This coming Friday, Nov. 6, will be our third lunch/discussion for FYS instructors, which is open to current instructors and those considering teaching an FYS in the future. For information about the event and to RSVP, go to: http://tinyurl.com/nov-fyslunch
—Submitted by Art Sanders, Associate Provost
There will be a session for faculty and staff leading J-Term travel seminars for the first time in J-Term 2016 and 2017 and for those interested in leading a J-Term travel seminar in the future on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Cowles 201. If you plan to attend, please contact arthur.sanders@drake.edu so we can be sure to have sufficient materials available.
There will also be a session for those teaching on-campus J-Term classes for the first time in 2016, and for those thinking about developing a class for J-Term 2017, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Cowles 201. Please note that the call for proposals for on-campus J-Term 2017 classes will be sent at the end of November.
—Submitted by Art Sanders, Associate Provost
Drake University is proud to partner with United Way of Central Iowa and Iowa Shares for our 22nd campus giving campaign! Drake employees have consistently supported the efforts of United Way and Iowa Shares, making Drake’s campus giving campaign No. 1 in participation among central Iowa universities and colleges. With your support, we’ll continue this trend and support the great work of United Way and Iowa Shares.
Consider giving to the campaign between Nov. 2 and Nov. 13. Payroll deduction is an option, as is making monthly payments. Our goals this year are to raise $52,000, to increase campaign participants by 100, and to increase leadership giving ($1,000+) to 14 individuals.
Click here to give to the United Way of Central Iowa.
Click here to give to Iowa Shares.
For more information regarding this year’s incentives, which include a parking pass, gift cards, and tickets to a men’s or women’s basketball game, please visit www.drake.edu/uwiscampaign or contact Renee Sedlacek, renee.sedlacek@drake.edu.
—Submitted by Renee Sedlacek, Interim Director, Community Engagement and Service-Learning
The pre-construction project to move an electrical distribution line and to move a communication duct is nearly complete; this project needed to be completed prior to construction of the new Science Connector Building and the new School of Education. A portion of sidewalk is currently closed on the west side of 27th Street, just east of Medbury Hall. This sidewalk should be poured early next week. The project is approximately two weeks ahead of schedule. The construction will continue for the next week or two in a grassy area between Medbury and Jewett Hall parking lot, but will not close any sidewalk.
—Submitted by Jolene Schmidt, Director, Operations and Support Services
All fully executed contracts need to be sent to ducontracts@drake.edu.
The following agreements should be kept at the department level:
—Submitted by Kelly Foster, Administrative Services Specialist
University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA) has developed a number of free risk management webinars to help bring information about the value of risk management to our campus during Risky Business Week. Drake University is a member of URMIA and as such, all faculty, staff, and students can register to take the free risk webinars below. Consider participating on your own or in a group (discussion group, lunch and learn, etc.).
Webinar 1: Managing Risks with Student Groups (Monday, Nov. 2, 11 a.m.)
Webinar 2: Mitigating Travel Risks with University Policies and Procedures (Tuesday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m.)
Webinar 3: Can It Begin with Me? Risk Leadership on Campus. (Wednesday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m.)
Webinar 4: Working with Researchers to Manage Laboratory Risks (Thursday, Nov. 5, 11 a.m.)
Webinar 5: Data Breach 201 (Friday, Nov. 6, 11 a.m.)
Register for Risk Management Week webinars here. You’ll find full descriptions of each webinar on the register page. (NOTE: when you register, it will look like you are placing an order but the webinars are free so $0 will show on the order form). If you have any problems registering, contact Donna Blunck at x3116.
—Submitted by Donna Blunck, Director, Risk and Insurance
The former head of digital strategy for the Obama White House and the president of production for the website Funny or Die are among the confirmed participants in “Digital Democracy: The Yahoo Conference on Technology and Politics” to be held at Drake on Nov. 12.
The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University celebrated CHARACTER COUNTS! Week in Iowa with a proclamation by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and the announcement of a high-profile award for former Major League Baseball player Casey Blake.
Plus, three Drake students were quoted in an article in The Washington Post, “What is a democratic socialist? Bernie Sanders tries to redefine the name.”
You may recall that in September I shared with you the effort by Drake leadership to introduce continuous improvement planning as an new approach to institutional strategic planning. To recap, continuous improvement is an ongoing, flexible planning process designed to deliver outcomes that improve communication, resource prioritization, and alignment with mission. This approach is a fusion of traditional strategic planning—we are drawing on the work done over the past few years—and HLC reaccreditation efforts, and offers an innovative strategy to improve our University.
Since my email in September, I have met with a number of stakeholders on campus, including Faculty Senate, All Staff Council, and the Board of Trustees to present the idea of continuous improvement and how we envision it working for us. I’m happy to now be able to share this information more broadly.
The campus at large can learn more about continuous improvement and what this means for Drake in one spot online. (You can also access the site via the blueView Homepage or Employee tab.) To give you a brief overview of the process and how it is being integrated across different areas of our University, I encourage you to view the following videos:
I invite your ongoing feedback as we make this transition. While we will no doubt have our growing pains with this change, it is a shift that will provide great benefit to the University.
Sincerely,
Marty
Princeton University faculty pianist Francine Kay will perform the opening concert of the third season of Drake University’s Keys to Excellence Piano Series, which raises awareness of Drake’s fundraising efforts for the purpose of purchasing 70 brand new Yamaha pianos for the music department.
Kay’s performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, in Sheslow Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.
Noted for innately original and artistic interpretations, Canadian pianist Francine Kay has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, North America, and Asia, and at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Center, Salle Gaveau, The National Gallery, Roy Thomson Hall, The Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts, and Bargemusic. Her performances have been broadcast on NPR, the BBC, WFMT, Radio France, and the CBC.
Learn more about Kay and the Keys to Excellence Piano Series here.
More fine arts events this week:
Faculty recital, Sarah Plum, violin
7:30–9 p.m.
Sheslow Auditorium
Student Theatre Production Showcase
Oct. 30–31, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 1, 2 p.m.
Studio 55
Get tickets here
Murder Mystery is a wellness incentive program coordinated by Recreational Services as a way to promote a daily fitness routine. It will take place at the Bell Center starting today, Oct. 26, and run through Friday, Oct. 30. Each day participants should sign in at the front desk of the Bell Center to access a clue. By the end of the week, each participant will have enough clues to solve the murder mystery. Each participant to correctly solve the mystery will receive a coffee mug. This program is free for all Drake students, faculty, and staff. Just sign in at the desk today, and start collecting your clues!
—Submitted by Ellen Lowe, Assistant Director Recreational Services – Wellness
