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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In accordance with the Affordable Care Act, Drake’s Health Plan must provide preventive care services. Drake’s Plan utilizes United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines as the defined list of preventive services covered under the Affordable Care Act. As this list of preventive services evolves, Drake’s Plan will adjust its benefit coverage accordingly. 

It is important to note Drake’s Health Plan provides preventive care at no cost share when services are performed by in-network providers. However, cost sharing is assessed when participants obtain preventive care services from non-network providers. View a list of preventive services.

Marlene Heuertz, Benefits Specialist

Drake provides eligible employees up to 8.5 days of paid holiday leave each year. While reviewing the calendar for the upcoming fiscal year, the timing of holidays during 2019 presented an opportunity for Drake to provide additional paid time off. 

Consequently, this year, Drake University has decided to sponsor additional paid leave by extending the Fourth of July holiday (to also include Friday, July 5th) – and the Holiday Break (to also include Monday, December 23rd.) We hope everyone enjoys this additional time away to celebrate with friends and family.

View the 2019-2020 Holiday Schedule.

Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

Those on Drake’s health plan can qualify for the wellness health insurance premium discount in 2020 by completing a wellness screen in 2019. This is a savings in premiums of approximately $30 per month. There are three screening options:

1. Complete a physical with your health care provider and fill out a “2019 Physician Exam Completion Form” (available Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, 2019)
2. Complete a screening at a participating Hy-Vee location and fill out a “2019 Hy-Vee Wellness Screening Completion Form” (available July 1 through Sept. 30)
3. Complete a screening on campus through UnityPoint Health (online registration form opens early September with screening dates in October)

Option 1 is available now. If you choose this option, complete these steps:

• Take a copy of the “2019 Physician Exam Completion Form” to your appointment. This form is different from past physician forms. It does not contain biometric information. Contact Linda Feiden for a copy of this form.
• You and your physician both fill out and sign the form. 
• Send the completed form directly to Linda Feiden in Human Resources. This is a change from past years. The form must be received by Oct. 15, 2019.

Please note: If you complete your screening/physical by Sept. 30, your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

Questions may be directed to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 271-1880.

Linda Feiden, Human Resources