The transition to an integrated Facilities Planning and Management, in which both staff and managers are employed by Drake, has begun. Executive Director Kevin Moran has started the process of filling other key leadership positions and evaluating an appropriate management structure. As we transition in the next few weeks, every effort will be made to maintain continuity of operations.

We ask for your patience and understanding as we make this important transition. We encourage your questions and feedback as we move forward. Please continue to submit work orders using the current system or call the main office number, 271-3955.

Once Facilities Planning and Management is fully staffed, the department will be committed to accomplishing the following long-term goals:

• Advance continuous improvement planning and measurement in facilities management.
• Achieve exceptional customer service outcomes.
• Leverage resources for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
• Empower employees to contribute in meaningful ways to facilities excellence.
• Ensure comprehensive and long term capital planning processes.
• Communicate effectively and openly about priorities, budgeting, and project planning.
• Build greater capacity for advances in environmental sustainability and coordinated space planning.

We will continue to provide updates on the Facilities Services webpage and in OnCampus. Please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Moran, kevin.moran@drake.edu, or Jolene Schmidt, jolene.schmidt@drake.edu, if you have any questions.

—Kevin Moran, Executive Director, Facilities Planning and Management

Plans to move the University Bookstore to Olmsted Center are underway. This move brings bookstore operations closer to students, faculty, and staff. The bookstore will be located on the west end of the first floor of Olmsted Center (west of the Pomerantz stage area). The Office of Events will move to existing office space in the lower level of Olmsted Center. The current bookstore location at 3003 Forest Ave. is being evaluated as the future site of Drake’s occupational therapy program. Watch for more information about the project in OnCampus.

—Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Drake is proud to host 25 Mandela Washington Fellows as a part of the Young African Leaders Initiative for six weeks this summer. Join us to welcome the Fellows at a reception hosted by President Marty Martin. The Drake community, along with those partners who will be interacting with the Fellows throughout their time here are welcome to attend! Please RSVP online by Wednesday, June 15, so we have a general idea of how many people to expect.

—Amanda Martin, AmeriCorps and Service-Learning Programs Coordinator

On June 13, 2016 Kevin Moran will join Drake as executive director, facilities planning and management. Kevin will lead key changes to facilities operations in light of Drake’s decision to terminate its third-party facilities management contract effective July 1. Kevin was previously employed by the City of Des Moines, where he held a variety of positions—each with expanding responsibilities and accomplishments—over a 15-year period. Most recently, he served on a leadership team within the Parks and Recreation Department as senior park planner/properties administrator, where he developed, managed, and implemented capital improvement plans for city parks, trails, community centers, entertainment facilities, and pools. Kevin brings to the position skills and experience in budgeting, design, planning, construction, project management, and leadership.

Kevin received his Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University. In 2005, he successfully completed the Drake Certified Public Manager program. Kevin is a registered landscape architect and certified Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator.

Please join us in welcoming Kevin to the Drake community.

—Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Work is continuing on several action steps outlined in the recommendations provided by the Strategic Diversity Action Team (SDAT) in March. About 220 Drake students, faculty, and staff provided input on the diversity and inclusion statement; their feedback was taken into account and SDAT leaders met with the President’s Council to discuss the statement. After some delays with hectic end-of-semester activities, we hope to have the statement adopted by mid-June. Thanks to all who have participated in the process to this point; we are certainly proving that together, we make Drake stronger.

—SDAT

Faculty in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences recently approved a change in policy to allow qualified students to transfer into the pre-pharmacy program on a space available basis no later than their sophomore year, which may be of interest to students in other majors who are interested in the pharmacy program.

Students who begin in the pre-pharmacy program directly from high school are given a number of benefits during their first two years at Drake, as they complete the admission process for the professional Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program. These benefits, called the Drake Pharm.D. Difference, can be found on the CPHS website and include a guaranteed opportunity to complete the required admission interview and writing assessment, a pharmacy faculty mentor/advisor and the CPHS Office of Academic and Student Affairs to provide resources and support for students, and having the PCAT requirement waived for admission to the professional program. (This test is required for admission at most other pharmacy programs.)

Until now current students who are not in the pre-pharmacy program but are interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy were required to apply directly to our professional program through our “transfer” admission process. Students applying to the Pharm.D. program from majors other than pre-pharmacy are not given any other benefits of the Drake Pharm.D. Difference in the admission process. This new opportunity will allow these students to have some of the benefits of the Drake Pharm.D. Difference while they go through the Pharm.D. admission process.

This new policy change has a few requirements that students must meet in order to be considered for transfer admission into pre-pharmacy. In addition to listing them below, these requirements are also updated on our CPHS website.

In order to be considered for transfer admission into pre-pharmacy, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Students must meet the requirements for entrance into the professional program at the time of admission into the pre-pharmacy program, with the exception of completing the prerequisites.
2. Students must enter the pre-pharmacy program no later than the first day of class of the fall semester in which they will be applying to the professional program.
3. Students must complete at least 14 credits of their math/science prerequisites for the professional program at Drake.

Meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission into the pre-pharmacy program. Students who successfully transfer into the pre-pharmacy program will be given all the benefits of the Drake Pharm.D. Difference for Transfer Students. Students who transfer into pre-pharmacy are required to take the PCAT as part of their application to the professional program.

Transferring into the pre-pharmacy program at Drake does not guarantee admission into the professional pharmacy program.

Students who are approved to change to pre-pharmacy would take the appropriate prerequisite courses with their cohort and be considered on the same Pharm.D. admission timeline. These students would be given the benefit of a guaranteed interview for admission consideration to the professional program, but they would still be required to take the PCAT.

If you know a student who is interested in applying to the professional Pharm.D. program, please direct him or her to contact Jessica Lang, admissions liaison for the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, at jessica.lang@drake.edu to find out if he or she meets the qualifications for transferring into the pre-pharmacy program.

—Jessica Lang

As we face lower than projected revenue for year-end, all areas of the University are being asked to limit expenditures to only critical and essential expenses through the end of the current fiscal year (ends June 30). If an expense is deemed critical, approval should be obtained from the President’s Council representative for your unit or division, who will consult with me before approving any expenditure.

It will take the effort of all academic and administrative units in the Drake community to close this year with a balanced budget—a commitment we all must share. Being good stewards of the University’s resources ensures we are using the dollars entrusted to us by our students, their families, and donors to the benefit of the Drake living and learning experience, and allows us to maintain trust and confidence from the board.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

—Teresa Krejci, Chief Financial Officer

International Programs
After five years in her role as vice provost for international programs, Christa Olson is stepping down effective May 31, 2016. Following a sabbatical, Christa will join the faculty at Drake.  Upon consultation with President Martin and Provost-elect Sue Mattison, I have asked Annique Kiel to assume the role of interim executive director of Global Engagement and International Programs beginning June 1.  Annique joined Drake International in 2010, and currently serves as director of Drake Administered Programs Abroad. 

Under Christa’s tenure as vice-provost, International Programs has forged new partnerships with universities in Mexico, Chile, Malaysia, India, and China; doubled the number of travel seminars, thus tripling the number of students experiencing study abroad to over 400; and developed a strategic vision for internationalization and global engagement.   I hope that you’ll join me in thanking Christa for the contributions she has made to the University. Her commitment to Drake’s mission, to serving our students, and to forwarding our goal of graduating responsible global citizens has been greatly appreciated by us all.

Submitting Final Grades
This is a reminder that Spring 2016 final grades are due by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18. Exception: Final grades for the Law School are due on Tuesday, May 24, at 10 a.m. At 10 a.m. on May 18, you will no longer have the ability to enter grades online (except for the Law School).

Last week the Office of Student Records distributed instructions on how to enter your grades through Blueview or MyDUSIS. Those of you who use Blackboard can send your final grades from Blackboard directly to our main database (DUSIS).  Instructions for that method are here: https://du.screenstepslive.com/s/docs/m/7137/l/80040.

Faculty Reminder—Commencement RSVP
Faculty—If you are planning on attending the undergraduate and/or graduate ceremonies, please RSVP no later than noon on Tuesday, May 10 to http://2016springcommencementregistration.eventbrite.com

Because the Law School has a separate ceremony, Law faculty should notify your dean’s office directly. 

“All In” for a Faculty/Staff Social?
Join your colleagues for the last Drake Social of the academic year in the Shivers Hospitality Suite from 4 to 6 p.m. on May 10. Griff will make a special appearance from 5 to 6 p.m. at the social.

Provost Mobile Office Hour
My next scheduled mobile office hour is Thursday, May 12, 9–10:15 a.m., Cowles Cafe.

—Joe Lenz, Interim Provost

Effective May 15, 2016, Drake University Real Estate will contract with Allterra Property Solutions (a division of Anawim Housing) for the management of all Drake-owned residential properties. The properties will continue to be owned by Drake, but maintenance and leasing will be handled by Allterra. Current tenants were notified of this change on May 6.

Drake Real Estate owns several properties within walking distance campus that are available for students to rent. Some of the University properties are older homes that have been converted into apartments; many are single-family homes. We have several one- and two-bedroom apartments and a few three-bedroom apartments. We also have two- and three-bedroom houses and a few four-bedroom houses and one five-bedroom house. More information about offerings and availability can be found on www.drake.edu/realestate

Going forward Allterra will manage the leasing of these properties. If you have questions about renting a Drake-owned rental property, you can visit www.drake.edu/realestate or contact Kara Wilcoxon at 515-271-4985 or kara.wilcoxon@drake.edu. The new Drake Real Estate office will be located in Old Main, Room 101, across from the cashier’s office.

—Teresa Krejci, Chief Financial Officer