The first of our monthly lunch/discussions of the Scholarship of Teaching Learning (SoTL) is on Friday, Feb. 19, in Cowles 201. These lunchtime discussions are opportunities for those engaged in SoTL, thinking about SoTL, or just curious to get together and discuss ideas or concerns about teaching. If you would like us to provide a lunch for you, please go to: http://tinyurl.com/SoTLFeb to register for the event.
—Art Sanders, Associate Provost
Save the date for “Stand Up, Speak Up: A Drake University Women & Leadership Symposium.” This unique, all-day event will take place on March 8 in the Olmsted Center’s Parents Hall. The symposium will feature some of Des Moines’ most accomplished female leaders as they share information on forging your leadership presence, building your network, and creating a concrete action plan.
As an added bonus, attendees will receive credit toward the Excellence in Learning & Development Certificate. Faculty and staff are welcome to join for all or part of the day, and lunch will be provided for registered attendees.
RSVP for the event at www.drake.edu/womenleaders by this Friday, Feb. 19. For questions, please email any of the event organizers listed below.
Drake University Women and Leadership Committee:
Cris Wildermuth
Annique Kiel
Eliza Dy-Boarman
Stephanie Cardwell
Bengu Erguner-Tekinalp
Shelley Hurst
Debra Wiley
Alyssa Young
—Submitted by Eliza Dy-Boarman, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Drake has selected two vendors to assess our printing environment and propose a full plan to refresh our current system. These vendors, along with a Drake representative, will tour all University buildings that have printing equipment on Feb. 19, Feb. 22, and Feb. 23 in order to map their placement. If you have questions, please contact caron.findlay@drake.edu.
—Caron Findlay, Director, Purchasing & Business Services
The Honorary Degree and Drake Medal Committee seeks your nominations for these honors, to be awarded during the 2016–2017 academic year. The nomination process is confidential—please do not inform the candidate of your nomination. A brief description of the awards and the nomination process with the nomination forms for each honor can be found online.
—Nancy Geiger
Contracts for services or involving any activity on Drake property must be reviewed by Director, Risk and Insurance Donna Blunck to ensure sufficient insurance coverage and other contractual protections. Submit your contract to ducontracts@drake.edu with a message requesting insurance review.
Send signed contracts to ducontracts@drake.edu so the contract can be maintained in Drake’s central contract retention system. Exceptions to the central retention requirement include independent contractor agreements and agreements for transportation, hotels, or entertainment for one-time events at non-Drake locations. Those contracts are to be retained at the departmental level for a period of three years.
For more contracting information, including the policy governing who is authorized to sign contracts on behalf of the University, visit the Drake online contracting resource.
—Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer
The cold weather has not stopped the hard work of construction crews who began work in early February on the STEM@DRAKE buildings. With input from key impacted groups across campus—including those who teach or have offices near the construction site—several steps are being taken to minimize the disruption that can occur during a large building project. There will be times, however, when concerns or issues arise as a result of construction activity. When that occurs, faculty, staff, or students may contact Public Safety at 271-2222. Public Safety will address your concerns with appropriate construction or facilities personnel, depending on the issue.
Project updates can also be found on the Building STEM@DRAKE website.
—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer
Last week, students and parents were notified of increases to tuition and room and board for the 2016–2017 academic year as approved by the board of trustees. To view tuition and fees, visit http://www.drake.edu/accounts/tuitionfees/
So you were born in Canada—do you have dual citizenship?
“I’m on my third green card, I can’t quite pull the trigger on taking out American citizenship. I travel so much to different countries, I just find it amusing that information, money, and merchandise can cross borders with a mouse click, and you and I have to stand in lines and convince people to let us in.”
What are the biggest differences between Canada and the U.S.?
“I think that the concept of a compact is probably more in tune with Canadian mentality than American mentality. You know this is still a place where independence and taking responsibility for your own issues is so ingrained in the culture. And it’s not that Canadians think other people should solve their problems, but it’s more like a ‘we’re in this together’ kind of mindset rather than ‘my problems are my problems and your problems are your problems.’ You almost have to live in both places to get a sense for how that works.”
You’ve been at Drake for more than 20 years—what’s made you stay?
“The relationship Drake faculty have with students—I’ve not seen that in other places. I’ll say it this way: We have a fundraiser every year where faculty will donate things to be auctioned off for charity. My donation is that I’ll come to your house and cook for four; people have paid up to $200 to have me come and cook. When I was student, I would have paid $200 to never have to look at my professor again. I just haven’t seen that faculty-student relationship anywhere else.”
After 40 years on the faculty—including two terms as dean of the Law School—David S. Walker, the Dwight D. Opperman Distinguished Professor of Law, is retiring. Join us for a celebration of his service and accomplishments. Refreshments will be served. Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 at 3 p.m. in Kern Commons, Cartwright Hall. RSVP to theresa.howard@drake.edu
Twelve Drake students traveled to Brussels during J-term to participate in the Model European Union (EU). Students learned about the EU’s institutions and participated in dialogues and a press corps with students from other American and European Universities. Students represented country delegations from the various EU member states. The discussions simulated ministerial-level conferences on issues of migration and improving the European economy, among other topics. Student came away from the conference with a better understanding of the institutions and issues facing the EU.
—Submitted by Eleanor Zeff, Associate Professor of Political Science
