Category Archives: For Faculty Archive

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning lunch

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

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

New Preferred Name Policy goes into effect

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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

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive, HR Information Archive

Update on Fair Labor Standards Act

Following months of preparation for the new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime regulations, the injunction issued on Nov. 22, 2016, halted implementation. This created significant uncertainty, particularly on the threshold of a new presidential administration. Drake made the decision to suspend planned changes until more was known about the outcome of the injunction and response of the new administration.

As of the writing of this communication, there has been no change in the status of the FLSA overtime rules. In the injunction lawsuit appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Department of Justice recently asked for more time so the new administration could consider the issue. The Trump administration also issued a freeze on new or pending federal regulations, with various advocacy groups debating over whether the freeze would apply to the FLSA rules made final and published before the freeze.

However, we are working to ensure we are able to respond once an outcome is known. We are analyzing various scenarios including abandonment of the new rules, modification of the new rules, or full implementation of the rules. While this rule affects how we classify job—as either exempt or non-exempt—the work over the course of the past year has also focused on ensuring positions are properly placed in Drake’s staff compensation structure consistent with the Staff Salary Guidelines. (These can be found on the HR tab of blueView under the “Manager’s /Toolkit”.) This analysis will prove useful regardless of the outcome of the proposed FLSA rule.

Anyone with questions about this process or next steps are encouraged to reach out to Gary Johnson at 271-4804.

—Gary Johnson, Director, Human Resources

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Singing Valentines from the Drake Choir

Surprise your sweetheart, co-worker, or relative with a singing valentine presented by the Drake Choir. Each singing valentine is a special delivery and can be presented at work, a restaurant, a retirement center, or wherever you designate. (We’ve sung at construction sites, schools, offices, hospitals, and many more venues, so be creative.)

We deliver to the entire Des Moines metro, including West Des Moines, Clive, Johnston, Windsor Heights, and Urbandale all day on Tuesday, Feb. 14, (9 a.m.–3 p.m., 5:30–8 p.m.) and 5:30–8 p.m. in Ankeny, Altoona, Waukee, and Norwalk.

Choose from one of our three great packages:

  • True Romance—one rose and a song: $30
  • Cupid’s Favorite—six roses and a song: $45
  • Hopeless Romantic—a dozen roses and a song: $65

Why a singing valentine? In addition to winning brownie points with your valentine, you’ll be supporting the Drake Choir’s upcoming international tours. No University funds are used for these tours, so your support is important and greatly appreciated.

Two easy ways to order:

Order deadline is Feb. 8, so order now.

—Aimee Beckmann-Collier, Department of Music