Many start the year out by getting their annual physical. If that sounds like you and you are on Drake’s health plan, don’t forget to take a copy of the Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form to your appointment.This form can be found on the Drake HR Internal website. Just look for Wellness Premium Discount under the DU Well – Wellness and Wellbeing tab.

Those on Drake’s health plan who complete a physical with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2024, and Nov. 30, 2025, and submit a completed form by Dec. 1, 2025, will qualify for the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2026, which is a savings of over $30 per month.

If you already had your physical since Dec. 1, 2024, please fill out the form and turn it in now. If you turned in your form last year—great! But don’t forget, this is an annual event.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Bulldogs United in Learning & Development (BUILD) provides faculty and staff learning opportunities throughout the academic year to enhance professional skills, improve wellbeing, and create conversation.  BUILD is a great platform for learning new ideas as well as an opportunity to collaborate with others from across campus.

The Spring 2025 schedule is available online and registration is open.  Please take a moment to check out the classes on the Drake HR website under Learning & Development.  Click on BUILD – Upcoming Sessions for the full list, including detailed descriptions.  There is an online registration link to a Qualtrics survey that makes signing up easy.

This semester’s class list includes everything from safe space training and mental health first aid for higher education to vehicle and lawn equipment basics. Find out why sitting too long is bad for your health, create a vision board, or join one of a couple tours.

Most classes are only an hour in length, and many are facilitated by our own faculty and staff.  This is a great way to invest in yourself, support your colleagues, and take in the culture that Drake has to offer.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

With the start of the new year, it is wise to review your Pay Information through the Employee Dashboard.

For your quick reference, we have highlighted a few of these important sections.

Within the Pay Information section on the Employee Dashboard, you can access current and previous paystubs and direct deposit information.  As the new year begins, you may see slight variations in your pay.  This could be due to a multitude of factors including: a new tax year which causes payroll deductions to “restart” with the calendar year; a change in compensation; and newly elected benefit deductions for the upcoming year, as well as taxes related to any graduate level courses that you or your dependents may be taking.

The Benefits section navigates you to the Benefits Portal for easy access to review your benefits information.  A separate link for Retirement Plans is available to provide information about your TIAA retirement payroll deductions.

Within the Taxes section, the online W-2s will be available during the last week in January.  The online 1095-C forms will be available in March.

Please email drakehr@drake.edu if you have any questions.  We are happy to assist you.

Teresa Downs, Human Resources

If you are on Drake’s health plan and have not turned in your Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form – time is running out!  This is an annual requirement to receive the discount.

Employees on Drake’s health plan need to complete a physical with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2024, and submit a Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form by Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, to receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2025.

If you had your physical since Dec. 1, 2023, please fill out the form and turn it in now. If you haven’t scheduled your annual physical yet with in-network provider, you are running out of time.  If you cannot get into your provider before the deadline, please contact Broadlawns Medical Center on University – across the street from the Drake campus – to inquire about their availability.  Be sure to let them know you are from Drake and bring a copy of the physician form with you.

Please email linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Time is running out.  Employees on Drake’s health plan, who want to receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2025 need to complete a physical with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2024, and submit a Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form by Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, to receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2025.

If you had your physical since Dec. 1, 2023, please fill out the form and turn it in now. If you haven’t scheduled your annual physical yet with an in-network provider, you need to do it now.  If you cannot get into your provider, you may contact Broadlawns Medical Center on University – across the street from the Drake campus – to inquire about their availability prior to the deadline.  Be sure to let them know you are from Drake and bring a copy of the physical form with you.

You can read more about the wellness premium discount program on the Wellness Premium Discount webpage.

Please email linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The holiday season can be a challenge when it comes to taking care of ourselves, so we have brought back a holiday challenge to help ‘Stop’ the potential holiday weight gain, ‘Drop’ some bad habits, while picking up a few good ones, and ‘Roll’ into the New Year on a healthier path.

This program started Monday, Nov. 25 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 29.  Each week participants focus on different topics from healthier eating and physical activity to sleep, self-compassion, and making social connections. This is a program you can do on your own or with family members over the holiday season.  And even if weight gain isn’t a problem or priority for you, this program covers wellbeing topics pertinent to everyone.

Send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu today to register.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Drake’s annual open enrollment period will close at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. If you have not yet reviewed or made modifications to your benefits for 2025, please visit the Benefits Portal and complete the process as soon as possible. Remember that you must re-enroll in flexible spending accounts (FSA) each year, as your current participation is not automatically continued from year to year.

Additional information about benefits for the 2025 Plan Year can be accessed through this temporary open enrollment page. If you have benefit-related or open enrollment questions, please contact Human Resources at drakehr@drake.edu at any time.

—Marlene Huertz, Human Resources

Drake added a Roth contribution option to its Voluntary Retirement Plan effective June 1, 2024.  This option allows eligible employees to make after-tax contributions that offer the potential for tax-free income in retirement.

To learn more about the Voluntary Roth contribution option, please plan to attend this presentation provided by TIAA Financial Consultant, Ricardo Diaz.

Date: Nov. 22

Time: 10-11 am

Location: CR 312, Olmsted Center

Ricardo Diaz will conduct in-person counseling sessions Nov. 22^nd and Dec. 13^th. Reserve an appointment or call 800-732-8353. To schedule a virtual counseling session, you may call 319-356-8042 or email ricardo.diaz@tiaa.org.

—Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

If you are on Drake’s health plan and have not turned in your Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form – time is running out.  This is an annual requirement to receive a wellness premium discount – a savings of approximately $34 per month.

As a reminder, employees on Drake’s health plan need to complete a physical with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2024, and submit a Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form by Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, to receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2025.

If you had your physical since Dec. 1, 2023, please fill out the form and turn it in now. If you haven’t scheduled your annual physical yet with in-network provider, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.  If you cannot get into your provider, you are welcome to contact Broadlawns Medical Center on University – across the street from the Drake campus – to inquire about their availability prior to Nov. 30.  Be sure to let them know you are from Drake and bring a copy of the physical form with you.

You can read more about the discount program and download the physical form for 2025 on the Wellness Premium Discount webpage.

Besides receiving a premium discount, an annual physical is an important way to receive health information through age and gender specific examinations, schedule recommended preventative screenings, and create a doctor-patient relationship.

Please email linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Drake University’s Open Enrollment will be held from November 1 – December 2, 2024.  During this time, eligible employees have an opportunity to make benefit changes for the upcoming Plan Year.

Full-time employees have a unique opportunity to elect supplemental life insurance for themselves, spouses/partners, and dependent children. Drake University’s new partnership with The Hartford will provide benefit eligible employees an opportunity to purchase additional life insurance coverage in $25,000 increments up to $400,000 without providing proof of good health, during the open enrollment period.

The Hartford is providing a similar opportunity to purchase supplemental coverage for eligible dependents during the open enrollment period. Full-time employees may purchase coverage in $10,000 increments up to $100,000 (up to 50% of the employee elected amount) for their spouse/partners, as well as coverage in $2,500 increments (up to $10,000) for children up to age 26, without providing proof of good health.

This is a unique opportunity for full-time employees to purchase additional coverage beyond the Drake-sponsored basic life insurance benefit. It provides a wonderful opportunity to provide additional financial support for employees and their families in the event of a death.

If you have questions about Drake benefits, we encourage you to join us Friday, November 15th from 10:00 – 11:30 am in Room 313, Olmsted Center. Wellmark, HealthEquity and The Hartford vendors will be present to answer your questions. For additional information about Drake’s insurance benefits, click here.

As a reminder, this opportunity will only be made available during the current open enrollment period. All benefit elections for the 2025 Plan Year must be made in the Benefits Portal in myDrake no later than 11:59 p.m. on December 2, 2024.

—Debra Wiley, Human Resources