Faculty and staff are invited to join Cowles Library and the Department for the Study of Culture and Society on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. for a free and open discussion about Professor Michael Haedicke’s recent publication, “Organizing Organic: Conflict and Compromise in an Emerging Market.” Join us in the Cowles Library Reading Room, with a reception to follow in the atrium.
—Claudia Frazer, Cowles Library
Cowles Library is engaging in a process to update and refresh the master plan for the physical use and layout of the Library. We are conducting a series of input sessions. ALL faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend an open session on Oct. 28 at 8:45 a.m. in Room 201. Refreshments will be served! More details (and an optional sign-up link) are available here: http://bit.ly/cowles2016
— Claudia Frazer, Cowles Library
Please join members of the University Benefits Committee, Wellmark representatives, and benefit consultant Mark J. Becker for an overview of the status of Drake’s medical and dental plans tomorrow, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. in Olmsted Center, Room 310. Discover how Drake plans compare to local and national markets, why contribution rates will remain unchanged during the 2017 plan year, and why Drake plans have a two-tier structure.
—Marlene Heuertz, Human Resources
The Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA) wants to let campus know that while the Databook isn’t available yet, we are working diligently to bring it to you. Drake’s Databooks provide a wide variety of information about the population characteristics of students, faculty, and staff. After many discussions with senior leadership and other campus constituents, OIRA is updating the Databook format so it will be more dynamic and allow you to mine for the data you need. Due to the work on this new, improved Databook, what will be available on OIRA’s Databook page this year will be sparser than in the past. We still anticipate having the basic information online and available before Nov. 1, with faculty information to be added around Nov. 15. (Faculty data isn’t collected until Nov. 1.) Thank you for your understanding as we work to bring you the best data for your decisions.
—Christine Marchand, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment
ITS is making upgrades to Blackboard. As a result, Blackboard access will be unavailable on Oct. 23 starting at 8 p.m. until 8 a.m. on Oct. 24.
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 271-3001 or supportcenter@drake.edu.
—Mary Jane Blystone, ITS
Want to see STEM@DRAKE progress in real-time? Now you can—a webcam is up and running on site so you can watch construction as it happens. Watch it here.
Faculty Senate will meet in regular session on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 3:30 p.m. in Cowles Library, Room 201. One item for discussion will be the progress toward and draft of the position description of the senior-level administrator who will be responsible for leading and coordinating a holistic institutional commitment to equity and inclusion.
—Nancy Geiger, Academic Excellence and Student Success
Drake Director of Athletics Sandy Hatfield Clubb has announced the hiring of Blake Boldon as the 12th Franklin ‘Pitch’ Johnson Director of the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee. Boldon was introduced during a press conference held in the Courtside Club of the Shivers Basketball Practice Facility on Oct. 12.
Boldon, a native of Osceola, Iowa, currently serves as the executive director of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon and has an extensive background and record of success as a competitive athlete, collegiate coach, and event director. Learn more about Blake in the Drake Newsroom.
Applications are now available for the Lorentzen Student Hatchery! The Lorentzen Student Hatchery is a unique program aimed at fostering student startups. Entrepreneurship Centers staff provide guidance and support, access to mentors and experts, and more to Drake students accepted to the Hatchery. Students of any major—undergraduate and graduate—are welcome to apply to the Hatchery for the opportunity to get paid while working on their own startup. Teams (two or more people) can earn up to $10,000. Pitches are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 15, and students selected to the Hatchery will have the opportunity to meet Mr. Lorentzen on Friday, Nov. 18, at the 2016 Hatchery cohort presentations and celebratory luncheon.
Visit www.drake.edu/cbpa/centers/lorentzenhatchery/ to learn more, and download or fill out an online application.
Hatchery presentations take place during the campus celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 12–19: Stay tuned for more activities on campus this week including Project Bulldog, a tech and digital media event in the collaboration space, and more!
Questions? Please email innovation@drake.edu.
—Stephanie Cardwell, Entrepreneurship Centers
Drake’s Keys to Excellence Piano Series will open its fourth season with a performance by Lori Sims, professor of piano at Western Michigan University. The free concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24, in Sheslow Auditorium and will feature the following selections:
No tickets are required. Sims will also present a public masterclass at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23, in Harmon Fine Arts Center, Room 204. The masterclass is free and open to the public.
Visit the Drake Newsroom to see the full 2016-2017 schedule for the Keys to Excellence Series.
