Midterms can be a time of high stress for students. Students have been coming to Access & Success to talk about how to catch up in their classes, how to study for upcoming exams, how to make the most of the second half of the semester, etc. Thank you for sending them our way!

I want to be here for you, too. If there are any questions you have about accommodations, how to best support our students and more, I want to talk to you.

I am offering Walk In Wednesdays to faculty, staff, and students. If you have a concern or a question, feel free to contact me. Every week my plan is to do walk-in hours in various places on campus. I will share where I will be each week through this page.

This week I will be participating in the Wellness Conference. On Nov. 1, I will be in Olmsted from 9–11 am. I welcome any questions, comments, and concerns you may have.

— Michelle Laughlin, Access & Sucess

Old Main will welcome children and grandchildren of Drake faculty and staff for trick-or-treating on Monday, Oct. 30, from 3–5 pm. Offices will have treats and would love to see the kiddos’ Halloween costumes this year!

— Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

Every fall, we ask for your input on how we fulfill our commitment to elevate service excellence. Your collective input is reviewed and acted upon. For examples from last year, see the responses from Finance, HR, ITS, and others.

It’s that time of year again and thank you for your input in advance! Your voice helps shape continuous improvement in these areas across campus: Facilities Planning and Management, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Public Safety, University Communications & Marketing, and the SPARC (grants) office.

Click here to complete this year’s survey by Halloween, 10/31. It is completely anonymous and often takes less than five minutes to complete. You will only be asked to provide feedback on the areas you work with regularly.

The survey was developed by the Office of Institutional Research & Assessment in collaboration with each area on the survey. Continuous improvement efforts such as this drive intentional and strategic action.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

— Nate Reagen, Chief of Staff, Office of the President

We are excited to kick off a brand-new feature that spotlights the people and resources that make a difference in the lives of Drake students. Each week, we’ll shine a light on the outstanding individuals and initiatives that contribute to the success and growth of our community.

This Week’s Feature: The “Don’t Cancel Class” Program

Ever found yourself in a personal or professional travel dilemma, unable to conduct your scheduled class? We have the perfect solution – don’t cancel! Introducing the “Don’t Cancel Class” program, your one-stop solution to ensure your students continue to learn and engage, no matter where you are.

This week, we want to give a huge shoutout to the dedicated Drake staff members who have come together to support this program. They are ready and eager to step in, sharing their expertise on a wide variety of topics to ensure your class remains on track. Whether you need someone to host a discussion or facilitate a workshop, our team has you covered.

Key Benefits of the “Don’t Cancel Class” Program:

• Access to a pool of experienced and passionate staff members.
• A diverse range of subject areas to choose from.
• A seamless, no-hassle solution for maintaining the continuity of your course.

If you’re interested in utilizing this program or learning more about it, please check out the list of presenters, or click here to submit a request.

Is there a person or program you would like to recognize?  Please email Melissa Sturm-Smith, Associate Provost for Student Success, to share your stories of success!

— Melissa Sturm-Smith, Associate Provost for Academic Excellence and Student Success

Drake faculty and staff who exemplify the Core Value of Joyful Accountability will be recognized at the next Provost’s Social, Monday, Oct. 23, in the Shiver’s Courtside Club beginning at 4 p.m.

To nominate a colleague, please use the Qualtrics form. Feel free to fill out multiple forms. All those nominated will be recognized on a rolling display at the event.

How do we define Joyful Accountability at Drake? We look for colleagues who are curious, creative, bold, and brave, and who strive each day to be their best!

When you nominate colleagues, be prepared to describe how each colleague meets these descriptions. From among those nominated, several will be chosen at random for prizes.

Refreshments will include an assortment of beverages and light snacks. This is a family friendly event. Feel free to bring your children or partner!

Madison Bemus, Office of the Provost

Phishing is one of the biggest security concerns for any organization. Each student, employee, or guest with a Drake University account is a potential target for scammers. KnowBe4, the company that Drake University contracts to provide IT Security Awareness and phishing simulation training, also provides tools to help us protect our community from real-world phishing attacks. To learn more about phishing, spear phishing, junk mail, and other forms of unwanted mail, please see Junk Mail and Phishing (FAQ).

On Wednesday October 11th, 2023, the ITS team will implement KnowBe4’s Phish Alert Button (PAB) in Outlook. This button allows faculty and staff to report suspected phishing emails easily and safely. It will appear in all Outlook platforms: desktop apps, mobile apps, and Outlook Web Access (OWA).

For detailed instructions on using the new Phishing Alert Button, please review Phishing Alert Button in Outlook (For Faculty/Staff).

Additionally, you may submit a Phishing Attempt Reporting ticket to notify ITS of suspected phishing attempts. For detailed steps, see Reporting a Phishing Message (How-to).

Chris Mielke, ITS

Hello from Drake’s Title IX Office. We continue to await the finalization of the regulatory changes proposed by the Biden administration in July 2022.  Based on communication from the Department of Education, we anticipate the final Title IX rule will be published no earlier than next month.   In the meantime, Drake continues to operate under the requirements of the 2020 final Title IX regulations.  With the new academic year in full swing, it’s important to refamiliarize yourself with what you should do when a student reports sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and other conduct that may be covered by Title IX.   It also is a good time to consider training for your department. Please take the time to review the answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQ).

What is Title IX?

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance[.]”

Simply put, Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities at institutions receiving Federal funding.  The law covers all of a school’s programs and activities and prohibits: differential treatment based on sex, sexual harassment, and sexual violence.  Additionally, individuals are protected from retaliation for reporting and/or resisting sexual misconduct.

When must I report to the Title IX Office?

Under Drake policy, most full- and part-time faculty and staff must notify the Title IX Coordinator when they learn of sexual harassment or sexual violence, including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking.  Apart from University Counseling Center counselors, Drake employees are not confidential.

Must I report if the incident occurred off campus?

Yes. If the reported incident is “alleged to have been committed by or against a person who was a student enrolled at or an employee of the institution at the time of the [alleged] incident” it must be promptly reported to the Title IX Coordinator. The location or date of a reportable incident does not exempt the reporting duty.

Must I report if a student discloses to me that they were sexually assaulted in the past, before coming to Drake, by someone who is not associated with Drake?

No. In this situation you do not need to report the prior assault. However, you are strongly encouraged to provide this student with information about resources for counseling and advocacy services. The Title IX Coordinator and the University Counseling Center can provide you with this information.

Why do employees have to share student sexual harassment or violence information with the Title IX Coordinator?

Several reasons, including:

• To make sure all students consistently receive current and appropriate resources to address safety, academic, housing, health/mental health, and other concerns;
• To make sure all students consistently receive current and appropriate information regarding their reporting options both on and off campus;
• To help identify and respond to systemic campus patterns, trends, or risks.

When Must Responsible Employees Take Action?

When an employee knows (e.g. the affected student or a third-party discloses) or should know (e.g. rumors, other indicators).  If in doubt contact the Title IX Coordinator!

What qualifies as sexual harassment and sexual violence under the current Title IX regulations?

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy status).  Proscribed conduct includes sexual harassment (both quid pro quo and hostile environment) and sexual violence (sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and sex-based stalking).

However, these definitions are primarily relevant for purposes of jurisdictional analysis with respect to formal process.  Avoid engaging in your own analysis of what misconduct constitutes Title IX misconduct and err on the side of reporting.  Regardless of whether the conduct meets the threshold for formal adjudication through the Title IX process, parties are always eligible for a variety of informal supports, and the Title IX Coordinator can assist them in referrals to other University offices when appropriate.

How Do I Contact Title IX?

You can contact the Title IX Coordinator directly at any time by calling (515) 271-4956 or emailing samantha.nordstrom@drake.edu.  All inquiries will generally receive a response by the end of the following business day.  For emergencies, call 911 or contact Drake Public Safety at (515) 271-2222.

Where Can I Find All Title IX Policies?

Relevant policies, including Drake’s Sexual Harassment Policy, can be found here.

Does the University offer training for departments or colleges related to employee reporting obligations?

Yes, from time to time as necessary and upon request! Please contact the Title IX Coordinator to schedule training.

— Samantha Nordstrom, Title IX Coordinator

The new intuitive, easy-to-use and track Employee Status Form (ESF) e-form is now live. You can access the form by going to myDusis/Administrator Tools/ProcessMaker Workflow. It can also be found on the HR SharePoint ESF Information webpage.

If you missed the initial training, we will be offering another ESF training on Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 2-3 p.m. in Teams.  Register here . You may also use this form to ask for a different time if this meeting does not work for you.

NOTE:  The LAST DAY to submit the old form will be Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, (last business day of the year).  Beginning with the new year, the old form will no longer be accepted.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please email drakehr@drake.edu with “ESF” in the subject line.  Your ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

— Teresa Downs, Human Resources

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