Tag Archives: faculty

Campus Announcements Archive

Year-end purchasing guidelines

With the University’s fiscal year-end (June 30, 2016) approaching, Finance and Administration has provided some recommended guidelines for efficient and effective year-end processing of purchases.

Accounting for departmental expenses:

In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, Drake is required to report transactions in the proper fiscal period. For that reason, expenses are recorded in the period when goods are received and/or services are rendered. In short, items expensed to a FY16 budget will need to be received before June 30, 2016.  Factors such as budget allocation, invoice receipt, or payment issuance would not have an impact on the application of expenses within a fiscal period.

Exceptions to this general rule apply when a benefit of service or receipt of item extends into multiple fiscal years. In such cases, the following guidelines will be applied.

  • Expenses less than $5,000: are charged against the fiscal year in which the majority of the expense will be incurred. (For example, if a subscription is purchased for $3,000 and covers the period of July 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2016, the expense would be charged to FY16)
  • Expenses greater than or equal to $5,000: will be split into the fiscal years according to the percentage of benefit received during each fiscal period. (For example, if a subscription is purchased for $10,000 that covers a period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017, $5,000 would be charged to FY16 and $5,000 charged to FY17)

The University’s guidelines for year-end purchases are subject to external audit. As you make purchases during this period leading up to and overlapping our fiscal year end, it is important to note when the goods or services were received so they are expensed according to reporting requirements. If the timing of receipt is not clearly noted on the invoice, it would be beneficial to call the receipt date to accounting’s attention by clearly marking the appropriate fiscal year for the expense, based on the above guidelines, on the pay request.

In order to facilitate efficient and effective year-end processing, the following timeline is recommended for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016: Year-End Purchasing Timeline

I would encourage you to contact accounting at x3168 or accounting@drake.edu with any questions you might have.

—Heather Travis, Associate Chief Financial Officer/Controller

News & Achievements Archive

Bulldogs of DU: Kelly Bruhn

What do you do?
I’m the associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and associate professor of public relations, so I teach undergraduate courses and in the Master of Communication Leadership program. As associate dean, I handle recruitment and student success.

You have three children under the age of four, a demanding job, and other commitments; do you think women can have it all?
Someone told me a long time ago that you can have it all, you just can’t have it all at the same time. Sometimes the job takes over a little bit, like orientation or finals week, but then there are times when I need to focus at home. I’m lucky that I have leaders at Drake who support that life balance and a husband who supports me, as well.

What’s a story you share with prospective students and their families?
In PR writing, I have students write a few pieces for their dream employer—if they could pick any place, no holds barred, where would it be? They craft some communication samples for the employer and put together a packet. I write a cover letter and send the packet to the head of communication for that company, and on several occasions we have those communication folks reach back. This exercise has turned into opportunities with organizations like the Los Angeles Angels and National Geographic. It’s a great example to show how class work can lead them to their dream and that anything is possible.

What do you hope students remember about you after they’ve graduated?
I hope they remember that I cared. My door is always open. I always have chocolate and Kleenex. I think that academics certainly matter and every assignment is very intentional, but at the end of the day I hope they remember me for listening, caring, and helping them to achieve their dreams.

HR Information Archive

Vacation—Use it or lose it, plan ahead

Time away from work is important for your physical and psychological well-being. Vacation is one means of providing this time to eligible employees. Don’t wait until the last minute, or you may just end up losing vacation time! Vacation cannot be carried over from one fiscal year to the next and must be used by June 30, 2016, or it is forfeited.

We encourage you to look at your calendar and plan your time off in advance so that it does not conflict with other employees’ time off and allows for appropriate coverage needs in your department. All vacation is subject to manager approval. Your manager will appreciate the time to communicate conflicts and to plan accordingly.

—Cindy Adams, Associate Director, Human Resources

Campus Announcements Archive

Important campus safety updates

27th Street has closed
As part of the STEM@DRAKE construction project, 27th Street has permanently closed. No parking or thru traffic is allowed; two handicap spaces at the south end of the west side of the street (next to Opperman Hall) will remain open. The section of roadway between the gate on 27th and Carpenter now allows for two-way traffic to and from the Jewett parking lot. Many of the sidewalks along 27th Street have also been shut down. For an overview of closures, visit the Building STEM@DRAKE website.


Campus parking regulations
Vehicles may only be parked on the Drake campus in clearly designated legal parking spaces. All vehicles must have a Drake parking permit or a temporary parking  permit which may be obtained at Short-term/Daily Parking Permits.  Areas posted with signs restricting parking (handicap, service vehicles, loading zones, fire lanes, etc.) must be observed and complied with. Parking in any travel lane, taking more than one parking space, blocking another vehicle, or parking on the lawn are all prohibited. It is neither possible nor desirable to post all areas on campus where vehicles may not park. Vehicles are prohibited from all lawns, except when specifically authorized. Driving or parking on any sidewalks or pedestrian ways is strictly prohibited. For a more extensive explanation of parking regulations and towing rules, please go to Parking Information.

Front Door software
Drake Public Safety, Student Life, and Information Technology Services are happy to offer all Drake students, faculty, and staff a patented laptop security product designed to help you with theft prevention, information protection, and recovery—free of charge. (Please note no software can guarantee the security of your electronics.) Visit the Front Door Software website to sign up with your Drake email account.
Safe Ride Program
As a reminder, for your safety Drake is now operating its own evening bus system. The bus runs each night:

  • Sunday–Wednesday, 8 p.m.–1 a.m.
  • Thursday–Saturday, 8 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

We are also happy to let you know that we will offer extended hours during the Drake Relays. April 28–30, the bus will run from 8 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. each night.

—Scott Law, Director, Drake Public Safety

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Learn how to manage change

Continue your professional development, work towards the ELD Certificate, and learn how to manage change!

Change is constant. However, findings show that people don’t mind changes so much; they mind “being” changed. Take charge of the changes you find yourself in and learn tools to navigate through the “Four Step Change” process. Join Jul Bruns, Employee and Family Resources’ workplace services consultant, to learn how to respond positively to resistance and apply resiliency to grow and adapt. This will be held Thursday, March 24, 9–11 a.m., in Olmsted Center, Room 310-311.

Participants will receive two credits toward the Excellence in Learning & Development certificate. For the list of remaining programs, visit the Learning and Development site, accessible through blueView.

—Marlene Heuertz, Assistant Director, Benefits

HR Information Archive

Reach the Beach Challenge

The deadline to register for the Reach the Beach Challenge is this Friday, April 1, at noon.

What is Reach the Beach?
It is a wellness program designed to get you moving. The goal is to get from International Falls, Minn., to Honolulu in four weeks, beginning Monday, April 4.

How does it work?
You simply participate in activities such as walking, bicycling, and group exercise classes and track your progress. Each activity converts to miles on the trail from International Falls to Los Angeles. To make it from Los Angeles to Honolulu you must earn healthy lifestyle points by making smart choices such as wearing a seatbelt and getting enough sleep. Along the way you will receive health tips, recipes, and optional challenges for bonus miles.

Why should I participate?

  • According to our 2015 aggregate wellness screening results, we could use a little more activity in our day.
  • It is an easy and fun way to get motivated to start or continue a physical activity and healthy lifestyle program.
  • There are many ways you can earn miles including golfing (sans cart) and participating in the Grand Blue Mile!
  • You could win a prize!

How do I get started?
Email Linda Feiden at linda.feiden@drake.edu with the subject line “Reach the Beach”. Make sure to include your contact information. Deadline to register is noon on Friday, April 1.

A packet of information will be sent to you. Read through the packet carefully and start the challenge on Monday, April 4.

Contact Linda with questions.

—Linda Feiden, Assistant Director, Wellness & Engagement

HR Information Archive

Money at Work with TIAA

Join us Thursday, March 31, at 10 a.m. in the Olmsted Center, Room 310, for a TIAA Interactive Education Workshop, “Money at Work.”

TIAA Senior Consultant Paige Cook will review the foundations of investing and help you sharpen your investment skills during this workshop. You will discover how to:

  • Understand the role of investing
  • Manage your portfolio to accelerate savings
  • Formulate a plan to reach savings goals
  • Evaluate your progress
  • Manage risk versus reward

Reservations are not required.

—Marlene Heuertz, Assistant Director, Benefits

Strategic Updates Archive, Uncategorized

Great Colleges to Work For survey

All full-time faculty, active adjunct faculty and full-time staff will receive an email today from Modern Think LLC, and The Chronicle of Higher Education inviting you to participate in this year’s Great Colleges To Work For Survey. Instructions on how to access this online survey will be included in the email.

Although Information Technology Services 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 both your junk email and clutter folders.

As President Martin expressed in last week’s OnCampus announcement of this survey:

“The data and benchmark information we receive from this survey will be essential to improve our workplace and our culture. As you may have noted, several of the targets on Drake’s Continuous Improvement Plan are directly related to the Great Colleges to Work For survey—for example, Drake earning a place on the survey’s Honor Roll by 2020.”

“The success of the survey depends on your participation. I encourage you to be honest and forthright in your answers. To ensure the confidentiality of your responses, your survey will be processed entirely by ModernThink. We will not receive any information that would enable us to identify the survey response of any one individual.”

If you have not received your email invitation  by noon today or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Gary Johnson, director, human resources (gary.johnson@drake.edu; 271-4804), or visit www.ChronicleGreatColleges.com.

—Gary Johnson

News & Achievements Archive

Contribute a used bike to the Drake Bike Initiative

LEAD 100 students will conduct a Bike Drive the week of March 21–25 in the Olmsted Breezeway each day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where students, faculty, and staff can drop off their bikes. The bikes are being collected to create a bike library on Drake’s campus, available to students, faculty, and staff for their biking needs throughout the year and throughout the city. This initiative is part of the Drake Bike Friendly program with assistance from a grant from Wellmark.

—Submitted by Art Sanders, Associate Provost

News & Achievements Archive

Bulldogs of DU: Jeff Kappen

1 Comment

What do you do?
I’m an assistant professor of international business, and the main course I teach is the globalization seminar, which is required of all undergrad business majors. So by the numbers, I get to work with almost a third of all Drake undergraduates at some point in their time here.

How did you end up at Drake and in teaching?
I spent 10 years in corporate America, and one day I was in a personal development seminar in which they told us to make a Venn diagram of passions, talents, and the least amount of money we were willing to make. Upon completion of my diagram, I decided I was not in the right position. The very next week, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal about the shortage of Ph.D. professors in business. I talked with some advisers and decided to take the plunge.

You’ve studied (and experienced) a lot abroad …
I spent a year of undergrad in Europe, part was in France and part was in Russia. In Russia, I lived Krasnodar, not too far from Chechnya, so we were very close to the conflict [the outbreak of The First Chechen War happened at the time]. Most Thursdays we didn’t have class because there would be bomb threats at the university. I also spent a year teaching English in Brazil and have gone back there several times, including in 2014 for the World Cup. I speak Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Russian.

How do all these experiences affect how you teach?
My students hear a lot of stories; my experiences allow me to talk students about study abroad in a firsthand sort of way. It also helps me relate to the international students who enroll at Drake, because I understand the dynamics of what it’s like to be the only student who’s not from a certain place.