The next session in our series on Grant Writing and Research is on Monday, Nov. 19, at 3:30 p.m. in the Drake Room. The topic of this session is: Program Evaluation, Ensuring the Fidelity of Implementation and Overall Project Outcomes. Anyone is welcome to attend. Participation in previous sessions is not required. There is no need to register.
Art Sanders, Associate Provost
The session where experienced J-Term instructors will share their experiences and advice with those who are teaching J-Term for the first time in 2019 and those who are thinking about teaching J-Term in 2020 or beyond focused on travel seminars will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. in the Drake International Conference Room, 1215 25th Street.
Art Sanders, Associate Provost
Drake International’s “Engage with Drake’s International Partners” Breakfast & Fair,” is on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 8–9:30 a.m. in Levitt Hall. This is an opportunity for faculty and staff to stop by and learn about Drake’s international partnerships directly from our international colleagues and Drake faculty who are engaged with those partners.
Art Sanders, Associate Provost
The Contemplative Practices in Teaching and Learning Group will meet tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 14, at noon in Collier Scripps, Room 120. The purpose of this meeting is to have an overview of contemplative practices in higher education and set our goals and intentions (for this group and in general) for the spring semester.
Art Sanders, Associate Provost
On an average day, about 206,000 malicious emails are sent to drake.edu addresses, comprising nearly 80% of all the email sent to campus. Today’s attacks are also more sophisticated than ever. That’s why we continuously work to educate faculty, staff, and students how to avoid these attacks designed to convince us to give away our information.
We’ll be distributing another phishing education scenario soon. These phishing email look-alikes provide information about how to spot malicious emails and allow us to introduce you to the ever-changing types of attacks in a risk-free environment.
When you encounter email you don’t recognize, always slow down and look carefully for red flags that give away its intent before acting. Suspicious emails can be reported by going to https://drake.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=17310
Peter Lundstedt, ITS
An objective of Drake’s Continuous Improvement Plan is to ”Elevate Service Excellence”. The Survey of Administrative Services directly supports our continuous improvement in this area.
This fall, the survey was issued to all faculty and staff with the focus on Finance, Public Safety, Human Resources (HR), Facilities Planning and Management (FPM), Information Technology Services (ITS), and University Communications and Marketing.
This feedback helps all of us understand where service gaps may exist and how to improve our services to the University.
Survey respondents provided largely positive feedback about FPM services. Responses were provided on a five-point scale, with five being the highest.
Satisfaction with FPM staff – Total Average 4.30 (4.41 last year)
Respondents assessed their satisfaction with FPM staff including their courtesy, professionalism, knowledge, timeliness, resolution of issues and communication regarding work orders and projects. Satisfaction with FPM staff was generally high.
Satisfaction with FPM support and services – Total Average 4.26 (4.40 last year)
Respondents assessed their satisfaction with FPM support and services including custodial, grounds maintenance, snow removal, moving, cooling and heating, painting, construction, carpentry, trash/recycle, keys/locks, and plumbing. Satisfaction with FPM support and services was generally high for keys/locks (4.67), ground maintenance (4.49)), painting (4.41)), and plumbing (4.38). However, lowest for trash/recycle (3.72) and cooling and heating (3.87).
The preservation of historic buildings can be demanding when upgrading the mechanical systems. It is our goal to heat and cool to establish a comfortable environment, but understand the capacity of the system along with individual preferences. The same holds true maintaining sustainable practices with regards to our impact on landfills. Moving forward we promise to service all needs on campus through collaboration and communication.
Overall satisfaction—Total Average 4.09 (4.27 last year)
Overall satisfaction is above average, but FPM still has room for improvement.
In reviewing the data and reflecting on the comments provided by the respondents, FPM has concluded that:
It is our goal to remain consistent over time with the above benchmarks. While strong ratings were seen in FPM, we are actively developing strategies to improve our services and overall quality.
Over the coming year, FPM makes the following commitments.
FPM will:
1. Ensure that FPM meet the promised response and resolution timeframes.
2. Collaborate to find reasonable and supportable long-term solutions.
3. Strive to understand issues and requests before beginning work.
4. Confirm the request was completed to satisfaction.
5. Improve communication related to work order requests and projects.
6. Work as a team to provide facility-related services on behalf of Drake.
In the following months, FPM will being working on updating our website to better deliver communications. This, coupled with more direct reporting, we anticipate that we can booster our lower administrative service areas. Watch OnCampus and the FP website for more information.
Kevin Moran, Executive Director Facilities Planning and Management
This week, Drake International is excited to promote International Education Week, an opportunity to celebrate Drake’s international education and global opportunities. Global and intercultural learning is a key objective of Drake’s Continuous Improvement Plan, supporting our mission of responsible global citizenship. A feature of the week is hosting special guests from six of Drake’s international partner universities. View the calendar to see all events for the week. Some of the key events are listed below. We encourage faculty and staff to get involved and learn more about Drake as a global university.
Nov. 14 – Drake International Open House
The Drake International department is hosting an open house on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 3:30–5 p.m. at Drake International (1213 25th Street). Meet special guests from Drake’s international partner universities and see the campus headquarters for education abroad, international student and scholar services, and international partnerships. Mingle with campus colleagues and global community partners, and cast your vote for the International Education Week photo contest.
Nov. 14 – Crowded Out: A Story of Over Tourism
In Sussman Theater from 7:30–8:30 p.m., watch a documentary and participate in a discussion about the growing international tourism industry and its negative effects on local communities.
Nov. 15 – International Partner Fair
Attend a breakfast and visit with special guests from six of Drake’s international partner universities on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 8–9:30 a.m. in Levitt Hall, Old Main. The event is an opportunity to learn more about Drake’s international partners, and how you might become involved. Faculty and staff who have previously engaged with the partners will be present to share of their experiences. Come explore possible connections and projects! Information on funding for working with international partners will be provided. Faculty and staff winners of the photo contest will also be announced.
To learn of more exciting events during IE Week, please go to:
https://calendar.drake.edu/ieweek.
Annique Kiel, Executive Director of Global Engagement and International Programs
Thank you to all of our contestants for the beautiful photos we have been receiving for the last two weeks as part of the International Education Week 2018 Photo Contest. Today, Nov. 13, we will be selecting 20 finalists based on online voting results. Join us in Olmsted Breezeway from 4:30-6:30 p.m. for the International Education Week Kick-Off Celebration where you will have a chance to vote for your favorite photos in person.
Contest Timeline
Nov. 13: 20 finalists (five per each category) are selected to be displayed for in-person voting during the International Education Week Kick-Off Celebration (4:30-6:30 p.m., Olmsted Breezeway, open to the public).
Nov. 14: In-person voting continues at the Drake International Open House (3:30-5 p.m., for faculty and staff).
Nov. 15: Faculty/staff winners are announced at the International Partner Fair (8-9:30 a.m., Levitt Hall, for faculty and staff).
Student winners are announced during the Student Trivia Night (8-10 p.m., Papa Keno’s Pizza, for students).
There will be prizes available to all category winners and the overall winner. See full contest details and all the amazing photo submissions here.
We look forward to seeing you at the IEW events on campus!
Photo contest guidelines here.
Questions? Email dina.khayrushina@drake.edu.
Dina Khayrushina, Drake International
The recording of President Martin’s Town Hall presentation from Monday, Nov. 5, is available here. The video provides a great deal of useful information about the current state of higher education and Drake’s response.
Please note: The presentation is for internal audiences only.
Nate Reagen, Office of the President
Faculty and staff are eligible to receive up to four complimentary general admission tickets to the Men’s Basketball season opener vs. Buena Vista on Thursday, Nov. 8. Tickets may be picked up at the Knapp Center Ticket Office Monday–Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or at the ticket window on game day. Must show valid Drake Card at the time of pick up.
For more information please contact the Drake Athletics Ticket Office at 515-271-3647 or visit GoDrakeBulldogs.com.
Ryan Harris, Athletics
