Reminder: The University Bookstore is open 24/7 at drake.bkstr.com. The Bookstore is ready for summer classes to begin. Students can order course materials for delivery through the website. University Bookstore staff are working Monday through Friday to process orders. Students can also sell back textbooks through drake,bkstr.com.
— Katie Wilz, University Bookstore
The Des Moines Corporate Games are an annual company-based competition normally held June 1–July 31. Events range from team-based to individual and competitive to recreational. Activities are held in the evening and on weekends, and are free (except cart rental for golf). The games are open to all full-time and regular part-time employees, interns, and retirees.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Iowa Sports Foundation to get creative with these games. They are developing plans for alternative activities that allow employees to have a positive experience while maintaining social distancing. This will include launching a Des Moines Corporate Games Virtual Challenge. This weekly challenge will be designed to allow companies to compete and earn points while keeping safe. Some of the traditional events will be given this virtual option including the fitness walk, yoga, fitness class, and trivia. Other events may be postponed and moved to a later date in the summer (if possible). They are also planning to add additional opportunities for employees to be active and earn company points.
Corporate Games is still working through the changes but are anxious to get teams put together to start the process.
If you are interested in more information or to register for these games, please send an email to linda.feiden@drake.edu.
— Linda Feiden, Human Resources
Dr. Richard D. Bergen, the Kansas artist who designed the bronze bulldog that stands guard at the entrance of Drake Stadium, died Wednesday, April 22, at the age of 95.
According to his obituary, Bergen and son Rich partnered for over 35 years in the Bergen’s Sculpture Studio where together they crafted more than 40 monumental bronze sculptures and other works of public art found in cities across the Midwest.
The 750-pound bronze bulldog, which stands 3 feet high and stretches 5 feet long, is courtesy of a gifts by Andy and Elaine Hanna Wright, a pair 1969 Drake graduates, as well as support from gifts from the Class of 1997. The Wrights’ son, James Wright and his wife, Bethany (Hornblad) Wright, both graduated from Drake in 1997. Andy Wright, of Barrington Hills, Ill., is a member of the Drake Board of Trustees.
The bronze bulldog has become a symbol of pride on Drake’s campus and a worthy selfie-spot during Drake Relays and athletic events.
Graduates: As part of the virtual commencement experience on May 16, we want to feature an image of you to recognize your achievements. Please email one photo or short video clip of yourself to commencement2020@drake.edu no later than Monday, May 4.
Five things to keep in mind with your submission:
Additionally, we are planning to launch the virtual commencement hub in early May. This will be where the virtual commencement celebration will take place, as well as a single location where you can view all commencement information and specific content from your college/school. Keep an eye out for an email with more details, which will include a link to the virtual hub.
— Drake University Virtual Commencement Committee
All Staff Council elections are now open! Submit your votes for each committee. Voting will remain open until Thursday, April 30.
Direct link to online voting ballot: drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3UfYh3HHV02up2l.
— Michelle Huggins, All Staff Council
Faculty, final grades are due by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20. Exception: Law School grades are due Tuesday, May 26.
You may enter your final grades directly in MyDUSIS or automatically send them from Blackboard to MyDUSIS (with proper configuration).
Due to the large number of students who have converted their grade mode from standard letter grades to credit/no credit, we are enhancing the Blackboard Grades Journey instructions, which will be available here.
The “Download Class Roster” link on the Faculty & Advisors tab in MyDUSIS will allow you to generate your class roster in an Excel document, which lists, among other things, the grade mode assigned to each of your students.
More details about final grade entry will be available soon. Thank you for your patience.
— Kevin Moenkhaus, Office of the Registrar
With the return of warm temperatures, construction on the sewer separation project is gearing up to get started again. Activity will be seen on University Avenue as well as along 24th Street between Carpenter Avenue and Forest Avenue where a new storm sewer line will be installed.
Installation of the storm sewer, bike lanes, and sidewalks will continue through the summer. Street paving of the north two lanes on University Avenue will wrap up the city’s project. Once the hardscape is completed, landscape plantings including installation of 86 trees, bus shelters, and other streetscape elements will finalize and beautify the University Avenue streetscape corridor.
— Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning & Management
Even though National Volunteer Week has officially concluded, communities still need your help. Visit drake.edu/volunteer to learn about many opportunities both here in Des Moines and across the globe.
Send us a picture or quote of how you are helping the community to servicelearning@drake.edu by Sunday, May 3, and you will be entered into a drawing to win prizes. It could be anything from donating canned goods, checking in on your neighbors, picking up litter in your neighborhood, and more. With your permission, we’ll share it on social media to inspire others to serve. #DrakeServes
— Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning
The office of equity and inclusion will be offering four development webinars for all faculty, staff, and students throughout the spring and summer on a variety of equity and inclusion topics including:
If you are working remotely and have a Drake-owned PC laptop or desktop, you may have noticed that your PC is not receiving Windows updates. If you have a Drake-owned PC laptop, you may have also noticed that Sophos SafeGuard is showing connection errors.
There is no action that you need to take as a result of these update delays or error notifications. Both of these issues are expected behavior and will resolve naturally when your computer reconnects to the campus network.
— Carla Herling, ITS
