As a reminder from President Martin’s email to campus, the results of our 2023 Great Colleges to Work For (GCTWF) survey are available here. Thank you to the 600 faculty and staff who participated in the survey this past spring.

Our overall percent positive score on the 2023 survey improved 4%. The qualitative responses in the survey serve as a reminder of our strengths: working well with colleagues, supportive supervisors and department chairs, the flexibility to work from home, and more.

Based on our survey results, Drake University has been officially recognized as a “Great College to Work For” by ModernThink, the company that delivers and manages the survey. Our recognition areas are “Supervisor/Department Chair Effectiveness” and “Faculty & Staff Well-being.” It is wonderful for the institution to be recognized in this way.

We use our GCTWF results to define and focus on areas for improvement that will advance creating a strong workplace culture. For the current academic year, our areas of collective improvement are:

1. Robust and transparent communication
2. Professional development and annual evaluations
3. Extending a generosity of spirit to colleagues across campus

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the survey, please reach out to Nate Reagen or Maureen De Armond.

— Nate Reagen, Office of the President; Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

Unfortunately, COVID-19 has not gone away. In fact, in recent weeks, we have seen an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations both nationally and within the State of Iowa. We want all of our employees and students to remain healthy and be in the best position to recover quickly if they do get sick.

Sharing Is Not Caring…During Flu Season: Whether the cause is COVID-19, the flu, or a strong cold, if you have active symptoms (a fever, runny nose, cough, congestion), please do not come to campus. Have a plan: test for COVID. Call in sick, if you need to. Work from home if you are feeling okay but concerned you could be contagious. Visit our COVID-19 and Other Contagious Illnesses page for additional guidance.

Have COVID Tests on Hand: Starting on Sept. 25, the government is once again allowing households four COVID free tests that can be ordered from Covidtests.gov. If you do not have COVID tests at home, we encourage you to order more free test kits to have on hand.

Get Your COVID Booster: Boosters are now available and the CDC recommends updated COVID-19 vaccine for fall/winter virus season. It is easy to schedule online a time to get your booster with CVS or another pharmacy.

Get Your Flu Shot, Too: You can get your flu shot when you receive you COVID booster. Thanks to our friends in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Hy-Vee, there are also still flu shot dates available to receive your shot on campus.

As we head back into cold and flu season, please be thinking about both yourself and others.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

Drake University is delighted to be hosting six international scholars from around the world on campus this fall, the most we have hosted in more than a decade.  The international scholars are serving in various capacities, including teaching, research, and mentorship, and they bring a unique global perspective to our community.

The Office of Global Engagement is hosting a welcome reception for the international scholars in Levitt Hall on Sept. 28 from 4–6 p.m. Please come and meet the scholars, help welcome them to campus, and expand your global network.

The scholars include:

Ines Rojas
Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish and Communication & Cultural Literacy
College of Arts & Sciences and Bright College
Home Country: Venezuela

Zahir Cerkini
Fulbright Scholar
Law School
Home Country: Kosovo

Suryani Wijaya
Fulbright Scholar
College of Arts & Sciences
Home Country: Indonesia

Yajuan Jiang
Research Scholar
Law School
Home Country: China

Hua Zhang
Research Scholar
Law School
Home Country: China

Juan Del Valle Rosales
Research Scholar
College of Arts & Sciences
Home Country: Mexico

Please join us as we celebrate these scholars and their contributions to our campus community.

— Bonnie Ehler, Global Engagement

Join colleagues from across campus for the next Bulldog Connect lunch on Oct. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Hubbell Dining Hall (come and go as your schedule allows). Lunch is only $5. This is a great opportunity to meet and network with others from across campus. This event is held the first Wednesday of each month. Sponsored by All Staff Council’s Events & Community Service committee (faculty are welcome, too!).

— Elissa Johnson, On behalf of All Staff Council

For those who participated in a professional portrait session Aug. 21 with University Communications and Marketing, your headshots are available for download.

Photos can be found here: https://drakeuniversity.smugmug.com/Headshots-1/

Use the password BulldogSmile to login and download your photo.

— Jimmy Hoover, University Communications and Marketing

The annual Way Up Conference is designed to develop women leaders to enhance Iowa higher education, and is for faculty, staff, administrators and graduate students in higher education, and those aspiring to be leaders in higher ed.

This year’s conference is being held Nov. 2–3 in Des Moines. The theme of the conference is “Thriving Together in a Landscape of Change.” Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on advancements made by women in higher education in Iowa, discuss hot topics faced by many of us, and network with others across the state. Plan to join at Hilton Des Moines Downtown for enriching conversations on leadership, wellness, social justice, empowerment, networking, and so much more.

Registration is open. Visit the website to learn more about keynote speakers and workshop sessions, including Drake’s own Director of Access and Success, Michelle Laughlin. Contact Amanda Martin, amanda.martin@drake.edu, Way Up Conference committee member, with any questions.

The All Staff Council Recognition Committee is accepting True Blue nominations. A staff member who is called to be True Blue is someone who:

1. Epitomizes the values of leadership, teamwork, and integrity, and exhibits their commitment to the Drake community.
2. Has shown others what it takes to get a task or project done, and accomplishes that by working well with others.
3. Is able to be honest and fair in the situations they face.
4. Does all of these things for the betterment of Drake and its values and goals.

If this sounds like someone you know, make your nomination today.

— Betsy Wilson, On behalf of All Staff Council

Drake University is delighted to be hosting six international scholars from around the world this fall—the most we have hosted at once in more than a decade.  The international scholars are serving in various capacities, including teaching, research, and mentorship, and bring a unique global perspective to our community.

The Office of Global Engagement is hosting a welcome reception for the international scholars in Levitt Hall on Thursday, Sept. 28, from 4–6 p.m. Please come and meet the scholars, help welcome them to campus, and expand your global network!

The scholars include:

• Ines Rojas – Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish and Communication & Cultural Literacy
  College of Arts & Sciences and Bright College

• Zahir Cerkini – Fulbright Scholar
  Law School

• Suryani Wijaya – Fulbright Scholar
  College of Arts & Sciences

• Yajuan Jiang – Research Scholar
  Law School

• Hua Zhang – Research Scholar
  Law School

• Juan Del Valle Rosales – Research Scholar
  College of Arts & Sciences

Please join us as we celebrate these scholars and their contributions to our campus community.

— Bonnie Ehler, Global Engagement