Category Archives: For Faculty Archive

Cowles Library needs faculty feedback

On Thursday, Oct. 25, all Drake faculty received an invitation from Provost Mattison to participate in Drake University’s version of the Ithaka Faculty Survey, an important study of the impact of digital technologies on research, teaching, and publishing. Survey responses will help to direct the initiatives of Cowles Library’s continuous improvement plan and inform campus planning and decision-making with respect to research and teaching resources.

The survey seeks faculty perspective on a range of topics, including how faculty engage with and perceive the library. In particular, this survey will help the library gain insight into how our faculty members teach and conduct research in a rapidly changing and increasingly digital environment.

We know you are very busy and probably suffering from survey fatigue, but please consider giving the library 20–25 minutes of your time to take this survey. You do not need to complete the survey in one sitting. Any progress is automatically saved, and you can pick up where you left off. You will need to refer to Provost Mattison’s October 25th email message for the survey link. Learn more on Cowles Library blog.

Andrew Welch, Cowles Library

Town hall meetings with President Martin

In the spirit of being “All in This Together,” President Martin will hold two town hall sessions in early November to talk about Drake’s admissions efforts and our future. These will take place on Thursday, Nov. 1, and Monday, Nov. 5, in the Sussman Theater from 12:30—1:30 p.m. Faculty and staff are invited to attend one of these dates if your schedule allows. Light snacks will be provided.

Cheryle Anania, President’s Office

Become involved in Phi Beta Kappa at Drake

Drake is among a small group of colleges and universities that offer a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the national honors society for arts and sciences. The society works to champion education, foster freedom of thought, and recognize academic excellence. Are you interested in helping Phi Beta Kappa at Drake thrive? Were you inducted to Phi Beta Kappa at your undergraduate institution? If you answered yes to either of these questions, please email your contact details and direct any questions to Maura Lyons at maura.lyons@drake.edu. We are looking for members to take part in the important task of reviewing eligible student candidates in the spring and be part of efforts to increase the chapter’s visibility and activities on campus.

Maura Lyons, Art & Design Department 

Upcoming Tech Tuesdays

Upcoming Tech Tuesdays: Learn about Blackboard, Effective Online Searches, Qualtrics, and Data
These 50-minute professional development sessions for faculty and staff are designed to provide you with resources to help you use technology more efficiently in your job (and possibly your life). All sessions will include time for Q&A. Register for Tech Tuesday sessions.

Assessing Learners in Blackboard
Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.

Delve into learning about a multitude of student creation tools for assessing learning. Instructors will learn how to manage assignments, tests, and other assessments.

Internet Search Best Practices
Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m.

This session will help you hone your abilities to navigate massive amounts of information online, be a better searcher, find quality sources, and be more confident with online technology. Participants will receive 1 hour of BUILD credit for attending this session.

Making Qualtrics Work For You
Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m.

This session will briefly introduce how to use Qualtrics and move on to investigate how you can use it in your work. Participants will receive 1 hour of BUILD credit for attending this session.

Data Driven Decision Making
Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m.

Come learn about the ways that different offices are using information from the Drake University Business Intelligence Portal with staff from the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

Register for these sessions and learn about future sessions.

Carla Herling, ITS

Survey of Administrative Services update

Thank you to all who participated in the Survey of Administrative Services.  Your feedback has been immensely helpful as we pursue our goal to elevate service excellence.

The results have been shared with each applicable unit leader with the intent to:

  • Celebrate the positives
  • Constructively view the negatives
  • Prioritize areas for improvement

The survey tool itself is not punitive, rather in keeping with our Generosity of Spirit, it assists us to continuously improve. In the coming months, you’ll see each applicable unit sharing back on the bullet points above.

As always, please ask questions—my door is always open.

Nate Reagen, Office of the President

Chili Cook Off finalists’ recipes

Thank you everyone who attended another successful Chili Cook off event.  Please enjoy the recipes from the top 3 winners:

Chili Recipe provided by Joe Campos (winner of the 2018 contest)

Ingredients

  • 1 medium sized onion
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 1-2 cloves diced garlic
  • Drizzle of olive oil
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 1 can petite diced tomatoes
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • ½ a packet chili seasoning
  • 24oz of your favorite liquid (I like beer)
  • 1-2 cups frozen corn
  • 2 cans Great Northern Beans
  • ½ a can of Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • Tablespoon of Oregano (optional)
  • Sour Cream or Mexican Crema
  1. So, you’ve decided to make chili. This will undoubtedly be the best decision you’ve made today. Let’s start by dicing up that onion and bell pepper into medium sized pieces.
  2. Now that you’re probably crying from the onion, it’s a good time to turn on some music and set the scene. Dancing while you cook has been shown to make food taste better.
  3. Drizzle that olive oil into a sturdy pot and let it warm. Once warm, add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and sauté over medium heat.
  4. Once the onions are translucent, add the ground turkey and brown that turkey until it’s cooked through and through. Dance like no one is watching.
  5. If you haven’t gathered all your ingredients yet, do that now and start opening all the cans so you don’t have to do that later.
  6. Now that the turkey is browned, add in the tomato paste and stir it up real good. It’s going to be thick. Heat the meat/tomato paste combination up. A little charring on the bottom of the pot is okay. It’ll add flavor.
  7. Stir in your 1 packet of taco seasoning and ½ packet of chili seasoning. No, I don’t know where you can get a half packet of chili seasoning- just eyeball it.
  8. Prepare your liquids. It can be chicken stock or water, or beer (which is what I use). But probably not wine. If you use wine and it turns out great, drop me a line.
  9. Add that liquid to the pot and stir stir stir. Any charred bits at the bottom should come up. Now would also be a good time to have a liquid of your own- it’s important to hydrate. Chef’s choice (I think you know what I’ll be having).
  10. Once the pot is bubbling at a low boil, add in the can of petite diced tomatoes.
  11. If you haven’t yet, put the beans in a colander and rinse them with cold water.
  12. Once that’s done, add the beans and corn to the pot as well. You should probably give it a good stir.
  13. Take half the can of chipotle peppers and dice them up real small. They’re in the adobo sauce and pretty tender so it shouldn’t take much to dice them up. Add the chopped chipotle peppers and any sauce that’s left on the cutting board and add it to the pot. Stir.
  14. You should still be at medium heat. Once it’s boiling at a good pace, turn it down to low enough just to keep it simmering. Simmer down now, simmer down.
  15. How’s that liquid? Time for a new one?
  16. After about 10 minutes on a low simmer add the oregano to the pot and stir it in. I do not think you need to do this, but I do it, and I won so who are you to question the recipe? Plus my grandmother said it helps with digestion. She’s the one who I learned it from.
  17. Simmer for another 10-15 minutes until everything is cooked through and tasty. Sample your wares with a clean spoon (each time!) and decide when it’s ready.
  18. Serve in bowls with a generous helping of sour cream or Mexican crema.
  19. Grab another beverage
  20. Find someone else to do dishes. You’ve just made a delicious hearty chili and had fun whilst you did it. Good job!

 

Chili Recipe provided by Sandra Harris

  • 2 28 oz. cans of crushed/diced tomatoes
  • 28 oz. can of chili beans
  • Green pepper
  • Poblano pepper
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Sausage
  • Hamburger
  • Worscheshire sauce (4 or 5 tbl)
  • Tabasco   (dash)
  • Liquid smoke (2 tbl)
  • Chili powder (2 tbl)
  • Cayenne Pepper (light sprinkle)
  • Coriander (1 tsp)
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Cumin (1 tsp)

I usually use 1 lb each of hamburger and sausage.  I do not drain the beans or the tomatoes.  Everything else that doesn’t specify an amount – I simply do to taste!

 

Pete’s World Famous Turkey Chili

(As Interpreted by Drinda Williams)

  • ½ large onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • Salt and pepper; additional spices as you wish
  • 1 can chopped chilies
  • 1 can chopped tomatoes with chilies
  • 1 can Bush’s Chili Magic beans
  • Red Pepper flakes to taste
  • Chicken stock (if needed)
  • Handful of green olives, sliced
  • Fritos for garnish
  • Shredded cheese for garnish

Sauté onion and pepper until onion starts to caramelize, add garlic. Add turkey and stir around until it’s crumbed and no longer pink. Salt and pepper and additional spices to taste. Stir in all canned items and red pepper flakes, simmer. If it needs liquid add chicken stock. Serve with the Fritos and cheese.

-Heidi Weiss, University Advancement

Joyful Accountability winners chosen at Drake Social

It was a warm but breezy autumn afternoon for the Drake Social, Friday, Oct. 19, in the FAC Arcade. Attendees enjoyed a popcorn bar, hot apple cider, and lemonade.

From the list of over 40 nominees for faculty or staff who exemplify Joyful Accountability, three winners were randomly drawn by Provost Sue Mattison. Winners and prizes were: Evan Favrea, office breakfast; Erica Hartschen, St. Kilda’s gift card; and Venessa Macro, lavender bread.

The next Drake Social will kick off International Education Week, Monday, Nov. 12. There will be a 3:30 p.m. Town Hall meeting to highlight International Education Week, and the Social from 4–6 p.m.

Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost