Category Archives: Archive

Strategic Updates Archive

All In is this week!

On April 8–9, from noon to noon, we’re celebrating Drake and the Bulldogs who empower the Drake experience. Watch the All In hype video!

Join us to celebrate and honor moments of triumph, perseverance, kindness, transformation, and strength, and cheer on what is to come. Here are a few ways you can join in:

Mark your calendar: RSVP to the All In Facebook event. 

Show the world you’re All In: Add the All In Facebook frame to your profile picture. 

Students: Follow the Student Alumni Association on Facebook and Instagram for fun things happening on campus (at a social distance) and virtually during All In. 

Follow along: Check out the All In website to find out about matching gift challenges for academic units, programs, scholarship support, and more. Watch during the giving challenge (Thursday-Friday, from noon to noon) to see all the support that’s coming in for our campus community. 

— Alicia Chilton, University Communications and Marketing

Campus Announcements Archive

Griff Gives Back pet food drive

Griff II continues to ask for donations of adult pet food to benefit area pets in need through The Pet Project Midwest, a local pet food pantry.

This is the sixth annual Griff Gives Back pet food drive. Since its inception, the drive has collected more than 42,000 pounds of pet food—collected by the OG (Griff I).

In his first year leading the campaign, Griff II is having tremendous success. He met is initial goal of 10,000 pounds, and then surpassed his new goal of 17,000 pounds. Now, he’s raising his goal yet again to 30,000 pounds!

Please consider supporting Griff II in this effort! There are multiple ways to donate. Visit alumni.drake.edu/griff-gives-back for all the options and information.

— Erin Bell, University Communications and Marketing

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus heating and cooling update

The recent forecast has called for warm, sunny days, followed by cool nights in the 40s. The University heating and cooling system does not allow us to cool during the day and then heat at night, or vice versa.

The system consists of miles of underground pipes which are filled with steam to heat and chilled water to cool, but not both at the same time. The process to change from heating to cooling, or from cooling to heating, takes days due to the need to drain and refill the pipes.

With drastic temperature swings this time of year, we stick with heating but monitor the 14-day forecast looking for the optimal time to changeover to cooling, typically around April 15.

In the meantime, we’ll do our best to adjust the building systems so they are as cool as possible. Please keep blinds closed whenever possible to keep your space from absorbing the heat from the sun.

For questions or concerns, contact Brett Lovelady at brett.lovelady@drake.edu.

— Mitch Wieczorek, Facilities Planning and Management

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Change to travel program for non-athletic departments

Drake University is making a change to its travel program for all non-athletic departments. Short’s Travel Management has made the business decision to focus on athletic travel only so all non-athletic travel services will transition to Direct Travel beginning April 12, 2021. Athletic travel will not be impacted by this transition. With their assistance our goal will be to provide continued support for our business travelers and management of our travel spend. Drake University along with Direct Travel and our current provider, Short’s Travel Management (STM), have been working closely over the past few months to ensure a seamless transition with minimal impact to our travelers and overall travel program.    

Please note this change does not impact our current travel policy and restrictions on travel. If you have questions please refer to the travel FAQ.

Here’s what to expect in the upcoming transition:

  • Existing travel profiles including preferences, loyalty numbers, and unused tickets will be transferred to Direct Travel.
  • No change to existing phone number. It’s still 877-263-2550.
  • New agent support email address: corporatealo@dt.com.  
  • New Direct Travel itineraries (Direct2U).

We are excited to announce a change to our online booking tool as part of the transition. Drake will be using Etta powered by Deem. Etta provides business travelers an effortless and modern booking experience including enhancements like Deem’s innovative Travel SafetyCheck which presents hotel neighborhood safety scores as well as current and historical COVID related information in the selected area. More information will follow regarding this change including site access and training. 

For those travelers that had previously used a Short’s Travel Management Portal as their landing page for booking tools and profile management please note the following changes: 

  • Your online booking tool will be the primary resource to access items previously available through the STM portal including but not limited to:
    — Booking Travel
    — Travel Profile Access/Updates
    — Unused Tickets/Credits
    — Administration of Travel (Department or Company level access)
  • Copies of travel invoices can easily be found using DT’s Invoices on Demand.

We are confident that a travel partnership with Direct Travel is in the best interest of Drake University. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email procurement@drake.edu. Your cooperation is appreciated.

About Direct Travel
Direct Travel, Inc. is a privately held corporation with the ultimate goal to create a best-­in­-class TMC through acquisition and organic growth. Direct Travel has been providing travel management services for over 40 years; by working with clients to develop highly customized travel programs. By leveraging both the expertise of its people and innovative solutions, Direct Travel helps clients derive the greatest value from their travel program in terms of superior service, internet-based technologies, and significant cost savings. Direct Travel has offices in 39 locations across the US, and is ranked among the top US corporate travel management companies.

— Heather Winslow, Administrative Services Specialist

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Famous Last Words retirement celebration

On Thursday, April 15, we will honor six of our faculty colleagues retiring from Drake at the end of this academic year.

Professors Sally Beisser (Education), Ed Bell (Pharmacy), Ramesh Dhussa (Geography), Dorothy Pisarski (Advertising), Nancy Reincke (English), Michael Rieck (Computer Science), and John Rozycki (Finance) have amassed nearly 200 years of collective experience and wisdom about Drake and higher education. On Thursday, April 15, we’ll honor their service to Drake and mark their retirement at an online event co-hosted by the Office of the Provost and the Center for Teaching Excellence.

“Famous Last Words” will air from 3:00-5:00 pm and will allow us to spend some time with Sally, Ed, Ramesh, Dorothy, Nancy, Michael, and John. Drawing on their experience and observations over the years, they will briefly share their insights about how Drake, as an institution, can continue to thrive in the midst of new and pressing challenges to higher education in the U.S. Following their remarks, we’ll open the (virtual) floor for Q&A.

Too often, we have allowed our departing colleagues to take their wisdom with them. Please take advantage of this opportunity to hear this year’s retirees’ “Famous Last Words,” to learn from them one last time, and to wish them well.  Click here to register for this free event using your Drake email address.

Log-in information will be sent by email prior to the event.

— Sandra Harris, Office of the Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

Nominate students for the Adams Leadership Awards

The Adams Leadership Awards are an annual, campus-wide tradition to celebrate the achievements of student leaders and organizations at Drake University. Each spring we honor students and organizations who have made valuable contributions to the campus community through their outstanding commitment to leadership.

Please consider nominating any Drake students and student organizations who have exhibited strong leadership and excellence throughout the 2020–2021 academic year. Nominations can be submitted by any Drake student, faculty, or staff member. Award categories include:

  • Outstanding First Year Student
  • Outstanding Student Organization
  • Outstanding Equity and Inclusion Program
  • Oreon E. Scott Outstanding Senior of the Year
  • …and many more!

View a full list of awards and the nomination form here. The nomination deadline is Sunday, April 18th at 11:59 p.m.

In place of this year’s Adams Leadership Convocation ceremony, the nominees and recipients of each leadership award will be announced online via the Adams Leadership Institute Facebook page the week of May 3rd. If you have any questions, please contact Kristin Economos, director of student leadership programs, at kristin.economos@drake.edu.

— Kristin Economos, Office of Student Involvement and Leadership

News & Achievements Archive

Forty Under 40

The Business Record has announced the 2021 Forty Under 40. You can see all the names here: https://www.businessrecord40.com/. You might be particularly interested in learning that at least one Drake graduate (from our SOE counseling and doctoral programs) and one Drake employee are being honored. We are so proud of you, Anthony and Gregory—Congratulations!

Anthony Ferguson Jr. – Director for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity | West Des Moines Community Schools

Gregory Lin – Assessment Coordinator | Drake University

— Catherine Gillespie, Associate Dean, Professor of Education

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

‘Famous Last Words’ faculty retirement celebration

Due to an email editing error, those who are looking for All Staff Council election information were directed to this page. Information about the election is available at this link.

On Thursday, April 15, we will honor six of our faculty colleagues retiring from Drake at the end of this academic year.

Professors Sally Beisser (Education), Ed Bell (Pharmacy), Ramesh Dhussa (Geography), Dorothy Pisarski (Advertising), Nancy Reincke (English), Michael Rieck (Computer Science), and John Rozycki (Finance) have amassed nearly 200 years of collective experience and wisdom about Drake and higher education. On Thursday, April 15, we’ll honor their service to Drake and mark their retirement at an online event co-hosted by the Office of the Provost and the Center for Teaching Excellence.

“Famous Last Words” will air from 3–5 p.m. and will allow us to spend some time with Sally, Ed, Ramesh, Dorothy, Nancy, Michael, and John. Drawing on their experience and observations over the years, they will briefly share their insights about how Drake, as an institution, can continue to thrive in the midst of new and pressing challenges to higher education in the U.S. Following their remarks, we’ll open the (virtual) floor for Q&A.

Too often, we have allowed our departing colleagues to take their wisdom with them. Please take advantage of this opportunity to hear this year’s retirees’ “Famous Last Words,” to learn from them one last time, and to wish them well.  Click here to register for this free event using your Drake email address.

Log-in information will be sent by email prior to the event.

— Sandra Harris, Provost’s Office

For Students Archive

There’s still time to start the Dogtown Dash

We’re only halfway through the Dogtown Dash, which means there’s still plenty of time to get started (or finish) visiting eight neighborhood businesses. Either use your ID card for payment at a Bulldog Bucks merchant (see participating locations), or tag yourself on social media using #dogtowndash to enter at any other local establishment.
 
We want to see your favorite places in Dogtown, and give you a free T-shirt! Tracking will end May 2.
 
Reminder: Participating merchants can only accept your Bulldog Bucks, not Flex Dollars. If you’re running low, Bulldog Bucks can be added in myDrake or at acceptinglocations.com/drake.  Balances will carry forward to next year. 

— Sara Heijerman, Student Services Center