Category Archives: Archive

Applications for funding supporting True Blue Micro-Internships

Professional and Career Development Services is now accepting applications from departments for funding supporting True Blue Micro-internships for students.

What is a micro-internship?
Micro-Internships are short-term, paid, professional projects that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. These projects enable students and recent graduates to demonstrate skills, explore career options and build a network. Unlike traditional internships, micro-internships range from five to 40 hours of work. Micro-internships are common and used by companies ranging from those in the Fortune 100 to emerging start-ups. The scope of micro-internships is typically hyper-focused on a specific project, task, or deliverable.

Requirements:

  • Funding cannot be used to offset the cost of regular office student workers
  • Must be used to support a project-based experience
  • Projects cannot exceed 40 hours
  • Pay for the position is $9/hr (if selected PCDS will fund up to 20 hrs)
  • The experience must help develop the student’s True Blue Skills:
    • Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
    • Collaboration
    • Personal Responsibility
    • Communication
    • Digital Proficiency
    • Leadership
    • Global/Intercultural Understanding
    • Innovation
    • Growth Mindset
    • Values Driven

This support is available as long as funding remains in the account.

To apply, complete the survey at: https://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cNiFWfLl08b1MKa.

— Chrystal Stanley, Professional & Career Development 

Important COVID-19 Updates

Arrival testing and reporting for residential students
Residential students: If you are back on campus, you should have completed a PCR test upon arrival. Please submit your test results through the Report Return-to-Campus Test Results form. Failure to report your test results, may ensue deactivation of your key card. Until students receive their results, they are asked to avoid close contact with others and, as always, adhere to the University’s mask policy.

Residence hall guest policy
From Jan. 24–Feb. 6, residents may not have guests in their residence hall, with the exception of assistance provided during move-in.

Masks
KN95 masks are available to non-residential students, faculty, and staff and can be picked up in the Student Life Center in the Olmsted Center (one per person, while supplies last). Residential students will receive two KN95 masks upon arrival to their residence hall. These masks are to be worn during the first two weeks of the semester.

Student Life: Through Feb. 7
In-person student activities will be limited until in-person classes resume Feb. 7. Please help keep Drake safe and healthy by restricting social activity during these crucial two weeks, including informal social gatherings. Athletic events will continue as scheduled during the first two weeks of the semester. Please note: Drake athletic teams follow extensive testing and safety protocols recommended by the NCAA. Dining halls, the Bell Center, Underground Fitness, Student Health and Counseling, and the libraries will remain open following masking and safety protocols.

How to get a test kit on campus
Self-administered saliva-based PCR test kits through Test Iowa are available at the Student Services Center in the Olmsted Center. Students, faculty, and staff can pick up a test kit at no cost. Students with COVID-19 like symptoms are asked to notify contacttracing@drake.edu before administering a test. Please refer to the COVID-19 Testing FAQ for additional information.

— Chris Nickell, Environmental Health and Safety; Jerry, Dean of Students

University approved driver changes

As a request from our insurance provider and as part of the updated University Driver Approval and Vehicle Operation Policy, all approved drivers will need to watch a distracted driving video annually to continue to be an approved driver with the University. The Risk and Insurance department will send out an email to each faculty and staff member that is listed as an approved driver with a login and instructions for the video. This will need to be completed in the month of February.  If you receive an email and are no longer driving on behalf of the University, please let us know so as we will update our records.

Coming in August, the Risk and Insurance Office and Environmental Health and Safety Department will be implementing a new golf cart safety program. We will update you as we finalize this program early this summer.

Kelly Foster, Finance and Administration

Call for papers: Spring 2022 edition of DUSSJ

The web-based Drake Undergraduate Social Science Journal (DUSSJ) is accepting submissions for its Spring 2022 edition. Any current Drake undergraduate (or recent graduate) is eligible to submit a paper on a topic in the social sciences (political science, international relations, anthropology, sociology, economics, history, and social psychology). Submissions may be short analytic essays or longer research papers. Papers that feature thoughtful, original analysis, polished writing, and careful citation are especially welcome!

The deadline for submission is Friday, Feb. 11.

No more than one submission per person will be considered. Submissions will be peer-reviewed by a student editorial board. When submitting a paper, please indicate if it is a research paper or short analytic essay. Also, please indicate the primary discipline and any secondary discipline(s).

Questions and submissions should be sent to the DUSSJ faculty advisors, Professor Li and Professor Henderson at advisor.dussj@gmail.com.

— Heath Henderson, Economics (CBPA)

COVID-19’s surprise impact on out-of-state work requests

One of the interesting byproducts of COVID-19 has been a spike in remote work arrangements. As we have discussed in the past, hybrid working arrangements are likely here to stay. As we work on finalizing our new updated policies related to hybrid work, there’s a companion topic: out-of-state work.

COVID-19’s impact on the mobility of the workforce has prompted many states to review their state practices on income tax treatment of teleworking employees and the threshold requirements for employers to register as a business in their state.

Consequently, we are taking a fresh look at our existing Out-of-State Policy to assure it is clear, consistent, and adequately addresses the new landscape shaped by the COVID experience.

It is important to note that each state has different requirements for employers conducting business within their borders. A separate set of state income tax laws impact employees conducting business in any given state. This policy is designed to appropriately manage risk associated with both of these topics.

Fun Fact: As of January, 2022, Drake is conducting business in several states where we anticipate an on-going need for active registration. These include: Iowa (naturally), Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, and Vermont. There are additional states where we have temporary registration based on short-term needs, but we do not intend to continue active registration. Most states require annual registration—so this list regularly expands and shrinks over time.

However, it’s more complex than that. If we are not currently registered to conduct business in a state, we also have to review the state’s unique labor and employment laws. There could be different forms of paid leave, a state (or municipal) minimum wage, workers’ compensation, etc. If we are going to have employees in another state working on Drake’s behalf, we want to do so lawfully and ethically and this doesn’t happen without time, care, and effort.

The updated policy is now posted for public comment, and it addresses both situations where Drake may be interested in hiring a new employee who will remain out-of-state and situations where an existing employee may want to temporarily or permanently relocate out-of-state. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please share them. This will help inform final edits.

Please be sure to read next week’s OnCampus for an update on the Customized Work Arrangements policy and related policies that have also been under review.

— Maureen De Armond, Human Resources; Heather Travis, Controller

A welcome from Broadlawns Medical Center

Drake HR is happy to share with you a message from our new partners at Broadlawns Medical Center:

Broadlawns Medical Center is so pleased to become your Tier 1 healthcare partners in 2022! We’re committed to providing exceptional, personalized care that keeps you healthy and feeling your best. We offer a broad range of services to meet your healthcare needs, including:

You can view a complete list of offerings on our Clinics and Services page.

Here are a few resources to assist you as you familiarize yourself with Broadlawns Medical Center:

  • Find A Provider/Service: You can find a provider, specialty, or service on our website using our Find A Doctor
  • Maps and Directions: You can find directions and maps for each of our locations on our Maps and Directions webpage.
  • Patient Portal: Once you have established care, be sure to enroll in our Patient Portal. Our Patient Portal allows you to view and monitor your health information, request appointments, securely message your provider… and so much more!
  • Broadlawns Pharmacy: Our pharmacy is conveniently located on our main campus so you can stop by after your appointment. You can request refills with ease and message your pharmacist using our Pharmacy App.
  • Questions About Broadlawns Services: If you have any questions regarding Broadlawns services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via our Contact Us page.
  • Questions About Coverage: If you have questions regarding your insurance coverage, please reach out to Wellmark.

If you haven’t seen Broadlawns lately…

Here are some of the exciting things that have happened in recent years:

  • March 2016: Completion of our newly renovated 30-bed inpatient Behavioral Health Unit.
  • November 2016: Opening of Broadlawns East University Clinic.
  • March 2017: Opening of Broadlawns Medical Plaza, which houses our Family Health Center, Geriatric & Memory Clinic, Outpatient Mental Health, Dental Clinic, and Pain Management Center.
  • November 2017: Completion of our 14-bed expansion for Inpatient Behavioral Health focusing on major depression.
  • June 2018: Psychiatric Urgent Care opens (The first in the State of Iowa).
  • October 2019: Completion of the Oncology & Hematology Center renovation. Check out the photos of the new clinic.
  • August 2020: A new 42,000 sq ft hospital floor was added to our Sands building that includes a Birthing Center, Med/Surg and ICU unit. See photos of the new Birthing Center.
  • October 2020: New Connections addiction center opens in newly constructed space within the Broadlawns Medical Plaza.
  • February 2021: A brand new lab with state-of-the-art facilities.
  • COMING SOON: Broadlawns Surgery Department is doubling in size with new OR suites, Endoscopy suites, robotics, pre and post-operative patient suites.
  • Keep up to date with the latest happenings at Broadlawns by following us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter.

We look forward to getting to know you and your families and attending to your healthcare needs.

Warmly,

The Staff at Broadlawns Medical Center

Together A Healthy Community.

Inquiry opportunities for Heritage and Holocaust Travel Seminar

Faculty co-leaders Gesine Gerhard and Dorothy Pisarski are offering two more opportunities to inquire about Heritage and Holocaust, the travel seminar to Germany and Poland which departs May 30.

Details about the travel seminar, which includes visits to several concentration/extermination camps and cultural and heritage sites, are located in our travel blog https://heritageandholocaust.blogspot.com/ as well as in Drake’s Terradotta system https://drake-sa.terradotta.com/.

Join us Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m. or Thursday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. using passcode 768879 for the Zoom link (which is also available in our Terradotta site) https://drake-edu.zoom.us/j/87312589175?pwd=byt1c2JSYWNwcEYzSE9EQlJ0RmlJUT09.

— Dorothy Pisarski, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Drake Intercultural Community Exchange

The Office of Global Engagement is excited to kick off the Spring 2022 intake for Drake Intercultural Community Exchange (DICE). This volunteer program matches faculty and staff (and their families) with incoming international students for a term (or longer), with the goal of fostering meaningful connections beyond the classroom.

DICE hosts would be expected to reach out to their student two or three times a semester to grab a meal, participate in a shared interest, or meet up at DICE/ISSS-sponsored events. Participating as a DICE volunteer is open to ALL Drake faculty and staff. The only requirement is that you have a strong interest in developing an inclusive community and the desire to make our international students feel welcome.

If you are interested in becoming a DICE host, please complete our online application: http://drake.qualtrics.com/DICE_HostApplication

If you have any questions about the program, please send inquires to Jorona Johnson, international student advisor, at jorona.johnson@drake.edu.

— Jorona Johnson, Global Engagement