Category Archives: Archive

Comparison Projects hosts next event in series

The Comparison Project will present its fifth event in a yearlong series on death and dying. A community interfaith dialogue will feature scholars and medical professionals from four different religious traditions. The panel will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at Dunn’s Chapel at Iles Funeral Homes, 2121 Grand Ave.

Norma Hirsch, assistant professor of osteopathic medicine at Des Moines University, will moderate. Panelists include Sayeed Hussain, a pediatrician at West Des Moines Children’s Clinic, Pramod Mahajan, associate professor of pharmacology at Drake University, You Bin, a Fulbright Visiting Scholar of Religion from Minzu University in China, and Josephy Moravec, professor of theology and philosophy at Mercy College.

Among other questions, the panel seeks to explore what happens after death and what postmortem rituals relatives should practice from the perspective of representatives from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and Chinese religions. The panelists will focus particularly on the tensions between traditional theologies and rituals of death, and the way in which death has increasingly become the domain of medicine and law. To learn more, visit the Drake Newsroom.

—Submitted by Drake International

Phishing education

phish·ing
noun
The activity of defrauding an online account holder of confidential information by posing as a legitimate company.

We’ve all been the target of a phishing attack. Whether it’s a warning of an expiring email account or an “urgent message” from a financial institution, these attacks put the confidential information of our students and employees at serious risk, and require significant personnel and technology resources to resolve.

Faculty, staff, and students of Drake are no exception, and the attackers have been making their email attacks even more difficult to spot. Several of the attacks recently spotted have used a forged copy of our webmail login page to convince people to give up their username and password.

The login page below is from an email phish that we received, but there’s nothing on the page giving it away. The page gives the appearance of legitimacy but is designed to steal passwords and information.

phishing

However, the URL at the top gives it away. As you can see, pilatesg.com isn’t affiliated with Drake or with Microsoft, our email provider. If you are ever asked by email to take an urgent action regarding your account, go to the page you know and trust rather than following a link.

Drake webmail is located at: outlook.com/drake.edu

Links to safe login pages for Blackboard, blueView, EMS, and more are also located at the following pages:

www.drake.edu/facstaff/

www.drake.edu/students/

If you think you’ve received a legitimate email but aren’t sure, don’t take chances! Call Client Services at 515-271-3001 or email informationsecurity@drake.edu. If you think you may have already opened a malicious link, call or email right away to get your password changed.

Drake utilizes a service called PhishMe to provide education on these types of attacks—what attackers are after, how they get through our spam filter, how to spot them, and, most importantly, what to do if you’ve been targeted. For more information on phishing and how to avoid becoming a victim, please visit the DTS Information Security website.

—Submitted by Jeffrey Sabin, Information Security Officer

Campus community budget discussion

The President’s Council invites you to attend a campus community budget discussion on Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. in the Shivers Hospitality Suite. The event will be recorded and made available on the continuous improvement channel on blueView for those who are unable to attend.

Individuals are strongly encouraged to submit any questions you have about budgeting before the discussion at Drake via the Conversations site “Provide your Feedback” function. Questions/comments can be anonymous. You can also submit questions or comments after the discussion using the same tool.

Following the event, everyone is invited to stay for a Drake Social Club event from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

—Submitted by Andrea McDonough

Complete your online wellness assessment this week

Don’t forget to complete your online assessment via Wellmark by Dec. 4. You must complete the online assessment in addition to the biometrics screening to receive the wellness incentive (approximately $300 off your Drake health insurance in 2016). Find instructions on completing the assessment here.

Visit the Wellness Incentive Program site to learn more about the wellness incentive and for a FAQ. Questions may be directed to Diana Lei-Butters and diana.lei-butters@drake.edu or 271-1871.

—Submitted by Cindy Adams, Associate Director, Human Resources

Drake welcomes Tracy Bainter

Tracy Bainter, our newly hired senior grants specialist, is returning to Drake. She has two degrees from Drake, a B.A. in English and Magazines with University Honors in 2001, and a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis on Executive Development in 2008. She also received a Certificate for Grant Writing and Management from Drake’s Center for Professional Studies.

Tracy worked as the coordinator of marketing and special events in the School of Education from 2005 until 2010. After leaving Drake, she founded and ran her own business, TAB Media and Marketing, which provided support for nonprofit agencies including writing, submitting, and managing grant proposals. Since 2013, she has been the communications director for the Iowa Association of School Boards. She started on Nov. 23, so please welcome her.

This fills one of two openings in the Sponsored Programs Office. We are initiating the search for the director of sponsored programs and hope to hire someone by the start of spring semester.

—Submitted by Provost Joe Lenz

From the Associate Provost

J-Term 2017 on-campus schedule
It will soon be time to construct the J-Term 2017 on-campus schedule. Each school/college assembles the schedule of their classes, and they will have deadlines sometime very early in the spring semester. If you have questions about J-Term classes (such as how to develop an intensive three-week learning experience, which faculty or staff have successfully organized on-campus J-Term classes and are willing to discuss with others, or what compensation rules are), feel free to contact Associate Provost Art Sanders (arthur.sanders@drake.edu).

Interested in teaching an FYS next fall?
It is time to start considering teaching a First Year Seminar in Fall 2016. If you are interested, visit the FYS Resource page, where you will find sample syllabi and other information about the program. And at the bottom of the page you will find the FYS Course Proposal form. (Please note: If you are a full-time faculty member and you are planning on building FYS into your schedule, you still need to fill out this form.) If you have questions, or want additional information about the FYS program, contact arthur.sanders@drake.edu.

Final FYS discussion
This coming Friday, Dec. 4, will be our final lunch/discussion for FYS instructors and those who are considering teaching an FYS in the future. For information about the event and to RSVP, go to http://tinyurl.com/fyslunch-dec

—Submitted by Art Sanders

All Staff Council Holiday Food Drive

As part of the Drake community, we hope you’ll join us in coming together to collect much needed food and personal items for families in need. Our donations will stay in the Drake neighborhood and be delivered to CROSS Ministries on 24th Street.

When: Monday, Nov. 23–Thursday, Dec. 3
Where: Drop boxes are located at the Bell Center, Cartwright Hall, Olmsted Center, and School of Education. You may also bring your donation to the Holiday Pancake Breakfast on Thursday, Dec. 3

How can you help: A list of highly needed items are listed below—we hope you’ll select a few from the list and drop off at one of the designated locations.

Food

  • Proteins (peanut butter and canned meat/fish)
  • Canned vegetables
  • Canned fruit
  • Canned soup
  • Dried pasta
  • Breakfast items (including cereal)
  • 100% fruit juice

Personal/Hygiene Products

  • Laundry soap (greatest need)
  • Toilet tissue (greatest need)
  • Disposable diapers
  • Baby wipes
  • Toothbrush/toothpaste
  • Dish soap
  • Shampoo
  • Deodorant
  • Kleenex
  • Paper towels
  • Sanitary napkins and/or tampons

CROSS Ministries is a nonprofit homelessness prevention agency with the Presbytery of Des Moines. They provide direct financial emergency assistance, food, and personal hygiene products to low- and no-income households. www.crossministriesdm.org

Chrystal Stanley recognized

Chrystal Stanley, professional and career development services/academic achievement coordinator, was recognized Nov. 10 with the Called to be True Blue Award from All Staff Council.

As her nominator stated:

“Chrystal Stanley goes the extra mile for the students she assists with both academic achievement and also career services. Also, I admire and respect how she is able to work collaboratively with a wide variety of constituencies on campus—from faculty to staff to students—often all in one day (or even hour!).”

Do you know of a staff member or department that has gone above and beyond to exemplify True Blue spirit? Nominate them today!

—Submitted by All Staff Council Communications Committee