Category Archives: Strategic Updates Archive

Strategic Updates Archive

From the President

In my message to campus a few weeks ago, I introduced our new continuous improvement site, www.drake.edu/conversations. We have already received thoughtful comments and questions through the site, and I encourage everyone to provide feedback throughout the process of transitioning to a continuous improvement model at Drake.

We have recently made a few additions to the site. A new page has been added about our ongoing Higher Learning Commission re-accreditation efforts. The idea of continuous improvement is an integral part of the HLC’s approach to accreditation, as it enables universities to more accurately measure the success of their efforts and be responsive to the needs of an evolving student body. I encourage you to view Craig Owens and Kevin Saunders’ video message on this topic. By adding the re-accreditation information to our continuous improvement site, we are better aligning ongoing efforts, streamlining communication channels, and, hopefully, increasing campus-wide engagement with the process. As we move forward with re-accreditation, you will be able to find progress updates on the site.

We have also added several campus units’ balanced scorecards to the Conversations site: College of Business and Public Administration, Office of University Communications, Office of Admission, and Office of Alumni Relations and Development. These units volunteered to create continuous improvement plans for their operations. I encourage you to take a look at these plans as tangible examples of the balanced scorecard, as well as to see how campus colleagues are embracing this change and working toward creating a stronger University for the future. One thing to remember—these plans will change. Like the University’s continuous improvement plan, with feedback and progress these unit scorecards will evolve over time.

Sincerely,

Marty

Strategic Updates Archive

Open forums for provost finalists

Open forums for the provost finalists are planned for Nov. 30, Dec. 1, and Dec. 2 in Sussman Theater from 3 to 4:15 p.m. Candidates will present during the first half of the forum, and the second half will be opened up for questions from the campus community. The event will also be video-recorded by DTS. More information will be communicated at a later date, along with the final candidates CVs. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend!

—Submitted by Laura Schwarz, Administrative Support Specialist

Strategic Updates Archive

From the President

As you are aware, we began the search for a new provost earlier this fall. Led by Darcie Vandegrift, associate professor of sociology and department chair, the search committee began by soliciting input across campus about the community’s aspirations for our new provost. The committee has screened more than 60 applicants and will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.

The committee has identified a list of candidates to invite to a neutral site interview. These candidates were chosen for their talent and experience regarding:

• Record of professorial accomplishment
• Collaborative ability with campus stakeholders and appreciation of faculty governance
• Capacity to implement a mission-driven strategic vision
• Proven leadership and management skills
• Demonstrated ability to ensure the success of a diverse student body, staff, and faculty

Neutral site interviews will be completed before Thanksgiving, and the committee plans to invite three finalists to campus the week of Nov. 30. Open forums for each candidate will be held during that week—further details to be shared as the candidates are selected and schedules are finalized.

I would like to thank the committee for all their hard work and effort. Their diligence has enabled us to forego the typical practice of hiring a consultant, saving the University tens of thousands of dollars.

Please take the opportunity to provide feedback to the committee members as the process goes forward. The members of the search team are listed at www.drake.edu/provostsearch

Best regards,

Marty

Strategic Updates Archive

DNC debate tickets

Dear Drake students, staff, and faculty,

On Saturday, Nov. 14, Drake University will host a nationally-televised live Democratic presidential candidate debate in Sheslow Auditorium, sponsored by CBS News, the Democratic National Committee, the Iowa Democratic Party, the Des Moines Register, KCCI, and Twitter. 

Drake’s mission statement promises students an exceptional learning environment, and hosting the debate exemplifies this commitment. Specifically, there are four important ways in which hosting this debate reflects the University’s mission. First, the debate exemplifies our role in a civic democracy—the University is the place where the community (in this case, the nation) comes together to debate the important issues of the day. Second, CBS News will be hiring student interns who will work on all aspects of the production for the week prior to the event. Third, a limited number of tickets are available for Drake students, faculty, and staff to attend the debate itself, participating directly in the democratic process (information about how to request a seat is included below). Finally, the debate brings national attention to our University, increasing visibility and attracting the next generation of outstanding students to campus.

Hosting the debate requires a substantial amount of logistical planning, and the campus community will need to be aware of a number of issues.

Tickets:

The Democratic National Committee has exclusive control over distribution of tickets to attend the debate. A limited number of tickets have been made available to members of the Drake community, and priority will be given to current Drake students.

All debate attendees must be seated by 7 p.m. and will need to remain in Sheslow Auditorium for the entirety of the program, until 10 p.m. If you are unable to commit to attending the entire debate program, please do not request tickets.

Tickets will be distributed by lottery. To request a ticket, go to http://tinyurl.com/DNCDrakeDebate2015. You may request a ticket at any time prior to Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, at 5 p.m. Please submit your name and information only once, as duplicate entries are not permitted. In order to guarantee equal opportunity for all members of the Drake community, only one submission per person will be eligible.  Each request is for only one ticket, and Drake is not providing tickets for family, friends, or alumni.

Please be aware that attendance will require Secret Service screening procedures.

Should you be chosen to receive a ticket to the event, you will be notified by Friday, Nov. 6, using the preferred email address you provide in your request. Once you confirm your acceptance of the ticket, additional instructions and information will be provided. Please remember that tickets are nontransferable—they are only valid for the individual who has been designated to use the ticket and IDs will be checked at the door. 

Facilities and Security: 

The debate will bring a large number of people to campus (approximately 1,000-1,500 people are expected). This creates security concerns and all members of the campus community should be aware of this. Please observe the following guidelines to ensure safety: 

  • The Bell Center, Cartwright Hall, and Old Main will be restricted to those affiliated with the debate for security reasons. Credentials will be necessary to enter these spaces on Friday evening and all day Saturday (Nov. 13 and 14). If you need to use facilities in these buildings, please plan to do so before or after they are secured for the debate.
  • Areas immediately surrounding the Bell Center, Cartwright Hall, and Old Main will be restricted for security reasons. Prior to the debate, information will be available regarding street closures, parking restrictions, and other logistics. Please plan accordingly.
  • Please carry your Drake Card (ID) with you at all times. Should an emergency arise, this will allow security and Secret Service personnel to identify you as a member of the Drake community.
  • For students living on campus or in the immediate area, please be extra cautious about allowing access to living spaces to individuals who are not known to you. Do not prop or leave doors open, do not let people into your building unless you know them personally, and do not accept “credentials” from any individual not affiliated with the University, the Des Moines Police, or the Secret Service.

Things to Keep in Mind

Hosting a nationally-televised live debate provides invaluable opportunities for the Drake community. It also means that our campus and our community are in the national spotlight. Approximately 700 credentialed members of the press are expected. Three presidential candidates will be on campus. You may have interactions with CBS staff, candidates, campaign staff, Secret Service personnel and/or the media. Please take care to be respectful and responsible. You may well have the opportunity to show the nation who we are as the Drake community and our collective commitment to civility and the open, respectful exchange of divergent views. Together, we can ensure that this is a positive experience for all of the individuals visiting campus, as well as for all members of the Drake family.

Additional details regarding building access, street closures, and parking restrictions, will be distributed next week.

—Joe Lenz, Provost

Strategic Updates Archive

STEM@DRAKE project update

Significant pre-construction activity is underway relative to the STEM@DRAKE project. Last Wednesday at the STEM@DRAKE Construction Open House, members of the campus community saw the latest building renderings and floor plans. Positive comments were shared about the inclusion of gender neutral bathrooms and dedicated lactation rooms in both buildings, as well as the overall cohesive look of the buildings. Members of Drake’s Grounds Department—Aaron Harpold and Jeff Bosworth—were on hand to discuss how the project will impact trees. Attendees voted on the type of trees they would like to see planted as part of the effort to replace and nearly double the number of trees that will be lost during construction.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Strategic Updates Archive

From the President: Continuous improvement

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:

  1. Overview of continuous improvement
  2. Continuous improvement and academic operations—Joe Lenz
  3. Continuous improvement and HLC reaccreditation—Kevin Saunders & Craig Owens
  4. Continuous improvement and campus technology—Chris Gill
  5. Continuous improvement and budget planning—Teresa Krejci

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

Strategic Updates Archive

Save the Date: STEM@DRAKE Construction Open House

Plan to attend the first STEM@DRAKE Construction Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Parents Hall South, Olmsted Center. Learn more about plans for construction of the School of Education and Math and Computer Science facility as well as the new Science Connector building. Construction team members and members of the University Steering Team will be on hand to answer questions. A brief project overview will be presented at 3:15 and 4 p.m., but you can come anytime to learn more and visit with our team.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Strategic Updates Archive

Drake welcomes new Title IX coordinator, equity and inclusion policy specialist

Drake welcomes Kathryn Overberg to the role of Title IX coordinator, equity and inclusion policy specialist. Kathryn’s role is to oversee sexual harassment and sexual assault complaints involving students and to ensure the University’s overall compliance with Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. In addition to her focus on Title IX compliance, Kathryn will provide consultative guidance on policies and practices that will advance Drake’s commitment to nondiscrimination and inclusivity. She will conduct training and be involved in a variety of prevention and outreach activities. She will work closely with Student Life, the Office for Sexual Violence Response and Healthy Relationship Promotion, Disability Services, the Office of Residence Life, Academic Affairs, and Human Resources.

Kathryn has extensive experience in higher education and Title IX related issues, serving as associate counsel for Iowa State University where she built strong working relationships across campus in academic and non-academic units. Kathryn received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Washington University in St. Louis, where she also played varsity soccer. She earned her law degree from the University of Iowa.

Please feel free to reach out to Kathryn to welcome her to Drake. Her email address is kathryn.overberg@drake.edu and her extension is x2982. Her office is located in Old Main, Room 205.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Strategic Updates Archive

From President Martin: Oct. 12

This past weekend was a busy one as members of the Drake University Board of Trustees were on campus for their fall meeting. We covered many topics on Friday and Saturday, and concluded with a wonderful celebration of the record-breaking distinctlyDrake campaign Saturday night. Seeing so many of our loyal supporters all in one spot was energizing and inspiring.

Many noteworthy topics were addressed at the board meeting, of which I’d like to share a few highlights. The board received an update regarding the STEM@DRAKE project. Work is being done to finalize costs in alignment with the budget, as well as to complete construction documents that will take our design and renderings into development. The board was briefed that the University will pursue Green Globes certification of the new connector building and the School of Education, Computer Sciences, and Math building. Green Globes is a nationally recognized rating assessment, guidance, and certification program. Right now, we are targeting the rating of two globes, an achievement that will underscore the importance of sustainability on our campus.

Teresa Krejci, chief financial officer, shared budget savings updates with the board. Savings initiatives in the FY16 budget call for a temporary reduction in operational expenses of $509,000 and temporary salary savings of $500,000. Thanks to the efforts of units across campus and the work of our colleagues in the finance office, we have already met the goal for operational savings. Additionally, we have saved $330,000 in salary expenses from the 60-day open position hold practice and nearly $60,000 from position restructuring thus far, and Teresa expects we will meet or exceed our goal for the fiscal year.

We also discussed improvements to our athletics facilities. Drake Stadium underwent a $15 million renovation in 2005, and the time has come to replace the track surface, field turf, video board, and sound system as these features have begun to fail. The cost of the updates is approximately $2.3 million. We have secured gifts and pledges from donors totaling more than $2.45 million for these projects.

Finally, the trustees spent much of their time looking at tuition pricing. As we are all well aware, the cost of higher education and the resulting debt many students leave college with is an important issue in our industry. While no decisions were made, the discussion was productive and informative as we begin the work of both setting next year’s tuition and the University’s operating budget.

Best,

Marty