A few weeks ago, you read about the three focus areas identified from Great Colleges To Work For (GC2WF) survey results. Last week, we started asking for detailed feedback on the first priority: ensuring a consistent and robust cascade of communication.

Communication has been a focus area based on GC2WF survey results for the past several years. Instead of doing what we have done in the past, we wanted to dig deeper—as the GC2WF survey results provide big-picture insight but not necessarily detail. Last week, we facilitated two brain-storming sessions and we shared a pulse survey both focused on just this first priority. The short survey will only take a minute to complete. It remains open through Oct. 5.

While the brainstorming sessions were not well-attended, those who did participate brought forth meaningful feedback and great ideas. Based on that, and initial pulse survey results, some themes are already emerging. The most prominent is that employees desire greater opportunities to provide input and be heard. Additional themes include:

• Leadership Visibility: Many faculty and staff would appreciate increased visibility of leadership and more face-to-face interactions, especially after the separation and isolation experienced during the pandemic.
• Townhalls/Team Meetings: Townhalls and department/unit meetings facilitated by the relevant President’s or Dean’s Council member appear to be meaningful to both faculty and staff. Such events should reserve time for questions and discussion and not merely be events for information flowing out.
• Institutional and Departmental Planning: Additional opportunities to get involved in planning—both at the institutional level and within departments—would be appreciated. There seems to be continued interest in utilizing focus groups, task forces, surveys, and pro-actively engaging faculty/staff who are subject-matter-experts in the area.
• Training for Managers: Training for front-line managers to better appreciate the connection between communication and employee engagement and active-listening would be valuable. Additional manager training may also help level-set, as there seems to be wide variations in how employees view the effectiveness of their mangers in communicating.
• Leverage Faculty Senate & All Staff Council: Better utilize and leverage these bodies for sharing information, collaborating on projects and improvements, and using as sounding boards.
• Benchmarking: Fresh benchmarking on best practices internal communication—not just within higher education but other industries, too. Information sharing is something that evolves and requires a complex solution, given employees’ varied preferences.

If you have additional ideas or suggestions relating to this focus area, there is still time to respond to the survey. Please also feel free to share thoughts directly with Nate or Maureen. In fact, if you have thoughts, ideas, or suggestions relating to the GC2WF survey in any way, please reach out to us. We want to take more intentional and meaningful steps to respond and react to the survey responses. Let us know if there are additional efforts we should be considering.

Once the pulse survey period is closed, we will work on a more comprehensive outline of areas for improvement, reconsideration, and innovation and go from there.

Later this month, we will turn our attention to the second priority area focusing on facilitating reconnection and attending to our culture. We will again provide opportunities for you to provide insight and input into how to make improvements in this important area.

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

Full-time employees in a regular position at Drake are eligible to participate in two tuition exchange programs, which offer waived or discounted tuition at other participating institutions for employees, their spouse/partner, or eligible dependent(s).

Those wishing to apply for tuition exchange in the 2022–2023 academic year can apply now. Applications are only for students not currently participating in tuition exchange—those who are receiving tuition exchange during this academic year will automatically be re-certified for consideration in the 2022–2023 academic year (assuming the employee is still eligible).

There are three main steps in the tuition exchange application process:

1. Employee submits the tuition exchange application (and the student should also apply for admission at the schools listed on the application).
2. Drake’s Office of Student Financial Planning will confirm and certify the employee’s eligibility to participate in the tuition exchange program. This is done on a rolling basis as applications are received.
3. Each school listed on the application will determine whether they can offer the student a tuition exchange award.

Schools have different application deadlines and timelines for announcing award determinations. It is the employee’s responsibility to submit the tuition exchange application early enough to allow time for step #2 to be completed in advance of each school’s deadlines.

Details about each of Drake’s tuition exchange programs are provided below:

Tuition Exchange, Inc. (TE)
TE has over 670 participating schools. Visit tuitionexchange.org to learn more, view participating schools, and to submit an application.

Council of Independent Colleges & Universities Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP)
CIC-TEP has over 440 participating schools. Visit cic.edu/tep to learn more, view participating schools, and to submit an application.

— Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid

 It is with heavy hearts we share the passing of James Lindberg, professor emeritus of organic chemistry at Drake University. James passed away at age 81 on Sept. 23, 2021, at Bright Kavanagh House after a very short bout with pancreatic cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held in the future. James was a beloved and highly respected professor at Drake for approximately 34 years who will be missed dearly by his students, fellow colleagues, and friends. He published and presented a number of scientific papers; however, his passion was teaching. In lieu of flowers or gifts, James requested that you support education in its most inclusive expressions: Montessori, public schools, private and public colleges and universities. Online condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com. Read James’ full obituary.

The University Book Club (a program of All Staff Council, Cowles Library, and Human Resources) is preparing for its first book discussion of the year. Please email Sara Heijerman or Dan Chibnall if you would like to participate in the first Zoom discussion on Oct. 5 or if you would like to be added to the book club’s email list or Microsoft Teams group.

If you didn’t get a chance to read The Midnight Library, feel free to check the list below to see if another book on this year’s schedule catches your eye.

October 5 – The Midnight Library – Matthew Haig

December 15 – Rising Strong – Brené Brown

January 20 – The Premonition: A Pandemic Story – Michael Lewis

March 3 – Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World – Cal Newport

May 10 – The Rose Code – Kate Quinn

July 20 – Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation – John Lewis

We look forward to our discussions with you this year – both in person and virtual discussions are always a lot of fun, and it’s a great way to get to know people from other departments!

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center

As a globally engaged institution, Drake University continually seeks cooperation with higher education institutions, government, and non-governmental entities throughout the world. Drake currently maintains 15 active partnerships in 13 countries. Learn more about our global partners.

Faculty and staff are essential for sustaining active collaboration with Drake’s global partners. This collaboration may include providing international academic experiences for students, faculty research and scholarship, teaching and mentoring, joint curriculum development, or other initiatives. We also encourage faculty and staff to seek out new opportunities to engage with international universities and institutions.

Support for Faculty and Staff
In addition to resources and funding available through Global Engagement, Professors Sally Haack (CPHS) and Inbal Mazar (A&S) will be hosting conversations with interested faculty and staff throughout the 2021–2022 academic year.

The first in-person conversation “Establishing and Enhancing Transnational Partnerships” will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. It will be an opportunity to exchange existing ideas about global partnerships work and learn new ones. Registration is encouraged but not required. Learn more and register

If you are interested but unable to attend during this time, please email sally.haack@drake.edu and inbal.mazar@drake.edu regarding additional opportunities to meet.

2021 IDEAS Grant
Professor Haack and Professor Mazar are serving as faculty fellows as part of the 2021 IDEAS Grant Program. Drake was one of 26 U.S. institutions selected from a pool of 132 proposals to receive the IDEAS Grant, awarded by USA Study Abroad and World Learning. Grant funds will be used, in part, to develop new partnerships to support academic, professional, and experiential learning opportunities. Learn more about the IDEAS Grant.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Partnerships Coordinator

Faculty and staff are invited to the Provost’s Drake Social Wednesday, Sept. 29, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the patio on the east side of the Olmsted Center. This is a family friendly event.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Access and Success is a resource that offers academic coaching, disability services, and tutoring. We also offer workshops and webinars on a variety of topics.

If you have a student who could benefit from coaching in areas such as developing more effective study habits, building a time management routine, or addressing motivation challenges, refer them to Access and Success, and we will help them out.

Our next workshop, Tests and Time, is coming up soon. Check out our website for more information: Access & Success Workshops.

— Michelle Laughlin, Access and Success

In January, ITS began upgrading the campus phone system and moving faculty and staff extensions to Microsoft Teams. Previously, our phone system consisted of a patchwork of four different systems connected by a hub that was more than 30 years old. 

Throughout the year, ITS staff have moved additional extensions in common areas to Teams calling and have continued to decommission older systems. The overall project, however, is still in progress.  

Throughout this transition, faculty and staff have notified us of issues with response delays and dropped calls. If you have already reported an issue to the IT service portal, thank you. Our staff continue to work through these requests. As we troubleshoot issues it is very helpful for us to know when calls are dropped or other issues occur. If this happens, please submit a Calling/Phone Issue at the IT service portal.  

Thank you for your patience and assistance as we work toward this project’s completion. We are dedicated to providing reliable services and expect disruptions to decrease as this work progresses.   

— Keren Fiorenza, acting CITO, Information Technology Services  

The pandemic has rocked the workforce in many ways. One of the struggles we are experiencing—along with many other employers—is getting quality candidates to apply for current openings.

“We have had some great jobs posted recently for entry-level and early-career professionals,” said Julia Gwebu, director of Student Account Services. We are not getting the same number or quality of applicants we have in the past—even for the same positions we’ve recruited for in recent years.”

HR will be examining its recruitment practices and developing more strategic approaches, but that will take time and we have openings now. We are calling on the Drake community to help spread the word about current opportunities.

“With so many jobs available in Des Moines, we could really use a boost from people who already work at and care about Drake,” said Anne Kremer, dean of Admissions.

If you know people who are job-hunting, fit with our core values, care about students, and would contribute to a positive work culture, please encourage them to check out the current opportunities available at Drake. If you have strong connections via LinkedIn, social media, or just connections via email, please share and help get the word out. Below are some sample communications you can modify for your use. Please feel free to include this flyer as well.

Sample Email

Subject Line: Job Opportunities at Drake University

Hello,

I know you have been considering a job change, so I wanted to let you know that Drake University has some positions posted right now that may interest you. You can search for current opening here: https://drake.hiretouch.com/.

We are looking for great people to join the Drake team. I think you would enjoy working here and relate to our core values and mission. If you have questions about working at Drake, I am happy to share my experiences here. If you have specific questions about any of the jobs posted, benefits, etc., feel free to reach out to drakehr@drake.edu.

Thank you,

[Name]

Sample Social Media Post

Hello, friends! If you or someone you know is looking for a new job, please check out the jobs posted at Drake University. You can search for current opening here: https://drake.hiretouch.com/. Right now, there are a variety of opportunities to explore. Please take a look or share with anyone you know who is job hunting. If you have specific questions about any of the jobs posted, benefits, etc., feel free to reach out to drakehr@drake.edu. Go Bulldogs!

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resouces