Category Archives: Strategic Updates Archive

University Avenue project update

Plans for a new development project on the south side of University Avenue between 25th and 27th Streets continue to move forward. While construction will not begin for several months, Nelson Construction is beginning the process of staging the construction site. In April, a construction trailer will move to the grassy lot located just west of First Christian Church. The adjacent parking lots will continue to be available for Drake’s use until construction begins. A construction schedule will be published in OnCampus once it is finalized. We anticipate having use of the parking lots until sometime in fall 2018.

— Venessa Macro, Finance and Administration

Great Colleges to Work For Survey: Call for more responses

We need more responses. Thank you to everyone who has already completed the Great Colleges To Work For survey. We have not yet reached our participation goal, but there is still time. The survey will close after the end of the business day on Friday, March 2. Please take this opportunity to make your voice heard. Your feedback is valued.

The survey was distributed by email to faculty and staff on Monday, Feb. 19. If you have not received your survey invitation or have other questions about the Great Colleges To Work For survey, contact Gary Johnson, director, HR operations, at gary.johnson@drake.edu or 515-271-4804.

Find an FAQ with more information here.

— Gary Johnson, Human Resources

Save the date to go All In: April 5 and 6, noon to noon!

Five years ago, a powerful tradition began. Get ready for the best year yet. All In, Drake’s annual 24-hour giving campaign, encourages the entire Drake community to support, share, and celebrate all that makes Drake great. Faculty and staff are invited to celebrate All In during a social on Thursday, April 5, from 3:30–5:30 in the lower level of Collier-Scripps Hall. Enjoy beer, wine, or a non-alcoholic drink along with snacks while socializing with your colleagues from across campus. You can learn more about All In and get up-to-date information about the campaign by liking our Facebook page, Drake All In.

Last year, 183 faculty and staff went All In, and overall, the campaign raised almost $155,000 from 852 donors. With your help, this year will be even more successful! So, join your fellow Bulldogs on Thursday, April 5 and Friday, April 6, noon to noon, to give back, spread the word, and go All In!

— Becca Widmer, University Advancement

From the Provost: HLC accreditation reaffirmed

Last Thursday I shared that the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has reaffirmed Drake’s accreditation. To have the HLC see that we are successfully completing our mission speaks volumes to the work of our faculty and staff, and validates the strength of our institution.

The team reported perceived strengths around Drake as a mission-driven university with an excellent reputation; strong academic programs; committed and accomplished faculty and dedicated staff; sound and transparent fiscal stewardship; improved initiatives in the area of diversity and inclusion; and improvements in communication, transparency, and accountability.

The HLC’s evaluation is based on five primary criteria: (1) Mission; (2) Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct; (3) Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support; (4) Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement; and (5) Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness. Each criterion includes multiple core components and subcomponents. The site visit team is required to render a determination for each of the five criteria, as well as for each core component, indicating that it is either (a) Met, (b) Met with concerns, or (c) Not met.

Drake met all 19 criteria and components reviewed by the commission, 17 of which were met unconditionally and two were “met with concerns.” These two areas of improvement include record keeping pertaining to employee qualifications and performance reviews, and assessment of student learning. A plan to address and improve these areas will be developed, and progress will be reported to the HLC.  The accreditation review also included a Quality Initiative that is intended to allow institutions to design an effort to suit its current concerns or aspirations. Drake’s project focused on crafting innovative, institution-based approaches to achieving inclusive excellence. View a summary of the HLC report and the Quality Initiative Report.

Successful completion of our reaffirmation of accreditation is due to the efforts of many people over the course of several years. An important component of the commission’s decision was the on-site evaluation last October. I am grateful to the many faculty and staff who attended the open forums – your participation attested to our engaged and committed campus culture.

On behalf of President Martin and the Drake University Board of Trustees, I would like to commend the entire University on this achievement, and in particular, the members of the HLC Steering Committee co-chaired by Craig Owens and Kevin Saunders, who dauntlessly managed the accreditation process from start to finish. In addition, I want to recognize the successful efforts of the Quality Initiative, including the “We Make Drake” Climate Survey and action plan. A special thanks to Melissa Sturm-Smith, Renee Cramer, and Michael Couvillon for their leadership in this area. The review team positively noted that “Drake University has invested broadly in this initiative through the time and action of leadership, faculty and staff; the engagement of a consulting firm; and taking direct action and planning for data driven future actions.”

The success of our reaffirmation of accreditation is a clear indication of the exceptional learning environment upheld at Drake, and personally, I am deeply proud to be part of such an outstanding institution.

— Sue Mattison, Provost

An update from the director of online programming

The Online Master of Arts in Communication successfully launched in January. The cohort of 14 students is already halfway through its first class. Students can enter the program six different times a year due to the program’s six-week parts of term. More students are set to begin the program March 26 when the second part of term begins.

The Online Master of Science in Education: Effective Teaching, Reading Specialist Endorsement and the English as a Second Language Endorsement are scheduled to launch at the end of March, with the Gifted and Talented Endorsement following shortly thereafter.

Finally, the MPA and MBA are on track to launch their online programs this fall.

The implementation and launch of these programs could not have been done without the hard work and support of the colleges and schools.

In addition to the launch of these programs, several faculty and staff members are preparing to teach online. Nine faculty and staff have completed the Quality Matters Online Teaching Certificate with three more scheduled to complete their training this semester. Sixteen more staff and faculty have completed, or are in the process of completing, the two required modules for teaching online. By May, almost 30 faculty and staff will have prepared to teach and assist in online learning. This marks another great step forward in ensuring our online programs meet the same quality as our face-to-face offerings.

If you have questions or are interested in discussing online education, contact Christina Trombley at christina.trombley@drake.edu.

— Christina Trombley, Online Programming

Reminder: Please complete the Great Colleges survey

Full-time faculty and staff received an email yesterday from The Chronicle of Higher Education  and Modern Think inviting them to participate in this year’s Great Colleges To Work For survey.

Please take time to complete the survey. It is easy, quick, anonymous, and confidential, and the primary tool used by the University to gather feedback on workplace culture. Instructions on how to access the survey are included in the email.

Although ITS has done testing and precautions have been taken so that this email should not be identified as SPAM, if you do not see this email in your inbox, please check your junk folder.

The survey period ends Friday, March 2. View a FAQ and more information.

For questions, contact Gary Johnson, director, human resources at gary.johnson@drake.edu.

— Gary Johnson, Human Resources

Coming this summer: New campus portal

A new internal campus portal, myDrake, will launch this summer. The site will be your one-stop, online gateway to campus information, resources, and functions. You’ll go there to register for classes, view your timecard, and connect with campus systems. ITS and University Communications are partnering with other campus groups to build this new internal site, which will replace blueView.

The launch date is intentionally scheduled between semesters in order to minimize disruption to campus, and ensure sufficient time to test the site’s functions. The launch of myDrake is not the end, but the initial phase, of the project. Content on the site will continue to evolve following the launch.

ITS will keep you informed throughout the project. You can find weekly status updates here, and watch for regular communication in OnCampus. A FAQ to help answer questions about myDrake will be available. In addition, the project team will provide a way for you to offer feedback throughout the process.

Carla Herling, ITS

Great Colleges to Work For survey

Full-time faculty and staff will have the opportunity to participate in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2018 Great Colleges to Work For survey.

On Monday, Feb. 19, faculty and staff will receive an email with an invitation to participate in the survey.

What is the Great Colleges to Work For survey?

The Great Colleges to Work For survey is the primary employee survey used by the University to gather feedback on workplace culture.

The survey is administered by ModernThink, a management-consulting firm focusing on workplace quality in higher education, and is sponsored by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

More information about the Great Colleges to Work For survey is available at www.chroniclegreatcolleges.com.

Why should I participate?

Your voice matters and your responses help the University to identify opportunities to improve workplace satisfaction and engagement. Your responses provide valuable insight into employee opinions and needs.

Is participation mandatory?

Participation is voluntary, although we do hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to share your feedback and make sure your voice is heard. A high response rate will help ensure an accurate representation of our community.

Are my responses confidential?

Your participation and the feedback you provide are completely confidential; responses cannot be traced back to individuals. Drake will receive reports summarizing the results, but will not have access to raw data.

Learn more by reading The Chronicle’s Great Colleges to Work For Statement of Confidentiality.

When and how do I participate?

The survey period begins Monday, Feb. 19, and ends Friday, March 2. The survey is administered online. Full-time faculty and staff will receive an email invitation to participate in the survey from Great Colleges.

How long will it take to complete the survey?

It typically takes about 15 minutes to complete the survey.

How is the data used and will the results be shared?

A summary of the findings will be shared with employees and will be used to identify our strengths and opportunities for improvement. Several key measures and targets in the University’s continuous improvement plan (CIP), and in many unit-level CIPs, are tied directly to feedback from the survey. For example, Drake is striving to earn a place on the Great Colleges to Work For Honor Roll by 2020. In addition, ModernThink provides valuable benchmark data against which we can compare our results. With this evidence in hand, senior leaders and individual units can make informed, strategic decisions about new initiatives.

For questions, contact Gary Johnson, director, HR operations, at gary.johnson@drake.edu or 271-4804, or visit www.ChronicleGreatColleges.com.

Can I complete the survey during work hours?

Yes. Faculty and staff are encouraged to complete the survey during working hours. Completing the survey is an important contribution that you can make to strengthen our campus community.

 

Drake’s new brand platform is coming to life

University Communications is working diligently to better tell Drake’s story. Work to implement the new brand platform, which was designed in partnership with brand consulting firm 160over90, has already begun. Printed and digital tools for student recruitment, new banners around campus, and frequently used communication templates are the first items to carry the new brand.

Word and PowerPoint templates

Samples of new student recruitment tools

Admitted transfer packet
Folder for admission visit information
Honors postcard
Folder for accepted student packet

University Communications is working with the colleges and schools  to define how the new brand platform will translate to each academic unit. Once the brand vision for each academic unit is set, University Communications will work with other units across campus on migration to the new brand platform.

The University’s brand style guide has been updated, as announced last month. However, as a reminder, you should not try to implement any elements of the new brand platform on your own and certainly not without first contacting University Communications. Proper and consistent use of Drake’s brand platform protects and strengthens our image and sets us apart from other institutions.

For questions about the branding initiative, refer to this FAQ or contact Dave Remund, executive director of University Communications, at dave.remund@drake.edu. Thank for your continued support as we transition to the new brand platform.

— Dave Remund, University Communications

Online programs update

Since the launch of the new online programs, Master of Arts in Communication and Master of Science in Education–Literacy Education, several milestones have been achieved, including the admittance of our first online students.

Landing pages created

Our online program manager, Higher Education, created and posted the first of many landing pages for our programs. These landing pages are designed explicitly to spur potential students to action. These pages are part of different digital campaigns, including a strong Facebook ad campaign. Visit online.drake.edu to view the pages.

Staff trained and ready

One of the important aspects of the partnership between Drake and Higher Education is the transparency of processes. The last three months have been used to ensure systems are working together and that all staff at each institution understands them. This past month, Admissions, the Registrar’s Office, and Online Program staff have been working together to train Higher Education staff on our processes, and we have been learning theirs, including a dynamic dashboard that tracks application status for potential students and provides essential demographic data to assist in communication and marketing.

First admitted students

Both programs have students who have completed their application and been admitted into the program. Currently, there are about two dozen more potential students in the process of applying. It is exciting and gratifying to see the hard work of so many areas culminate into a class of Drake students. We are confident that both programs will have a strong core group of students.

Next Steps

As the programs begin, there is still much to do. Programmatic landing pages will be developed to include some A/B testing, the web pages for online degrees will be developed that will include student support information and guides, and more faculty and instructors will complete the Quality Matters modules and work with our instructional designers. To date, ten faculty and staff have completed the Online Teaching Certificate through Quality Matters, and another four have completed the required modules. Several others are prepared to take courses next year. If you are teaching in the online programs and are not sure how to register, please contact me at extension 2506 or at christina.trombley@drake.edu.

—Christina Trombley, Online Programming