursday 12/14/23 at noon. Payment date is 12/21/2023
• Pay period 12/18/23-12/31/2023 timesheets must be submitted by Tuesday 12/19/2023 at 10 AM and approved by Tuesday 12/19 at noon. Payment date is 1/5/2024.

Deadlines for student time sheets are:

• Pay period 11/1/2023-11/30/2023 timesheets must be submitted by Friday 12/1/2023 at NOON and approved by Monday 12/04/2023 by NOON
• Pay period 12/1/2023-12/31/2023 timesheets must be submitted by Wednesday 1/3/24 at NOON and approved by Thursday, 1/4/24 at NOON

If you will be out of the office, plan ahead to ensure these tasks are completed by the stated deadlines. Instructions to set up a proxy to approve time sheets in your absence are at https://www.drake.edu/hr-internal/managerstoolkit/ under Online Time reporting.

— Emily Burk, Finance and Administration

It is with great sadness that we share that Professor Emeritus C. Walter Clark passed away on Nov. 9; he was 88 years old. Walter had a long and impactful career at Drake from 1963 to 1998 as professor and chair of the Department of Political Science.

Walter is remembered fondly by his faculty colleagues and by generations of students who he taught how to engage in political conversations. The Department’s Outstanding Senior Award in Politics is named in his honor and his family has supported that prize since its inception.  

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, four of his five children, his older sister, and many grandchildren. He loved educational travel, learning about world cultures and the environment. He had a significant and lasting impact on so many people around the world. He will be deeply missed. Walter’s celebration of life will be scheduled in the near future. You can share a memory and read his full obituary here.

— Gesine Gerhard, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences