Welcome back to the Student Success spotlight, an opportunity to recognize the people and resources that make a difference in Drake students’ lives. Each week, we’ll shine a light on the outstanding individuals and initiatives that contribute to the success and growth of our community.

This week features Timm Pilcher, Professional and Academic Support Specialist in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, who takes an innovative approach to office hours.

Tell us a little bit about your creative approach to office hours:

Tuesdays with Timm came about because of my love of walking the Bulldog Mile. Ideally I try to get out daily and walk a couple of laps, although some days are better than others. My Associate Dean, Dr. Kelly Bruhn, noticed this and asked if I would be willing to put it out there for students to join as an alternative way for them to connect to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) and their academic and career advisor.

What prompted you to make the change?

Most know I’m a pretty non-traditional person in many ways, and any alternatives that I can use to connect with students, I’ll try. Especially for EFRs, the college transition can be daunting, and I used to tell my high school students that they needed to bridge any barriers between themselves and their professors and advisors to ease that transition. This is just one bridge to use.

Talk about any differences you experienced in level of participation, student engagement, etc.

I think students can really relate to being approachable by any means, and I know that Tuesdays with Timm and the “open door” policy of everyone the SJMC make for a family-like atmosphere within the school, allowing for students to have better relationships and thus better outcomes and achievement.

What is your favorite thing about teaching and advising Drake students?

Oh my gosh, that’s a tough question. Coming from 30 years of working in public education (a field I never would have imagined myself getting into when I first went to college) I realized that I absolutely love working with students. They are smart, funny, and creative, and they bring a lot of energy! I consider myself a pretty high-energy person, so it’s a good fit!

Please share your student success spotlight ideas!  Email Melissa Sturm-Smith, Associate Provost for Student Success.

Drake University Department of Theatre Arts seeks new, original plays by local playwrights as part of the 2024 Neighborhood Playwrights Series. Entries will be read by a committee of Drake Theatre students and faculty. The writer of the winning entry for this year’s Series will receive a prize of $500 and have their work produced as a public reading for two performances as part of Drake Theatre’s Main Stage Season.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 8th, 2024.
The winning entry will be announced on or before Monday, June 3rd, 2024. Rehearsals will begin Monday, August 26th, 2024 with performances on Friday, September 13th and Saturday, September 14th, 2024.

If you have any questions, you can e-mail Michael Rothmayer at the address listed above, or contact Jacob
Lemons, Administrative Assistant for the Department of Theatre Arts at (515) 271-2018 or jacob.lemons@drake.edu.
To see the complete list of rules online, go to: https://www.drake.edu/theatre/productions/drakeuniversitytheatreneighborhoodplaywrightsseries/.

— Jacob Lemons, Fine Arts

Reminder: Please complete this year’s Survey of Administrative Services by Oct. 31. It is completely anonymous and often takes less than five minutes to complete. You will only be asked to provide feedback on the areas you work with regularly. We’re off to a slow start, so please take the time to provide input. Thank you!

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President

The Advancement team in the Kinne Center is moving. John Smith and Erica Hartschen are already located in the President’s Office suite. During the week of Oct. 30, Advancement Officers will move to the Alumni House and all other Kinne staff will be relocating to the third floor of Old Main. Old Main’s third floor will soon house the annual giving team, records, and donor engagement.

— Heather Winslow, Facilities Planning and Management

A space heater approval policy has been developed to ensure the safe operation of space heaters on campus.  The policy will help prevent electrical circuit overloads and direct FPM to possible heating issues.

A reminder that this does not pertain to residence halls, as space heaters are not allowed in those buildings.

If you have any comments, please use the comment function through the Policy Development Page.

— Hannah Remke, Sustainability Coordinator

Please join us in congratulating our most recent recipients of the True Blue Award. Here is a little information about our honorees with excerpts from their nominations.

Kayla Bell, Director of Broadlawns Drake University Counseling Center, Drake Counseling Center

“Kayla has moved mountains to make changes at Drake’s Counseling Center, specifically to make it a more welcoming environment for ALL students. The fear of getting help due to shame or stigma does not exist at the center anymore. Kayla is actively involved and always looking for new ways to be inclusive, give back to the Drake community, and teach others how to be the same.”

Katherine Coady, Julie Olinger, and Cindy Liska, Zimpleman College of Business

“Thank you to Katherine, Julie, and Cindy for your leadership and teamwork. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for your ability to deliver a well-organized and highly successful conference.”

Korrine Jackson, Payroll Coordinator, Finance

“Korrine is the epitome of Drake’s core values commitment to mission and all in this together. She is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that all aspects of payroll are done correctly and on time. Korrine has a meticulous eye for detail and pays close attention to all of the small particulars that could otherwise go unnoticed. In addition, she also has a kind spirit and is easy to work with.”

Laura Krossner, Electronic Resources & Access Services Librarian, Cowles Library

“Laura acts as a team member invested in the success of my courses, and she exemplifies the “we’re all in this together” value that Drake prizes. I would not be able to teach my courses and deliver the educational value that Drake promises without the expert assistance Laura has provided.”

Matt Probasco, Budget Director, Finance and Administration

“Thank you, Matt, for the work you do. Every equation has a story behind it, and inside those you’re working on you’re helping create room for access to higher education for more students, giving a stronger sense of security to our team members, and helping strengthen the future of this institution.”

Jorge Romero-Castro, Administrative Assistant/Office Manager, Music

“He is incredibly organized, helpful, professional at all times, though approachable and warm, and is such an asset to our department. His assistance with recruiting (meeting with parents and students, as well as audition days) is invaluable – so many parents and students have commented on how helpful and kind he is as they navigate this process.”

Kyle Schura, Assoc Director, Customer Relations Management System Strategy, Admissions

“Kyle is incredibly thoughtful about student and family experiences. He is always striving to make sure the online systems are accessible and user friendly. He also considers the in-person experiences and how we can be sure we are creating a comfortable and inclusive environment when students and families come to visit campus.”

Do you know of a staff member or department that has gone above and beyond to exemplify True Blue spirit? Nominate them today!

— Betsy Wilson, On behalf of All Staff Council

Midterms can be a time of high stress for students. Students have been coming to Access & Success to talk about how to catch up in their classes, how to study for upcoming exams, how to make the most of the second half of the semester, etc. Thank you for sending them our way!

I want to be here for you, too. If there are any questions you have about accommodations, how to best support our students and more, I want to talk to you.

I am offering Walk In Wednesdays to faculty, staff, and students. If you have a concern or a question, feel free to contact me. Every week my plan is to do walk-in hours in various places on campus. I will share where I will be each week through this page.

This week I will be participating in the Wellness Conference. On Nov. 1, I will be in Olmsted from 9–11 am. I welcome any questions, comments, and concerns you may have.

— Michelle Laughlin, Access & Sucess

Old Main will welcome children and grandchildren of Drake faculty and staff for trick-or-treating on Monday, Oct. 30, from 3–5 pm. Offices will have treats and would love to see the kiddos’ Halloween costumes this year!

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

Every fall, we ask for your input on how we fulfill our commitment to elevate service excellence. Your collective input is reviewed and acted upon. For examples from last year, see the responses from Finance, HR, ITS, and others.

It’s that time of year again and thank you for your input in advance! Your voice helps shape continuous improvement in these areas across campus: Facilities Planning and Management, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Public Safety, University Communications & Marketing, and the SPARC (grants) office.

Click here to complete this year’s survey by Halloween, 10/31. It is completely anonymous and often takes less than five minutes to complete. You will only be asked to provide feedback on the areas you work with regularly.

The survey was developed by the Office of Institutional Research & Assessment in collaboration with each area on the survey. Continuous improvement efforts such as this drive intentional and strategic action.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

— Nate Reagen, Chief of Staff, Office of the President

We are excited to kick off a brand-new feature that spotlights the people and resources that make a difference in the lives of Drake students. Each week, we’ll shine a light on the outstanding individuals and initiatives that contribute to the success and growth of our community.

This Week’s Feature: The “Don’t Cancel Class” Program

Ever found yourself in a personal or professional travel dilemma, unable to conduct your scheduled class? We have the perfect solution – don’t cancel! Introducing the “Don’t Cancel Class” program, your one-stop solution to ensure your students continue to learn and engage, no matter where you are.

This week, we want to give a huge shoutout to the dedicated Drake staff members who have come together to support this program. They are ready and eager to step in, sharing their expertise on a wide variety of topics to ensure your class remains on track. Whether you need someone to host a discussion or facilitate a workshop, our team has you covered.

Key Benefits of the “Don’t Cancel Class” Program:

• Access to a pool of experienced and passionate staff members.
• A diverse range of subject areas to choose from.
• A seamless, no-hassle solution for maintaining the continuity of your course.

If you’re interested in utilizing this program or learning more about it, please check out the list of presenters, or click here to submit a request.

Is there a person or program you would like to recognize?  Please email Melissa Sturm-Smith, Associate Provost for Student Success, to share your stories of success!

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