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On Campus
- Stories
March
7, 2003 Vol. 55, No. 34
Drake plunges into
a new technological era at the end of March, when the switch to a new administrative
information system changes the way students, staff and faculty find information
online.
The university is in the midst of a three-year information system transition that
will affect students and staff this spring. The software currently used to look
up personal information, rosters and class schedules will be replaced by the SCT
Banner administrative software system on March 31, the day undergraduate class
registration begins.
"The Banner system is user-friendly and highly integrated," said Registrar
Nancy Geiger, a member of the project team. "The integrated database is going
to make our work much more efficient."
The Drake University Shared Information System (DUSIS), the system's official
title, allows users to look up all available information about one person at Drake
from a single home page. The old system required the use of several links, each
of which was run by a different program or version of a program.
Students will look up class schedules, account information, grades, personal information,
and will register for classes through DUSIS. The system also merges records of
alumni with any other information tying them to Drake. Such databases were separate
in the past.
Margie Davidson, also a member of the project team, led several training sessions
and mock registrations with students, faculty and staff in recent weeks. "Reactions
have been very positive so far," she said. "Everyone has been asking
questions, saying positive things about the system and getting really into it."
The transition between information systems also brings change to the class-registration
process for students and advisers. Rather than advisers entering a student's desired
schedule into the system during registration as in the past, students now enter
this information on their own.
Under the new system, students are assigned a time after which they may log on
to DUSIS, choose classes and register for the following semester. Times are assigned
based on the number of credit hours a student has completed.
After participating in a mock registration session, Karen Scherer, a Drake student,
said reactions to the new process were positive. "People I've talked to seem
enthusiastic," she added. The system is easy to use and will make registration
smoother overall by leveling the playing field to get into classes and putting
the responsibility on students."
Several schools throughout the country have switched to SCT Banner software in
recent years. Representatives of schools such as Hope College, Butler University
and Baylor University have stated that each institution saved time and money in
administrative areas because of the integrated approach Banner offers. Geiger
said Drake plans to gradually phase out the printed version of the course book,
and has already eliminated the paper work associated with registration.
In the final weeks leading up to the launch of DUSIS, changes are being made daily
in response to feedback from those participating in training sessions. The administration
has cautiously prepared for a smooth transition to ensure that any problems that
occur are minor.
"Transition always makes one anxious, but people will find that DUSIS is
easy to use, and in the end will be very glad we've made the change," said
Tom Tronick, associate dean of students.
To learn more about the project, visit its official Web site, www.drake.edu/duit.
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Students, faculty and staff contributed $2,423 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk for the Cure last Saturday. More than 30 members of the Drake community - wearing Drake apparel - took part in the walk in the down-town skywalk system. "I'd like to thank everyone who played a part in this effort," said Wellness Director Mollie Keitges. "With each dollar, JDRF gets closer to a cure!" |
Approximately 30
graduate MPA students and community leaders from Des Monies traveled to Europe
on Thursday, March 6, for an 19-day study trip as part of professor C. Kenneth
Meyer's course on Comparative Management and Policy Analysis in a Global Context.
This course compares state-of-the-art programs and activities in America with
those in five countries in Europe: Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
Students will be focusing on topics such as women and children, health care, racism
and the environment. They will meet with World Health Organization officials in
Copenhagen, Denmark, and with officials of the International Labor Organization
and the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Program in Geneva, Switzerland. They
also will confer with United Nations Food Aide Program officials in Parma, Italy.
In addition, the class will tour the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, and meet with
German government officials.
"This study trip will be especially interesting because of the current state
of world affairs and the fact that we will be meeting directly with German government
officials in Berlin," said Carlyn Crowe, an MPA student and corporate communications
coordinator for the Iowa Health System. While in Germany, the students also will
explore a program on racism and discrimination.
In the syllabus for PADM 282-801, professor Meyer tell his students that "This
course will fundamentally change you and your outlook on the world for life."
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| Fifth graders listen as Chris Field, left, explains the chemistry concepts behind a demonstration. |
The Drake Chemistry
Club recently welcomed fifth-grade students from Moulton Elementary, an inner-city
school in Des Moines, to campus to participate in hands-on chemistry activities
inside Drake's chemistry department laboratories.
At least once a year, the chemistry club opens the chemistry labs of Drake University
to young students from the Des Moines community. Past kids-in-chemistry projects
have included students from schools in Des Moines' suburbs, as well as children
from the Boys' and Girls' Club. This year, Molly Uhlenhake, a general chemistry
lab instructor at Drake, suggested bringing the Moulton Elementary School students
to Drake because her mother's fifth-grade class was covering the chemistry portion
of the students' science curriculum.
The kids-in-chemistry projects are meant to encourage students from disadvantaged
backgrounds to pursue higher education. "Exposure to a college campus will
make college seem less foreign, and seeing the flash and color of chemistry might
create an interest in taking more science classes - or even pursuing a career
in science," said Bob Berendt, co-president of the chemistry club. In future
projects, the chemistry club hopes to provide young students with a tour of Drake's
campus, including residence halls, food services and classrooms.
A total of 256
high school students competed for Drake's National Alumni Scholarships this year
- a record high for the program, which is jointly conducted by the Office of Alumni
and Parent Programs and the Office of Admission.
Each year Drake awards six full-ride National Alumni Scholarships and 10 full-tuition
George A. Carpenter Scholarships. All candidates who qualify and complete the
competition will be awarded a Trustee Scholarship of $1,000.
In addition to the 245 students who came to campus for National Alumni Scholar
Days in February, 11 international students were interviewed via conference call
and completed their essay test via fax or e-mail.
While on campus, the students participated in a timed essay test and were interviewed
by selection committee members. Two selection committee members (one faculty member
and one alumna or alumnus) interviewed each scholarship candidate.
This year, 32 alumni served on the selection committee, including 22 former National
Alumni Scholars or former Carpenter Scholars. Some of these alumni traveled to
Des Moines at their own expense from cities as far away as Washington, D.C., Los
Angeles, Detroit and Denver to be a part of this important selection process.
Joel Blank, BN'01, interrupted his second year of law school at American University
in Washington, D.C., to return to Des Moines to help with the program. Blank said
he wanted "to become involved as a way of giving back to the University all
that was given to him when he was a Drake student and scholar."
On the Friday evenings prior to the Saturday interview day, these former scholars
were invited to attend a reception in Medbury Honors Lounge. "The goal of
the reception was to thank them for coming back to be a part of this program,
to connect them to each other, re-connect them to Drake and cement their commitment
to Drake and to the National Alumni Scholarship Program," said Heidi Slinker,
associate director of alumni and parent programs.
"The National Alumni Scholarship program is a great differentiator for Drake,"
said Dave Johnson, FA'84, a former National Alumni Scholar and chair of the program.
"I know of no other peer school (or any non-peer school, for that matter)
that runs a similar program.
"Bringing over 250 very bright and wonderfully accomplished high school seniors
to Drake during two weekends of competition really requires that Drake showcase
what it can do. The cumulative effect - from the work of the alumni and admission
staff, to professors' lectures, to the actual scholarship interviewers - demonstrates
the commitment to learning that is the Drake promise. That well over half of the
alumni we call on to assist with the competing student interviews are former Alumni
and Carpenter Scholars themselves also says something about their ongoing attachment
to Drake. It's a real pleasure for me to participate in this program."
In addition to alumni, many faculty and staff members and current students generously
donate their time and efforts to help with the program. Faculty and staff members
served on the selection committee, taught academic classes or held academic meetings
during the two interview Saturdays. President David Maxwell and his wife, Madeleine,
opened their home to all of the candidates and their parents on Spirit Night -
an informal gathering on the Friday evening prior to each Scholarship Day.
"This is a tremendous program that brings in the best and brightest students,"
Slinker said. "We have two goals - to select our Drake Alumni and Carpenter
Scholars from this esteemed group of students and, through the visit aspect of
the program, to showcase Drake so they see that whether or not they are chosen
for the scholarship, Drake is the right school for them. The successs of this
community and campus-wide effort is truly a testament to the Drake family.
The Drake University
Wind Symphony, conducted by Robert Meunier, will perform a concert at 8 p.m. Saturday,
March 8, on the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium. The program includes Meunier's
"To the Lost," a Sept. 11 tribute, as well as works by Van der Roost,
Atehortua, Whitacre and Persechetti and Spaniola.
Andrew Classen, trumpet, will give a recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9, on the
Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium.
To launch their spring tour of Wisconsin, the Drake Choir and Chamber Choir, conducted
by Aimee Beckmann-Collier, will present a home concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March
11, on the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium. The concert will include works
by Haydn, Ginastera, Mechem, Bardos and Victoria, as well as Irish folksongs.
Misha Rosenker, violin, will perform a recital at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 13, on
the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium.
All of these concerts and recitals are free and open to the public.