Those on Drake’s health plan can save approximately $300 in 2019 by completing a wellness screening this year. If you are on Drake’s health plan and currently enrolled in the Wellness Premium Incentive Program, you must complete a wellness screening annually to retain your savings. New this year: You will not be required to complete an online wellness assessment. You only need to complete the wellness screening to receive the premium incentive.

There are three ways to complete your wellness screening.

1. At a participating Hy-Vee (available July 1—Sept. 15).
2. On campus through UnityPoint Health (online registration opens Sept. 4 with screening dates in October).
3. With your physician by filling out a Physician Wellness Screening Results Form.

If you have a physical with bloodwork between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, the results can be submitted as your wellness screening.

• Take a copy of the Physician Wellness Screening Results Form to your appointment.
• Your physician must sign the completed form and you or your physician must fax it to 1-855-827-6307. Results will be forwarded to Wellmark.
• The signed form must be received by Sept. 30, 2018.
• It is your responsibility to ensure your physician’s office submits the appropriate paperwork by the Sept. 30 deadline. To determine whether your paperwork has been received, contact Wellmark on their 24/7 helpline at 1-877-252-8412.

For questions, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 515-271-1880.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Human Resources is looking for individuals or teams that do a great job of recognizing others. Do you passionately believe in the principles and value of recognition? Do you communicate, demonstrate, and deliver recognition within your department or across campus? Do you use available resources such as Peerceive and Called to Be True Blue awards, or other unique recognition ideas? If this sounds like you or you know someone who exhibits these traits, please let us know. We would love to hear what others are doing and create some best practices that can be shared with everyone.

For more information and to share your ideas, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Join dietitian Anne Cundiff and chef Stacey Wertzberger on Thursday, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Hy-Vee’s Club Room at 4605 Fleur Drive to make some healthy recipes.

During this entertaining hands-on class, you will be the cook, making three lunch and snack recipes. You will learn new cooking tips and how to re-invent standard recipes. When you are done, you can sample your work and enjoy.

Cost is $20 per person. A minimum of ten and maximum of 20 participants is required.

Please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu to register.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

In May, Drake welcomed five new, full-time employees to the Bulldog family.

Denise Kluever, Occupational Therapy Learning Space Coordinator, CPHS
Betsy McKibbin, Director of Marketing, University Communications & Marketing
Bailey Scharff, Assistant Events Manager, Events Management
Suzanne Stewart, Accounts Payable Clerk, Finance & Administration
Martin (Marty) Richter, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Athletics

— Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

Members of the Drake community support a local farm by purchasing a share and, in return, they bring shares of their week’s produce to campus. This year, Drake is working with The Homestead.

This is a great way to eat healthy and seasonally while supporting sustainable agriculture and the local economy.

Shares will be delivered to Meredith Hall on Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. beginning in late May or early June. You may order a full share which is delivered weekly for 20 weeks, or a half share, which is delivered every two weeks. They also offer double shares. View program details and costs.

Amanda Kanehl will be coordinating the produce pick-up. Amanda is a junior environmental science student at Drake. She is a horticulturalist and worked at The Homestead for two seasons, so she is familiar with the produce as well as the staff and farm manager.

You may order shares through Amanda at amanda.kanehl@drake.edu. You may also order online or fill out a brochure and mail it in. Credit cards and checks are accepted. You may pay the full amount up front or $100 a month until the share is paid.

Please contact Amanda with additional questions. Questions may also be directed to Amahia Mallea at amahia.mallea@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Last call to participate in this summer’s HealthyU BINGO. The deadline to register is tomorrow, May 31. During the month of June, fill in a blank BINGO card or two with healthy activities from a provided list and then bring your completed BINGO card(s) to the Olmsted Center, Rooms 310 and 311, on Tuesday, July 3, or Wednesday, July 11, at 12 p.m. and join us for a fun game of HealthyU BINGO for prizes. You are welcome to participate one or both days. To receive a HealthyU BINGO packet, email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Ten- and 20-minute chair massages will be offered in the Olmsted Center Drake Room from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 13. Cost is $10 for a 10-minute massage. Payment should be given directly to Anne Boal, licensed massage therapist, at the time of appointment. Correct change, cash, or check is required. Register for an appointment.

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

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Members of the Human Resources team will be available Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Olmsted Center’s Drake Room. This is a convenient opportunity for you to talk with HR Partner Services about any HR topic that’s on your mind. Even though this is the last scheduled HR Conversation Hours for the academic year, you are always welcome to schedule a meeting at the HR offices, 3206 University Avenue.

— Debra Wiley, Human Resources

A proposed policy that supplements existing family leave policies is now posted for comment through May 21, 2018.

The proposed Paid Parental Leave Policy provides paid time away for new parents. For the birth parent, the policy is in addition to paid time off under medical or sick leave policies (usually 6-8 weeks). For non-birth and adoptive parents, the policy provides paid time off to bond with their new child without having to use vacation accruals or elect modified duties.

These policies work together with the Family and Medical Leave Act Policy which provides employees with 12 weeks of job-protected leave upon the birth of a child.

Below are some examples to help illustrate how the new policy provides additional support to new parents and supplements existing time off options:

A staff member with 6 weeks accrued sick leave gives birth, without complications. She takes 6 weeks of paid sick leave for the period of medical recovery pursuant to the sick leave policy. The new proposed Paid Parental Leave policy, allows her to extend that paid time off by 2 additional weeks. She may elect to continue in paid status by using any accrued vacation time, or she may save vacation to use later in the year. The addition of the 2 weeks paid time off offers added paid leave, while also allowing more flexibility in the use of vacation and personal time.

A faculty member with a 9-month appointment, has notified HR that she will be delivering September 1, 2018.  Through the Faculty Short Term Disability policy, she will be compensated at 100% of her pay for the first six (6) weeks of the medical condition, during the terms of her regular teaching appointment. (Six weeks is the typical recovery timeframe for a non-cesarean birth.)  Following the birth, she has the option of selecting either two additional paid workweeks away from the university or Faculty Modified Duties, which is a one semester course release. The proposed New Paid Parental Leave Policy offers the option to receive additional paid time off, rather than elect modified duties. In either case, the faculty member may also elect to toll the tenure clock through the Tenure Clock Extension, found in the Academic Charter, page 4.

A 9-month faculty member is married to a staff member and they are planning to adopt a child. The faculty member may elect either the 2-week paid time off under the new Parental Leave Policy or a course release under the Faculty Modified Duties policy. The staff member can take the 2 weeks paid time off as well as any vacation time available to him/her. The fact that both parents work at Drake does not impact the amount of leave available – both are eligible for the paid parental leave benefits.

Please continue posting your comments to dupolicies@drake.edu. We appreciate your input.

— Debra Wiley, Human Resources