Category Archives: Archive

HR Information Archive

National Bike Month, Global Running Day

If you have been sitting in front of your laptop these past few weeks, now is the time to head outdoors for a walk, run, or bike ride—while maintaining social distance.

Normally we celebrate National Bike Month in May. As with everything else, this year looks different due to COVID-19. To adjust, Bike to Work Week has moved to September 21–27, 2020, with National Bike to Work Day scheduled for Tuesday, September 22.

Despite these changes, you can still dust off your bicycle and get pedaling now. If your bicycle needs a tune-up, a number of local bike shops are open for business. There are also mobile bicycle repair trucks that will come to your home to service your bicycle while maintaining social distance.

If you are not a bicyclist, how about heading outdoors for a walk or run? Do you need a nudge? The first Wednesday in June (June 3) is Global Running Day. It can be a stroll around the block or a 5-mile run. Do it alone or with your family.

If you would like to participate in a formal event, Fleet Feet is hosting “My Big Run Virtual Race” on June 3. You can choose from five distances: 1 mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon. Simply pick a distance and submit your results. The $10 registration fee will get you a virtual race-day kit, training tips, and chance to win some prizes. Find more information.

See you—from a distance—on the trails!

— Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Summer textbooks available online, modified in-store pick-up

Shop online 24/7 for summer course materials, as well as great Drake merchandise, at www.drake.bkstr.com. For your convenience, the University Bookstore has resumed a modified in-store pick-up process. Call the number posted on the Bookstore’s front door, and we will set your order outside the door. In-store pick up is available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Store visitors may park in the Olmsted Center parking lot. As a reminder, Bulldog Bucks can be used for online shopping.

— Katie Wilz, University Bookstore

Campus Announcements Archive

Sexual Assault Prevention online course survey findings

In the fall of 2019, 954 first year and transfer students took part in the Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates online course.  We had a 93% completion rate for undergraduates.

The surveys from this course allow us to see how students view the topic of sexual assault prevention and gives feedback on the value students see in the course.  According to the survey, 80% of students agreed that this course helped them identify characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships.  78% reported that the course increased confidence in their ability to intervene when they witness a concerning behavior.

A notable statistic from this survey was that 93% of undergraduates felt that Drake University offered good resources for students going through difficult times. This course helped students increase their awareness of support resources and reporting options. The pre-course survey indicated that 64% knew how to report a sexual assault on campus and  the post-course survey increased to 82% knowing how to report a sexual assault.

Additionally, 641 graduate students completed the course Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduates with an 86% completion rate. The survey indicates that these students increased their overall knowledge of sexual assault prevention by 15%. Other notable increases included recognizing relationship abuse from 74% in the pre-course survey to 95% post-course. Students also increased knowledge of understanding Title IX from 63% pre-course to 86% post-course. 90% of graduate students felt that Drake offers good support to those going through difficult times.

Our partnership with Everfi will continue over the next three years as we continue to establish programming across campus that supports the healthy majority and develops a strong positive culture on campus.

This year we are excited to add the Everfi, Equity and Inclusion module to our Bulldog Foundations classes. This well designed and engaging course will allow students an additional opportunity to have conversations related to Drake’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

For more information or a full copy of the Everfi Impact Report please contact Lynne Cornelius, violence prevention coordinator, at lynne.cornelius@drake.edu.

— Lynne Cornelius, Violence Prevention & Programming

Strategic Updates Archive

CARES Act Student Emergency Grant Application

The following message was communicated to campus in a COVID-19 Update on May 14, 2020:

Drake University will receive funding through the CARES Act to provide emergency grants to students. Per the direction of the U.S. Department of Education, these grants can only be used for student “expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.” The Department of Education has explicitly prohibited using the grant dollars to compensate a student for lost income due to their or another’s loss of employment.

You may be eligible for this funding if you meet all of the following criteria:

  • You are eligible to receive federal student aid as either an undergraduate or graduate-level degree-seeking student. Eligibility must be confirmed through submission of your 2019–2020 or 2020–2021 FAFSA;
  • You were enrolled in coursework in the spring 2020 semester, and that coursework is not part of a program that is offered entirely online; and,
  • You incurred eligible expenses caused by the disruption to campus operations.

Students who meet the above criteria must complete the CARES Act Student Grant Application to be considered for these federal funds. Applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis and funds will be distributed until they are exhausted. Completing an application does not guarantee that a student will receive funds. As part of the application, students will be asked to substantiate their reported eligible expenses. The maximum amount of assistance a student may receive from this funding is $6000.

Drake University will provide these federal funds to students as quickly as possible, while adhering to the U. S. Department of Education’s guidance. To apply, complete the CARES Act Student Grant Application.

If you have questions as you complete the application, please review the FAQ on this topic at https://www.drake.edu/coronavirus/students/faq/cares-act-faq/, email covid19@drake.edu, or call (515) 271-2353.

Please visit drake.edu/coronavirus, which houses a repository of campus updates and messages pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also provides answers to many frequently asked questions.

Strategic Updates Archive

Message from the Provost: Thank you to SOE leaders

During a time of transition and uncertainty, I am most grateful to recognize two extraordinary leaders within the School of Education.

First, let me recognize the extraordinary leadership of Randy Peters. When first asked to serve as dean, bridging the gap of transition, Randy was reluctant. Not because he was afraid of the challenge, but because he thought of the qualifications of all of the other leaders with whom he serves. His humility and grace, his ability to think strategically along with thoughtful understanding of his colleagues and the School, and his unwavering servant leadership were absolutely what the School needed. Dean Randy Peters is a leader among leaders.   

This week marks a new chapter in the life of the School of Education and Drake University. Welcome, Dean Ryan Wise, on your first official week of deanship. In this extraordinary time, you have already demonstrated extraordinary leadership through your commitment, deep understanding, and passion that give all of us optimism and confidence for the future of the School.

With my sincere gratitude,

Sue Mattison, Provost

Strategic Updates Archive

Bulldog Plaza and additional streetscape elements to be added this summer

Thanks to generous donations from the Lees’ family, Nellis and Coolidge families, Polk County Supervisors, and Wells Fargo, work will begin this summer on a new plaza in front of Old Main. As you can see from the conceptual images below, the plaza will feature a bronze bulldog statue in the likeness of Griff. 

Also, the area will feature new landscaping and hardscape that will welcome families to campus on the path toward The Office of Admission at Cole Hall. 

The bulldog statue is positioned in a way to create a unique photo opportunity for visitors and the campus community with the bell tower of Old Main in the background. The new plaza work is anticipated to be completed in July 2020.

— Michelle Huggins, Facilities Planning and Management

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Celebrating faculty promotions

It is with a great sense of pride that we announce the following promotions and tenure among our faculty colleagues.

College of Arts and Sciences

  • Athan Petridis, Physics and Astronomy, Full Professor
  • Benjamin Gardner, Art and Design, Full Professor
  • Lisa West, English, Full Professor
  • Olga Lazareva, Psychology, Full Professor
  • Sandra Patton-Imani, American Studies, Full Professor with Tenure
  • Neil Ward, Graphic Design, Associate Professor and Tenure

College of Business and Public Administration

  • Andrew Bryant, Marketing, Associate Professor with Tenure
  • Royce Fichtner, Business Law, Full Professor
  • Ina Purvanova, Marketing and International Business, Full Professor

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

  • Michelle Bottenberg, Pharmacy Practice, Full Professor, Clinical
  • Sally Haack, Pharmacy Practice, Full Professor with Tenure
  • Shankar Munusamy, Pharmacology, Tenure
  • Cassity Gutierrez, Health Sciences, Tenure
  • Nathan Newman, Athletic Training, Tenure

Cowles Library

  • Hope Bibens, Librarianship, Political Papers Archivist, Tenure

Law School

  • Natalie Banta, Law, Professor of Law with Tenure
  • Erin Lain, Law, Professor of Law with Tenure
  • Suzan Pritchett, Law, Professor of Law with Tenure

School of Education

  • Bengu Erguner-Tekinalp, Education Counseling, Full Professor with Tenure
  • Robyn Cooper, Leadership & Counseling, Full Professor with Tenure

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

  • Kelly Bruhn, Journalism & Mass Communication, Full Professor

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Campus Announcements Archive

All Staff Council election results

All Staff Council is pleased to congratulate and welcome its newest members:

Governance Committee: Bridget Arrasmith, Chris Bass, Donita Greenough, Leslie Noble

Recognition Committee: Erin Bell, Teresa Downs

Special Events/Community Service: Kevin Saunders, Sydni Jennings, Lynne Cornelius, Mariah Mohler

Special Interest: Lori Richman, Rashmee Virmani, Megan Franklin

Chair Elect: Andy Verlengia

For more information on All Staff Council and its current members, visit drake.edu/asc/.

— Michelle Huggins, Facilities Planning & Management

Campus Announcements Archive

Bb Annotate to replace New Box View for inline grading and feedback in Blackboard Learn

Bb Annotate is a new tool in Blackboard Learn for inline assignment grading that will be available starting May 25. Bb Annotate replaces the New Box View integration. Bb Annotate offers new features for instructors to provide customizable feedback to students including a sidebar summary view, freehand drawing tools, and various color selections.

Migration Timeline
The file migration from New Box View to Bb Annotate will begin starting on May 25and could take several hours to days to complete depending on the number of files that need to be migrated. This ensures all older documents also use the same inline grading system and that no data is lost during the transition.

Existing Grading
All pre-existing annotations created through New Box View will be migrated and visible in Bb Annotate. If a user is actively annotating a file using New Box View during the migration, the file will not migrate to Bb Annotate until the user has completed that session. Upon loading the submission file again, it will display in the Bb Annotate viewer. User will be able to delete annotations as well as add new comments to any existing comment created using New Box View.

Mobile App Compatibility
Bb Annotate will work with the Blackboard Instructor app, but not the Blackboard app. Students should access their assignment submission through a web browser to see annotations.

More Information
The links provided below is where you can find all relevant information about inline assignment grading with Bb Annotate.

— Karly Good, ITS