Category Archives: Archive

News & Achievements Archive

Faculty and staff accomplishments

Sarah McCoy, assistant professor of graphic design, is featured in the November/December issue of Midwest Living .

Katherine Lincoln, University archives associate, has earned the Society of American Archivists Digital Archives Specialist certification. The certification is earned through a sequence of required coursework and comprehensive examinations. It is built around the core competencies needed to understand, organize, preserve, and develop digital archives containing electronic records across multiple generations of technology.

Wade Leuwerke, associate professor of education and department chair, and two longtime colleagues recently published a textbook on college student success. Connections: Empowering College and Career Success is a textbook that helps first-time and returning college students develop the skills, attitudes, and behaviors critical for success in college and into their career. The book empowers students to take responsibility for their education through increasing self-regulation, critical thinking, positive thinking, goal setting, and intentional career planning. The authors also created the Academic and Career Excellence System (ACES) a norm-referenced, self-assessment of non-cognitive and college skills. Students utilize ACES and the text to determine strengths and build personal success plans to bolster skills critical for strong performance in college and beyond. Learn more about Wade and his book in the Drake Newsroom.

Anne Murr, coordinator, Drake Adult Literacy Center, received the Outstanding Educator Award from The Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa (LDA IOWA). LDA is dedicated to identifying causes and promoting prevention of learning disabilities and to enhancing the quality of life for all individuals with learning disabilities and their families. The award is given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in the field of education to children, youth, and/or adults with learning disabilities.

Renee Cramer, associate professor and chair of law politics and society, published a new book about the cultural obsession with celebrity pregnancies. Pregnant With The Stars, published by Stanford University Press, examines the American fascination with, and judgment of, celebrity pregnancy and exposes how our seemingly innocent interest in “baby bumps” actually reinforces troubling standards about femininity, race, and class, while increasing the surveillance and regulation of all women in our society. Read more about Renee’s book here.

Strategic Updates Archive

STEM@DRAKE project update

Significant pre-construction activity is underway relative to the STEM@DRAKE project. Last Wednesday at the STEM@DRAKE Construction Open House, members of the campus community saw the latest building renderings and floor plans. Positive comments were shared about the inclusion of gender neutral bathrooms and dedicated lactation rooms in both buildings, as well as the overall cohesive look of the buildings. Members of Drake’s Grounds Department—Aaron Harpold and Jeff Bosworth—were on hand to discuss how the project will impact trees. Attendees voted on the type of trees they would like to see planted as part of the effort to replace and nearly double the number of trees that will be lost during construction.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

For Students Archive

Health Relationship Support Group

  • Are you looking to heal from past relationships?
  • Are you looking to strengthen your existing relationships?
  • Do you have questions about whether or not your relationships are healthy?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this group is for you! Please join two certified advocates from local organizations and fellow Drake students for some great discussion and support in a private and confidential setting.

When: Mondays, 6:30–8 p.m., Oct. 26–Dec. 7
Where: Wesley House (on the corner of 28th Street and University Avenue)

Topics include:

  • Recognizing healthy vs. unhealthy relationships
  • Healing from unhealthy relationships
  • Self-care and boundaries
  • Healthy communication

This group will be run by Melissa Ulrickson, campus outreach specialist with Crisis Intervention Services and Stacey Granger, domestic violence outreach advocate with Children & Families of Iowa. Melissa is a certified sexual assault advocate with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and working toward a master’s degree in professional counseling, and Stacey is a certified domestic abuse advocate with a bachelor’s degree in social work. If you have any questions regarding this group, please contact Melissa at 641-260-0432/melissau@stopdvsa.org or Stacey at 515-471-8699 x 133.

—Submitted by Alysa Mozak, Coordinator for Sexual Violence Response and Healthy Relationship Promotion

HR Information Archive

Don’t forget your biometrics screening!

If you’re on Drake’s health plan, you can save $300 off your health insurance premium in 2016 by participating in the Drake Wellness Incentive. In order to qualify, you must complete a biometrics screening and online wellness assessment. Only four dates for on-campus screenings remain!

On-campus biometrics screenings will take place between 6:30 and 10:30 a.m. in the Bell Center on the following dates: Nov. 3, 4, 10, and 13.

To schedule your screening, click here, and use the username DRAKEU and password SCREEN2015 to log in. Once you sign up, please make a note of your screening date and time, as you will not receive a reminder email.

If you need to cancel your on-campus screening, email jennifer.umphfleet@unitypoint.org with your name and date and time of cancelled appointment. You will need to re-register online for a new appointment. Changes can be made up to 48 hours prior to the screen time.

Signed up but don’t remember your date/time? Look at your received or deleted emails for an email confirmation sent to you by unitypointhealth.desmoines@gmail.com with the subject: Health Screen Confirmation.

You can also complete your biometrics screening at a participating Hy-Vee by Nov. 13. Full details and a list of participating Hy-Vee stores can be found here. Hy-Vee will submit your screening results to Wellmark, which will automatically update your online assessment.

If you’ve already completed your biometrics screening, don’t forget to take the online wellness assessment via myWellmark by Dec. 4.

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

—Submitted by Cindy Adams, Associate Director, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Protecting your identity—tips for campus

Is it possible to prevent identity theft?

Experts say yes and no.

Think of identity theft like someone attempting to break into your home.

Can you prevent someone from breaking in? You can definitely make it difficult. Door and window locks and alarms, security cameras, even guards are possible deterrents.

Would it still be possible for a break-in to occur with these things in place? Yes, if they are determined enough and had more manpower or better technology.

The same is true for protecting your identity. You can make it more difficult to misuse or steal, but it’s impossible to 100 percent guarantee that it won’t happen. Making some thought-out choices will greatly reduce your chances of being a victim.

Your personal information is a goldmine.

Below are some practical ways to prevent or reduce the chances of identity theft, as well as put a stop to existing fraud that may be occurring without your knowledge.

Minimize exposure of your Social Security and credit card numbers. Do you know how many websites currently have your information on file? Most companies offer to save this information for you, but if the company suffers a breach, information may be disclosed that you’d forgotten was entrusted to them.

Credit cards are still a relatively safe option. Credit card companies limit the liability of fraud victims, often better than banks do with debit cards. Keep the contact information of your financial institutions in a place you’ll remember in case you do suspect fraud.

Watch out for phishing emails and calls. Phishing schemes can take many forms, but have a general theme: coercing you into giving up personal information, whether passwords protecting financial data, or account information via phone. If you’ve suffered from fraud in the past, you are at additional risk. Additional information on how to spot these scams is located on Drake’s information security website.

Manage your passwords effectively. We all use dozens of websites that require passwords. Using a password manager or even a written list kept in a locked drawer is safer than using weak passwords or the same password on multiple sites. Think of your most valuable sites such as online banking, retirement, healthcare, etc., and focus on creating strong, unique passwords for these sites to that they are not at risk if passwords at other sites are stolen.

Upgrade authentication where possible. Some companies are starting to offer two-factor authentication, or “2FA”—a smart phone app or automated phone call used to confirm your identity in addition to a password. It does introduce a layer of complexity and hassle, but it could be a small price to pay to secure your finances and other online accounts.

Protect mobile devices. Your phone and tablet probably have your email account, which can easily give a thief access to other accounts through password resets or social engineering. Using screen locks and encrypting these devices are two easy steps to protecting yourself if they are lost or stolen. Apple and Google both offer a service to remotely wipe the device if it’s ever lost so that your information is safe, even if the device is gone.

If you receive notification from a company that holds your personal information, such as a financial institution or the IRS that your information has been compromised or that they suspect fraud on your account, the following steps can help limit the damage and get your life back to normal.

  • Place a fraud alert on your financial accounts and credit reporting bureaus so they are aware of the situation.
  • Order your credit reports. The credit reporting bureaus provide copies for free once notified of potential fraud.
  • File an identity theft report with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and your local police.
  • Monitor your accounts and dispute any fraudulent charges on your account as soon as you notice them

There is quite a bit more information online about this topic through the FTC and IRS websites. Information security staff within Drake Technology Services can also provide information and assistance; they can be reached at informationsecurity@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Jeff Sabin, Information Security Officer/Head of Infrastructure and Security

Campus Announcements Archive

Annual Benefits Fair Friday

When: Nov. 6, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
Where: Olmsted Center, Parents Hall

Stop by and chat with representatives from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Advantage Administrators, Delta Dental of Iowa, TIAA-CREF, Long Term Care Strategies, Principal Life Insurance Company, Employee and Family Resources, and Human Resources. This “come-and-go” event will provide an opportunity for you to:

  • Ask questions and learn about the wide range of benefits available at Drake
  • Enter a drawing to win a $25 VISA Card by submitting your flexible spending account enrollment form.

—Submitted by Marlene, Heurtz, Assistant Director, Benefits

Campus Announcements Archive

Campus-wide benefits meeting

How do Drake benefits compare? What is Drake’s philosophy when it comes to employee benefit decisions? What changes are planned for this year and beyond?

The answers to all of these questions and more will be discussed at a session entitled: A Report to Faculty and Staff: The Status of the Drake Medical and Dental Plans. Mark your calendars to attend; these are important opportunities to learn more and to ask questions:

Nov. 6
1 p.m.
Room 301, Olmsted Center

Nov. 11
3 p.m.
Drake Room, Olmsted Center

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Campus Announcements Archive

When the skies of November turn gloomy

It’s that time of year again when we begin to prepare ourselves for inclement weather. This is a reminder for all members of the Drake University community about winter weather policies and procedures as well as parking rules and regulations during periods of snow removal.

While uncommon, official class cancellations, University delays, and closings may be required in extreme conditions. The provost will make such determinations after considering multiple factors (e.g., snowfall, ice, wind chill) and consulting with appropriate members of the University community.

Information about cancellations or closures will be available through the Cancellation Line (515-271-4545) or on the Drake University website (www.drake.edu). Local television and radio stations will also be notified.

When making the decision to cancel, delay, or close the University, all efforts are made to finalize the decision by 6 a.m. so that information can be disseminated to media outlets and the University’s Cancellation Line before most people begin their trip to campus. For evening classes beginning after 4:30 p.m., all efforts are made to finalize the decision by 2:30 p.m. Full criteria and guidelines are available online.

Please be aware that it is virtually impossible to make a decision on the cancellation of classes or closing of the University that will satisfy the needs and concerns of all students, faculty, and staff. Thus, it is important for everyone to exercise good judgment with respect to personal safety. No one is expected to take undue risks.

Parking during snowfall

In blueView, Drake’s Department of Public Safety has posted subscription instructions for the City of Des Moines’ automatic snow route and odd/even parking notifications. The Des Moines Department of Public Works will use snowplows to clear designated snow routes beginning at accumulations of one inch and residential streets at accumulations of two inches.

It is illegal to park on a designated snow route once snowplow operations have commenced. Snow routes near the Drake campus include University Avenue, Forest Avenue, 30th Street, and 34th Street. You cannot park on either side of these streets during snow removal operations.

While city ordinance forbids parking on residential streets during snow removal operations, neighborhoods with limited amounts of off-street parking, including the Drake neighborhood, must use established odd- and even-side snow parking zones. Failure to comply with the odd/even parking regulations may result in the Des Moines Police Department issuing $35 fines and possibly towing vehicles.

Odd/Even Snow Removal Parking Details:

  • Snowplowing operations in designated odd/even neighborhoods will occur between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Odd calendar days of the month are matched with street addresses ending in an odd number. On odd-numbered days, vehicles should be parked on the odd side of the street. (Reverse for even.)
  • Vehicles must be on the correct side of the street by 7 a.m. to avoid a ticket.

NOTE: Parking tickets may be issued until 7 p.m.—even if plows have already cleared neighborhood streets. Furthermore, extraordinary conditions may require extension of the city’s snowplowing time period. Stay informed and up-to-date by subscribing to the City of Des Moines’ automatic snow route and odd/even parking notifications (noted above).

Finally, please remember that 27th Street is now designated as a Commuter Parking Lot. As a Commuter Parking Lot and in order to facilitate snow removal, 27th Street must remain free of cars from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. each day. Cars parked on 27th Street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. will be ticketed and may be towed to facilitate snow removal.

Thank you for your kind attention to these winter weather policies and procedures.

—Submitted by Provost Joe Lenz

News & Achievements Archive

Drake Relays Parade survey

As a result of declining participation in the Drake Relays Parade, a committee has been formed to identify ways to generate renewed excitement as well as campus and community-wide participation. In order to re-evaluate the purpose, goals, and outcome of the Relays Parade, we are asking faculty, staff, and students (as well as neighbors and local businesses) to provide us with feedback and ideas for the future of the parade. We understand what a big part this long-standing tradition played in the week leading up to the Drake Relays and want to be sure we consider the support, sustainability, and impact of this Relays standby.

We appreciate your opinions as we move forward. Follow the link to complete the brief survey: http://tinyurl.com/drakeparadesurvey

—Submitted by Marina Verlengia, Director of Student Programming

News & Achievements Archive

Foreign language conversation hours

Do you want or need to keep up your foreign language fluency? Drake’s Department of World Languages and Cultures wants to help.

Spanish Conversation Hours
Spanish Conversation Hours are scheduled for Mondays, 2–3 p.m., and Thursdays, 12:30–1:30 p.m., in Meredith Hall, Room 228. All levels of Spanish speakers are welcome. The group supports participants with an opportunity to practice Spanish, and no long-term commitment is required to attend. A native speaker facilitates the conversation in Spanish in an informal setting.
For further information, contact Visiting Assistant Professor Inbal Mazar at inbal.mazar@drake.edu

Arabic Club
Arabic Club offers the opportunity for students, faculty, and administrators to practice speaking in Arabic on Wednesdays in Medbury Hall, Room 219 between 1:15 and 3:15 p.m. All levels of speakers are welcome. In addition to practicing speaking, the group explores history, geography, culture, and others topics of interest to the group. Drop-in attendance is welcome.
For further information, contact Adjunct Instructor Nahed Waly at nahed.waly@drake.edu

—Submitted by Drake International