Engaged Citizen Experience meeting
Each spring semester, Drake sponsors our Engaged Citizen Experience. This is a series of cocurricular events designed to bring Drake students, staff, and faculty together with the Greater Des Moines community to discuss important political and social issues. This spring semester theme will be: Demographic Opportunities and Challenges: Domestic and International. It was selected because of student interest as reflected in a survey done of returning students last April, and because it is directly related to many issues with local, national, and international implications including immigration, refugee, and Black Lives Matter. If you are interested in helping us plan Engaged Citizen Experience events, including our annual Engaged Citizen Conference and documentary film series, we will be having our first meeting on Friday, Sept. 9 at 9 a.m. in Old Main 208. For additional information contact me at arthur.sanders@drake.edu.

FYS lunch/discussion
The first Friday FYS lunch/discussion is on Sept. 9 at noon in the Medbury Honors Lounge. While these meetings are designed for those currently teaching FYS, we welcome those with an interest in possibly teaching FYS in the future as well. If you would like to attend please go to: http://tinyurl.com/septfyslunch and let us know your lunch preferences.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

Beginning with the Fall 2016 semester, those instructors who elect to use the plus/minus grading system will have the ability to assign +/- grades (i.e. A-, B+, C-, etc.).  (Prior to this fall, Drake did not use + or – grades in its grading system, except for the Law School.)

The change will begin for all courses offered in the Fall 2016 semester and later. Grades for courses offered in semesters prior to Fall 2016 will not be affected. This includes grades for undergraduate, graduate, and professional health care students. The grading system for Law School students will not change.

For more information, visit the +/- grading FAQ on the Student Records Office web site.

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

Join us for a free lunch with your co-workers from across campus on Monday, Aug. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fine Arts Arcade (north end of the Fine Arts Center). The severe rain location is Pomerantz Stage area, Olmsted Center.

We will have a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in TMR 132 (lower level of Olmsted) to discuss the theme of the Spring 2017 Engaged Citizen Experience. In the student survey conducted in April, three themes emerged: “The World at War,” “National Identity in a Global Society,” and “Demographic Opportunities and Challenges.” We can take one of these themes, or fashion something that incorporates two or more of them. For more information and to let us know if you are able to attend, please go to: www.eventbrite.com/e/engaged-citizen-topic-discussion-meeting-registration-26878668822

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

The 2016 Fall Convocation will be held on Friday, Aug. 26, at 1:30 p.m. in The Knapp Center. All staff and faculty are encouraged to attend this important event welcoming new first-year and transfer students to Drake.

Faculty: If you are planning on attending convocation, please RSVP no later than noon on Monday, Aug. 22 to https://drakeconvocation2016.eventbrite.com.

The Knapp Center North Lower Level Lobby will be utilized as a staging/dressing area for faculty beginning at 1 p.m. with lineup at 1:25 p.m. You may enter via the Bell Center. The attire for faculty is academic regalia.

—Office of the Provost

Parking permits for the 2016–2017 academic year will be available for purchase in the Student Services Center during the month of August.

Current parking forms (including the payroll deduct form) are available in the Student Services Center or online. You may also register for your pass online in the blueView portal (click the My Drake Account tab—please note that there is no payroll deduct option here).

Prices for this year are listed below. Feel free to contact the Student Services Center (studentservices@drake.edu or 515-271-2000) if you have any questions about your parking registration.

Annual Commuter: $160
Semester Commuter: $100
Annual Evening/Weekend Commuter: $85
Semester Evening/Weekend Commuter: $50
*Evening/Weekend passes are valid from 4:30 p.m.–2 a.m. in commuter lots during the week, all day on the weekends*

—Sara Heijerman, Manager, Campus Card Office

It is time to begin the process of planning travel seminars for Summer 2017 and January-Term 2018. Review this Call for Proposals  for the proposal process, timeline, and compensation. Please contact Maria Rohach, global learning program coordinator, at maria.rohach@drake.edu to begin the planning process or if you have any questions. You may also contact me with any questions at art.sanders@drake.edu.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

This is the LAST week to sign up for the kickball games at the All Staff Council Summer Kick-off Social!  The games will take place on May 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. Please submit your team or sign up as an individual by May 13 online. 

Even if you don’t want to play, we hope you’ll come cheer on your co-workers, and enjoy some time away from your desk—bring a lawn chair if convenient. We’ll have beverages and lawn games to enjoy, and, if desired, bring a few dollars to purchase a cupcake from SCRATCH CURBSIDE! As a reminder, we’ve been collecting entries for a FREE parking pass at ASC events all year, and this will be your LAST chance to enter the drawing. We’ll be selecting our winner at 3:30 at the event.

See you there!

—All Staff Council Communications Committee

It’s time to sign up your team for the All Staff Council Summer Kickball Game!  Kickball games will take place at the ASC Summer Kick-off Social on May 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. Please fill out this Qualtrics survey if you are interested in signing up a team or participating as an individual player.

Even if you don’t want to play, we hope you’ll come cheer on your co-workers, and enjoy some time away from your desk. As a reminder, we’ve been collecting entries for a FREE parking pass at the ASC events all year, and this will be your LAST chance to enter the drawing! We’ll be selecting our winner at 3:30 at the event.

—All Staff Council Communications Committee