The Open Period Approval Process has been updated to simplify the process. The details for the process and accompanying “Position Approval Form” can be found in the Manager’s Tools and Resources internal webpage through blueView.

The intent of the open period has not changed. Vacated positions will remain open for a minimum period of 60 calendar days (“open period”) from the last date the vacating employee is paid, unless the position or circumstances surrounding the vacated position are deemed critical to student success, safety, or creates a negative financial impact. The process was established in an effort to effectively manage financial metrics, to ensure strategic alignment of regular full- and part-time staff positions of the University, and for oversight and due diligence of meeting financial metrics. Exceptions to open period require written approval by the president.

Managers received an email with process details on Aug. 4.

Human Resources is available to assist you should a position come open in your area. Contact Gary Johnson (x4804) or Cindy Adams (x3676) with any questions or for assistance.

—Cindy Adams, Associate Director, Human Resources

How is your health like your money? If you ignore either one, you may lose it. But by simply completing a biometric screening and online wellness assessment, those on Drake’s health plan can save $300 in 2017 and gain valuable information to address risk factors early and improve quality of life. There are three ways to complete your biometric screening:

Option 1—Available through Aug. 31
Complete a physical/screening (with bloodwork) with your physician by Aug. 31. Your physician’s office must complete, sign, and submit the Health Care Provider Biometric Screening Form by Sept. 30.

Option 2—Available through Sept. 15
Complete your screening at a participating Hy-Vee location July 1 through Sept. 15. View instructions and a list of participating Hy-Vee stores.

Option 3—Schedule your appointment online starting Sept. 2
Complete your screening on campus at the Olmsted Center through UnityPoint health between 6:30 and 10:45 a.m. on one of the following dates: Oct. 6–7, 12–14, or 18–20. You can schedule your appointment online starting Sept. 2. Sign in with username: DRAKE and password: SCREEN. Find additional information in the On-campus Health Screening Scheduling Guide.

After the completion of your screening and once your screening results are uploaded, you will also need to complete the online wellness assessment on wellmark.com by Nov. 15.

Questions may be directed to Linda Feiden, assistant director, wellness & engagement, at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 271-1880.

—Linda Feiden

The Iowa State Fair is less than a month away. If you want help navigating your way through red velvet funnel cakes, double bacon corn dogs, and fried macaroni & cheese (which alone has 1,756 calories!), Weight Watchers may be the solution.

Please join us at the last class of the current Weight Watchers at Work session on Monday, Aug. 1, at 11:15 a.m. in Cline Hall Conference Room 127. All faculty and staff who are interested in joining the next session will complete their registration and start the series the following week.

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.

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 participants be more successful than those who try to lose weight on their own.

If you are interested in joining Weight Watchers at Work, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu. If you are interested but cannot attend the Aug. 1 meeting, arrangements can be made. Contact Linda for details.

—Linda Feiden, Assistant Director, Wellness & Engagement

How much water should I drink per day? Do I need to take any supplements? I would like to get advice about my eating habits—is there someone I can talk to?

If you have asked these questions or others about food and nutrition, then this presentation is for you. Lucas Flaherty, Sodexo dietitian, will answer your questions, tell you about the services he can provide at no cost, and make smoothie samples for everyone to try. And if that isn’t enough, we will be giving away prizes!

Join us Wednesday, July 13, at 10 a.m. in Olmsted 310/311 for this fun, informative, and delicious experience!

To attend this event, please RSVP to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—Linda Feiden, Assistant Director, Wellness and Engagement

Human Resources offers a number of wellness programs during the summer for faculty and staff to get involved in, including a CSA, Weight Watchers at Work, walking and running groups, and a session on nutrition. Learn more in this Wellness & Engagement Flyer.

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 been a winning combination for many of your co-workers at Drake.

Weekly Monday meetings include a confidential weigh-in from 11 to 11:15 a.m., followed by a 30-minute class. Classes are held in Cline Hall, Conference Room 127.

The cost is normally $156 for the 12-week renewable series but Weight Watchers is holding a special limited time offer. Everyone who joins during the July 11 class (or renews) will receive a 12-week renewable series for $132.60—a 15 percent discount off the regular price. For those joining for the first time, you may start your 12-week series immediately or wait until the next series begins for the original group on Aug. 8. A minimum of 15 participants is required to hold our next series.

If you are interested in attending our Weight Watchers at Work series, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu. If you are interested but cannot attend the July 11 meeting, arrangements can be made. Contact Linda for details.

—Linda Feiden, Assistant Director, Wellness & Engagement

Summer Hours: Following is an excerpt of the Summer Hours policy. Managers have the discretion to determine the appropriate summer hours guidelines for your department within the parameters of the policy.

Definition and Intent of Summer Hours: During the summer months, flextime scheduling may include four extended days and one compressed day (Summer Hours). The flextime schedule known as “summer hours” is available during the summer months to allow time away from work for summer activities, where operationally feasible. Example: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday, and 7:30 a.m.–noon on Friday. Generally, this schedule is available beginning June 1 and ending the Friday before the first day of the fall semester.

Guidelines for Summer Hours:

• When considering these hours, both employees and managers should remain mindful of operational needs, department size, and impact on co-workers.
• A summer schedule may be approved for one or more weeks. This will depend on such factors as the availability of personnel, department activities, and other business and operational needs.
• An approved summer schedule requires the same number of work hours per week. If summer hours are scheduled during the week of the Fourth of July holiday, an additional 45 minutes will need to be worked during the same week.
• The Summer Hours Program will be offered beginning with the Monday following the last day of spring semester classes and ending the last Friday of summer session classes, unless otherwise communicated.

Requesting Summer Hours: A request for summer hours should be discussed with your manager. Managers are encouraged to review with the requesting employee operational needs, expectations, and any concerns he or she may have about the arrangement. If approved by the manager, the arrangement should be confirmed in writing using the Flextime Understanding Form. A completed Flextime Understanding form should be forwarded to Human Resources for inclusion in the employee’s personnel file. This will also help ensure appropriate pay and time reporting practices are maintained.

The Flextime Understanding Form will ask that the following be verified as a pre-requisite to approval:

• The individual selecting an alternative schedule must see that at least one other person is available to handle issues that arise during his or her absence.
• Hours actually worked must be recorded on each non-exempt employee’s electronic or hard copy time card.
• The employee’s performance is at acceptable levels and has demonstrated an ability to manage his/her work and time well.

For the complete policy refer to the Summer Hours policy, accessible from the Employee tab of blueView. Related policy: Flexible Work Schedules

If you need support or advice with this issue, feel free to contact Gary Johnson x4804, Cindy Adams x3676, or Debra Wiley x3741.

—Cindy Adams, Associate Director, Human Resources

Human Resources has received several inquiries regarding how the May 18 Department of Labor (DOL) announcement of the final rule to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) exempt status threshold will affect vacation for current exempt staff members who may be impacted by this change. The final rule increases the salary threshold for exempt employees from $23,660/year to $47,476/year ($913/week) effective Dec. 1, 2016.

The decision has been made that current exempt staff will receive Fiscal Year 2017 vacation July 1 per the current policy and will maintain that amount through FY17 regardless of any future change in status due to the DOL change.

Human Resources has been monitoring this decision for several months. As we continue to review the changes and work through an implementation plan with respect to vacation, we will seek feedback from University stakeholders and provide options to the President’s Council for consideration. Any changes to the vacation schedule will take place on July 1, 2017, for FY18.

—Cindy Adams, Associate Director, Human Resources

Drake values lifelong learning among its faculty, staff, and students. The Excellence in Learning & Development Program is designed with that in mind, emphasizing that varied and frequent learning opportunities enhance personal and professional growth and effectiveness. Watch OnCampus and blueView for learning opportunities available for the 2016–2017 year.

Congratulations to the following 44 individuals who made learning a priority this year by completing eight hours of programming through the 2015-2016 ELD Program.

Bridget Arrasmith, School of Education
Teresa Bartschat, RaySociety
Jill Batten, Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Vici Bice, RaySociety
Donna Blunck, Finance & Administration
Jana Brem, Finance & Administration
Stephanie Cardwell, Business & Public Administration
Renae Chesnut, Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Alice Cronin, Residence Life
Lauren Dixson, Alumni & Development
Linda Feiden, Human Resources
Caron Findlay, Finance & Administration
Catherine Gillespie, School of Education
Dianna Gray, Business and Public Administration
Sandy Hatfield Clubb, Athletics
Victoria Haugen, Head Start
Shelley Hurst, Student Records
Patsy Johnson, ITS
Linda Judd, RaySociety
Lynn Kassel, Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Debra Kem, Student Financial Planning
Nicole Kerr, Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Heidi Kramer, The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center
Kim Lammers, Dean of Students Office
Amanda Martin, Community Engagement & Service Learning
Cheri McDaniel, The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center
Leslie Merriman, Head Start
Cherie Moen, Provost’s Office
Sharon Moran, Residence Life
Lisa Murphy, Athletics
Sharyn O’Connor-Beener, College of Arts & Sciences
Cassie Paterson, Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Mary Sanders, School of Education
Aimee Schmidt, Athletics
Rachelle Setsodi, Office of Admission
Joyce Sharp, Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Katie Shields, Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Amy Smit, The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center
Shari Tenney, Journalism and Mass Communications
Carole Tillotson, Law School
Marina Verlengia, Academic Excellence & Student Affairs
Debra Wiley, Human Resources
Kodee Wright, Student Involvement and Leadership
Jennifer Zwagerman, Law School