Category Archives: Archive

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Helping to Create Inclusive Learning Environments

Faculty and staff are invited to “Helping to Create Inclusive Learning Environments” a panel discussion with student members of the Disability Action and Awareness Community (DAAC), a new student organization on campus. The focus will be on creating educational experiences that are inclusive of students with disabilities. Attendees will hear personal accounts of student’s experiences, as well as have time to ask questions. The session will be on Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 3:20 to 4:30 p.m. in CR 310 on the second floor in Olmsted Center.

This session is organized by the Office of the Associate Provost and DAAC.

—Art Sanders, Associate Provost

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

United Way giving campaign ends this week

The Drake campus giving campaign for United Way and Iowa Shares will be Nov. 7–18.  As a campus that cares about our neighbors, the Drake community donated nearly $54,000 to the cause in 2015. The goal this year is to raise $55,000, increase participation by 100 new donors, and increase giving at $500 or more to 20 individuals. Donors who increase their 2015 pledge by $25 or more will be entered in a drawing for a free 2016–2017 parking pass or for a FLEX pack of four tickets to a Drake women’s basketball game. Additionally, the first 100 donors to the campaign will receive a voucher for two tickets to any December or January men’s or women’s basketball game. Finally, all donors will automatically be entered into a drawing for gift cards from local businesses.

Donors have the option of payroll deduction, check, cash, or credit card to either a general community need or to a specific organization. The payroll deduction option will allow you to spread your gift over a 12-month period, beginning Jan. 1, 2017.

Thank you for all that you do for Drake and our community. If you have any questions, please contact Nick Valdez, neighborhood & community relations manager, at 515-271 or nick.valdez@drake.edu.

—Nick Valdez

HR Information Archive

Complete your online wellness assessment!

For those faculty and staff who have completed their wellness screenings, don’t forget to complete your online assessment via Wellmark by Nov. 15. You must complete the online assessment in addition to the wellness screening to receive the wellness premium incentive (approximately $300 off your Drake health insurance in 2017). To complete your online wellness assessment log into wellmark.com, go to the Wellness Center, and click on “Take Your Wellness Assessment” or “Retake Your Wellness Assessment.” For more information please contact Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu.

—Linda Feiden, Human Resources

HR Information Archive

Honoring veterans—thank you for your service

Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, a time to recognize the men and women who have served the United States through military service.

To commemorate Veterans Day, we invite any Drake employee who served in the military to stop by Human Resources (before the end of November) to receive a printed voucher for a complimentary meal at Hubbell Dining Hall. Please bring evidence of military service, such as a U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, a Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), or your Veterans Organization Card. Alternatively, provide a photograph of yourself in your military uniform. Thank you for your service.

—Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Parking Lot 10 closed Thursday

On Thursday, Nov. 10, Parking Lot 10, the lot on the southwest corner of Forest Avenue and 25th Street (north of the Harmon Fine Arts Center), will be closed so that work can be performed in the area. Commuter parking is available directly to the east in Lot 1.  Thank you for your cooperation.

—Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Strategic Updates Archive

Don’t forget to vote!

Modified from President Martin’s Oct. 24 message:

 In addition to the presidential election that has gotten so much attention, there are many upcoming state and local elections that will shape our more immediate community. Drake University is committed to meaningful and thoughtful conversation about the issues that define our public life and we encourage informed participation in those conversations, including participation in the electoral process.

 As the 2016 election approaches, I’d like to share some information about Iowa’s electoral process and how you can participate. Although many of you are active Iowa voters, it’s helpful to check your registration status and familiarize yourself with the process.

 You must be registered to vote in Iowa if you want to vote here. You may only be registered to vote in one location, so if you would like to remain registered in another location, you are subject to the rules and procedures of that jurisdiction. By registering in Iowa and voting in Iowa elections, you are relinquishing your right to vote in any other state in the 2016 elections. You may change your registration any time you move to a new location.

To find out if you are registered at your current address, click here. If you are not registered at your current address and you meet the requirements to register, you may register to vote at the voting location provided you have the required proof of identification and residence. Information about election day registration is available here.

On Tuesday, you can vote at your regular polling location between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

To find a list of all the current elections in Polk County, Iowa please visit www.polkcountyiowa.gov/media/328851/2016_canlist.pdf. If you have questions or concerns about voting, you may want to visit the Iowa Secretary of State’s website. For information specific to college students, click here. 

 Don’t forget to vote!

Featured Events Archive

Bucksbaum Lecture Nov. 15

A high-profile lecture by one of the world’s leading journalists on the topic of faith and religion will be preceded by an interfaith event designed to introduce visitors to the diversity of religious and faith communities in central Iowa. Both events are free and open to the public; no tickets are required.

Krista Tippett, host of the Peabody Award-winning radio program On Being, will deliver the 37th installment of the Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture Series. The lecture is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, in The Knapp Center.

The Iowa Interfaith and Multicultural Fair, scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, will feature representatives from 15 central Iowa faith communities—including three Jewish synagogues, three Christian churches, three Muslim mosques, two Hindu temples, two Buddhist temples, and two Sikh temples. The fair is sponsored by The Comparison Project at Drake University, the Drake Community Press, and the Des Moines Area Religious Council.

Learn more about both events in the Drake Newsroom.

For Students Archive

Lunch with Leaders: Building Rapport with Followers

Hear from Chris Blair, MHA, RN, and current chief administrative officer at Methodist West Hospital. She has been in progressive leadership positions at UnityPoint for more than 30 years with an emphasis on developing and maintaining a culture of teamwork and collaboration. This event will be held in the Pomerantz conference room on Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis. Register here: http://bit.ly/LWLFall2016 

This event is sponsored by the Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute and organized by the Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society.

—Meghan Blancas, Office of Student Involvement and Leadership

For Students Archive

Become an orientation leader!

Want to help welcome new students to Drake? Want to get involved? Want an on-campus job this summer? Consider becoming an orientation leader!

Orientation leaders are dedicated to providing incoming students and their families with all the information and resources necessary to ensure their transition to Drake is a smooth and enjoyable one.

We need you to help make this happen. Each year we recruit current Drake students to become part of the orientation leader staff. Orientation leaders play a vital role in this exciting process, working closely with new students and their families on a wide variety of topics including academics, student involvement, housing options, and more.

We highly encourage you to attend one of three information sessions:

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.—Olmsted Center, Room 310/311
Thursday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m.—Olmsted Center, Room 310/311
Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, 12 p.m.—Olmsted Center, TMR 132

You will be compensated for your time and effort and gain valuable skills in this position. Please visit www.drake.edu/orientation/orientationleaders/ to learn more about the position, but if you have any questions, feel free to contact Marina Verlengia at marina.verlengia@drake.edu.

—Marina Verlengia, Academic Excellence and Student Success

For Students Archive

Your career is calling …

How would you like to use a great campus job to land a great career after graduation? We are hiring student callers to conduct fundraising calls for Drake. And when you work for us, you get exclusive access to the RNL Career Connection Network. This is a network of employers like LinkedIn, Liberty Mutual, and CEB that sign up to connect with our callers for future careers—people like you.

That means, when you become a caller, you get:

  • Great money—highest paying student job on campus
  • Flex hours that fit your schedule
  • Skills and experience that make you look great to future employers
  • Exclusive access to the Career Connection Network to set yourself up after graduation.

Join our team now: brian.estrem@drake.edu

—Brian Estrem, Phonathon