Despite the usual fall weather we’ve been experiencing, the University Avenue sewer and streetscape project has made significant progress over the last couple of months. Contractors have been hard at work installing storm sewer pipes, burying all utilities, relocating fire hydrants, and installing new streetlights. The north bike lane and sidewalks have started to take shape adjacent to the campus and temporary street paving is happening soon. The intent is to have all walk connections, street paving, and rough grading completed to provide two travel lanes and a center turn lane with a continuous sidewalk prior to shutting down this project for the winter. In the spring (before Drake Relays), the bus shelter, final street paving, and landscaping will be complete to finalize this new stretch of streetscape.

One of the unique aspects of this streetscape has been completed by 30^th Street. This is the first area in the city to receive the newly designed bus stop with incorporated bike lanes that travel behind the bus stop in order for the bus to pick-up or drop-off passengers without any conflicts to bicyclists. There will be two new bus stops on the north side and eventually three on the south side.

As construction continues, please be aware of your surroundings in relation to traffic with limited sight lines and use caution when crossing University Avenue. Students, faculty, and staff are asked to use the pedestrian crossing light at Olmsted Lot for crossing.

— Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning and Management

The 2019 United Way Campaign began yesterday, and as of this morning we’ve raised $26,347 from 191 donors. Thank you to those who have given. For those who have not yet given, please do not forget to make your contributions by Friday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. We need more support to reach our goal of 450 donors. We anticipate that this number of donors will raise upwards of $60,000.

When Katelyn Sobotka, assistant director for compliance, Drake Athletics, was asked why she donates to the United Way, she said:

“I give to United Way because growing up I was the beneficiary of programs similar to those that the United Way supports. My parents are farmers, which, during planting and harvesting season, could often result in them spending anywhere from 10 to 16 hours a day working in the fields. Thankfully, there was a well operated before and after-school program that my parents were able to enroll my brother and me in that focused on educational and recreational activities. This programming promoted our childhood development and allowed my parents to focus on completing their work. Being able to put in longer days during the week also meant my parents were generally able to have nights and weekends free to spend with us as a family. I give because first I was a beneficiary.”

You may read about the campaign and see the full list of incentives by visiting drake.edu/unitedway. If you have any questions, please contact your unit’s campaign captain, or Ryan Arnold, at ryan.arnold@drake.edu or ext. 2394.

— Ryan Arnold, Director of Community Engagement

Friendly reminder that this organizational view of institutional leadership is a great way to get to know the leadership structure here at Drake. Instead of a boring text, you will find photos of each leader. This can always be found on the Office of the President page and is maintained by the President’s Office. Bonus feature: if you click on a person’s image, you will be directed to their corresponding web page to learn more.  It is a handy tool, especially if you are new to Drake!

— Nate Reagen, Chief of Staff, President’s Office

DU What Matters—that’s the theme of this year’s Campus Climate Survey. At Drake we seek to create an environment characterized by openness, fairness, and equity for all students, faculty, and staff.Please take the Campus Climate Survey to help us better understand the current climate at Drake University. The survey is open through Nov. 26 and should take about 20–30 minutes to complete. Your participation is an opportunity to DU What Matters.

Take the survey

This confidential survey is designed to gauge the current attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of students, faculty, and staff at Drake. We will use survey responses to identify opportunities for making improvements and taking tangible steps toward creating a more positive and inclusive campus climate. Please be assured that all of your answers will remain confidential, and the results will be reported in the aggregate. 

Creating change
Five years ago, when we collected data through the last climate survey, a host of positive steps were taken to make our campus community more inclusive and equitable. Here is a list of the top ten initiatives to come out of the project:

1. Creation of the Bulldog Foundations course
2. Creation of the Equity Action Partners
3. Adoption of the preferred name policy
4. Adoption of the employee leave policy
5. Creation of Drake’s Commitment to Equity and Inclusion statement
6. Requiring Haven training on equity and inclusion for all incoming students
7. Development of the Flight program
8. Overhaul of the EthicsPoint reporting platform
9. Development of the CORE pipeline program
10. Overhaul of the Title IX office

Win a prize!
When you complete the survey, you will be directed to a different page to submit your name into a drawing for a variety of prizes. The two sites are completely separate, so please be assured that confidentiality of survey responses will be protected. Prizes include: 

• Drake parking pass
• Starbucks gift cards
• Drake apparel
• Pizza party for residence hall floor/office
• $200 in funding for a research assistant
• Drake Relays tickets
• Basketball tickets
• Griff socks

The Campus Climate Survey has been acknowledged as an exempt study by the Drake Institutional Review Board. Additional information about the project is available at drake.edu/duwhatmatters. Thank you in advance for your contribution to the future of Drake University.

— Erin Lain, Associate Provost for Campus Equity and Inclusion

It’s next week! The 2019 United Way Campaign will be held from Monday, Nov. 11, through 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15. You may read about the campaign and see the full list of incentives by visiting drake.edu/unitedway.

“United Way of Central Iowa ensures we’re able to prioritize the highest quality of youth programming,” shared Kendra Allen, director of the Burt Boys and Girls Club.

Remember, 100% of funds raised stay within central Iowa and support programing like Character Counts. “The donations impact our community’s youngest children through their early childhood educators and have direct connections to their families and caregivers,” stated Scott Raecker, executive director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center.

There will be a happy hour campaign kickoff Friday, Nov. 8, at 3:30 p.m.—watch for a special invitation from President Martin.

— Ryan Arnold, Director, Community Engagement

Have you visited Drake’s Continuous Improvement Plan site lately? It highlights our objectives, key metrics, and success stories that illustrate some of the ways we, as a campus community, are living out our mission and inspiration every day.

Watch a video of students collaborating to solve complex coding problems, all while enjoying pizza at Professor Tim Urness’ home. Or, read how Drake has met its 25% carbon reduction goal two years ahead of schedule. These stories, which can be found by clicking on the “+” on each objective box, not only bring a greater understanding to the plan’s objectives, but also showcases our collective success.

As a reminder, Drake has a balanced approach to strategic planning across four main commitment areas. We continually assess priorities to drive purposeful action through our Continuous Improvement Plan.  Within the commitment areas of the plan, you will find each of our objectives supported by key metrics. 

The site also highlights University-level initiatives, such as the Burt Club, Nelson Development project, University Avenue Streetscape project, and more.  Thank you for taking the time to learn more about how our mission and inspiration drive action through our Continuous Improvement Plan.

— Nate Reagen, Chief of Staff

Drake’s Campus Climate Assessment Survey begins next Tuesday, Nov. 5, and we are looking for 100 volunteers to help spread the word and encourage participation. Click here to sign up for a volunteer opportunity. Volunteers are needed to hang door hangers, manage pop-up stations, and handout cupcakes. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt.

To learn more about the 2019 Campus Climate Assessment, visit the DU What Matters website

— Erin Lain, Associate Provost for Campus Equity and Inclusion

Mark your calendars and being considering your contribution—the 2019 United Way Campaign will be held Monday, Nov. 11, through 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15. More information will be shared next week!

— Ryan Arnold, Director, Community Engagement