Category Archives: HR Information Archive

HR Information Archive

Reminder about treatment for work-related injuries

This is a reminder that Drake does have a directed medical plan for work-related injuries. Drake’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier, Travelers, has Concentra Medical Centers on file as the authorized workers’ compensation treatment centers for non-emergency work-related injuries and illnesses.

To avoid any insurance coverage issues, please direct any faculty and staff with work-related, non-emergency injuries or illnesses to one of the Concentra Medical Center locations in Des Moines (2100 Dixon and 11144 Aurora Avenue). If you contact Laura Schwarz in Human Resources (x3133) she will contact the center the individual prefers to be seen at to authorize his or her treatment. For emergency situations, call 911.

More information: Workers’ Compensation Medical Treatment

—Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Vacation—Use it or lose it, plan ahead

Time away from work is important for your physical and psychological well-being. Vacation is one means of providing this time to eligible employees. Don’t wait until the last minute, or you may just end up losing vacation time! Vacation cannot be carried over from one fiscal year to the next and must be used by June 30, 2016, or it is forfeited.

We encourage you to look at your calendar and plan your time off in advance so that it does not conflict with other employees’ time off and allows for appropriate coverage needs in your department. All vacation is subject to manager approval. Your manager will appreciate the time to communicate conflicts and to plan accordingly.

—Cindy Adams, Associate Director, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Reach the Beach Challenge

The deadline to register for the Reach the Beach Challenge is this Friday, April 1, at noon.

What is Reach the Beach?
It is a wellness program designed to get you moving. The goal is to get from International Falls, Minn., to Honolulu in four weeks, beginning Monday, April 4.

How does it work?
You simply participate in activities such as walking, bicycling, and group exercise classes and track your progress. Each activity converts to miles on the trail from International Falls to Los Angeles. To make it from Los Angeles to Honolulu you must earn healthy lifestyle points by making smart choices such as wearing a seatbelt and getting enough sleep. Along the way you will receive health tips, recipes, and optional challenges for bonus miles.

Why should I participate?

  • According to our 2015 aggregate wellness screening results, we could use a little more activity in our day.
  • It is an easy and fun way to get motivated to start or continue a physical activity and healthy lifestyle program.
  • There are many ways you can earn miles including golfing (sans cart) and participating in the Grand Blue Mile!
  • You could win a prize!

How do I get started?
Email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu with the subject line “Reach the Beach”. Make sure to include your contact information. Deadline to register is noon on Friday, April 1.

A packet of information will be sent to you. Read through the packet carefully and start the challenge on Monday, April 4.

Contact Linda with questions.

—Linda Feiden, Assistant Director, Wellness & Engagement

HR Information Archive

Money at Work with TIAA

Join us Thursday, March 31, at 10 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310, for a TIAA Interactive Education Workshop, “Money at Work.”

TIAA Senior Consultant Paige Cook will review the foundations of investing and help you sharpen your investment skills during this workshop. You will discover how to:

  • Understand the role of investing
  • Manage your portfolio to accelerate savings
  • Formulate a plan to reach savings goals
  • Evaluate your progress
  • Manage risk versus reward

Reservations are not required.

—Marlene Heuertz, Assistant Director, Benefits

HR Information Archive

Weight Watchers at Work Program

Weight Watchers at Work is a service that brings the No. 1 weight loss program to the workplace. Weekly sessions provide a supportive environment, tools, and the knowledge you need to be successful. Their 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 participants lose as much as eight times as much weight as those who try to lose weight on their own.

Weight Watchers offers two programs depending on participation. With 20 or more paid participants they offer a 17-week renewable at work series for $186 per person. With a minimum of 15 paid participants they offer a 12-week renewable at work series for $156 per person. Participants may pay the full amount at once or split into three payments.

Meetings usually last 30 minutes with time for a confidential weigh-in prior to the meeting. Dates and times for the program will be determined once there are enough participants to support an on-site series.

If you are interested in participating in this program at Drake, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu. Please make sure you include your contact information and meeting date and time preference. Deadline to register is Friday, April 1.

—Linda Feiden, Assistant Director, Wellness & Engagement

HR Information Archive

Attention 2015 Flexible Spending Account users

Reimbursement claims for expenses incurred from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2015, must be submitted to Advantage Administrators by March 30. Participants may access a reimbursement claim form in the Forms Library on the Employee Tab in blueView. They may also contact Advantage Administrators at 800-383-1623, or visit the website to obtain account balance information.

—Marlene Heuertz, Assistant Director, Benefits

HR Information Archive

Updated policy—University Closings, Delays and Class Cancellations

Changes have been incorporated from the comment period and the University Closings, Delays and Class Cancellations policy is now final and posted.

The most significant change to the policy is compensation for most staff when classes are cancelled and campus is open. Based on history, this situation is a rare and infrequent occurrence.

President Martin said it best in his Feb. 12 email: “My firm belief is that everyone is committed to our students and our mission, and to moving toward a culture of joyful accountability where we trust each other, enjoy our work, and are committed to doing our best.” The changes to this policy foster trust and inclusion by providing employees the ability to make decisions about personal safety, without having to unduly worry about taking a vacation or personal day, in the rare instances where classes are cancelled and campus is open.

Please familiarize yourself with the updated policy. Questions? Review the FAQ, discuss with your manager, and/or contact Cindy Adams at cindy.adams@drake.edu or x3676.

—HR Team

HR Information Archive

Faculty and staff celebrate employment anniversaries

Full-time employee anniversaries in March:

Qalbi Abdi
Craig Blaker
Steven Blaylock
Kathryn Coleson Horner
Leslee Cran
Susan Dittmer
Kristi Fuller
Raymond Giacoletti
Sarah Grady
Douglas Graham
Aaron Harpold
Renee Hennessy
Patsy Johnson
Heidi Kramer
Douglas Lampe
Eric Lindstrom
Peter Lundstedt
Sharon Moran
Eric Murphy
Lori Richman
Mary Sanders
Bartholomew Schmidt
Donald Severs
Lucas Shelton
John Smith
Pamela Smith
Gareth Smith
Allen Smith
Thad Smull
Michael Spoerl
James Wu

HR Information Archive

Nominate a colleague for community service and employee excellence awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service Award and the Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Awards. These awards will be presented at the Faculty / Staff Recognition Event on Tuesday, May 3, in Parent’s Hall, Olmsted Center. The deadline to submit nominations has been extended to April 7 at 4:30 p.m.

Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service Award

Madelyn M. Levitt established the Distinguished Community Service Award to recognize outstanding contributions of Drake faculty and staff to the Drake community. Criteria for the award include:

  • a demonstrated personal commitment to volunteerism and community service;
  • an outstanding record of leadership or substantial involvement in community projects, services and activities contributing to the quality of life in our region, state and/or the nation;
  • professional and personal values and behavior that typify the ideals of giving back to others and making a difference in the lives of others.

The nominee must be a current faculty or staff member with at least five years of service at Drake.

Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Awards

The Employee Excellence Award is presented to up to two staff employees who demonstrate exceptional commitment to excellence in the performance of their duties. Criteria for the award include:

  • exceptional performance as an employee of Drake University;
  • outstanding dedication to providing courteous, prompt, and quality service;
  • demonstrated commitment to University programs, initiatives, and services;
  • professional values and behavior that demonstrate exceptional service to others and a commitment to Drake University.

Nominees must be a current staff member with at least one year of service at Drake.

NOMINATION PROCESS

Submit a letter of nomination to the Levitt Award Committee c/o Human Resources. Nomination letters may be sent via campus mail or to laura.schwarz@drake.edu.

A nomination letter detailing specific examples of how the nominee exemplifies each of the applicable criteria is desirable. Additional letters of support are not necessary. A review committee will make award recommendations to the President’s Council. Nominations must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7.

—Submitted by Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Balanced scorecard overview, Tuesday, Feb. 23

During the last several months, many areas on campus have been reworking their strategic plans. Instead of operating through habit (we’ve always done it this way, so let’s continue doing so), leaders are examining their areas’ practices and processes through the Balanced Scorecard. The Balanced Scorecard provides an approach for reviewing progress against strategic goals. Join Matthew Mitchell, assistant professor of international business and strategy and Nate Reagen, balanced scorecard consultant as they discuss the steps that Drake has accomplished thus far, and how it positions us for continued strategic success. This two-hour session will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. in Olmsted Rooms 310–311.

The complete Excellence in Learning & Development Program is available online on blueView’s Employee tab, in the Learning & Development Channel.