Category Archives: Strategic Updates Archive

Strategic Updates Archive

From the Provost: Sept. 21

Fall 2015 Enrollment
Last week we took the official enrollment census for the Fall 2015 semester. This fall, we welcomed 803 first-year students and 117 transfer students to Drake. They are among the 3,338 full- and part-time undergraduate students at Drake (compared to 3,364 in 2014). In addition, we have 1,653 full- and part-time graduate students distributed across various programs: graduate (887), law (330), and Pharm.D. (436). Overall, our student population is 4,991, compared to 5,062 last year, continuing a downward trend in total headcount over the past few years. This trend can be attributed to the dip in first-year students (which we knew about last spring) and continued lower enrollments in law and graduate programs. However, law appears to be stabilizing, and has seen an increase in part-time enrollment due in part to the new Master of Jurisprudence. Our first- to second-year retention rate continues to be strong. For the second year in a row we are above 88 percent—88.4 percent to be exact. This is good news, and it shows the impact of special efforts we are making, such as proactive advising and working with open-enrolled students.

Drake Social Club—Reminder
I am pleased to invite you to the inaugural Drake Social Club, sponsored jointly by the Offices of the Provost and the Chief Financial Officer. The event will be held this Thursday, Sept. 24, 4–6 p.m. in Shivers Hospitality Suite, adjacent to The Knapp Center. Attendees will receive two complimentary tickets for beer or wine. Water, soda, etc., are also on the house. Nearby parking is available in Lot 2 east of Shivers at the NE corner of Forest and 25th Street.

There will be no speeches, no presentations, no power points, no need to register or RSVP, and no agenda other than casual conversation and better acquaintance. Please feel most welcome, even if you can only come for a short while. Depending upon the response, this is an event we hope to repeat periodically throughout the year.

Open Office Hours
This week appearing at the Cowles Café, 2–3:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25

—Submitted by Joe Lenz, Interim Provost

Strategic Updates Archive

From President Martin: Sept. 10

Good morning,

Since the last time Drake’s accreditation was renewed through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) a good deal has changed—both at Drake and with accreditation standards. One of the more significant changes at Drake is the effort to start the process of accreditation much earlier. Nearly two years ago, members of the Drake community began addressing the new accreditation standards by analyzing the alignment of the University’s academic activities, operations, and priorities with these criteria.

Thanks to the hard work of many, led by Craig Owens and Kevin Saunders, several opportunities for improvement have been identified as we move toward reaccreditation by the HLC in 2017–2018. You can learn more about these priorities and the steps being taken to address them in the forthcoming BlueLine newsletter. Thanks to the proactive approach we have taken to accreditation, Drake is well positioned to meet, if not exceed, HLC criteria.

In conjunction with the reaccreditation effort, I, along with the President’s Council and the Dean’s Council, am striving to create a planning culture that supports continuous improvement at Drake. While this culture shift goes hand-in-hand with accreditation, it is not simply a project that is undertaken every 5 or 10 years—it is a constant, flexible improvement framework driven by our desire to provide the very best education to our students and fulfill our mission promise. This continuous improvement approach is a fusion of traditional strategic planning and accreditation efforts, and offers an innovative strategy to drive the University forward.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about accreditation and continuous improvement initiatives at Drake as we continue through the fall term. Every member of the campus community has a role to play in these efforts. By being more flexible and responsive, we will not just survive this time of tumult in higher education—we will thrive.

Best regards,

Marty

Strategic Updates Archive

Provost search commences

The Provost search committee is pleased to announce that the process to hire a new academic affairs leader has begun. The advertisement will soon go live. You can view a list of search committee members [here – linked text]. Everyone serving on the committee encourages you to contact them or stop them on campus with any input or questions you have about the search.

Committee

  • Darcie Vandegrift, Associate Professor of Sociology (Chair)
  • Gretchen Bataille, Board of Trustee Member
  • Sally Beisser, Professor of Education
  • Sandy Hatfield Clubb, Athletic Director
  • Royce Fichtner, Associate Professor of Business Law
  • John Gitua, Associate Professor of Chemistry
  • Annique Kiel, Director, Drake Administered Programs Abroad
  • Teresa Koch, Professor of Librarianship
  • Kevin Maisto, Student Body President
  • Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Stacy Salazar, Law Student (3L)
  • Bob Soltis, Professor of Pharmacology
  • Bryan Thomas, Coordinator, Student Success Programs
  • David Wright, Associate Professor of Journalism
  • Ellen Yee, Professor of Law

—Submitted by Darcie Vandegrift, Associate Professor of Sociology, Department Chair

Strategic Updates Archive

From the Office of the Provost

Drake Social Club
If you attended the Learning Symposium (see next item), you heard me remark about the strong interest on campus in opportunities to meet and mingle with faculty and staff who are not in our daily circulation. I like to think that one reason the attendance at the Symposium has been so strong is that the event affords us one of the few opportunities we have to connect with each other in ways outside than our normal routines. Indeed, this topic comes up at nearly every gathering of faculty and staff, as President Martin can confirm from his various meetings with campus groups.

So, thanks to a suggestion by John Edwards and an offer by Sandy Hatfield Clubb, I am pleased to invite you to the inaugural “Drake Social Club,” sponsored jointly by the Offices of the Provost and the Chief Financial Officer. The event will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24, 4–6 p.m. in Shivers Hospitality Suite, adjacent to The Knapp Center. Attendees will receive two complimentary tickets for beer or wine. Water, soda, etc. are also on the house.

There will be no speeches, no presentations, no power points, no need to register or RSVP, no agenda other than casual conversation and better acquaintance. Please feel most welcome, even if you can only come for a short while. Depending upon the response, this is an event we hope to repeat periodically throughout the year.
2015 Learning Symposium Evaluation
Speaking of the Learning Symposium, if you attended, Please take a few minutes to share feedback on the 2015 Learning Symposium using the link below. Your responses will help shape the development of future programs and the identification of potential follow-up needs.
Please follow this link to the Survey:
Take the Survey
Or copy and paste the URL below into your Internet browser:
http://drake.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_9AJc0ci2Owd9rg1&Q_CHL=email&Preview=Survey

On the Move
In my years as dean of A&S, I began the practice of holding “mobile office hours,” when I would designate an hour or two each week and locate myself in various places around the college. Appointments were not needed—faculty, staff, and students were welcome to show up to talk about whatever happened to be on their minds, even if it was just to say hello. This is a practice I want to continue this year as interim provost. So, if you are looking for me, you will find me this Thursday (Sept. 17) at the Cowles Library Cafe between 10 a.m. and noon. The next date is Friday, Sept. 25, 1–3 p.m. in the Olmsted Cafe. (You’ll notice a common denominator here.) Future dates will be posted here, or feel free to call Cherie Moen (x3751) to ask where the heck I am.

In Memoriam
This summer I relayed the sad news about the passing of Emeritus Professor of History Charles Nelson. I have learned through Solveig Nelson that there will be a memorial service on Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon. It’s to be held at Luther Memorial Church, 1201 Grandview Ave., in Des Moines.

—Submitted by Joe Lenz, Interim Provost

Strategic Updates Archive

Sharing the findings from the Campus Climate Assessment

In February 2015, we asked faculty, staff, and students to share their thoughts on and experiences with the campus climate at Drake. Now, it’s time to turn those results into action. To learn more about the findings, join us for an open forum with Sue Rankin, principal at Rankin & Associates, the consultant who helped us conduct the survey. All members of the campus community are invited to attend the forums, which will be held in Sussman Theater in the Olmsted Center:

Monday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m., or
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 3:30 p.m.

Visit www.drake.edu/climate-assessment to read the executive summary of the results and to learn more about the Campus Climate Assessment.

Together, we make Drake stronger.

Strategic Updates Archive

From President Martin

Hello,

Welcome to the fall 2015 semester! It’s an exciting time to be at Drake as we welcome new students, faculty and staff to our Bulldog community. I have now been on campus for two months, and during that time I have met with a number of units to talk about what we’re doing well and how we can improve. Those with whom I’ve met thus far have shared many helpful insights. I will continue to meet with administrative and academic units throughout the fall in order to gain a deeper understanding of where Drake is and where we hope to go.

Part of moving the University forward is beginning the search for a new provost. In order to increase our engagement in the process and to save financial resources I made the decision to handle the search internally, without the help of an outside consultant. Darcie Vandegrift, associate professor of sociology and department chair, will lead the search committee, supported by Venessa Macro, chief administration officer, and Laura Schwarz from Human Resources. The following are the voting members of the committee:

  • Darcie Vandegrift, Associate Professor of Sociology (Chair)
  • Gretchen Bataille, Board of Trustee Member
  • Sally Beisser, Professor of Education
  • Sandy Hatfield Clubb, Athletic Director
  • Royce Fichtner, Associate Professor of Business Law
  • John Gitua, Associate Professor of Chemistry
  • Annique Kiel, Director, Drake Administered Programs Abroad
  • Teresa Koch, Professor of Librarianship
  • Kevin Maisto, Student Body President
  • Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism & Mass Communication
  • Stacy Salazar, Law Student (3L)
  • Bob Soltis, Professor of Pharmacology
  • Bryan Thomas, Coordinator, Student Success Programs
  • David Wright, Associate Professor of Journalism
  • Ellen Yee, Professor of Law

I’d like to thank Terri Vaughan, Ben Ullem, and Renae Chesnut as they continue to serve leadership roles for the College of Business and Public Administration, Drake Law School, and College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, respectively. Searches will be conducted during the current academic year for the next deans of the Law School and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Terri has agreed to extend her tenure as dean of the College of Business and Public Administration through the 2016–2017 academic year.

On a separate note, many of you may have noticed our new weekly internal newsletter, OnCampus. It is my hope that this newsletter, along with additional attention to internal communications, will provide a centralized source of relevant information and contribute to an environment of two-way, timely, and transparent communication on campus.

I will continue to update the campus community on a regular basis as we undertake new initiatives and continue to deliver an excellent learning experience to our students. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with questions, concerns, or ideas.

Regards,
Marty

Strategic Updates Archive

STEM@DRAKE construction update

In June, the Board of Trustees authorized the start of pre-construction work on the next phase of the STEM@DRAKE project. In anticipation of the construction of the School of Education and Math and Computer Science facility and the new Science Connector building between Olin and Fitch Halls, several pre-construction steps are underway. Here are some highlights from recent activity:

  • After a competitive bid process, Weitz was chosen as the contractor. A group including Board of Trustees members and steering team members Joe Lenz, Jan McMahill, Renae Chestnut, Keith Summerville, Teresa Krejci, Venessa Macro, and Jolene Schmidt interviewed five contractors.
  • You will start to see some activity near the future construction site. Electrical and communication infrastructure will need to be relocated, which will require some trench work near Medbury and Olin. Plans and schedules for this work are under development and will be shared as soon as they are final. Watch blueView and OnCampus for more information.
  • The transition of 27th Street to Drake-owned property is complete. Parking on the east side of the street is commuter parking, requiring a commuter permit. The west side of the street is a fire lane. Once construction begins it is likely that 27th Street will close.

In the coming weeks, additional information and project timeline information will be finalized and shared. Soon after the October Board of Trustees meeting, we are planning for additional opportunities to learn more about the project through in-person meetings and online resources.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Strategic Updates Archive

Harvey Ingham renovation

Our major capital project this summer was the completion of the renovation of Harvey Ingham Hall. It was our goal to have the renovation completed in time for the start of fall semester classes. We came close, but due to delays beyond our control, some classrooms and labs will not be available until the second week of classes. As a consequence, we have relocated those classes to alternate spaces, and we apologize to those affected by the consequent inconvenience and confusion.

We also want to invite you to an open house in Harvey Ingham on Friday, Sept. 4, at 3–4:30 p.m. so you can see all of the changes for yourself.

The scope of work included the reconfiguration of the north side of the second floor to update (and create) teaching and research labs, instrument rooms, and glassware storage; the creation of a small classroom on the first floor; and the complete reconfiguration of the garden level, with a new classroom, laboratory, collaboration space, and conference room, as well as new offices. In addition, restrooms were added to each floor and the stairwells refurbished. Due to the addition of new rooms and the requirements of meeting fire code, every room in Harvey Ingham has been renumbered.

We want to extend gratitude and congratulations to a host of folks across campus who made this project a success. First, I want to thank the faculty and staff in Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy/Health Sciences for their patience and cooperation—due to the extensive renovations, Harvey Ingham was closed for the entire summer, so faculty and classes were relocated to other buildings. Jolene Schmidt and Mark Chambers were masterful in keeping the project and the contractors on schedule (or as close to it as possible), despite delays in securing permits from the City of Des Moines. Brad Toussaint and his Drake Technology Services crew have been heroic, working nights and weekends, installing technology in classrooms, labs, and offices. The Office of Student Records, likewise, have been resourceful, not only in entering the new room numbers into the system but also working with deans Summerville and Chesnut and other college offices to find alternative spaces for every class and lab scheduled in Harvey Ingham.

Thanks to everyone’s efforts, Harvey Ingham, originally built in 1949, will soon have an entirely remodeled interior, ready for the next 50 years.

—Provost Joe Lenz

Strategic Updates Archive

Message from President Martin

I hope this message finds everyone enjoying the summer and looking forward to the start of the fall semester in a few short weeks. I have completed my first month as your president, and I want to share some changes I have made regarding how the university’s senior administration operates.

The President’s Cabinet has been renamed the President’s Council. The purpose of this name change is twofold. First, the new title is meant to reflect a different approach to decision-making and resource allocation. The core functions of the President’s Council will be to:

  • Share information with the Council and across the institution
  • Coordinate actions, tasks, and projects that cross divisions to improve institutional performance
  • Facilitate consultation within and outside the President’s Council, enhancing the transparency of our decision-making processes and improving the quality of our decisions

The President’s Council will not make collective institutional decisions. There will be robust communication, coordination, and consultation within the Council, but the group will not be asked to vote on institutional matters for the purpose of defining a course of action. Instead, the authority and responsibility for making decisions will lie with the relevant division, following appropriate engagement with the Council and the president. For example, matters regarding an academic program will be fully within the purview of the president’s and provost’s offices working with deans and others in the academic division. The provost will brief the President’s Council on matters that require coordination and that would benefit from consultation, but those issues will not be presented to the Council for the purpose of reaching a decision. That authority will stay within the academic division’s hierarchy.

Second, I have expanded the membership of this group to include my direct operational reports so as to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of my office. This means that Shannon Cofield, Senior Advisor for External Affairs; Chris Gill, Chief Information Technology Officer; Teresa Krejci, Chief Financial Officer; and Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer, will attend President’s Council meetings along with those who were already serving on the President’s Cabinet (see the full membership at the end of this message). These positions are not new to the institution; rather, they are existing positions that either already reported to the president or are new direct reports.

To further enhance engagement between the President’s Council and the community, we will regularly hold our meetings at various locations across campus. This will, in some small way, make our work more visible, and it will create opportunities for informal interactions with colleagues as we travel to our meetings. Additionally, the Council will invite others to present on topics instead of Council members always doing so, and Council members will regularly brief their divisions on the Council’s agendas and activities. Finally, the President’s Council will meet every other week instead of every week.

These changes should bring greater transparency to the work of the President’s Council, strengthen campus communications, and improve institutional performance. I will be testing these presumptions as we move forward and welcome any feedback that will help us improve the operations of my office and the President’s Council.

Best regards,

Marty

President’s Council Membership

Sandy Hatfield-Clubb, Director of Athletics
Shannon Cofield, Senior Advisor for External Affairs
Tom Delahunt, Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid
Chris Gill, Chief Information Technology Officer
Teresa Krejci, Chief Financial Officer
Joe Lenz, Interim Provost
Debra Lukehart, Vice President of University Communications
Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer
Lynda Ryan, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary of the University
John Smith, Vice President for Alumni and Development
Bob Soltis, President of Faculty Senate