Category Archives: Archive

Summer Picnic at Olmsted Coffee Shop: food, music, games and Drake gear

Join us for a Summer Picnic at Olmsted Coffee Shop this Wednesday, July 26. We will be serving lunch for only $5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Picnickers can also enjoy music, games, and a chance to win Drake swag.

The menu will include choice of a walking taco or burrito bowl—served with all the fixings—dessert and a drink.

The All Staff Council will host a drawing for a chance to win some Drake gear. Be sure to stop by the council’s table to enter your name. All Drake staff members are eligible for the drawing.

Thank you to everyone who attended the first picnic. Due to the great turn out, the picnic series will be extended into August. We hope to see everyone on Wednesday!

— Jennifer Bowersox, Drake University Dining

Join a walking group

Walking at any speed is good for your health. It is low impact and doesn’t require equipment. All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes and possibly a walking partner.

Beside the health benefits, a brisk walk can help clear your mind on a stressful day and help to decrease your waistline at the same time. Walking on a regular basis can help to improve your mood and self-esteem, which could lead to a happier and longer life for you!

If you would like to join a walking group at Drake, please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu. There is currently interest in Mondays and Fridays at noon.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

Wellness screening available now at Hy-Vee, early bird prize offered

If you are on Drake’s health plan, you can save approximately $300 by simply completing a biometric screening and an online wellness assessment this year. Think what you could do with an extra $300!

There are three screening options:

  • Complete a screening with your physician and have your doctor fill out a Physician Wellness Screening Results Form. This option is available through Aug. 31.
  • Complete your screening at a participating Hy-Vee. This option is available now through Sept. 15.
  • Complete your screening on campus through UnityPoint Health. The on campus dates are Oct. 4–6, 9, 11, 13, 17, and 19.

There are a set number of spaces available for the on campus screenings so employees are encouraged to consider going to their physician or using the Hy-Vee option. If you complete your screening and the online assessment at www.wellmark.com by Sept. 30, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an early bird prize. Winners will get to choose a prize of their choice from an online wellness catalog. The drawing includes those who have already completed their screening and assessment this year.

Additional information about this year’s biometric screenings and wellness assessments (including copies of the Physician Wellness Screening Results Form) can be found under the Employee tab on blueView.  The Wellness Portal is on the right-hand side of the employee page.

Please note that you must complete a biometric screening and wellness assessment annually to retain your wellness premium discount.

Questions may be directed to Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu or 271-1880.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

ICYMI: Drake’s online education program welcomes executive director

Drake is pleased to welcome Christina Trombley as executive director of Drake’s online education programs. Currently, Trombley serves as assistant vice chancellor for the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, where she leads student recruitment, enrollment, and retention efforts. Trombley has worked within the UW system for nearly two decades, and will bring a wealth of administrative experience to Drake. One of her significant areas of expertise is in successfully launching, managing, supporting and expanding online degree programs. Trombley is also completing her doctoral studies in education at UW – Milwaukee, with a scholarly focus on faculty experiences teaching online. Her leadership will ensure that students receive an exceptional online education experience.

The formal launch of of online graduate programs will happen in January 2018, when Drake will begin offering online master’s degrees from the School of Education and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Other degree programs, including the Master of Public Administration and a new master’s degree in data analytics leadership, will soon follow. The successful fruition of this initiative is due to the dedication and collaboration of many faculty and staff across campus.

— Sue Mattison, Provost

J. Scott Raecker to deliver keynote address at Learning Symposium

J. Scott Raecker, executive director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, will deliver the keynote address, “Building Community at Drake—Where Do We Go From Here and What Role do I Play,” at the 2017 Drake University Learning Symposium Aug. 18 at the Sheraton in West Des Moines. The interactive presentation will focus on how we each play a role in creating a culture of excellence that will further build community at Drake. The session will introduce research-based strategies that The Ray Center is utilizing to positively shape culture with higher education, workplace, and public service organizations across the country. Outcome expectations include individual awareness and commitment to act on the opportunities we each have to enrich the Drake community through intentional relationship building and core leadership competencies that will enhance performance.

Faculty and staff are invited to register for the 2017 Learning Symposium on Eventbrite. For more details on the symposium, including a schedule of events, click here.

—Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Seeking volunteers for Iowa State Fair booth

The Office of Community Relations is calling on all faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners to help represent Drake at the Iowa State Fair Aug. 10–20.

Drake will host a booth inside the Varied Industries building at the fairgrounds. Volunteers are needed to greet and visit with fairgoers, apply temporary tattoos, distribute promotional giveaways, and share news about the great things happening on campus.

Volunteer shifts are four hours each: 9 a.m.–1 p.m., 1–5 p.m., and 5–9 p.m. Fair admission and a parking pass will be provided so volunteers can enjoy the Fair before and after their shift. A PowerPoint presentation will be provided to volunteers with information on booth relations. Unlike last year, the first Friday of the Fair will not be designated as Drake Day.

The Fair is an opportunity to engage and interact with the Des Moines community and fellow Iowans. The community relations office appreciates all of the support it has received in the past and is eager to serve with faculty and staff again this year.

Sign up for a shift here.

— Nick Valdez, University Advancement

Blackboard outage planned for July 29

ITS will be making an update to Blackboard on Saturday, July 29. As a result, access to Blackboard will be unavailable between 5:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This upgrade is being made to resolve ongoing issues with discussion boards and wikis.

We appreciate your patience while we perform this necessary work. If you continue to have any issues after the planned maintenance window, please contact the Support Center at 515-271-3001 or visit service.drake.edu/its to report your issue.

—Carla Herling, ITS

Know how to report an electronic security incident or data breach

All faculty and staff should be aware of how to recognize and report an incident that may affect confidential information, especially information protected by federal and/or state laws.

An electronic security incident is defined as: Electronic activity, such as “hacking” or a compromised or abused computer, that results in damage to or misuse of the Drake network or a device or data connected to it. Primary examples are the theft or loss of a computer, communication of confidential information to an unauthorized party, or compromise of an account or system with access to confidential information.

At Drake, electronic security incidents involve University-owned assets such as mobile devices and computers, and/or confidential information, such as passwords, protected health information, FERPA-protected student record information, social security, credit card, bank account, driver’s license, or passport numbers.
If you become aware of a possible electronic security incident, please report it to Peter Lundstedt, information security manager, as quickly as possible at peter.lundstedt@drake.edu or ext. 4173. If Peter can’t be reached, contact your area’s ITS campus technician, or call the ITS Support Center at ext. 3001.

Drake is required to follow the laws in place for reporting, handling, and remediating every breach of information. Additional information about electronic security incidents can be found in the ITS knowledge base, including more information on the reporting and initial investigation process.

—Peter Lundstedt, ITS