Faculty and staff will have a number of opportunities for drop in chats and coffee with Provost Sue Mattison this year. The first will be Monday, Sept. 19, from 3–4 p.m. in Kerns Commons, Cartwright Hall.
In previous years, the coffees have all been at the Cowles Library cafe, but this year they will be held at various locations around campus. You can search the Campus Calendar for Coffee with the Provost to find a compete list.
— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the new Travel Expense Policy. Based on feedback, we made a few minor changes:
Review the new policy. As a reminder, the policy went into effect July 1, 2022.
— Erica McGowan, Finance and Administration
J-Term 2024 travel seminar proposals are due Thursday, Oct. 27. A travel seminar is a short-term, faculty-led study abroad (or domestic) program. This is an opportunity to teach a course that integrates an academic experience with intercultural and experiential learning while traveling. If you are interested in leading a travel seminar in 2024, email Maria Rohach, director of education abroad, at maria.rohach@drake.edu to set up a meeting to discuss your ideas and learn more about the process.
You can review the proposal process and submit a proposal through Qualtrics.
— Maria Rohach, Global Engagement
Ultra Hours: Get Help with Blackboard Learn Ultra
What a great turnout for Ultra Hours in August. More than 30 faculty members joined us in-person or online for personalized assistance. Popular topics included: Blackboard Learn Ultra refreshers and introductions, Gradebook setup, new features for Tests, copying materials, course design, managing content, and video discussions.
Mark your Calendars, Save your Spot
Bring your computer and questions about course design for hands-on practice with the instructional design team from Drake Online and Continuing Education.
The first Friday of each month (Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2)
Help Us Help You
Please sign up to indicate when you plan to come and what types of questions you have. Your feedback helps us adequately staff and prepare to assist you.
Reminders
— Shannon Hilscher, Drake Online and Continuing Education
Cowles Library is excited to announce an opportunity for full-time Drake faculty interested in learning more about using open educational resources (OER) in their courses. These open resources replace costly textbooks, and are beneficial to students in your courses in so many ways. The Drake Faculty Open Education Grant Program is offering $500 stipends to participants who complete the program, which comprises a workshop, self-paced learning modules, and peer discussion.
This program will be limited to eight participants in Fall 2022, and participants must complete all required components to receive their stipend. We expect the time commitment for the program to be 10–12 hours, which includes the virtual kickoff workshop on Friday, Oct. 7, 3:30–5 p.m.
Apply now: Drake Faculty Open Education Grant Program Application
Deadline: Applications are due by Friday, Sept. 23. Individuals will be notified of the status of their application by Monday, Oct. 3. Grants will be awarded based on representation of a wide range of disciplines and the alignment of application responses to the proposed content of this program.
— Teri Koch, Cowles Library Dean’s Office
Each Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.
The Writing Center (formerly known as the writing workshop) opened Monday, Sept. 12.
The Writing Center’s trained peer tutors advise and assist students at any stage of the writing process:
· Understanding instructions/prompts
· Generating ideas and ways to develop ideas
· Outlining and organizing
· Writing, expanding, revising, and/or copyediting a draft
The Writing Center is a free service for all Drake students, including graduate students and those in professional programs.
How to sign up: Go to library.drake.edu/writing-center/ to book an appointment with a tutor—instructions for booking and visiting are available on the site as well. Appointments are approximately 30 minutes, and students can sign up for more than one session if they wish. They may also request that a tutor keep a regular time slot available for them if they would like to come in each week.
Location: The Writing Center has moved! The Center is still on the lower level of Cowles Library—please follow signs to find the new, larger, more comfortable space. The Writing Center offers hours daily, from mornings to late afternoon/evening (including weekends). Students with health concerns can request an appointment on Zoom.
For faculty and staff: If you refer a student to the workshop or require all students to visit, please let the Writing Center know via email (megan.brown@drake.edu). Ask students to bring their assignment prompt/instructions to the Writing Center, as well as any writing they have done so far. When students are referred, or required, to visit, the tutor will email you to let you know that your student has attended and briefly describe what work was done. When students attend on their own, The Writing Center does not inform professors unless they specifically ask the Center to do so.
For questions, contact Professor Megan Brown, director of writing, at megan.brown@drake.edu.
— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost
Each Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.
This fall we’ll be reading two books as part of the Deputy Provost’s Books for Breakfast series:
The New College Classroom, by Cathy Davidson and Christina Katopodis, Thursdays, Sept. 22 and Oct. 6, from 8:30–9:30 a.m. Please email nicki.kimm@drake.edu to sign up and get your book.
AND
Teaching to Transgress, by bell hooks, Tuesdays, Nov. 15 and Nov. 22, 8:30–9:30 a.m. Sign up here.
On Nov. 4 from 2–4 p.m., I’ll be leading a session on meeting the outcomes related to the Equity and Inclusion requirement adopted by faculty senate 18 months ago. Please sign up here, as soon as you’re able to commit, so that I can be in touch with some pre-session questions and homework.
Books for Breakfast and the Equity/Inclusion session are in Howard Hall, Room 210.
In addition, I’m going to be ‘working in public,’ and hoping for impromptu conversation, in several different locations this fall. I’d love the chance to catch up with faculty colleagues I don’t often see in my day-to-day deputy-provosting. Please come find me. Here is where I’ll be:
Thursday, Sept. 15, 1:30–2:30 p.m., Olin, 1st floor
Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1:30–3 p.m., Olmsted Starbucks
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 9–10 a.m., Cowles Reading Room
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2–3 p.m., Collier Scripps, 1st floor
Thursday, Nov. 22, 10–11:30 a.m., Olmsted Starbucks
Friday, Dec. 2, 1–2 p.m., Cartwright Atrium
And, I’ll be hosting light breakfasts (pastries from La Mie, hot tea/instant coffee) in Howard Hall’s Academic Affairs suite, on the following dates. No agenda—just conversation about teaching, professor-ing, out curriculum, and Drake:
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 8:30–9:30 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 20, 8:30–9:30 a.m.
Friday, Nov 4, 8:30–9:30 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 2, 8:30–9:30 a.m.
— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost
Once again this year, the Provost’s office will be providing hospitality support for pre-tenure and non-tenure-track faculty of color to gather to build community, share resources, and create networks of support and collegiality. Assistant Professor of Math Enes Akbuga will be convening all interested faculty for a gathering(s) over coffee or dinner sometime this semester. If you are interested in joining us, please send Enes an email at enes.akbuga@drake.edu. Both new and existing pre-tenured faculty are encouraged to join.
— Jen Harvey, Associate Provost, Campus Equity and Inclusion
Please note the The Des Moines Consortium event scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the DMACC Ankeny campus has been cancelled.
— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost
As a reminder, Drake Dining offers $5 meals for faculty and staff every Wednesday.