Category Archives: Strategic Updates Archive

Strategic Updates Archive

All In, Drake’s 24-hour giving challenge April 2–3

Since 1881, Drake University has been All In — and we’re not stopping now. Join with Bulldogs everywhere on April 2–3 for the All In 2020 Giving Challenge.

Our goal is to reach 1,881+ donors during the 24-hour challenge. If we reach this goal, the University will receive an additional $81,000 in matching gifts from alumni Doug Zinser, AS’96, Peggy Fisher, FA’70, and Larry Stelter, and Cynthia Lesher, LA’70.

Gifts made during All In support the University across schools and academic units, athletics, and student affairs, and help fund scholarships and immediate needs.

Follow Drake University Alumni on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for information about events and what’s happening during All In.

We’re also looking for ambassadors to help promote All In. Sign up on the All In website and reach out to Kara Vaughn in University Advancement if you have questions (kara.vaughn@drake.edu).

— Alicia Chilton, University Communications & Marketing

Strategic Updates Archive

Three houses to be relocated to Sherman Hill today

There has been a lot of construction activity along University Avenue. This activity includes plans to relocate three houses in the 2900 block of University Avenue, between 29th Street and Walgreens, to the Sherman Hill neighborhood. The houses are scheduled to move starting around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25 (weather dependent). The houses will travel east on University Avenue, then south on 26th Street, and finally east on Cottage Grove toward the Sherman Hill neighborhood.  Drake has worked closely with Habitat for Humanity to facilitate the reclamation of items from within these homes. Steps have also been taken to abate any environmental conditions in the homes.

Additional work is underway on plans for this area going forward. We look forward to sharing more on plans for the future in the coming weeks.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kelly Foster at Kelly.foster@drake.edu.

—Kelly Foster, Business and Insurance Manager

Strategic Updates Archive

March 10 town hall to focus on Commitment to Mission

Plan to arrive at 3:30 p.m. for a town hall meeting prior to the Provost’s Drake Social on Tuesday, March 10, in the Cowles Library Reading Room. The town hall will be presented by President Martin and focus on the Drake Core Value of Commitment to Mission.

The Provost’s Drake Social will begin immediately afterward. Those who have been recognized by colleagues for their Commitment to Mission will be honored, and three individuals will be drawn to receive prizes. You must be present to win. To nominate a colleague, complete this Qualtrics form.

All Staff Council will host a Trivia contest beginning at 4:45 p.m. Come with a team or form one on the spot.

The Drake Social is a family friendly event.

— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost

Strategic Updates Archive

Big Ideas initiative update

With the second semester in full swing, I am pleased to provide an update on the Big Ideas process and share exciting next steps. 

Over the last few months, President Martin and members of the Advancement staff have been meeting with key University donors and prospects to update them on the Big Ideas process and share the six proposed themes:

  1. Center for Public Democracy
  2. Digital Proficiency Platform
  3. Every Bulldog a Changemaker
  4. Intergenerational Campus
  5. Jay N. Darling Institute
  6. University Center

For a review of the Big Ideas themes, refer back to the video shared by President Martin on Dec. 2.

I am pleased to report that 105 one-on-one visits with leadership donors and prospects have been completed, with approximately 10 more visits scheduled. Intended to serve as a modified feasibility study supporting the Big Ideas process and Drake’s next comprehensive fundraising campaign, these meetings allowed us to gauge which themes resonated most with prospective donors. Overwhelmingly, we received positive feedback regarding the Big Ideas and analysis to help shape the next steps in the process.

Also, last month, President Martin provided the Board of Trustees a detailed update on the Big Ideas, and the Board offered their feedback and their endorsement of the process.

Immediate next steps
In the coming weeks, meetings will be scheduled with each of the Big Ideas champions and additional contributors to begin the process of defining specific fundraising initiatives related to their idea. Our goal is to have a “fundraising menu” drafted for each of the six themes leading into the April Board meeting.

In addition, a letter and marketing piece will be sent from President Martin to the more than 100 prospects we held meetings with. The letter will thank them for their participation, update them on the process, and summarize next steps.

Once again, thank you for your continued support of this exciting process. As always, please reach out with any questions and feedback. 

— John Smith, Vice President, University Advancement

Strategic Updates Archive

Updates to the IT service portal: New look and remote support

If you visited service.drake.edu/its or clicked on the IT Support link in myDrake, you may have noticed a new look. We’ve made some changes to the layout to make answers easier to find. In addition to submitting online requests for assistance, be sure to browse the tech resources and instructions available in our knowledge base. Never used our site? Learn more at Using the IT Service Portal (How-to).  

Tomorrow we’re launching a new feature allowing you to interact online with ITS staff to resolve technical issues. With your consent, ITS staff will be able to remotely access your computer to diagnose and resolve issues. All interactions will be logged as part of the request and no ITS staff member will ever access a computer without permission. In order to easily facilitate this new support option, we will be pushing out software to all Drake-owned computers tomorrow morning. As a result, you may see a new icon in your menu bar or software area for BeyondTrust, the remote support tool we’re adding.  

Learn about how remote support will work at Using Remote Support with ITS (How-to) 

By switching to remote support, ITS is hopeful that we will be able to improve response and resolution times. Remote support will become the primary initial method of assistance and in-person support will only be provided if remote access cannot resolve the issue. 

–Carla Herling, ITS

Strategic Updates Archive

Street closures and parking Jan. 29–30

As mentioned in an email to campus on Jan. 26, U.S. President Donald Trump will host a campaign event at the Knapp Center on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 30. As a result, the following campus parking lots will be closed Thursday:

Lot 1A (visitor lot)
Lot 2 (east of Shivers)
Lot 3 (immediately behind the Knapp Center)
Lot 4 (Tennis Center)
Lot 13 (Ray Promenade)

Any vehicles parked in these lots after 2 a.m. on Thursday will be towed away at the owners expense.

Drake Public Safety expects that many non-Drake vehicles will be parked in open lots on Wednesday evening and Thursday. With the exception of vehicles on grass or blocking operations, Drake Public Safety will not be towing vehicles out of open lots. Drake students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to arrive early to find parking or use alternate methods of travel. As a reminder, Drake provides unlimited rides on DART as a benefit for employees and students. Simply show your Drake ID when boarding any regular DART bus. The DART website provides assistance in navigating which routes to take and offers detailed scheduling information. 

Drake permit holders with valid parking permits may park in any Drake lot that is open on Thursday.

STREET CLOSURES
Forest Avenue between 27th Street and 25th Street will close on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 10 a.m. to through traffic.

On Thursday, Jan. 30, expect the following streets to be closed:

  • 25th Street between Forest Avenue and Clark Street
  • Clark Street between 25th Street and 27th Street
  • 27th Street between Clark Avenue and Forest Avenue

No vehicles may be parked on Clark Street between 25th Street and 27th Street on Thursday, Jan. 30. Vehicles parked on Clark will be towed away by the city at the owners expense.

— Scott Law, Director, Public Safety & Operational Services

Strategic Updates Archive

Updated brand standards, style guide available

Office of University Communications and Marketing is pleased to release a revised version of the Drake University Brand Standards & Style Guide. This updated version builds on the branding work completed in 2018 and incorporates updated photography, sample work, and style definitions.

   >>> Download 2020 Brand Standards & Style Guide 

In working with any style system, points of clarity need to be made to maintain consistency when working with external and internal partners. This update includes decisions our team has made over the last year in coordination with external partners. The previous guide included theoretical designs and stock photography, while this version incorporates current photography and design samples to show how the system has been implemented.

For questions regarding the guide or how to use the system, please contact Jeremy Sievers at x2795 or jeremy.sievers@drake.edu.

— Jeremy Sievers, University Communications & Marketing

Strategic Updates Archive

Democratic presidential debate parking update

Today (Tuesday, Jan. 14) Drake will host a nationally-televised live Democratic presidential candidate debate in Sheslow Auditorium, sponsored by CNN, the Democratic National Committee, and The Des Moines Register.

The debate will bring a large number of people to campus, including audience members, national media, campaign staff, and others. This creates a substantial amount of logistical planning, as well as parking and security concerns that all members of the campus community should be aware of. Please make note of the following:

  • The Bell Center gym is restricted and open to only media today and tomorrow. The Bell Center is the site of the “spin room” where reporters can talk with the candidates and representatives following the debate.
  • Old Main will close at noon today for security reasons and reopen tomorrow morning.
  • Parking Lot 13 (South of Forest Avenue and adjacent to the Ray Promenade) is closed to campus today and reserved for media.
  • Parking Lot 1A (adjacent to the Dial Center) is designated as the campaign visibility area. Parking is unavailable today through the end of the event.
  • Parking Lots 16 (Olmsted Center) & 24 (Aliber Hall) are open to debate attendees as well as University Community members.
  • The block of Carpenter Avenue west of 25th Street is closed today through the conclusion of the event.
  • There will be a heightened police presence on campus today. Also, expect some traffic delays and temporary road closures as candidates and reporters arrive to campus.

Thank you for your help in ensuring that this is a positive experience for all of the individuals visiting campus, as well as for all members of our campus community.

— Scott Law, Director, Public Safety & Operational Services