Category Archives: HR Information Archive

HR Information Archive

Join Weight Watchers at Work

Summer is coming to a close and the fall term has started. Now is the perfect time to get into the habit of making healthier choices. If your goals include losing weight, Weight Watchers at Work may be the solution.

Weekly meetings include a confidential weigh-in prior to the meeting, followed by a 30-minute class. Weight Watchers’ unique mix of face-to-face interaction with a trained leader, group support, accountability, digital tools, and the convenience of meetings in the workplace have helped faculty and staff be successful in their weight loss goals.

The cost is $156 for a 12-week renewable series with a minimum of 15 participants. Payment may be made in a lump sum or split into three payments.

If you are interested in joining Weight Watchers at Work, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Bulldog pack rewards program

Bulldog Pack Rewards Program is a points-based scorecard that is dedicated to helping you enhance your quality of life in five areas: physical, financial, community, social, and occupational. Earn points by participating in various activities and making healthy choices. Reach 100 points between Sept. 15 and June 1, 2018, and you will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win your choice of prizes from a wellness catalog.

Beginning Sept. 15, the Bulldog Pack Rewards Program will be available to all current Drake full-time and regular part-time employees, regardless of enrollment in the Drake Medical Plan. Instructions on how to access and use the scorecard will be coming soon.

Please note that the annual biometric/wellness screenings and online wellness assessment are separate from this scorecard. These two items are only for those current employees on Drake’s medical plan and must be completed annually to receive the wellness premium incentive.

For more information please contact Linda Feiden.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Free online financial program for faculty and staff

Drake is offering faculty and staff free access to the online financial training program, 2017 Financial Fitness Challenge, through the Financial Fitness Group and funded by the Iowa Insurance Division. This Financial Fitness Academy™ is an easy and fun way to learn how to improve your unique financial situation.

Faculty and staff may complete the program at their own pace. It is simple and convenient with 24/7 access on all Internet-connected smartphones, tablets, and computers. Once enrolled, participants will complete a 10-minute confidential Financial Fitness Checkup™. Based on the results, they will receive some learning recommendations, but ultimately they can choose what is most interesting to them. There are over 400 Academy™ tutorials to choose from covering budgeting, saving, the basics of investing, retirement planning, financial planning, and much more. Participants can complete as many tutorials as they wish during the eight-week program. At the end of the program, they will complete another Checkup™ to track their progress. All responses are kept private and confidential.

If you are interested in participating, contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Monthly Motivator: Contributing to a healthy environment

Each month, Human Resources will introduce a new Monthly Motivator as a fun and simple way to promote healthy habits. The Monthly Motivator for September is all about contributing to a healthy environment. The goal is to find ways to preserve Mother Earth. It could be as simple as picking up litter around your workplace or home, shortening your showers, or safely disposing medicines.

Click here  for a copy of September’s Monthly Motivator flyer, which includes a tracking form and more information on the challenge.

Use this as an opportunity to discover new ways to protect the planet. Compete with your co-workers to see who can mark off the most days on their tracking form, share ideas on ways to be green, or create a team building activity around the challenge.

Keep a-look-out for October’s challenge.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Healthy eating class: Sept. 19

In today’s busy world, it can be hard to find time to prepare healthy meals, which means more dining out, fast food, or processed snacks. Join Lucas Flaherty on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310/311, as he shares some easy and quick healthy meal planning advice. This presentation includes both information on programs such as Blue Apron as well as more traditional tips if you are buying from a grocery store and cooking at home. And, for between meals, discover some quick, low-cost, healthy snacks.

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

Contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu to register for this class. The 2017–2018 BUILD online registration form will be available soon.

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources 

HR Information Archive

Unwind with a chair massage

Relax and re-energize your day with a chair massage. Ten- and 20-minute chair massages will be offered on campus Sept. 20 and 21 and Nov. 7 and 8. 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.

Those who participate will have the chance to win a gift certificate for a free 10-minute chair massage. One name will be drawn from those who receive a massage in September, and again in November.

Click the link below to register for the day and time of your choice. You may register for one or two time slots per registration sheet.

Sept. 20: Cowles Library, Collier Heritage Room, 2–4 p.m.

Sept. 21: Aliber Hall, Conference Room 204,  11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Nov. 7: Cline Hall, Conference Room 101, 2–4 p.m.

Nov. 8: Olmsted Center, Drake Room, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

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

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources 

HR Information Archive

Complete your wellness screening now for a chance to win a prize

If you are on Drake’s health plan, you can save approximately $300 in 2018 by simply completing a biometrics screening and an online wellness assessment this year. Think what you could do with an extra $300. In addition, if you complete your screening and the online assessment at www.wellmark.com by Sep. 30, your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win your choice of a prize from an online wellness catalog.

There are three screening options:

  1. Complete a screening with your physician and have your doctor fill out a Physician Wellness Screening Results Form. This option is available through Aug. 31.
  2. Complete your screening at a participating Hy-Vee. This option is available through Sep. 15.
  3. Complete your screening on campus through UnityPoint Health. The on campus dates are Oct. 4–6, 9, 11, 13, 17, and 19. Online registration opens Sep. 1.

Faculty and staff can select the option that works best for them. However, it’s important to note that there are a limited number of spaces available for the on campus screenings, so employees are encouraged to complete their screening with their physician or at a participating Hy-Vee.

Additional information about this year’s biometric screenings and wellness assessments (including copies of the Physician Wellness Screening Results Form and participating Hy-Vee locations) can be found under the employee tab of blueView. The Wellness Portal is on the right-hand side of the employee page.

Please note that you must complete a biometric screening and wellness assessment annually to retain your wellness premium discount. Questions may be directed to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 271-1880.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Monthly Motivator: Eat your greens

Many of us need a nudge to try something new or to continue to practice a healthy habit. To make it a bit easier, we are introducing Monthly Motivators. Each month we will introduce a simple wellness challenge. Our August challenge is all about eating your greens. The goal is to eat a green fruit or vegetable every day of the month.

Click here for a copy of this month’s flyer, including a tracking form and more information on the challenge.

Use this as an opportunity to try a new fruit or vegetable. Compete with your co-workers to see who can mark off the most days, share recipes that include a green fruit or vegetable, or have a fruit and vegetable potluck day. Have fun and be on the look-out for the next Monthly Motivator.

Other new offerings on the horizon:

  • Personal training through Recreational Services
  • An online wellness scorecard where you will earn points for making healthy choices and a chance for prizes
  • A variety of wellness challenges

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Upcoming Faculty/Staff Fall 2017 Wellness Classes

The following wellness classes will be held in Olmsted, Rooms 310–311. Contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu to register for a class. BUILD registration forms will be available soon.

Healthy Eating Made Easy: Sep. 19 at 10 a.m.

Join Lucas Flaherty for a presentation as he shares some easy and quick healthy meal planning ideas. The presentation includes both information on programs such as Blue Apron as well as more traditional tips if you are buying from a grocery store and cooking at home. And, learn about quick, low cost healthy snack options.

Work/Life Balance: Oct. 25 at 10 a.m.

The demands of work and family share importance in our lives but how do we budget our time? Learn how effective life skills can help us make informed decisions and manage our reaction to stress. Develop a blueprint for time management to help sort out what is and isn’t important and help restore balance in everyday life. Johanna Dunlevy from EFR will present.

What Do You Want to Know About Nutrition: Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.

This Q&A session will cover a variety of topics including hidden sugars, anti-inflammatory foods, what to look for in bottled smoothies, losing belly fat, and more. Bring your questions to Lucas Flaherty, registered dietitian, for this fun and informative presentation.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Healthiest State Walk

Grab your walking shoes and join this year’s Healthiest State Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 4. The walk is part of the Healthiest State Initiative and supports its goal of making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. We will meet at the north entrance of Cowles Library at 12:15 p.m. on Oct. 4. All participants will be given a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes. If it rains, we will walk on the indoor track at the Knapp Center. If interested, please email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu for more information.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources