Drake’s annual open enrollment period for the 2018 plan year ends this Thursday, Nov. 30.

Complete a new enrollment form if:

• You wish to participate in Drake’s flexible spending account plans during 2018.
• You wish to make a change to your current medical, dental, or wellness elections.

If you wish to continue your current medical, dental, or wellness elections, you do not need to do anything; your participation will automatically continue.

Completed forms may be hand-delivered to Human Resources (3206 University Ave.), submitted via USPS/campus mail, faxed to 515-271-4546, or emailed to drakehr@drake.edu.  Enrollment forms are located in the Forms Library on the Employee Tab in blueView. All forms must be received by Human Resources no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Marlene Huertz, Human Resources

Faculty and staff are invited to attend upcoming BUILD programs to pursue lifelong learning with professional development, while connecting with colleagues from across campus. To register or for more information on the sessions, contact Debra Wiley at debra.wiley@drake.edu.

EI, EQ, and Me

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize emotions in ourselves and others, correctly identify and differentiate between various feelings, and use our understanding to guide our own behaviors and thinking, which in turn, helps us achieve our individual and group goals. While IQ is generally fixed, EQ is something that can be enhanced and developed. Join Chad Cardani-Trollinger, visiting professor of leadership education and development, on Nov. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Rooms 310 and 311 to discover how to enhance your emotional intelligence.

Mies/Weese at Drake: Where We Live and Work

Please join Dr. Maura Lyons, professor of art, and student curators on Dec. 5 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the Anderson Gallery with a presentation on the architecture of Drake. Attendees will tour the gallery exhibit and gain a greater appreciation for the beauty and significance of the art that surrounds us.

Debra Wiley, Human Resources

Drake’s annual open enrollment period for the 2018 plan year ends Nov. 30. Complete a new enrollment form if:

• You wish to participate in Drake’s flexible spending account plans during 2018.
• You wish to make a change to your current medical, dental, or wellness elections.

If you wish to continue your current medical, dental, or wellness elections, you do not need to do anything; your participation will automatically continue.

Completed forms may be hand-delivered to Human Resources (3206 University Avenue), submitted via USPS/campus mail, faxed to 515-271-4546, or emailed to drakehr@drake.edu.  Enrollment forms are located in the Forms Library on the Employee Tab in blueView. All forms must be received by Human Resources no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Marlene Huertz, Human Resources

For those faculty and staff who have completed their wellness screenings, don’t forget to complete your online assessment through Wellmark by Nov. 17. You must complete the online assessment in addition to the wellness screening to receive the wellness premium discount, which is a savings of approximately $300 in 2018.

To complete your online wellness assessment, log into wellmark.com, go to the Wellness Center, and click on Take Your Wellness Assessment or Retake Your Wellness Assessment. If you don’t see either of these, click the Healthy Living tab at the top of the page and then click Wellness Assessment from the drop down menu.

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

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Last month, Drake welcomed six full-time staff members:

Monique Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant, Arts & Sciences

Aamir Walton, Major Gift Officer, University Advancement

Timothy Tesar, Major Gift Officer, University Advancement

Kelly Bakke, Head Start Teacher Associate, Head Start

Mariah Mohler, Public Safety Dispatcher, Public Safety

Doris Brunnette, Administrative Assistant, School of Education

—Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

An overview of upcoming benefit plan changes will be provided by Mark J. Becker, Drake benefit consultant, today at 2 p.m. in Olmsted Center, Room 310. Wellmark representatives will also demonstrate how to conduct cost comparisons and prescription drug searches on the Wellmark website during the meeting.

—Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources

Holiday Trimmings is a six-week program designed to encourage you to maintain or lose weight over the holiday season. If you have trouble dodging festive yet fattening foods, like pecan pie, sausage stuffing, and egg nog, this challenge is for you.

Beginning and ending weights will be recorded, and throughout the challenge you will receive healthy holiday tips. Everyone who maintains or loses weight will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win prizes.

For more information, or to register to participate, please send an email to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu with the subject line “Holiday Trimmings.”  Deadline to register is Thursday, Nov. 16.

A packet of information will be sent to those who register. Read through the packet carefully and start the challenge on Monday, Nov. 20.

Let’s make this a happy and healthy holiday season!

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Do you know what the top 30 foods are for a better body? How much do you know about hidden sugars, anti-inflammatory foods, and losing belly fat? Join Hy-Vee registered dietitian Anne Cundiff on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310/311, for this fun and informative session. This presentation also includes information on foods to incorporate into the holidays to start off the new year, and we will be giving away prizes.

Participants will earn BUILD (Bulldogs United in Learning Drake) credits and be entered into a drawing at the end of the semester.

An online registration form for this class is accessible through the blueView Employee tab, in the Learning and Development Channel under Human Resources.  You may also contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu to register.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Have you tried the Peerceive Employee Recognition Portal yet? It is a quick and simple way to show recognition to another Drake employee. You can access the Peerceive Employee Recognition Portal on blueView under the Employee tab. It is located in a channel on the right-hand side of the page. Your username is your Drake email address and your initial password is your employee number, including any leading zeroes.

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. You can send them 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 wish another employee a happy birthday, a general “congratulations,” or even a get well soon.

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. If it is an e-card, they simply click on the icon to view the entire card and message. The portal is simple to use, but if you have questions, a Peerceive User Guide is available in the same blueView channel.

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

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

The Benefits and Wellness Fair will take place Nov. 10 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Rooms 310-313.

This “come-and-go” event will provide an opportunity to learn about the wide range of benefits and wellness opportunities available at Drake. Representatives from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Advantage Administrators, Delta Dental of Iowa, TIAA, Long Term Care Strategies, Principal Life Insurance Company, Employee and Family Resources, and Human Resources will be present to answer individual questions.

The line-up also includes Drake’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Recreational Services, Athletics Ticket Office, and Drake Dining. During the fair:

• Visit with colleagues
• Submit benefit election forms
• Enter drawings for vendor prizes
• Have your blood pressure taken
• Obtain a medication prescription review
• Receive information on health coaching and chronic disease education

Please plan to stop by the fair, and bring your co-workers.

—Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources