All Drake faculty and staff are invited and encouraged to nominate a colleague for the 2026 Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service and Employee Excellence Awards.

The Employee Excellence Award is presented to a staff member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to excellence in the performance of their duties. The Distinguished Community Service Award recognizes the outstanding contributions of Drake faculty and staff to the Drake community. The criteria to be eligible for each of these awards can be found here.

To nominate a colleague, submit a letter of nomination to Human Resources. Nomination letters may be sent through campus mail or electronically to drakehr@drake.edu.  The subject line should read “Madelyn M. Levitt Award Nomination”.  The letter should detail specific examples of how the nominee exemplifies each of the applicable criteria. Additional letters of support are not necessary, but welcome. Nominations are due to Human Resources by Monday, March 2.

For additional information, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— 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 2026 schedule is available online and registration is open.  Please take a moment to check out the classes on the Drake HR BUILD Offerings webpage, 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 designing routines for success and finding ways to fit physical activity into a busy lifestyle, to a mental health first aid for higher education class, and a presentation on the services offered by our employee assistance program.  In addition to classes, take an architectural tour of Meredith Hall, go on a sustainability ‘walk and talk’, or join us for a full fledge tour of the Drake campus. And there’s more!

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

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, 2025, and Nov. 30, 2026, and submit a completed form by Dec. 1, 2026, will qualify for the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2027, which is a savings of over $30 per month.  Don’t forget, this is an annual event, so make those appointments today.

—  Linda Feiden, Human Resources

If you like to be challenged but you don’t have time for a structured group program, these challenges may be for you.  Both the Bookworm Challenge and the 500 Strong Challenge are self-driven (do on your own).  There is no form to submit, and you can start either challenge any month that works best for you.

The idea behind this program is that some of you have resolutions, goals, or intentions for the new year.  If your goals include wanting to get more fit or spending more time reading, these challenges may help keep you on track. Just select a month to start and create or print off a blank calendar.  You can easily find them on Excel or online.

• 500 Strong Challenge. This challenge invites you to do 500 reps (repetitions) of any strength exercise (push-ups, pull-ups, squats, crunches, etc.) over the course of one month.  Start slow – maybe 5 reps a day for week one, 10 reps a day for week two and on up.  The rules are simple: 1) select just one exercise to challenge yourself, 2) make sure the exercise is difficult enough to challenge you over the course of the month but not too difficult to try, 3) complete 500 reps in a month.  Use your calendar (or any tracking form you create) to record your reps.
• Bookworm Challenge. This challenge invites you to read 500 minutes over the course of one month (audio books do NOT count).  Record the minutes you read each day on your own tracking form. The Bookworm Challenge is a good challenge to share with your children to get them in the habit of reading.  Share with other family members, friends, or colleagues, by all reading the same book.  If you need some book ideas – check out Cowles Library or the University Book Club! For more information on the University Book Club, send an email to chibnall@drake.edu, sara.heijerman@drake.edu, or erica.mcgowan@drake.edu.

Reward yourself if you successfully complete either challenge, and then come up with a new one-month challenge that fits with your goals or passions.

Give it a try and have fun!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Time is running out.  Employees on Drake’s health plan who wish to receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2026, need to complete a physical exam with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2024 and Nov. 30, 2025, and submit a completed Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form  by Dec. 1, 2025.

If you had a physical since Dec. 1, 2024, please fill out the form and turn it in now. If you cannot get an appointment with your doctor by the Dec. 1, 2025 deadline, or you do not have a primary care provider, you may contact the Broadlawns Community Clinic by Drake (2970 University Ave.) at 515-216-5100.  Let them know you are from Drake and need to make an appointment for a wellness exam.  Please do not wait until the last moment to contact them or they may not have available openings.

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

Please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu with questions.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The holiday season can be difficult when it comes to taking care of your wellbeing.  Poor eating, lack of sleep, spending, and stress are potential obstacles to knock us off track. This year’s Dip Your Toe in the Snow challenge will provide you with some tools to navigate those obstacles.

From Monday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Dec. 21, you will complete four challenges. Every week will focus on one aspect of wellbeing. If one of your personal goals this season is to maintain your weight, there is an optional weight management portion of the challenge that runs through Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

Send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu by Friday, Nov. 21, to register.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Drake’s annual open enrollment period will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1. This is a hard close! If you have not yet reviewed or made modifications to your benefits for 2026, please do so as soon as possible. The deadline to submit your 2026 wellness premium incentive form is also Dec. 1.

Key Enrollment Reminders
You may enroll by accessing the Benefits Portal in myDrake. Click the dropdown window next to Employee Links, and the Benefits Portal will be below Human Resources. During the open enrollment period, you may make changes to your current health, dental, vision, and voluntary life insurance coverage. Additionally:

• If you wish to participate in the health or dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) plans during 2026, you must enroll—or re-enroll if you are currently participating in Drake’s FSA plans. There is no automatic re-enrollment from year to year for FSAs.
• The current Health Care FSA contribution is $3,300. Participants are allowed to carry over up to $660 of unused contributions to the 2026 Plan Year. The maximum Health Care FSA contribution for 2026 will increase to $3,400 with participants allowed to carry over up to $680 of unused contributions to the 2027 Plan Year.
• The maximum Dependent Care FSA contribution for 2026 will increase to $7,500. Current Dependent Care contributions will not be carried over to the 2026 Plan Year.

Open enrollment ends on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. sharp! If you have not yet enrolled in benefits for 2026, please don’t wait until the last minute. If you have questions or problems navigating the benefits portal, reach out to us at drakehr@drake.edu or contact Marlene directly at marlene.heuertz@drake.edu.

— 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 the discount.

Employees on Drake’s health plan who wish to receive the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2026, need to complete a physical exam with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2024 and Nov. 30, 2025, and submit a completed Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form  by Dec. 1, 2025.

If you cannot get an appointment with your doctor by the Dec. 1, 2025 deadline, or you do not have a primary care provider, you may contact the Broadlawns Community Clinic by Drake (2970 University Ave.) at 515-216-5100 to make an appointment.  Let them know you are from Drake and need to make an appointment for a wellness exam.  Most individuals can get in within two or three days, but please do not wait until the last week to contact them or they may not have available openings.

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

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

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Visit this year’s Benefits and Wellness Fair Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 9–11:30 a.m. in Levitt Hall, Old Main.

Representatives from many of our benefits partners will be present to answer your questions.  In addition, we will have a variety of wellbeing resources:

• Employee & Family Resources (EFR) will be on-hand to share resources and answer questions. In addition to counseling, EFR offers financial and legal consulting, eldercare and childcare resources, life coaching and more.
• Samantha Matt, our on-campus dietitian, will answer your nutrition questions. She and Gail Witte will also be facilitating a Mindful Moves & Meals: Wellness for Busy Professionals class on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 2–3 p.m. in the Paul Morrison Room in the Knapp Center. Click HERE to register.
• Representatives from the Drake Kinesiology department will offer free blood pressure checks. It is always good to know this number in tracking your health.
• We will have staff from Recreational Services ready to share information on upcoming Group X classes, and much more.

Fill out a BINGO card during the fair and you will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a prize. Most importantly, this is an opportunity for you to be sure you understand and take advantage of the benefits and perks offered to you as an employee of Drake University and help prepare you to make benefit elections during open enrollment (from Oct. 31 to Dec. 1 this year), which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

This year’s Benefits and Wellness Fair will be held Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 9-11:30 a.m. in Levitt Hall, Old Main. Please mark your calendars for this “come and go” event.

Representatives from our benefits partners will be present to answer your questions, including: Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Broadlawns, Delta Dental and DeltaVision, TIAA, Long Term Care Strategies, The Hartford, Bank of America, and Employee & Family Resources. Stop by and chat with registered dietitian Samantha Matt and representatives from Drake Recreational Services and be sure to get your blood pressure checked by our wonderful kinesiology students.  Bonus! Griff II will be making an appearance!

There will be beverages, freebies, and a chance to win prizes.  Most importantly, this is an opportunity for you to be sure you understand and take advantage of the benefits and perks offered to you as an employee of Drake University and help prepare you to make benefit elections during open enrollment (from Oct. 31 to Dec. 1 this year), which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Don’t forget to pick up a bingo card when you arrive and have the vendors you visit mark their square.  If you secure a blackout (filling in all vendor spots), you will be entered in a drawing for prizes.

— Linda Feiden, HR