Mark your calendar for the Provost’s October Drake Social Monday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m., at Shivers Hospitality Suite.

During the social, faculty and staff who demonstrate the Drake core value Joyful Accountability will be recognized as part of a PowerPoint scroll. From all those recognized, names will be drawn at random for prizes. Honorees must be present to win. 

You can recognize a colleague who demonstrates Joyful Accountability by completing this Qualtrics form by Wednesday, Oct 19. In your recognition, please share how your colleague demonstrates Joyful Accountability: 

• I am curious and creative, brave and bold. 
• I strive each day to be my best. 

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Black-identifying faculty and staff are invited to monthly conversations with Provost Sue Mattison. These will generally be at 11 a.m., the third Thursday of each month, with two exceptions: September and March will be the fourth Thursday. See the list of dates and locations on the Campus Calendar.

Last spring there were a number of administration listening sessions with faculty, staff, and students following a racist incident on campus. One request from Black faculty and staff was for regular and ongoing communication with campus leadership, not just emails or meetings in response to a crisis situation. The Office of the Provost has worked with the Black Affinity group on campus, organized by Brandi Miller, to schedule these monthly meetings.

— Drinda Williams, Provost’s Office

It’s been an unpredictable couple of years in the recruitment space. Please join me, Anne Kremer, for an opportunity to come together and participate in a recruitment refresh.

When: Sept. 19 from 3–4 p.m.
Where: Sussman Theatre

Data insights on the effectiveness of faculty as a part of the recruitment and visit experience, along with best practices and approaches for these students in both the in person and virtual spaces will be covered. We will also provide some insights on the Gen Z student and what they are seeking as a part of their college search and college experience.

— Anne Kremer, Dean of Admission

Faculty and staff will have a number of opportunities for drop in chats and coffee with Provost Sue Mattison this year. The first will be Monday, Sept. 19, from 3–4 p.m. in Kerns Commons, Cartwright Hall.

In previous years, the coffees have all been at the Cowles Library cafe, but this year they will be held at various locations around campus. You can search the Campus Calendar for Coffee with the Provost to find a compete list.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the new Travel Expense Policy.  Based on feedback, we made a few minor changes:

1. Added additional information on how to calculate mileage to and from the airport
2. Added additional detail on incidental expenses such as fees and tips that will be reimbursed

Review the new policy. As a reminder, the policy went into effect July 1, 2022.

— Erica McGowan, Finance and Administration

Each Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.

The Writing Center (formerly known as the writing workshop) opened Monday, Sept. 12.

The Writing Center’s trained peer tutors advise and assist students at any stage of the writing process:

· Understanding instructions/prompts

· Generating ideas and ways to develop ideas

· Outlining and organizing

· Writing, expanding, revising, and/or copyediting a draft

The Writing Center is a free service for all Drake students, including graduate students and those in professional programs.

How to sign up: Go to library.drake.edu/writing-center/ to book an appointment with a tutor—instructions for booking and visiting are available on the site as well. Appointments are approximately 30 minutes, and students can sign up for more than one session if they wish. They may also request that a tutor keep a regular time slot available for them if they would like to come in each week.

Location: The Writing Center has moved! The Center is still on the lower level of Cowles Library—please follow signs to find the new, larger, more comfortable space. The Writing Center offers hours daily, from mornings to late afternoon/evening (including weekends). Students with health concerns can request an appointment on Zoom.

For faculty and staff: If you refer a student to the workshop or require all students to visit, please let the Writing Center know via email (megan.brown@drake.edu). Ask students to bring their assignment prompt/instructions to the Writing Center, as well as any writing they have done so far. When students are referred, or required, to visit, the tutor will email you to let you know that your student has attended and briefly describe what work was done. When students attend on their own, The Writing Center does not inform professors unless they specifically ask the Center to do so.

For questions, contact Professor Megan Brown, director of writing, at megan.brown@drake.edu.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Each Tuesday in OnCampus the Deputy Provost shares two articles with a read time of 10 minutes.

This fall we’ll be reading two books as part of the Deputy Provost’s Books for Breakfast series:

The New College Classroom, by Cathy Davidson and Christina Katopodis, Thursdays, Sept. 22 and Oct. 6, from 8:30–9:30 a.m.  Please email nicki.kimm@drake.edu to sign up and get your book.

AND

Teaching to Transgress, by bell hooks, Tuesdays, Nov. 15 and Nov. 22, 8:30–9:30 a.m.  Sign up here.

On Nov. 4 from 2–4 p.m., I’ll be leading a session on meeting the outcomes related to the Equity and Inclusion requirement adopted by faculty senate 18 months ago.  Please sign up here, as soon as you’re able to commit, so that I can be in touch with some pre-session questions and homework.

Books for Breakfast and the Equity/Inclusion session are in Howard Hall, Room 210.

In addition, I’m going to be ‘working in public,’ and hoping for impromptu conversation, in several different locations this fall. I’d love the chance to catch up with faculty colleagues I don’t often see in my day-to-day deputy-provosting. Please come find me. Here is where I’ll be:

Thursday, Sept. 15, 1:30–2:30 p.m., Olin, 1st floor

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1:30–3 p.m., Olmsted Starbucks

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 9–10 a.m., Cowles Reading Room

Thursday, Oct. 13, 2–3 p.m., Collier Scripps, 1st floor

Thursday, Nov. 22, 10–11:30 a.m., Olmsted Starbucks

Friday, Dec. 2, 1–2 p.m., Cartwright Atrium

And, I’ll be hosting light breakfasts (pastries from La Mie, hot tea/instant coffee) in Howard Hall’s Academic Affairs suite, on the following dates.  No agenda—just conversation about teaching, professor-ing, out curriculum, and Drake:

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 8:30–9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 20, 8:30–9:30 a.m.

Friday, Nov 4, 8:30–9:30 a.m.

Friday, Dec. 2, 8:30–9:30 a.m.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost

Please note the The Des Moines Consortium event scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the DMACC Ankeny campus has been cancelled.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

As a reminder, Drake Dining offers $5 meals for faculty and staff every Wednesday.