In January, a phishing simulation was sent to 500 random faculty and staff; 91.5 percent of those who received the simulation email either didn’t open the email, or didn’t click the link. These are excellent results that show we can identify phishing emails and avoid them.

Later this week, we’ll be sending out the next phishing simulation email to another random 500 faculty and staff members. If you receive the email and open the attachment, you’ll be sent to an informational page. If you receive an email you suspect is phishing, simulated or not, please forward it as an attachment to informationsecurity@drake.edu.

Participating in training like this is an effective and risk-free way to learn about the dangers of phishing and help protect individual and campus data. If you have questions or concerns, please contact informationsecurity@drake.edu.

Learn even more about how to secure your digital life by visiting our blog at its.drake.edu/category/security-blog/.

—Peter Lundstedt, Information Security Manager

Our focus for this year’s Wellness Event is on mental health. What better way to do this than by eating, conversing, and playing some games? Sodexo has graciously donated some cookies, popcorn, and even a hot chocolate bar. We will have a massage table set up, so bring $10 and register for a time slot ahead of time. Finally, we will give away massages to two lucky people: first draw gets a 1-hour table massage, second draw gets a half-hour massage. See you there!

Time: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. (right after Healthy4U class in Olmsted, Room 310)
Location: Olmsted Center, Parents Hall North
Activities: Bean bag toss, horseshoes, board games, $10 massage, and vendors
Food: Popcorn, cookies, hot chocolate bar from Sodexo, and other vendor snacks
Massage: $10 massages, please register ahead of time (see link above)
Vendors: Hy-Vee, Drake Recreation and Wellness, Drake Counseling Center, and Sodexo

-Tom Heijerman and Marina Verlengia, All Staff Council

The 2017 Drake Women & Leadership is scheduled for Friday, March 10. This event is designed to help Drake’s faculty and staff further develop their leadership skills and confidence. As an added bonus, attendees will receive credit toward Human Resources’ BUILD program. Faculty and staff are welcome to join for all or just part of the day, and lunch will be provided for registered attendees.

Schedule 
10 a.m.–Registration
10:15—Welcome
10:30—Session 1: “Owning and Claiming the Powerful You” with Sarah Noll Wilson
12 p.m.—Lunch: Conversity!
1:30—Session: “Five Factors of Strength: Personality, Leadership, and Capitalizing on ‘You’” with Cris Wildermuth
3–4—Ice Cream Social and Networking

Register today at https://drakewomenlead2017.eventbrite.com—seating is limited!

—Stephanie Cardwell, Entrepreneurship Centers

The first of our spring semester Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) lunches is this Friday, Feb. 10 at noon in Medbury Hall, Room 201. These discussions are opportunities for those engaged in SoTL projects at any level—from just thinking about starting one to almost complete, or those simply curious about SoTL—to share ideas, seek advice, or ask questions of colleagues engaged in this process. If you would like us to provide lunch for you, please register by Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. at: http://tinyurl.com/SoTLLunchFeb. For more information, contact arthur.sanders@drake.edu.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

Drake Research Grant and Undergraduate Assistantship Grant 2017–2018 proposals are due in deans’/directors’ offices by this Friday, Feb. 10. Details and proposal information can be found here. For more information contact arthur.sanders@drake.edu.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

Nominations are being sought for an Honorary Degree or the Drake Medal; they are due March 1. More information can be found here.

—Nancy Geiger, Student Records

The next Drake social, open to all faculty and staff, will be on Thursday, Feb. 23, 4–6 p.m. in Shivers Hospitality Suite, adjacent to The Knapp Center. Attendees will receive one complimentary ticket for beer or wine. Water, soda, etc. are also on the house. Nearby parking is available.

—Kim Lammers, Dean of Students Office

The new Preferred Name Policy offers all students the option to use a preferred first name that will display in many, but not all, University documents. The goal of the Student Preferred Name Policy is a consistent preferred-name experience across University systems and use of one’s preferred name wherever legal name is not absolutely necessary. At this time the preferred name would be used in the following places:

• Drake ID Card
• Residence hall roster (for on-campus students)
• Blackboard listing
• Class list with photos
• Adviser list with photos
• MyDUSIS classmate search
• Email

You will see changes to students’ first names when the update process is implemented Feb. 6–8. Any student who has indicated a preferred first name on Drake documents (such as the application for admission) will see that preferred name in the documents indicated.

This process and policy is especially important to help us create safe and engaged learning environments for transgender students. Questions? Please feel free to contact Tony Tyler, director of student engagement, equity, and inclusion; Carlyn Marron, assistant director of international programs; or Kevin Moenkhaus, director of student records.

—Melissa Sturm-Smith, Academic Excellence and Student Success