Are you saving enough to meet your retirement needs? Are your assets properly allocated to balance the potential growth of your portfolio?
To get a clearer picture of your retirement goals, schedule an individual counseling session with Paige Philips, Drake’s TIAA financial consultant. Paige will be on campus, Thursday, Aug. 8, in the HR conference room.
To register for an individual counseling session, call 800-732-8353 or visit the TIAA website.
–Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources
A newly revised policy, Acceptable Use of Information Resources, is now posted online for the comment period. Please take a few moments and review this policy. To submit comments, email dupolicies@drake.edu. The comment period will expire Aug. 8, 2019.
–Debra Wiley, Human Resources
Please join the human resources department in welcoming our two new full-time Drake University employees, for the month of May 2019.
Thomas Lene, 5/28/2019, Athletics, Associate Head Strength Coach
Kendra Morehead, 5/15/2019, Drake International, Director, International Student & Scholar Services
–Laura Schwarz, Human Resources
Market proof your Drake retirement contributions.
Drake University sponsors both mandatory and voluntary 403(b) retirement plans as part of its overall benefit package. Full-time faculty and staff are required to participate in Drake’s Mandatory Retirement Plan after one year of full-time service. Upon eligibility, Drake contributes eight percent of annual base compensation while employees contribute three or five percent, dependent on position classification.
Additionally, all Drake faculty and staff are eligible to participate in Drake’s Voluntary Retirement Plan, regardless of the number of hours worked. Drake’s pre-tax savings retirement plans provide all employees an excellent opportunity to prepare for retirement.
To further assist you in your preparation for retirement, Drake is sponsoring A TIAA Financial Essentials Webinar, June 11. See this brochure to register for this live event.
–Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources
Join the fun this summer with HealthyU BINGO! Simply fill up a blank BINGO card (or two) during the month of June with healthy activities you complete from a list. Then take your completed card(s) to the Olmsted Center, Room 310/311 at noon on Tuesday, July 2, or Thursday, July 11, to play HealthyU BINGO for prizes. You are welcome to play one or both days.
To get started, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Deadline to register is Friday, May 31. All participants will receive a packet with directions, a list of HealthyU BINGO activities, and a blank BINGO card. There’s a broad range of activities to choose from, and you may complete them at Drake or at home, so don’t miss out!
–Linda Feiden, Human Resources
We are coming to the end of National Bike Month but are just entering the prime bicycling season. If you haven’t done so yet, dust off your bicycle, grab your helmet, and let’s get moving!
If you are looking for organized events around town, BIKEIOWA has a list. If you are looking for nearby trails or a bicycle route to work, check out the Iowa DOT Bikes Interactive Map or Travel Iowa. You may also consider downloading an app such as Google Maps.
If you don’t own a bike, there are a couple options around campus:
Drake Bike Library. Drake employees and students can check out a bicycle for the day for free by bringing their Drake ID to the Student Life Center in Olmsted. You must sign a liability waiver and will be given a helmet to wear and a key to the bike lock.
BCycle. Drake employees and students can buy an annual pass at the discounted price of $20.00 (normally $84.80), to rent a BCycle for an unlimited amount of 1-hour rides. BCycle memberships can be purchased at DesMoines.BCycle.com; using your drake.edu email address and the promotional code: Bulldogs2019. There are four BCycle stations around campus, offering faculty, staff, and students a convenient way to bike around campus and Des Moines.
No matter what your age – give bicycling a try this summer!
-Linda Feiden, Human Resources
With summer quickly approaching, some Drake faculty and staff may be making plans for vacation time with family and friends. If you are looking for a fun family activity close to home, Adventureland Park may be the answer. Employees can purchase discounted tickets by following these three steps:
The attached flyer has additional information, including prices. If you have any questions, please email ross@adventurelandpark.com.
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, Human Resources
Please join the Human Resources department in welcoming two, new, full-time Drake University employees for the month of April.
Laura Schwarz, Human Resources
Eligible staff and faculty receive their vacation balances the beginning of the fiscal year, which is July 1, 2019. As a reminder, vacation and personal time does not roll over to the next fiscal year.
If you have not already done so, start planning to take time away to refresh and renew before the fiscal year ends. Individuals should plan accordingly within their departments to ensure that areas are not short-staffed on the last business days of June.
Individuals’ leave balances are available on the Employee Home page of myDrake under Human Resources.
Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist
Join the fun this summer with HealthyU BINGO! Simply fill up a blank BINGO card (or two) during the month of June with healthy activities you complete from a list. Then take your completed card(s) to the Olmsted Center, Room 310/311 at noon on Tuesday, July 2, or Thursday, July 11, to play HealthyU BINGO for prizes. You are welcome to play one or both days.
To get started, send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu. Deadline to register is Friday, May 31. All participants will receive a packet with directions, a list of HealthyU BINGO activities, and a blank BINGO card. There’s a broad range of activities to choose from, and you may complete them at Drake or at home, so don’t miss out!
Linda Feiden, Wellness & Recognition Specialist