The following message was sent to campus from President Martin on Monday, Sept. 30.

An important aspect of our Continuous Improvement Plan is assessing our performance in delivering services to the campus. To that end, I encourage you to complete this year’s survey of administrative services. It is completely anonymous and often takes less than five minutes to complete.

The survey focuses on six areas: Facilities Planning and Management, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Public Safety, and University Communications and Marketing. The survey was developed by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment in collaboration with several other of our colleagues. Continuous improvement efforts such as this are meant to drive intentional and strategic action. Your feedback will help us better meet the needs of our University.

Thank you in advance for your participation by Thursday, October 10^th.

Sincerely,

Marty

Following the successful inaugural Global Citizen Forum, Drake International and the Engaged Citizen Experience are pleased share updates for the 2020 Global Citizen Forum.

As it did last year, this year’s event will include a series of speakers, academic enrichment and professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, and students. The exciting news for the 2020 Global Citizen Forum is that Drake University, in conjunction with our partner university, the University of KwaZulu Natal (Durban, South Africa) will be co-sponsoring a conference on the theme: Struggles, Strategies, and Solutions for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education. The international conference will include inviting our international partner universities and colleagues from fifteen different institutions around the world.  The benefit of hosting an international conference on diversity and inclusion is the opportunity to learn from a broader worldview and have an opportunity to learn about work in this area around the world.  The conference will provide a platform to share new ideas, advance research, refine and develop frameworks, and influence policy development. To submit a presentation proposal, please go to the conference website for more information.

Another component of the Global Citizen Forum is a student research symposium, this year focused on International Perspectives on Privilege to complement the conference. We invite you to consider including research on the theme of the symposium or international topics which could be presented in March 2020. We also anticipate paper development workshops and research colloquia for faculty and staff doing research on diversity and inclusion issues. 

Sponsored by Drake International, The Engaged Citizen Experience, The Nelson Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Community Engagement and Service-Learning, and other campus partners, the Global Citizen Forum is an annual event meant to provide students with opportunities to explore the role of engaged citizenship in an increasingly globalized society.

— Melissa Sturm-Smith, Associate Provost for Academic Excellence and Student Success

Drake faculty and staff are invited to the Provost’s Drake Social, Thursday, Oct. 17, from 4–6 p.m. at Shivers Hospitality Suite. This is a family-friendly event, and you are welcome to bring spouses, partners, and children.

There is a lot going on at the October social!

• The Social will be preceded by a Town Hall at 3:30 p.m. regarding the upcoming Climate Assessment.
• Colleagues who exemplify the Drake Core Value of Joyful Accountability will be recognized. To nominate a colleague, please use the Qualtrics form. From among those nominated, several will be chosen at random for prizes.
• All Staff Council will host a Trivia Night beginning at 4:45 p.m. Enjoy the Social and then join a team for some fun competition, or just stay to watch. The ASC’s first Trivia Night was last spring and was very entertaining.

Refreshments will include wine, beer, soft drinks, and light snacks.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

It’s time to submit your course material requests for Spring 2020. Textbook adoptions are due Oct. 15.

Submit your adoptions online via Follett Discover:

1. Log in to your Learning Management System.
2. Look for the Follett Discover link or button to launch Follett Discover.
3. Submit your adoption.

If you need training on using Follett Discover or assistance in any way feel free to reach out to the University Bookstore.

— Donna Hallstrom, University Bookstore

We are seeking applicants to teach 40 sections of INTD 025: Bulldog Foundations in Fall 2020. Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent, and teaching experience is preferred. To find out more, please attend one of two informational sessions:

Oct. 16, 9–10 a.m., Cowles, Room 201
Oct. 17, 10–11 a.m., Cowles, Room 201

Bulldog Foundations helps students explore concepts and develop skills that are crucial for development of meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. Students will explore social justice issues, consider life skills necessary for success, and refine academic strategies. This course helps students transition into the Drake community with ease.

The course will run for the first ten weeks of the semester and will meet once a week for an hour and fifteen minutes. Instructors will be given all curriculum, materials, and facilitator guides for the course, and will not need to develop any curriculum on their own. Attached, you will find the Bulldog Foundations syllabus.

In addition to assigned class time, chosen instructors will need to attend an introduction meeting during the week of April 7th, an all-day training the week of August 3rd, and check-in meetings the week of October 19th and a wrap-up meeting during the week of fall 2020 finals.

Instructors will be paid a $1000 stipend for teaching Bulldog Foundations unless this course serves as a part of your full-time teaching load.

Fill out the google form to apply.The application is due Nov. 15, and successful applicants will be notified by Dec. 6.

— Erin Lain, Associate Provost for Campus Equity and Inclusion

Drake faculty and staff are eligible to receive up to four complimentary tickets to the events listed below. Tickets may be picked up at the Knapp Center Ticket Office Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or at the ticket window on game day. Must show valid Drake Card at time of pick up.

Drake Football vs. Valparaiso
Saturday, October 5  |  1:00 p.m.  |  Drake Stadium

Drake Volleyball vs. Illinois State
Friday, October 11  |  6:00 p.m.  |  Knapp Center

For more information, please contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 271-3647 or tickets@drake.edu.

— Ryan Harris, Assistant Athletic Director, Ticket Sales

As we begin another year, we pause to say thank you for your support of Drake. Collectively, we transform lives in so many ways. Gifts to Drake impact the educational experience. If you have already made a gift this fiscal year, THANK YOU!

If you haven’t made a gift this fiscal year, please join me in continuing your engagement. Your contribution, to any area you wish to support, makes a meaningful difference and sends a powerful message. 

You can make a gift on our website or through payroll deduction by contacting Pam Pepper at pam.pepper@drake.edu or (515) 271-4558. Your contributions will help the University continue to empower students to achieve their dreams.

If you would like to participate in All In, our 24-hour giving campaign, please mark April 2 & 3 on your calendar.

— Pam Pepper, University Advancement

The ITS project management team hosts a bi-weekly project update call. During this 15 minute call, we share brief updates on our larger technology initiatives with campus. It’s a great way to get learn more about what ITS is working on. We would like to let everyone know of an upcoming time change to this call. It will remain on Thursdays, but it will move from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. starting Thursday, Oct. 3. The dates, new times, and details for joining the call can be found on the campus calendar.

Additional information on projects can be found on the ITS website.

— Kris Brewster, ITS