Join us in July for HealthyU BINGO.  The goal is to fill up a blank BINGO card (or two), during the month, with healthy activities completed from a provided list, and then play some games of HealthyU BINGO for prizes.

To get started, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Deadline to register is Friday, June 28.  All participants will receive a packet that includes a list of HealthyU BINGO activities and a blank BINGO card.  You are welcome to make copies for your family.  This is a fun activity that you can share with them.

Please feel free to contact Linda Feiden with questions.

 — Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The summer 2024 edition of the DU Well newsletter is now posted.  Please take a few minutes to check it out.  It highlights upcoming wellness events, discusses relevant wellbeing topics and health observances, tests your trivia knowledge, shares fun recipes, and challenges you to try a healthy change.

If you have ideas for future editions, please feel free to contact us at drakehr@drake.edu, using the subject line, DU Well newsletter.

You can explore other ways Drake supports employee wellness on our DU Well webpage, including information about our Employee Assistance Program, the Wellness Premium Discount, and much more.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

In May, the Biden Administration released a new Final Rule tied to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) increasing the salary threshold for certain exempt (salaried) employees. While faculty, teachers, instructors, coaches, and a range of other positions are unimpacted by this new Final Rule, it will prompt the assessment of many staff roles.

The increase in the salary threshold (one increase is effective July 1, 2024, and another on January 1, 2025) will likely result in more Drake staff being reclassified as hourly. Simply put, we will have more hourly staff moving forward than in the past. Employers across the country will be experiencing the same shift.

In assessing the impact of the Final Rule on Drake, we are proposing changes to the vacation policy (and we made some clean-up edits to the sick leave policy while we were at it).

For vacation, we are proposing eliminating the distinction in annual vacation allotments for non-exempt (hourly) and exempt (salaried) employees. The proposed annual vacation allotment for all full-time staff and vacation-eligible faculty is as follows:

Annual Vacation Bank for Full-time/12-month Employees
Years of Service	Annual Vacation Allotment
0-14 Years	160 hours
15+ Years	200 hours

Both proposed policies are posted on the policy development page, per Drake’s normal policy review process. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please submit them through the policy development page or you can email drakehr@drake.edu.

Normally, we would have worked with a group on such edits, but the looming legal deadline of July 1, 2024 just did not allow for that. However, we can revisit these policies, as needed, based on the feedback we receive.

If your position is impacted by the new FLSA Final Rule, your manager will be in touch with you. We are still assessing positions and options and doing so as quickly as we can, given the tight timeline imposed by the Final Rule.

Visit our temporary FLSA website for more information. Please reach out to drakehr@drake.edu if you have any questions or comments.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources

Wear Green Day is Thursday, May 16.  Everyone is encouraged to wear something green as a reminder to take steps to address their own mental health challenges and to help others take steps in finding the help they need.  If the weather is nice, invite others to join you in a walk around the Bulldog Mile.

As we continue to highlight Mental Health Awareness Month, and approach the end of the academic year, now is a great time to reflect on your personal mental wellbeing.  It is not selfish to take care of your own mental health needs–it is imperative.

Take some time to watch today’s “NAMI Central Iowa Presents: In Our Own Voice” or the May 16 “Make it OK to Talk about Mental Illness” presentation. You can find a full schedule of upcoming webinars and presentations on the Mental Health Awareness Month website.

Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical and mental health. This can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.

Start with a few things you can incorporate into your daily routine.  Be physically active, eat a healthy, balanced diet, get enough sleep, and explore relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing.

Next, take some time to recharge.  Studies have shown that taking time away from the job can have physical and mental health benefits.  People who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and time away can even spur greater creativity.

Here are some guidelines to help you reap the benefits of vacation, wherever you go.

Get a change in scenery. Vacation doesn’t need to entail extensive travel. The fun of it is going somewhere that is different from your daily life. This may be a short drive from home, an extended road trip, or an excursion to the other side of town. For day and weekend trips, consider checking out one of Iowa’s amazing state parks.

Plan. Being spontaneous on occasions can be exciting, but pre-planning gives you something to look forward to, creating a sense of joy.  Even if you’re only going across town, you can still identify which days you’re going to take off and plan what you’re going to do in advance. Not interested in a long drive? Check out the events highlighted on the Catch Des Moines website.

Identify the type of experience you want to have. The ideal vacation is different for everyone. For some, it’s soaking up the sun by the water. For others, it’s a creative pursuit, exploring a new location, trying new cuisine, or engaging in an adventure sport. Knowing this will help you decide potential destinations and activities.

Spend time outdoors. Spending time in nature can benefit you both mentally and physically. Whether you’re traveling or staying home, build in time outdoors as part of your vacation.  Take a morning walk, fish on a lake, watch the waves crash at the beach or enjoy a picnic in a park. If you are looking for a new walk adventure, check out a Des Moines trail that you haven’t explored before. There are plenty to choose from!

Unplug. Unplugging from work can be difficult, but it is a big part of what makes vacation feel like vacation. It’s down time for your brain, creates the space for creativity to emerge and allows you to be fully present with your family and travel partners. Unplugging is easier said than done. Here are a few tips that may be helpful.

Create memories. Vacations are a great opportunity to create lasting, positive memories.  Recalling those happy memories can head off stress, anxiety, and depression. Capture fun moments with your smartphone, through journaling,  or start a gratitude jar. You’ll enjoy revisiting these memories in the months and years to come.

As easy as it might be to keep on working and skip a vacation, don’t. Taking some time away can provide you with an experience that leaves you refreshed and re-energized, and you don’t have to go very far to do it. So, get packing and go. You’ll be glad you did.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

As a reminder, employees on Drake’s health plan who wish to continue receiving the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2025 need to complete a physical exam with an in-network provider between Dec. 1, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2024, and submit a Premium Discount-Annual Physical Form by Nov. 30, 2024.  This is an annual event, so if you submitted one last year, you need to do it again this year.

If you already had your physical since last December, please fill out the form and turn it in now.  If you have not scheduled your annual physical yet, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.  Some physician’s offices require a long lead time for appointments. Also note that our Wellmark health plan allows for one physical per calendar year, so you should not need to wait a year and a day between physicals.

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 on the wellness premium discount physical form and marlene.heuertz@drake.edu with additional benefits questions.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

This past academic year, 421 faculty and staff participated in at least one Bulldogs United in Learning & Development (BUILD) class. These classes assist individuals with learning a new skill, improving their well-being, or strengthening professional knowledge.

BUILD classes would not be possible without our wonderful presenters.  Human Resources would like to thank the following faculty and staff for leading one or more BUILD classes this past academic year:

Mallary Allan Dennis Belieu Hope Bibens Joe Bridgeman Matt Cooper Maureen De Armond Doreen Dixon Kristin Economos Catherine Gillespie Tiffany Hach Terry Janssen Bill Jensen Jorona Johnson Jessica Lang

Scott Law Meredith Luttrell Venessa Macro Samantha Matt Jennifer McCrickerd Matthew Mitchell Joseph Owens Jen Rasmussen Nate Reagen Hannah Remke Nanci Ross Christine Urish and OT students Gail Witte

Thank you to everyone on this list for your commitment to Drake and your willingness to share your expertise and time.

We are now in the process of planning for our 2024–2025 academic year.  If there are topics you would like to see covered in BUILD sessions next year or you would be interested in facilitating a BUILD class, we would like to hear from you.  Please take a moment to fill out this short Qualtrics survey with your suggestions or send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The annual Sapphire Awards ceremony was held on April 16.  During this event, more than 30 people were recognized for having received either an individual or team Call to be True Blue Award this past academic year.

2024 Sapphire Awards

Two Sapphire Awards were also presented.

• Michelle Laughlin, operational director, Access & Success, Student Disability Services, received this year’s Individual Sapphire Award
• Katherine Coady, administrative support specialist, Julie Olinger, administrative assistant 2, and Cindy Liska, administrative assistant 2, all from the Zimpleman College of Business, received this year’s Team Sapphire Award

2024 Madelyn M. Levitt Awards

Congratulations also go out to the winners of this year’s Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence and Distinguished Community Service Awards.

• Sydni Jennings, director student affairs, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, is the recipient of this year’s Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Award
• Danielle Shelton, professor of law, University Law School, is the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Community Service Award

Congratulations to them all! We encourage everyone to take time to congratulate these amazing Drake faculty and staff, and to find ways to recognize others.

It’s never too early to start thinking about True Blue awards! These will start up again in August at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year.  All Staff Council’s Recognition Committee invites everyone to fill out an online Called to be True Blue nomination form at that time, if they know of someone deserving of this honor.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Drake employees will have the option to enroll in a Roth IRA, administered by TIAA effective June 1, 2024. The Roth contribution option will allow eligible employees to make after-tax contributions that offer the potential for tax-free income in retirement.

To learn more about the new Roth contribution option, please plan to attend one of two presentations provided by TIAA financial consultant Ricardo Diaz. Reservations are not required.

When: May 3 from 10:30 a.m. AND 1:30 p.m.
Where: Levitt Hall, Old Main

— Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

Human Resources created a Mental Health Awareness Month webpage. Check out the list of resources available to you. 

Mental Health Awareness Month, observed annually in May since 1949, was established by the founder of Mental Health America to shed light on the challenges faced by those living with mental health conditions.

While stigma around mental health and treatment has decreased in recent years, there are still people who hesitate to take steps to address mental health challenges, seek care, and talk about mental health with friends, family, and even their medical providers.  Did you know that one in five Americans experience a mental illness each year and on average, people live with symptoms of a mental illness for 10 years before seeking treatment, largely due to the stigma?

So, what can you do?  How should you observe Mental Health Awareness Month?

• Take care of yourself. Life has many ups and downs. Some problems you may be able to solve on your own, but not always, and that is okay. When you need mental health assistance, reach out.
• Take care of your loved ones. Check up on your family and friends. Sometimes, all a person needs is a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to listen.  But if they need more help than you can provide, support them, and assist them to find the right treatment.
• Talk about mental health. The more everyone talks about it, the more normalized it will become, reducing the stigma attached to mental health disorders and helping others to seek treatment.
• Learn more. Attend live or virtual events; access resources (see below for more details).

Human Resources has created a Mental Health Awareness Month webpage that includes a detailed list of resources to assist you.  We will continue to expand this page throughout the month with any additional community events.

There are also several organizations that offer tools and resources to support others and be supported.

The Healthiest State Initiative’s Make It OK is a community campaign that encourages everyone to talk more openly about mental illness in hopes of de-stigmatizing it so individuals will feel more open to seek care.  They are holding free Make It OK presentations throughout the month that start this conversation.

Drake’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers a wide range of resources. EAPs are an often-under-utilized employee benefit. Drake partners with Employee & Family Resources (EFR) so Drake employees (and anyone living in their households) can have free easy access to these resources. There is something for everyone—including free confidential counseling, webinars, podcasts, a blog, self-assessment tools, and a mobile app.

EFR also offers a benefit called Togetherall—an online support peer community where you can connect with others for support, keep a journal, set goals, take assessments, and learn how to adjust to life’s ups and downs with structured courses. Moderated by professionals, Togetherall is available 24/7 and free to use.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA) both help raise awareness and combat stigma. This year NAMI is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with their “Take the Moment” campaign and MHA with their “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World” campaign.

Remember, it is OK to not be OK.  Please reach out when you need help, be there for others who need an assist, and start the conversation.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

As the weather starts to warm up, it’s time to get outdoors and get moving!  If you need a little nudge, join this year’s Walk this May Mystery Step Challenge!  During the month of May, teams will both track their step counts and solve a weekly puzzle.  Teams can also earn bonus points for finding creative ways to be kind and support others through social connection, whether it be a cup of coffee with a colleague or reaching out to family and friends you haven’t seen for a while.

To register a team, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu with the names of your team members (4-8 per team), team name, and team captain.  You may also register individually, and you will be placed on a team.

Grab your walking shoes and let’s get going!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources