We are hitting that point of the semester where faculty might be asking themselves: Why Bother?

Why Bother grading this stack of papers … there’s just another one around the corner/on the syllabus. Why Bother thinking about my research agenda or creative projects … I don’t have time to work on them. Why Bother meeting a friend for lunch in the middle of the day … I’ll just fall a bit more behind. Why Bother revamping that syllabus for fall … I don’t have the energy for it.

Or, my personal favorite: Why Bother resting now …. Summer is almost here, I can survive a bit longer.

Writer and writing coach Jennifer Louden isn’t an academic—but she has some terrific answers to the perennial problem of Why Bother?

The final Books for Breakfast of the academic year will be April 20 and April 27, from 8:30–9:30 a.m. in Howard Hall, Room 210, and we will be reading Why Bother? Discover the Desire for What’s Next. Sign up, here, by April 8.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

To ensure appropriate safety practices for all types of vehicles on campus, the Risk and Insurance Office and the Department of Environmental Health and Safety are implementing a new golf cart/utility vehicle safety program for all employees and students who operate these vehicles on campus. This program will make navigating campus safer for drivers and pedestrians, while helping to ensure drivers are equipped with the information they need to operate these vehicles effectively.

If you are an approved driver and selected golf carts/utility vehicles as a vehicle you are driving on the latest motor vehicle report you will receive and an email from durisk@drake.edu providing you information on how to complete a brief recorded training module. In addition, a one-time in person training with a golf cart or utility vehicle is required. While the recorded training is required annually, the in-person training is only to be completed once.  If you anticipate driving a golf cart or utility vehicle at any time and are not an approved driver, please complete the Motor Vehicle Report.

If your department is planning on renting a golf cart or utility vehicle please fill out Golf Cart Rental form. This will need to be approved by Risk and Insurance Office prior to operation on campus.

If you receive an email and no longer drive a golf cart or utility vehicle please let us know so we can remove you from our list.

Questions about the new process and protocols may be directed to durisk@drake.edu.

— Kelly Foster, Finance and Administration

We are seeking applicants to teach Drake’s first-year student success course, Bulldog Foundations. It will be a fun experience this fall implementing the recent curriculum revisions, guided by student input. Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent, and teaching experience is preferred. Learn more and sign up for a short consultation session.

Bulldog Foundations helps students explore concepts and develop skills that are crucial for the development of meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. Students will explore the elements of an equitable and inclusive community, consider life skills necessary for success, and refine academic strategies. This course helps students transition into the Drake community with ease.

The course will run for the first eleven weeks of the semester and will meet once a week for fifty minutes. Instructors will be given all curriculum, materials, and facilitator guides for the course, and will not need to develop any curriculum on their own.

In addition to assigned class time, chosen instructors will need to attend an all-day training the week of Aug. 1, a check-in meeting the week of Sept. 19 and a wrap-up meeting during the week of Fall 2022 finals.

Instructors will be paid a $1000 stipend for teaching Bulldog Foundations unless this course serves as a part of your full-time teaching load.

To apply, fill out the google form. The application is due Friday, April 1.

— Bulldog Foundations Planning Team

As we wind down Employee Appreciation Month, we share gratitude for all members of the Drake community who have sustained a commitment to our mission during these challenging and uncertain times.

Commitment to Mission.

• We are united in service to students and our communities.
• We act with integrity and purpose.
• We are optimistic about our future.

Universities are unlike many other employers—we’re not providing an arm’s length service, we’re not creating a product that gets sold on the market, and we’re not temporarily serving a customer who may never return to our store.

We’re educating students and many of them live on our campus. We build life-long relationships with them with the goal of empowering each of them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for them to achieve their professional goals and contribute to society. Some words from President Martin’s email to campus in June of 2016 that still inspire:

Education opens minds and hearts – it creates understanding and union where none existed before. This is what we are about and we have our role to play in making the world a better place by becoming ever more engaged, locally and globally.

Put another way, there’s a lot at stake here. We all know this and it shows. We know that our work matters—there’s a larger picture here, a greater purpose. Drake faculty, staff, and student workers have moved mountains to sustain this commitment to our students during this roller-coaster ride of the past two years. We are so appreciative of the agility and determination of our employees that has allowed this institution to sustain our commitment to our important mission.

In many ways, the work of an institution of higher education has optimism built into it. We all know that we are contributing to something larger than ourselves. We are cultivating the next generation of professionals, thinkers, and doers. The research our faculty conduct contributes to their professions. The support and opportunities we provide students can have a life-changing impact. Our students will remember their time at Drake for the rest of their lives. And we do everything we can to assure those memories are meaningful and positive.

Thank you for your commitment to the institution, to the students we serve, and to each other. The road ahead will still have bumps and dips—all roads do—but we are headed in an exciting direction. Thank you for being here. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your contributions. Thank you for caring about what we do and how we do it.

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

There was a lovely turnout for the Provost’s Drake Social in the Cowles Library Reading Room last week. As part of the event, the following were recognized by colleagues for exhibiting the Drake Core Values: 

Joyful Accountability 

• Nicci Kuhl 
• Gina Ryan 
• Jeanette Tran 
• Jamie Rognes 
• Rachel Allen-McHugh 
• Grace Wenzel 

Generosity of Spirit 

• Teresa Downs 
• Elizabeth Robertson 
• Rachel Allen- McHugh, 
• Christine Urish 
• Lynne Cornelius 

All In This Together 

• Molly Wuebker 
• Jamie Rognes 
• Yolanda Griffiths 
• Joan McAlister 
• David Plutschack 
• Jeannie Nielsen 
• Leah Berte

Commitment to Mission 

• Christine Urish 
• Nate Reagen 
• Violeta Aleman 
• Beth Younger 
• Molly Wuebker 

Prize winners were drawn at random, and were: 

• Lynne Cornelius – $20 gift card for Lucky Horse 
• Nate Reagen – Office snack break 
• Jeanette Tran – Baked good
  

Two prizes were also won based on Trivia questions: 

• Samantha Nordstrom – Office breakfast 
• Carrie Dunham LaGree – Premiere Parking 

The next Drake Social will be Monday, April 11, in Shivers Hospitality Suite. If you want to nominate a colleague for Core Values recognition, please fill out our Qualtrics form. 

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

As part of Employee Appreciation Month, Human Resources has been sharing shout-outs submitted by faculty and staff.  Thanks to everyone who participated this month.

Even though Employee Appreciation Month is ending, we hope you continue to find ways to show your appreciation to staff, faculty, and student employees across campus.  Sharing positive energy is contagious.  When you look for the good in people, you strengthen relationships, improving not only their lives, but your own.

Read the final shout-outs submitted this week!

“A shout-out to Sara Hughes and Kris Magill, who have time and again stepped in to help (save) the Career Development Office through our busiest times with staff shortages. We appreciate you and all that you do for us on top of your own jobs!” – Katie Overberg

“A shout-out to Brett Lindman for being so easy to work with.  I know that I can count on him for whatever is needed.  Thanks Brett! You are appreciated.” – Cheri McDaniel

“A shout-out to the accounting department: Thank you for researching and implementing the new self-serve system.  Your patience with those of us learning the new system is noted and appreciated. “– Cheri McDaniel

“A shout-out to Natalie Russell and her staff for helping The Ray Center mail out so many packages.  You guys rock!” – Cheri McDaniel

“A shout-out to Linda Feiden for organizing and collecting emails for BUILD professional development sessions. Thanks for your hard work Linda! – Cheri McDaniel

“A shout-out to Sara Sommerlot for everything she did last fall to assist our department in selecting and ordering Drake branded wellbeing incentives.  She helped guide the process through from start to finish and made sure we had it by the deadline.  Thanks so much Sara!” – Linda Feiden

“A shout-out to Ryan Parriott, Lisa Murphy, and their staff in making sure the inaugural Faculty/Staff “Recess” event was successful.  Thank you for your “All in This Together” attitude and your “Generosity of Spirit” in giving your time.” – Linda Feiden

“A shout-out of appreciation to Kelly Foster, Donita Greenough, and Chris Nickell for their work to improve safety and risk related processes and training.  They have demonstrated an ability to implement new processes on topics like vehicle safety and domestic travel in a way that accomplishes the goal of greater safety and security, while at the same time ensuring processes are not unduly burdensome or repetitive. They collectively do a great job working with others across campus and have built strong relationships that make the roll out of new programs more effective and sustainable.” – Venessa Macro

“A big shout out of thanks and admiration to Anne Kremer, Deneen Dygert and the entire Admissions staff for managing and adjusting to many shifts in protocol and programming throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They have managed through many challenging situations with grace and generous spirits; never relenting in their focus on delivering effective and impactful admission programming.” – Venessa Macro

“A shout-out to the Finance & Administration and ITS teams for their grueling work rolling out and tweaking Finance Self Serve.” – Sara Sommerlot

“A shout-out to the All Staff Council Governance Committee for commitment to running a clean and fair All Staff Council nomination process.” – Sara Sommerlot

Every Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.

There is a lot going on in the Office of the Deputy Provost and the Center for Teaching Excellence.

We have partnered with the School of Education to provide 10 additional spaces in an on-line Intercultural Conflict Workshop facilitated by Dr. Tara Harvey (True North Intercultural, LLC). The workshop will focus on helping participants better understand and navigate their own and others’ preferred conflict styles, so that they can more effectively communicate and engage in a diverse work environment. It is perfect for department chairs, associate deans, and others who might manage in and through conflict (ie: all of us). Registered participants would take, in advance, the Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory, and the focus of the half-day workshop will be on building participants’ awareness using the Inventory.

This is an online workshop, held April 25 from 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; preregistration required by April 11. Please note, if you are SOE faculty or staff, your registration is not through this link.

Please consider signing up to be part of the conversation on creating a faculty-to-faculty mentoring program, to inform my work as I look forward to launching a comprehensive faculty mentoring program over the summer. Register here, so we can provide hospitality for everyone on Friday, March 25, from 1:30–3 p.m. in Howard Hall, Room 210. If you cannot attend but would like to be a mentor—or be assigned a mentor—please email and tell me that.

And exciting news: The 2022 Baum Symposium will be comprised of a series of workshops focused on helping Drake faculty and staff respond ethically and compassionately to the shifts in higher education we have seen as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and demographic trends in our student body.  Featured speaker Cathy Davidson, the author of The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux, will speak on the evening of Wednesday, May 5. The event will start at 7 p.m., and will be virtual.

Dr. Davidson is the winner of the 2021 Annual Advocacy Award from the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, the Founding Director of the Futures Initiative at CUNY, and a founding member of HASTAC: Humanities, Arts, Science, and Technology Alliance and Collaboratory.  Her keynote will kick off an entire month of programming meant to help our faculty and staff address the ethical imperative of meeting our students where they are—emotionally, intellectually, and socially.  Please save the date, and watch for more.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Every Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.

The annual J-Term Fair will be held on April 14, from 4:30–6 p.m. in Parents Hall, Olmsted Center. I encourage all faculty and staff who are teaching in January 2023 to attend—bring resources for students to learn more about your course and a sign-up sheet for you to be in touch with them.

We provide: the space, the tables, lemonade, and snacks. You provide: enthusiasm about the course you’re offering and a readiness to talk about it!

In recent years the fair has been exceptionally helpful for helping students learn about our travel offerings; I’d love to continue that, while highlighting as many of our on-campus and web-based J-Term courses as possible.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

The past two years have put this week’s core value to the test on many fronts. Yet, we remain: All In This Together.

• We embrace robust communication and transparency.
• We thrive through collaboration and teamwork.

While we have done our best to brave this storm together, we know that each person’s experience has been unique. And let’s acknowledge it, a lot has been asked of the Drake community as a whole. Students, in some ways, lost a portion of their “normal” college experience. Faculty had to completely change how they teach and interact with students. Some staff were asked to do less, some were asked to do more, some were asked to do much more. No one had a clear idea of what the future would look like and the uncertainty—along with all the other hurdles—has taken a toll.

Where we go from here is pivotal. Channeling appreciation and gratitude will help focus on a path lined with hope. One of the best ways for us to identify that path is to be intentional in the core sentiments embodied in this value. As an institution, we have been working on assuring channels of communication are more robust. We have taken positive strides toward increased transparency in HR—I know other units are doing the same.

Collaboration and teamwork must be embraced both vertically (within a department, up and down the chain of supervision) and horizontally (across teams and units). This is one of the spaces where absolutely everyone can help foster a working and learning environment that values collaboration and teamwork. It truly takes the entire Drake community to deliver the services and support our students, employees, and communities.

This is a great week to send a message to your favorite collaborators and teammates—including those who work outside of your team and your wonderful student workers. Please take a minute to reflect on the faculty, staff, and student workers who are happy to help you. It just takes a minute to send a note of gratitude and thanks, but when you receive such a note—the joy can last indefinitely.

Consistent with the goals of this core value, Drake HR is thrilled to again partner with All Staff Council to host a town hall. We are currently working to pin down the date—it will likely be in May at the close of the term. Whether it will be in person or virtual (or both) is still being determined. As we did last time, ASC will solicit questions in advance to build the discussion around the topics that are most important to you.

While our perspectives, experiences, and thoughts all vary, when it comes to what lies ahead, we are, indeed, all in this together—let’s find comfort in sharing the path before us. If you have the time and the weather cooperates, please join Renée Cramer, Nate Reagen, and Maureen De Armond for a Thursday walk. Come share the literal path with us. Meet us at 12:00 p.m. sharp on Thursday, March 24. We’ll meet on the sidewalk just southeast of Olmsted and walk a Bulldog Mile together (weather permitting). Wear your walking shoes!

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

Human Resources and the Provost’s Office invite you to take a break and join in on the upcoming Employee Appreciation Month events. 

March 23: Provost’s Drake Social. The Provost’s Drake Socials have resumed! This month’s social will be held in Cowles Reading Room, beginning at 4 p.m. This is a family friendly event.  There will be snacks, beer, wine, soft drinks, and water. If you would like to recognize a colleague for demonstrating our Core Values, please go to this Qualtrics page to provide information.  Everyone entered will be recognized via a scrolling PowerPoint and several will have their names drawn for prizes.

March 24: Walk the Dog. Join the Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs Renée Cramer, Associate Chief Information Technology Officer Keren Fiorenza, and Executive Director of Human Resources Maureen De Armond for a noon walk. We’ll meet on the sidewalk just southeast of Olmsted at noon and walk a Bulldog Mile together (weather permitting). Wear your walking shoes!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources