Category Archives: Campus Announcements Archive

Understanding the new myDrake

On July 28, the new myDrake website was launched. As the start of the semester approaches, we are happy to assist with your user experience and answer any questions. If you would like to schedule a one-on-one, group, or departmental training, please submit a Custom Technology Consultation/Training ticket.  

Because the new myDrake website has changed platforms, any saved links or bookmarks you may use will need to be updated. When accessing myDrake for the first time, please clear your browser cache and cookies. Delete your old myDrake bookmark by right clicking and selecting delete. Then, visit https://my.drake.edu or https://drakeedu.sharepoint.com.sites/myDrake. From there, add a new myDrake bookmark by clicking the star icon on the right side of the address bar. Rename and save the bookmark to your desired location.

For more information about the myDrake launch and navigating the new site, please see New myDrake launching July 28 and Using the new myDrake. For news, updates, and more information about the myDrake site and other campus systems, visit drake.edu/its.

— Rashmee Virmani, ITS

UPDATE: Cybersecurity incident, affected individuals to receive notifications from third parties

Update as of July 25, 2023:

  • TIAA notified the University that personal identifiable information of approximately 650 current and former employees may have been exposed through the MOVEit Transfer data breach. TIAA indicated that Pension Benefit Information, LLC, one of its vendors, was impacted by the incident. Affected individuals will receive a notification letter directly from Pension Benefit Information (PBI) via postal mail. The vendor is offering free credit monitoring for two years to each of the individuals impacted.
  • NSC has informed Drake that personal data, which may include name, date of birth, and academic transcripts, of current and former students may have been breached. Impacted students and alumni will be notified via postal mail. Please read any notices you receive carefully.

This page will be updated as more information becomes available.

Original alert posted June 10, 2023:

Cybersecurity incident alert related to third-party breaches

Drake University has been notified by two of the University’s service providers, National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA), that certain personally identifiable information and data of some members of our community may have been impacted by the MOVEit Transfer tool vulnerability that is affecting millions across the country. The scope and extent of this data breach is still under investigation. This message shares what we know to date.

MOVEit Transfer is a third-party software used by NSC to support the transfer of data files. Read an update from NSC that shares what files and data are suspected to be affected.

TIAA has stated that no information was obtained from TIAA systems. However, one of its vendors uses the MOVEit Transfer tool, and some participant data may have been exposed through that third party.

The University takes data privacy and security very seriously and is working diligently with its cybersecurity team as well as NSC and TIAA to determine the full scope of the incident and response. If it is determined that Drake community members were affected by this attack, appropriate action will be taken, including notifications. 

It is important to note that Drake University systems were not impacted. Once notified of the breach, the University took immediate action to verify its systems were secure. As more information becomes available, we will provide updates on this page, in the OnCampus newsletter, and via email to faculty, staff, and students. In the meantime, we urge all campus community members to follow these steps to protect their information and stay safe online:

  • Regularly monitor your credit score and online accounts.
  • Use multifactor authentication (MFA) everywhere it is available. Using multiple factors to authenticate into an account makes it more difficult for hackers to access your accounts.
  • Be vigilant in spotting phishing attacks. Don’t open or respond to suspicious or unsolicited phone calls, emails, or texts. If you believe you’ve been targeted by a phishing attack, see Reporting a Phishing Message (How-to).
  • Consider placing a temporary credit freeze at no cost, as described in this US Government alert: https://www.usa.gov/credit-freeze. This will protect you in the event of any potential fraudulent attempts to open credit in your name.

EthicsPoint confidential reporting tool upgrade

Drake University is committed to fair and ethical principles, practices and conduct in all business and academic relationships. The University’s trustees, leaders, faculty, and staff are expected to model the highest standards of ethical behavior and stewardship. To facilitate and protect this commitment, the University has contracted with EthicsPoint to manage a confidential hotline which provides an anonymous way to report situations that may represent financial misconduct or violations of local, state or federal law or University policies. Over the summer, the platform used by EthicsPoint was upgraded and may look slightly different to the user. The substantive ways the tool works, however, remains unchanged.

EthicsPoint may be used by faculty, staff and students to report illegal or unethical practices in financial or other business transactions. EthicsPoint may also be used to report illegal or unethical behaviors, such as discrimination or harassment. Reports submitted via EthicsPoint will be handled promptly consistent with University policies and applicable federal, state and local laws. Drake University personnel will review all reports submitted through Ethics Point. The chair of the Board of Trustees Audit Committee also receives all EthicsPoint reports. EthicsPoint and Drake University are committed to safeguarding the confidentiality of individuals who submit reports, and if you desire, you may remain anonymous. Anyone who submits a report is also protected from retailiation by Drake policy.

For more information, visit the Ethics Point reporting site.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Exclusive event Aug. 9 building up to Federal Duck Stamp Contest

We are thrilled to announce that Drake University and the Jay N. Darling Institute have been selected as the host institution for the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp Contest this fall. This esteemed event brings together passionate individuals and organizations dedicated to wildlife conservation and the arts.  The Federal Duck Stamp Contest will take place at the Olmsted Center Sept. 15–16, 2023. The link to the Federal Duck Stamp website is: https://www.fws.gov/program/federal-duck-stamp/federal-duck-stamp-contest-event-information

As a complementary event to the competition, please mark your calendars and join us for an afternoon of art, conversation, and appreciation for our natural heritage.

Date: Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023
Time: 2–4 p.m.
Location: Cowles Library Reading Room

Panelists:

  • Suzanne Fellows, Duck Stamp Program Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Rich and Nancy Houk, National Duck Stamp Collectors Society
  • Hope Bibens, Director of University Archives & Special Collections, Drake University
  • Alanna Wuensch, Drake University Student and Steering Committee Member
  • John P. Smith, Drake University Vice President for University Advancement

The Federal Duck Stamp Contest is an annual art competition that determines the image for the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the Duck Stamp. This stamp plays a vital role in raising funds for habitat conservation and protecting wildlife across the United States.

We are honored to have an exceptional panel of experts for this year’s contest. Suzanne Fellows, the Duck Stamp Program Manager from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in wildlife conservation. Rich and Nancy Houk, representing the National Duck Stamp Collectors Society, will contribute his vast experience in the field of philately and stamp collecting. Finally, we are delighted to have Hope Bibens, Director of University Archives & Special Collections at Drake University, who will provide valuable insights into the intersection of art and history.

We invite all members of the Drake University community to attend this exciting event. It is a unique opportunity to witness the selection process and engage with experts in the field. You will have the chance to learn more about the significance of the Duck Stamp program, the importance of wildlife conservation, and the artistry behind stamp design.

Please RSVP to erica.hartschen@drake.edu or 515-271-4990 by Aug. 4.

— Erica Hartschen, University Advancement

Using the new myDrake

The new myDrake website was launched on Friday, July 28. The site has been updated on a new platform to ensure the security of Drake information for years to come, along with a new look and feel to simplify and enhance your user experience. Over the weekend, you may have noticed new features, including new, streamlined navigation bars, an updated organizational system, global navigation options, and an expandable drop-down menu.

Please use https://my.drake.edu or https://drakeedu.sharepoint.com.sites/myDrake to access the site for the first time. Additionally, clear your browser cache and cookies, and be sure to update any saved links or bookmarks you may use to access myDrake.

Navigating myDrake

The top navigation bar on myDrake provides quick and easy access to myDrake, Internal Sites, and Self Service. This navigation bar is available no matter which page you are accessing. Below, the “Employee Links” or “Student Links” drop-down menu provides a comprehensive list of links to Drake services, applications, and information. 

Additionally, the new Microsoft SharePoint platform provides a global navigation bar on the left side of the site. Select the grid to locate Microsoft applications, such as Outlook and Teams, and below, customize your SharePoint experience by accessing your recently used files, sites, and more. 

Commonly Used Services and My Resources 

On the home page, you will find the most commonly used Drake applications and links. Links to Self Service, My Email, Internal Sites, and ITS Support are conveniently located in large, bold buttons. Below these resources, the familiar row of commonly used applications, such as Blackboard, are available. Whether you are a student, faculty, or staff, your commonly used applications have been tailored to your experience.

To access your personal information and Drake systems, navigate to “Student Home” or “Employee Home” under the “My Resources” section on the myDrake homepage. Within these pages, you will find your class information, timesheets, Bulldog Alerts, and more. 

Internal Sites and Human Resources 

The myDrake update included a direct integration with internal departmental sites for easier navigation to essential information and resources, available by clicking the “Internal Sites” link on the navigation bar, in the commonly used applications and services section, or in the drop-down menu. The Human Resources internal site was launched on July 28. This site is the new home for employee information, forms, and documentation, and we encourage the campus to utilize these resources.

For more information navigating the new myDrake, please see Using myDrake for Faculty & Staff (How-to) and Using myDrake for Students (How-to).

Please keep an eye out for additional announcements over the next few weeks that will include more details and further instructions as we draw closer to the start of the fall semester. For news, updates, and more information about the myDrake site and other campus systems, visit drake.edu/its

— Kelsey Faybik, University Communications and Marketing

Call for proposals: Slay Fund for Social Justice

The Slay Fund makes grants to projects in four broad categories: student research and internships, pedagogy for social justice, campus-wide events and speakers, and long-term programs with community partners. These funding categories coincide with the three strategic priorities of the Slay Fund, which will even more explicitly guide funding decision-making, moving forward. The strategic priorities allocate funding for: speakers and events related to social justice; capacity-building and institutional support programming; student-proposed and student-focused initiatives.

Please submit your grant proposal (and any questions relating to the proposal) to melissa.sturm-smith@drake.edu, who will be managing funding requests on an interim basis.

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

Parking portal for new academic year now open

The parking portal for the 2023–2024 academic year is now open. Feel free to register for your parking pass in the myDrake portal for the upcoming year, and the Student Services office will email you when your pass is ready to pick up.

Please make sure that you receive a confirmation email after you register—you should get an automated email from studentservices@drake.edu thanking you for your purchase.  If you did not receive an email, please check your junk mail, or contact studentservices@drake.edu so we can ensure that your registration went through.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

Print on campus at Drake Printing Services

Prepare for the fall semester (or print for your event or program anytime this year) by submitting print jobs through Drake Printing Services.  Located in Olmsted as a function of the Student Services Center, our goal is to provide affordable, convenient printing services to campus groups.

Common projects our office can handle are 11×17 posters, flyers, folded programs/booklets, programs sheets, certificates, or any other bulk copies/scans/handouts.

Submit your job in a ticket online (link below) if you’re ready to print!  You can also feel free to email sara.heijerman@drake.edu to get a quote for your project or inquire about if our office can handle a specific project.

https://drake.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/2025/Portal/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=51390

We strive to be budget friendly – we charge the lowest rate we can, and we can accept payment via debit/credit card or FOAPAL charge.

Feel free to contact Sara Heijerman with questions, and we look forward to printing for you this summer/fall.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

New myDrake launching July 28

We are excited to announce that the new myDrake website will go live on July 28, 2023. MyDrake provides a launchpad for faculty, staff, and students to access their applications and important information in one secure location. The site has been updated on a new platform to ensure the security of Drake information for years to come, along with a new look and feel to simplify and enhance your user experience. The new myDrake includes features such as a streamlined navigation bar, new drop-down menu, and global navigation options.

Internal Sites and Human Resources 
The myDrake update includes a direct integration and redesign with the Internal Sites for easier navigation to essential information and resources. These department sites can be accessed through the Internal Sites home page or a new expandable high-level menu (Employee or Student Links) that have been added to allow direct navigation through the combined myDrake and Internal Sites environment. 

In conjunction with the updated myDrake, the Human Resources internal site will launch on July 28. This site will be the new home for employee information, forms, and documentation, and we encourage the campus to utilize these resources.

Preparing for Launch 
Campus systems and your Drake information, including your email, Blackboard, timesheets, and Self Service, will be easily accessible in the “My Resources” section of myDrake. Click “Student Home” or “Employee Home” to access your student or employee links, applications, and information. After the launch, you may need to update bookmarks or saved links you use. The URL my.drake.edu will not change. 

Please keep an eye out for upcoming announcements over the next few weeks that will include more details and further instructions. For news, updates, and more information about the myDrake site and other campus systems, visit drake.edu/its.

— Kelsey Faybik, University Communications and Marketing