During the next couple of weeks, eligible voters (full-time faculty of instruction holding the rank of adjunct, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor not primarily engaged in administration) will be nominating and selecting six 2017–2019 At-Large Senators.
Please contact Nancy Geiger (ext. 3095) if you have questions.
—Nancy Geiger
Prior to the Feb. 23 Drake social there will be an all-campus meeting from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., with Sandy Hatfield Clubb, director of athletics, sharing insights and the impact of athletics at Drake. This is open to all faculty and staff.
The Drake social will follow immediately, 4:30–6 p.m. Both events are in Shivers Hospitality Suite, adjacent to The Knapp Center. Attendees will receive one complimentary ticket for beer or wine. Water, soda, etc. are also on the house. Nearby parking is available.
There will also be an all-campus meeting prior to the March 23 social, with Chris Gill, chief information technology officer, at 3:30 p.m.
—Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost
Are you signed up for the Club Ped Program? We can help you reach your 10k steps by April! Come to the Group X Walking Group class on Thursdays from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. The class takes place on The Knapp Center track, and it is a fun way to socialize and get some exercise in to break up your busy day!
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.: Black History Month Meal. Faculty and staff can dine for just $5. Sodexo and the Coalition of Black Students have designed a meal including succotash okra soup, country fried steak, mashed potatoes & grave, fried catfish, mixed greens, baked mac & cheese, hush puppies, red beans & rice, pecan pie, and banana pudding.
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.: Vegan Lunch at Hubbell. Faculty and staff can dine for just $5.
—Jennifer Bowersox, Sodexo
This spring, the Student Disability Services (SDS) office is piloting a “First Friday” series with the College of Arts and Sciences. The first discussion was held Feb. 3. The session provided an overview of services by SDS staff Michelle Laughlin and Leah Berte, and focused on “flexibility with attendance” as an academic accommodation. An overview of best approaches/practices was shared among SDS staff and faculty in Medbury Lounge.
If other colleges or schools are interested in joining the discussion or interested in a particular topic, please contact Leah Berte at leah.berte@drake.edu. The next First Friday will be held on March 3 from 1 to 2 p.m. with a TBA location; the topic will be preparing students for midterms and finals. The rest of the discussion is open to questions the group may have.
—Leah Berte, Student Disability Services
Celebrate Staff Appreciation day on March 3 with a jeans day. All staff are welcome to wear jeans to work.
—Erica Hartschen, All Staff Council
Mortar Board Honor Society is currently undergoing membership selection. We place a high value on academics, service, and leadership. If you know of any current junior or senior student who fulfills these criteria, encourage them to apply for Mortar Board Honor Society, or nominate someone by contacting nicholas.bianchina@drake.edu.
—Nicholas Bianchina
All Staff Council Election Updates
All Staff Council has been working hard to strengthen our presence on campus and refine our processes and structure to best serve and represent staff at Drake. Based on your feedback and the work completed this year, ASC is excited to announce two changes to the upcoming 2017–2018 election.
All Staff Council—Chair/Chair-Elect Election
Given the expanded duties of the ASC chair and the increased presence of ASC on campus, we feel it is important to provide all staff the opportunity to both nominate individuals and elect the ASC chair. Beginning this year, we will nominate and elect one individual to serve as All Staff Council chair-elect. The chair-elect will serve a three-year term on the All Staff Council Executive Committee—one year as chair-elect, one year as chair, and one year as past-chair. As we transition to this new structure, Nancy Geiger, current chair-elect, will assume the position of ASC chair for the 2017–2018 academic year. We believe this structure will provide greater continuity to the All Staff Council and gives staff the opportunity to elect an individual they believe will best represent staff to the campus community.
New All Staff Council Committee
All Staff Council would like to designate space to better address questions, concerns, and ideas from staff. This year, we will accept nominations for a newly created Special Interests Committee. This committee will be responsible for exploring initiatives, questions, and/or concerns presented to All Staff Council through research, planning, and collaboration with appropriate offices on campus. After one year, we will review the committee, and if it fits well within the All Staff Council structure, it will become a permanent standing committee.
The call for 2017–2018 nominations will begin on Feb. 15 and elections will be completed by March 31. If you have any questions regarding ASC committees or the position of chair-elect, please feel free to contact any member of ASC. For a current list of members, visit www.drake.edu/asc.
It is our hope that these changes will continue to strengthen the role of All Staff Council and its ability to represent and address issues, concerns, and ideas of staff across campus. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
—Jenny Tran-Johnson, Chair, All Staff Council
In January, a phishing simulation was sent to 500 random faculty and staff; 91.5 percent of those who received the simulation email either didn’t open the email, or didn’t click the link. These are excellent results that show we can identify phishing emails and avoid them.
Later this week, we’ll be sending out the next phishing simulation email to another random 500 faculty and staff members. If you receive the email and open the attachment, you’ll be sent to an informational page. If you receive an email you suspect is phishing, simulated or not, please forward it as an attachment to informationsecurity@drake.edu.
Participating in training like this is an effective and risk-free way to learn about the dangers of phishing and help protect individual and campus data. If you have questions or concerns, please contact informationsecurity@drake.edu.
Learn even more about how to secure your digital life by visiting our blog at its.drake.edu/category/security-blog/.
—Peter Lundstedt, Information Security Manager
Our focus for this year’s Wellness Event is on mental health. What better way to do this than by eating, conversing, and playing some games? Sodexo has graciously donated some cookies, popcorn, and even a hot chocolate bar. We will have a massage table set up, so bring $10 and register for a time slot ahead of time. Finally, we will give away massages to two lucky people: first draw gets a 1-hour table massage, second draw gets a half-hour massage. See you there!
Time: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. (right after Healthy4U class in Olmsted, Room 310)
Location: Olmsted Center, Parents Hall North
Activities: Bean bag toss, horseshoes, board games, $10 massage, and vendors
Food: Popcorn, cookies, hot chocolate bar from Sodexo, and other vendor snacks
Massage: $10 massages, please register ahead of time (see link above)
Vendors: Hy-Vee, Drake Recreation and Wellness, Drake Counseling Center, and Sodexo
-Tom Heijerman and Marina Verlengia, All Staff Council