Category Archives: For Faculty Archive

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive, For Students Archive

Group exercise classes available at the Bell Center

Group X classes begin this week at the Bell Center. The classes are offered throughout the year with a new schedule posted each semester. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate. Some of the classes include Vinyasa Yoga, Zumba, Hip Hop, and Barre. Classes fill up fast. To view the schedule and register for a class, create a profile online at IMLeagues.com. Classes are held in the Bell Center and equipment is provided. To earn free gear, register and attend 15 classes during the semester. For questions, contact Drake Wellness at wellness@drake.edu.

— Ellen Lowe, Wellness, Recreational Services

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive, For Students Archive

Drake Wellness offering personal training sessions

Whether you have a specific fitness goal, want to learn more about what to do in the gym, or want to start your journey to a healthier lifestyle, the Personal Training program at Drake can help you. Drake personal trainers focus on education, motivation, and exercise adherence and will design a customized exercise program that is just right for you. Packages include a body composition test. Personal training sessions are 30 minutes and take place at the Bell Center. The service is available to students, faculty, and staff. Start your journey today by emailing wellness@drake.edu.

Personal training session prices:
1 Session $12
4 Sessions $38
8 Sessions $72
12 Sessions $100

— Ellen Lowe, Wellness, Recreational Services

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive, For Students Archive

New uses for Bulldog Bucks

In addition to on­-campus dining, laundry, and printing, students are now able to use Bulldog Bucks at the bookstore or connect them up to their Uber account and use them as their default payment method. Funds can be added at any time and will carry over from semester-to-semester. However, students will not be refunded for remaining Bulldog Bucks once they graduate. Students can add funds to their Bulldog Bucks account in-person at Student Services Center (Carnegie Hall) or online in the eAccounts portal. Parents and guests can also add funds to a student’s account, so drop a hint if you need some extra cash.

Bulldog Bucks aren’t just for students, faculty and staff can utilize the convenient payment option as well.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Drake Athletics to host faculty/staff appreciation week: Oct. 6–13

New this year, Drake Athletics will host a faculty/staff appreciation week. Faculty and staff are eligible to receive up to four complimentary tickets to the events listed below. Tickets may be picked up at the Drake athletics ticket office Monday–Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or at the ticket window on game day. A valid Drake Card must be shown at time of pick up.

Women’s Soccer
Drake vs. Indiana State
Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.
Cownie Soccer Complex

Football
Drake vs. Dayton
Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.
Drake Stadium

Men’s Soccer
Drake vs. Loyola
Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.
Cownie Soccer Complex

Women’s Soccer
Drake vs. UNI
Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.
Cownie Soccer Complex

Volleyball
Drake vs. Missouri State
Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
Knapp Center

More information is available at www.DrakeTix.com/promotions. For questions, call 515-271-3647 or email tickets@drake.edu.

— Tom Florian, Ticket Sales and Donor Management

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

From the Office of the Associate Provost

Friday FYS lunch/discussion: Sept. 8

The first Friday First Year Seminar lunch/discussion will be held Sept. 8 at 12 p.m. in TMR 133. While these meetings are designed for those currently teaching FYS, we welcome those with an interest in teaching FYS in the future. If you would like to attend, click here  and note your lunch preference.

Engaged Citizen Experience planning meeting: Sept. 8

Each spring semester, Drake sponsors its Engaged Citizen Experience––a series of cocurricular events designed to bring Drake students, staff, and faculty together with the Greater Des Moines community to discuss important political and social issues. The theme for the spring semester will be: Nourishing (Feeding) the World. The theme was selected based on student interest as reflected in a survey done of returning students last April, as well as feedback from faculty and staff who either attended a meeting on Aug. 16, or who sent their perspectives to us. It is an issue with multiple dimensions at the local, state, national, and international levels.

If you are interested in helping plan Engaged Citizen Experience events, including our annual Engaged Citizen Conference and documentary film series, the first meeting will be held on Friday, Sept. 8, at 9 a.m. in Old Main, Room 208.

Join the discussion on inclusive learning environments: Sept. 11

For the past two years, a group of faculty and staff have been meeting monthly to discuss issues related to creating inclusive learning environments. The meetings will continue and will be open to anyone on campus who wishes to talk about the challenges, successes, and failures we have faced as we try to navigate this difficult issue. This semester, the group will meet the second Monday of the month at 3:30 p.m. Hence, the first meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, in the Olmsted Center, Drake Room.

For questions, contact Arthur Sanders at arthur.sanders@drake.edu.

— Arthur Sanders, Associate Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Town hall meeting on HLC accreditation and social event

Faculty and staff are invited to attend a town hall meeting on Drake’s institutional accreditation review by the Higher Learning Commission on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the Shivers Hospitality Suite. Kevin Saunders and Craig Owens will present a brief but compelling summary of our case for reaccreditation and an overview of our continuing preparations. A short Q&A will follow the presentation.

During the social hour immediately following the Q&A, guests can enjoy a beer, glass of wine, or non-alcoholic alternative, and reconnect with one another as we embark together on the beginning of the academic year. Worried about running out of things to talk about during the Social? We’ve got you covered. An exciting array of posters will bring the accreditation process to life and celebrate our many collective achievements since our last HLC review, nearly 10 years ago.

In addition to complimentary beverages, there will be snacks and popcorn. Parking is available nearby.

— Drinda Williams, Provost’s Office

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Purchase a parking pass for the upcoming school year

Parking permits for the 2017­–2018 academic year are available for purchase in the Student Services Center or online through blueView. Beat the rush and consider purchasing a pass before students return.

Registration forms can be picked up in the Student Services Center or printed from the Public Safety website. An option to use payroll deduct is also available for full-time faculty and staff.

More information, including a list of frequently asked questions, is available on the Public Safety website. For additional parking questions, contact the Student Services Center or Public Safety.

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

From the President: Higher Learning Commission visit in October

We are now in the home stretch of our preparations for our comprehensive reaccreditation review by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). For more than three years, many on campus have been working hard to craft a compelling and wide-ranging dossier of materials that shows Drake University at its best. As we near the October site visit by the HLC’s team of peer-reviewers, I am writing to ask for your continued support.

Please save the dates of Monday through noon Tuesday, October 23–24, 2017, as the site visit team will expect to meet with a number of campus community members, including students, faculty, staff, academic and administrative leadership, and trustees.

We will not know with certainty with whom the team will want to meet until early to mid-October. As we receive their requests for meetings, Kevin Saunders will be in touch to request invitees’ attendance. I ask that you make yourself as available to the visiting reviewers as possible, that you refrain from scheduling meetings, events, or other obligations during that period, and that you keep an eye out for requests to attend interviews and meetings with the visiting team.

Please also be aware that the HLC reviewers’ needs for meeting space will be high priorities. So, you may find that on-campus venues commonly available for general use will be held in reserve during the dates of the site visit.

As we get closer to the visit, you will receive updates and invitations to learn more about our reaccreditation efforts. I trust you will find the case we present to the HLC enlightening and uplifting. In the meantime, thanks for the hard work and care from those already involved in preparations for the review and, in advance, for your flexibility and willingness to take part in the visit, should you be asked to do so.

— Marty Martin, President

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

J. Scott Raecker to deliver keynote address at Learning Symposium

J. Scott Raecker, executive director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, will deliver the keynote address, “Building Community at Drake—Where Do We Go From Here and What Role do I Play,” at the 2017 Drake University Learning Symposium Aug. 18 at the Sheraton in West Des Moines. The interactive presentation will focus on how we each play a role in creating a culture of excellence that will further build community at Drake. The session will introduce research-based strategies that The Ray Center is utilizing to positively shape culture with higher education, workplace, and public service organizations across the country. Outcome expectations include individual awareness and commitment to act on the opportunities we each have to enrich the Drake community through intentional relationship building and core leadership competencies that will enhance performance.

Faculty and staff are invited to register for the 2017 Learning Symposium on Eventbrite. For more details on the symposium, including a schedule of events, click here.

—Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Seeking volunteers for Iowa State Fair booth

The Office of Community Relations is calling on all faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners to help represent Drake at the Iowa State Fair Aug. 10–20.

Drake will host a booth inside the Varied Industries building at the fairgrounds. Volunteers are needed to greet and visit with fairgoers, apply temporary tattoos, distribute promotional giveaways, and share news about the great things happening on campus.

Volunteer shifts are four hours each: 9 a.m.–1 p.m., 1–5 p.m., and 5–9 p.m. Fair admission and a parking pass will be provided so volunteers can enjoy the Fair before and after their shift. A PowerPoint presentation will be provided to volunteers with information on booth relations. Unlike last year, the first Friday of the Fair will not be designated as Drake Day.

The Fair is an opportunity to engage and interact with the Des Moines community and fellow Iowans. The community relations office appreciates all of the support it has received in the past and is eager to serve with faculty and staff again this year.

Sign up for a shift here.

— Nick Valdez, University Advancement