Category Archives: HR Information Archive

Drake University Home Incentive Purchase Plan

The Drake University Home Incentive Purchase Plan provides financial support to full-time Drake employees who purchase an owner-occupied, single-family dwelling in the Drake neighborhood. Drake University will provide up to $3,500 for reimbursement of loan origination fees and/or closing costs for purchases made adjacent to campus. View additional information about the program, including applicable boundaries.

Marlene Heuertz, Benefits Specialist, Human Resources

Join Drake’s new healthy living group

Now is the perfect time to get into the habit of making healthier choices. If your goals include losing or maintaining weight while generally living a healthier lifestyle, Drake’s new, on-campus Healthy Living Group may be the solution.

Weekly meetings include an optional weigh-in followed by a 30-minute discussion. Share recipes, grocery store finds, fitness tips, healthy living successes and the occasional healthy living struggle.  Group support, accountability, and the convenience of meetings in the workplace may help you be successful in reaching your goals.

This group meets Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. in Cartwright Hall, Room 202. 

Please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu for more information.

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist, Human Resources

Welcome new Bulldogs

Please join Human Resources in welcoming four new, full-time Drake University employees for the month of February.

Sarah Heller, Student Account Consultant, Student Accounts
Jeremy Calvert, Information Security Analyst, ITS
Ananda (Annie) Spadt, Assistant Director, Brand Integration, UCM
Karen MacKinnon, Administrative Assistant, History, Arts & Sciences

Laura Schwarz, HR Support Specialist

Keck Airport shuttle parking and Enterprise car rental discounts

With spring break quickly approaching, some Drake faculty and staff may travel by air to visit family and friends. If that sounds like you, did you know that Drake employees receive a 50% discount (or $3.50 per day) at the Keck Airport Shuttle Parking, located at 5555 Fleur Drive, for business and personal travel?

Simply take a ticket at the gate and park your car in any open space.  A shuttle will pick you up in the parking lot and drop you off outside the terminal for quick and easy entry into the airport. Upon returning to the airport, the shuttle will pick you up outside of the baggage claim doors and drop you off at your car. 

When you pull up to the cashier window to pay, identify yourself as a Drake employee, show them your Drake ID or business card if asked, and you will receive the discount.

And if your travels include car rental, Drake employees may rent a car for personal use through Enterprise and receive the same rates as the University. 

For the personal use account, go to enterprise.com and book using the personal use account number XZ6299F. Once you sign up, you will receive a packet of information via email and you can print off a card. 

You may also enroll in the Emerald Club with National, which is the sister company of Enterprise.

A full list of Drake Employee Perks & Discounts can be found in myDrake by clicking on the Human Resources App (top of page). Next click Benefits, and then Additional Benefits, and finally Perks & Discounts for Drake Employees.

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist

Webinar: Market-proof your retirement

As you approach retirement, you may find yourself asking questions such as: Can I retire on my terms, when I want? Is my portfolio susceptible to market losses? Will I outlive my retirement funds?

During retirement, and the years leading up to it, protecting your savings is extremely important. Learn how to market-proof your retirement funds by participating in a TIAA Financial Essentials Webinar on March 14. Register here.

Marlene Heuertz, Benefits Specialist, Human Resources

Drake discounts for music, theatre, and art enthusiasts

The Drake University Community School of Music (DUCSOM) strives to awaken and nurture the student’s musical talent. Regardless of age and levels (three year-olds to senior citizens, beginners to professionals), DUCSOM provides opportunities for individual vocal and instrumental lessons. Drake employees can receive a 10 percent discount on tuition.

For additional information, visit the DUCSOM website.

If you prefer to watch a Drake musical performance, theatre production or art exhibit, we have you covered as well. Drake employees receive free admission to Drake art exhibits and discounted tickets to Drake theatre productions.

Employees also receive free admission to Drake musical performances (except Opera, which offers discounts to employees with a Drake ID, and Jazz and ticketed choir events, which do not offer discounts).

For more information, go to drake.edu/friends/calendar.

A full list of Drake Employee Perks & Discounts can be found in myDrake by clicking on the Human Resources App (top of page). Next, click Benefits, then Additional Benefits, and finally Perks & Discounts for Drake Employees.

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist

Stop Stress This Minute wellness program

Are you stressed out just thinking about managing your stress? You’re not alone. But managing stress is not as hard as you think. 

Join our Stop Stress This Minute wellness incentive challenge beginning Monday, March 11. During this eight-week program you will receive a copy of the book Stop Stress This Minute by James Porter. Each week you will read portions of the book, complete a short quiz, and record your stress number, stressors in your life and any stress management activities you tried during the week. Along the way you will receive a variety of tools to help you conquer your stress. Registration is limited to 25 participants. 

To get started, send an email to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu. Deadline to register is Friday, March 8.

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist

Self-defense program

The best way to keep yourself safe is to avoid risky situations whenever possible. Unfortunately, violent crime can happen anywhere at any time. The next line of defense is knowing how to protect yourself should the need arise. This one hour self-defense course is designed to make you more aware, prepared, and ready for any situation that may come in your everyday life.

Join us Tuesday, March 5, at 10 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310–313. Scott Law, director, Public Safety and Operational Services, will present.

To register for this event, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist

Send a colleague a Kudos

Drake’s online recognition tool, Peerceive, is a quick and simple way to show recognition to colleagues. Recognizing employee contributions, and creating meaningful recognition and awards programs, are an important part of the Drake culture.

The Peerceive dashboard includes easy-to-use tools to send electronic kudos or e-cards. Kudos are a way for co-workers to express gratitude for a unique contribution to the workplace. They can be sent as often as you wish and to any employee (or group of employees) in any department. E-cards are an electronic version of a hand written note. Use these to tell an employee happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, or wish them well.

Recipients will receive an email letting them know they received a kudos or e-card. A link will take them to the site where they can view the message.

You can access Peerceive on myDrake under Other Employee Apps on the All Apps page. Your username is your Drake email address and your initial password is your employee number, including any leading zeroes.

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

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist

Stop Stress This Minute program

Are you stressed out just thinking about managing your stress? You’re not alone. But managing stress is not as hard as you think.

Join the Stop Stress This Minute program to gain valuable tools to help you conquer your stress. During this eight-week program you will receive a copy of the book Stop Stress This Minute by James Porter and a variety of stress management resources. Each week you will read portions of the book, complete a short quiz, record your stressors, and list any stress management activities you tried during the week. 

Stop Stress This Minute runs Monday, Mar. 11 through Sunday, May 5. There is a limit of 25 in this program so don’t wait! To register, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Last day to register is Friday, Mar. 8, 2019.

Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist