Category Archives: Archive

HR Information Archive

Updated policy—University Closings, Delays and Class Cancellations

Changes have been incorporated from the comment period and the University Closings, Delays and Class Cancellations policy is now final and posted.

The most significant change to the policy is compensation for most staff when classes are cancelled and campus is open. Based on history, this situation is a rare and infrequent occurrence.

President Martin said it best in his Feb. 12 email: “My firm belief is that everyone is committed to our students and our mission, and to moving toward a culture of joyful accountability where we trust each other, enjoy our work, and are committed to doing our best.” The changes to this policy foster trust and inclusion by providing employees the ability to make decisions about personal safety, without having to unduly worry about taking a vacation or personal day, in the rare instances where classes are cancelled and campus is open.

Please familiarize yourself with the updated policy. Questions? Review the FAQ, discuss with your manager, and/or contact Cindy Adams at cindy.adams@drake.edu or x3676.

—HR Team

HR Information Archive

Faculty and staff celebrate employment anniversaries

Full-time employee anniversaries in March:

Qalbi Abdi
Craig Blaker
Steven Blaylock
Kathryn Coleson Horner
Leslee Cran
Susan Dittmer
Kristi Fuller
Raymond Giacoletti
Sarah Grady
Douglas Graham
Aaron Harpold
Renee Hennessy
Patsy Johnson
Heidi Kramer
Douglas Lampe
Eric Lindstrom
Peter Lundstedt
Sharon Moran
Eric Murphy
Lori Richman
Mary Sanders
Bartholomew Schmidt
Donald Severs
Lucas Shelton
John Smith
Pamela Smith
Gareth Smith
Allen Smith
Thad Smull
Michael Spoerl
James Wu

HR Information Archive

Nominate a colleague for community service and employee excellence awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service Award and the Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Awards. These awards will be presented at the Faculty / Staff Recognition Event on Tuesday, May 3, in Parent’s Hall, Olmsted Center. The deadline to submit nominations has been extended to April 7 at 4:30 p.m.

Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service Award

Madelyn M. Levitt established the Distinguished Community Service Award to recognize outstanding contributions of Drake faculty and staff to the Drake community. Criteria for the award include:

  • a demonstrated personal commitment to volunteerism and community service;
  • an outstanding record of leadership or substantial involvement in community projects, services and activities contributing to the quality of life in our region, state and/or the nation;
  • professional and personal values and behavior that typify the ideals of giving back to others and making a difference in the lives of others.

The nominee must be a current faculty or staff member with at least five years of service at Drake.

Madelyn M. Levitt Employee Excellence Awards

The Employee Excellence Award is presented to up to two staff employees who demonstrate exceptional commitment to excellence in the performance of their duties. Criteria for the award include:

  • exceptional performance as an employee of Drake University;
  • outstanding dedication to providing courteous, prompt, and quality service;
  • demonstrated commitment to University programs, initiatives, and services;
  • professional values and behavior that demonstrate exceptional service to others and a commitment to Drake University.

Nominees must be a current staff member with at least one year of service at Drake.

NOMINATION PROCESS

Submit a letter of nomination to the Levitt Award Committee c/o Human Resources. Nomination letters may be sent via campus mail or to laura.schwarz@drake.edu.

A nomination letter detailing specific examples of how the nominee exemplifies each of the applicable criteria is desirable. Additional letters of support are not necessary. A review committee will make award recommendations to the President’s Council. Nominations must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7.

—Submitted by Laura Schwarz, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Smoke Free Campus Environment

Drake University complies with the Iowa Smoke Free Air Act and prohibits smoking on the Drake campus. Drake policy also prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) on campus, with the exception of performing arts performances in which e-cigarettes may be utilized by actors as part of a theatrical production.

For purposes of this prohibition, the Drake campus includes:

  • All buildings on campus—residential hall rooms and common areas; work areas, private offices, conference and meeting rooms; classrooms, auditoriums, lounges, and cafeterias; stairways, hallways, and other enclosed spaces
  • All property maintained by Drake University, including leased and owned property, athletics fields, sidewalks, and parking lots
  • Seating areas of outdoor sporting events, stadium, and other outdoor entertainment venues
  • All vehicles owned, leased, or rented by Drake University
  • All vehicles when parked on University property

All students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors are responsible for observing the provisions of this policy.

Smoke Free Campus Environment policy and FAQ (Note: You may be directed to sign in to blueView to access this information.)

—Submitted by Cindy Adams, Associate Director, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

24-hour annual fund giving campaign

In its third year, the 2016 All In campaign has been set for May 10–11, from noon to noon. In 2015, the campaign raised $101,100 from 285 donors, 14 of whom were first-time donors. All of that in only 24 hours.

This year we will feature a challenge for each Annual Fund designation, and you might see some familiar faces in the campaign.

For now, you can like the Facebook page and encourage other Bulldogs to do the same, bookmark the All In website, and watch OnCampus for updates. We will announce the 2016 campaign challenges in April.

—Submitted by Niki Smith, Digital Media Specialist

Featured Events Archive

Comparison Project lecture March 3

Please join us for the second spring semester event of our 2015–2016 series on death and dying—a lecture by Christopher Chapple, Navin and Pratima Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology at Loyola Marymount University, about the “Fast unto Death” in the Indian religion of Jainism.  The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on March 3 at 7 p.m. in Sussman Theater (lower level of the Olmsted Center).

The Jain tradition has observed a practice known as Sallekhana or Santhara, through which one willingly foregoes food and hydration toward the end of one’s life in order to pass peacefully into a new life.  Chapple will give details about the process and the history of Sallekhana. He will also explore the correlations of this fast unto death with the hospice and “right to die” movements in contemporary America.

Chapple is a specialist in the religions of India; he has published twenty books on aspects of Yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, as well as religion and ecology. He serves on the advisory boards of the Ahimsa Center, the Forum on Religion and Ecology, and the International School for Jain Studies.

News & Achievements Archive

Drake among top producers of Peace Corps volunteers

Drake University has made its debut on the Peace Corps’ annual Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list, ranking No. 23 among small universities, the agency announced this week. Currently, there are eight Drake alumni serving overseas as Peace Corps volunteers.

This is the first year that the university has made Peace Corps’ Top Colleges list, which categorizes small universities as those with fewer than 5,000 undergraduate students. Since the agency was created in 1961, 269 Drake alums have served overseas. To learn more, visit the Drake Newsroom.

Strategic Updates Archive

Drake breaks ground on Collier-Scripps Hall

Drake University held a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday, Feb. 27, for the University’s first new academic building in 20 years. Collier-Scripps Hall is a $15 million, 50,000 square-foot facility that will house the University’s School of Education, the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, and The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center. For more information, visit the Drake Newsroom.

Campus Announcements Archive

Review finalists for managed print

Drake has selected two finalists for our Managed Print Refresh. Each finalist will showcase a representative selection of the printers proposed for our solution and answer questions you may have regarding this equipment. If you are interested in the new equipment possibilities, please come by and take a look. Light refreshments will be served.

The dates for these open houses, to be held in Levitt Hall, are:
Tuesday, March 8, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. (Vendor: Marco)
Thursday, March 10, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. (Vendor: LRI)

For Faculty Archive, For Students Archive

Global Learning Scholarships now available

Global Learning Scholarships are available for students who are studying abroad, participating in global service-learning, or participating in experiential learning abroad. These scholarships are designed to enable students to reach their full potential as responsible global citizens. Scholarships are open to students studying abroad Summer 2016, Fall 2016, or J-Term 2017. These are need-based scholarships. The application deadline is Tuesday, March 22. For more information, or to apply, visit this link. If you have any questions please contact Maria Rohach, global learning program coordinator, at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

— Submitted by Maria Rohach