Social distancing and remote learning have reduced or altered opportunities to practice oral communication techniques that we all need in a variety of situations. Drake University’s Speaking Center is here to support students, faculty, and staff in our shared efforts to develop and advance these crucial skills.

The Speaking Center is now open for both online and campus appointments. Students can book appointments to meet with a tutor for help in preparing, composing, and delivering speeches and presentations—or even to get advice for initiating difficult conversations and participating in interactive discussions. The Speaking Center Director is also available to consult with faculty and staff or to offer classroom presentations and workshops.

Location and hours: The Speaking Center will be holding appointments online through Blackboard and also in the tutoring space downstairs in Cowles Library. Tutoring appointments are available Monday through Wednesday in the afternoons and evenings.

To make an appointment: Visit library.drake.edu/speaking to schedule a personal meeting with a tutor. Please enter a note specifying whether you prefer a virtual or campus appointment. Virtual tutoring sessions are held on Blackboard Collaborate Ultra at the following link: https://us.bbcollab.com/guest/7989fbe8f9314fa98d680dca692582e9

Appointments are scheduled for 30 minutes each, and students are encouraged to schedule multiple times while preparing for a single event if they wish. Any questions or concerns should be directed to speaking-help@drake.edu.

Speaking Center Services: Speaking Center tutors have experience and training in speech pedagogy and are prepared to assist students when selecting and narrowing topics, organizing ideas, drafting and revising an outline, preparing visual aids, and practicing delivery. The Speaking Center’s staff also facilitates access to research and resources that can help speakers and presenters, and can address a variety of oral communication issues.

— Joan McAlister, College of Arts & Sciences

Drake University thanks Jessica Morgan-Tate for serving as the University’s Title IX administrator since 2018. Jessica is leaving Drake to accept a position in Arizona.

Assistant Director of Public Safety and Operational Services Tricia McKinney will serve as interim Title IX coordinator until the position is filled. Tricia has experience in Title IX matters and is trained in Title IX, VAWA, and Clery reporting. We are grateful for Tricia’s willingness to serve as a resource to students, faculty, and staff. 

The search process for the Title IX coordinator role is underway—watch for updates in future issues of OnCampus. The Title IX office can be contacted at  (515) 271-4956 or titleIX@drake.edu.

— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

As a request from our insurance provider and as part of the updated University Driver Approval and Vehicle Operation Policy, all approved drivers will need to watch a distracted driving video annually to continue to be an approved driver with the University. The Risk and Insurance department will send out an email to each faculty and staff member that is listed as an approved driver with a login and instructions for the video. This will need to be completed in the month of February.  If you receive an email and are no longer driving on behalf of the University, please let us know so as we will update our records.

Coming in August, the Risk and Insurance Office and Environmental Health and Safety Department will be implementing a new golf cart safety program. We will update you as we finalize this program early this summer.

— Kelly Foster, Finance and Administration

Recreational Services will have adjusted hours Jan. 24 through Feb. 6. Create a reservation for the pool and tennis center at rec.drake.edu.

— Emily Madsen, Recreational Services

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a program that  helps low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices. Eligible households can receive up to a $30/month discount on internet service (or $75/month for households in Tribal lands), as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 for computer or tablet purchases.

Eligibility is based on household income or the receipt of certain government assistance programs, including the Federal Pell Grant, SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, Free and Reduced-Price Lunch, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and other programs. Visit acpbenefit.org for more information and to apply.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

The Office of Spiritual Life at Drake University is excited to announce several new program offerings for the Drake community this semester:

Wednesday Drop In Meditation Sessions
Drake community members are welcome to join us for standing weekly meditation sessions with instructor Jenny Jones every Wednesday in Olmsted Center, Room 310, from 12–12:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Group Spiritual Direction Opportunity
Spiritual Direction is not counseling, and it is not coaching, and it is also not necessarily religious. Rather, spiritual direction is a safe place to explore meaning and purpose and other issues that have a spiritual component, such as commitment and calling. In group spiritual direction, a small group of people meet once per month to support each other’s spiritual growth. Dr. Catherine Gillespie, who is the associate dean of the School of Education, and a spiritual director, will be present at all the meetings to act as a facilitator. There will also be an introductory meeting on Monday, Feb. 21, from 1–2:30 p.m. so that each group member can know what to expect. This group is limited to six students. Each student will have one opportunity to be the presenter. Those who are interested should sign up at: https://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1WWWSLk6HO6UIKy. Information about Catherine’s Spiritual Director services can be found at: https://www.sdicompanions.org/about/what-is-spiritual-direction-and-companionship/

Monday, Feb. 28, 2022
1–2:30 p.m.
Max Capacity: Six Participants

Monday, March 28, 2022
1–2:30 p.m.
Max Capacity: Six Participants

Monday, April 25, 2022
1–2:30 p.m.
Max Capacity: Six Participants

Individual Spiritual Direction Sessions
Spiritual Direction involves meeting with a spiritual director (also called a spiritual companion), usually for one hour once per month, to explore your own spiritual life. Dr. Catherine Gillespie, who is the associate dean of the School of Education, and a spiritual director offers individual spiritual direction sessions to students. These sessions include asking questions to help students explore the spiritual aspects of their life. These sessions can be made via STARFISH by looking for Catherine Gillespie and making an appointment.

Spiritual Counselor Update
Ted Lyddon-Hatten, who has served as Drake’s spiritual counselor is unavailable for the Spring 2022 semester. Should anyone have questions regarding Spiritual Life at Drake, please contact Rudy Trejo, assistant dean of students, at rudy.trejo@drake.edu.

— Rudy Trejo, Assistant Dean of Students

All Drake faculty, staff, and students are invited and encouraged to nominate a faculty or staff member for the Madelyn Levitt Mentor Award, created in 1994 in honor of Madelyn Levitt’s commitment to Drake, and her ongoing interest in faculty and staff achievement and academic excellence.

Each year this award recognizes commitment to student success on the Drake campus by honoring a member of the Drake University faculty or staff for excellence in advising and mentoring of students.   In order to make a nomination, please submit a letter that speaks to the following qualifications:

• an outstanding commitment to student success in and out of the classroom in support of the Drake mission.
• integrity in personal relationships.
• typifying the ideal student mentor by providing for students the support they need to graduate and move forward to live productive, fulfilling lives.

The nominee must be a faculty or staff member in at least her/his fourth year of service at the University.  The nominee cannot have won this award within the past five years.

The letter is due to Deputy Provost Renée Cramer no later than February 18, 2022  The letter should be sent as an attachment to renee.cramer@drake.edu and nicki.kimm@drake.edu

The nominated individual will be notified by the Provost’s Office of her/his nomination and asked if they are willing to be considered.

At the nominee’s acceptance, the nominator is asked to collect the following supporting material and submit it to Nicki Kimm by March 18, 2022: a curriculum vitae or resume, a minimum of one other letter supporting the nomination, and a description by the nominee of activities which illustrate her/his mentoring/advising involvement. At least one of the letters must be from a current student and there may be no more than five letter supporting the nomination. Electronic submission of materials is required. Send all documents to nicki.kimm@drake.edu

The Provost will appoint a screening committee to review the nominations and materials, and recommend an awardee to the Provost.

Any individual who was initially nominated for the award in 2020 or 2021 may be re-nominated if the nominator resubmits a letter offering the individual for consideration this year. Files of previous nominees are maintained for two years.  In the case of re-nomination, the nominator will be invited to review the file to ensure that the nomination is as current as possible. The limit of five letters of support, including one from a current student, also applies to re-nominations.

The 2022 recipient of the Madelyn Levitt Mentor Award will be announced at one of the spring 2022 commencements.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

All Drake faculty, staff, and students are invited and encouraged to nominate a Drake faculty member for the Madelyn Levitt Teacher Award, created in 1994 in honor of Madelyn Levitt’s commitment to Drake, and her ongoing interest in faculty and staff achievement and academic excellence. 

Each year this award recognizes commitment to student success on the Drake campus by honoring a member of the Drake University faculty for excellence in teaching.   In order to make a nomination, please submit a letter that speaks to the following qualifications:  

•   an informed mind in inspirational dialogue with students 
•   integrity in personal relationships
•   rigor in intellectual endeavors
•   contagious enthusiasm for her/his subject matter.

A nominee must be a faculty member holding the rank of instructor, or above, and in at least her/his fourth academic year of service.  A nominee cannot have won this award within the past five years. The letter of nomination is due to Deputy Provost Renée Cramer no later than February 18, 2022.  The letter should be sent as an attachment to renee.cramer@drake.edu and nicki.kimm@drake.edu.

The nominated individual will be notified by the Provost’s Office of her/his nomination and asked if they are willing to be considered. 

At the nominee’s acceptance, the nominator will be asked to collect the following supporting material and submit it to Nicki Kimm by March 18, 2022:  

• a curriculum vitae;
• a short statement, by the nominee, of educational philosophy or about methods of teaching;
• teaching evaluations for the nominee for the previous two semesters.
• A minimum of one additional letter supporting the nomination must be submitted. At least one letter of support must be from a current student and at least one letter of support must come from a faculty member, and there may be no more than five letters including the nomination letter and letters supporting the nomination.

Electronic submission of materials is required. Send all documents to nicki.kimm@drake.edu.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Classes will be held remotely the first two weeks of the semester. During these two weeks, Cowles Library will be open the following hours:

Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 1–5 p.m.
Midnight Hall (24-hour space) will be accessible 24/7

The library will move to card access only during this two-week period.

As a reminder, all those who enter the library are required to comply with Drake University’s face covering policy. Please wear your mask at all times inside the library.

— Jill Gremmels, Dean, Cowles Library