All posts by Heidi Weiss

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

Don’t miss these Drake Relays activities

Whether it’s downtown pole vaulting, lunch at a food truck, or watching an Olympian on the Blue Oval, there’s plenty of ways to experience this year’s Drake Relays.

Lace up your shoes

You don’t have to be an elite athlete to run at the Drake Relays. If you missed Sunday’s Road Races, hit the pavement today, April 24, for the Grand Blue Mile. The one-mile street run is for runners of all ages and aspirations and starts in front of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park before making its way down Locust and Grand.

The Vault at Capital Square

A must see event, The Vault at Capital Square allows you to get up close and personal with world-class vaulters as they take to the skies inside the atrium at Capital Square tomorrow, April 25, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Grab lunch from a food truck on Forest Avenue

Drake community members looking to get out of the office and explore the Relays over lunch can dine at food trucks parked on Forest Avenue on Friday and Saturday. For the first time, Forest Avenue outside the stadium will be closed to traffic between 27th Street and 29th Street from Thursday at 2 p.m. to Saturday at 5 p.m. The closure will allow vendors, such as food trucks, to set up outside of the stadium and safely interact with the community. No vehicles will be allowed through the area during this time.

Alumni Awards Ceremony

The entire campus community (no need to be a Drake grad) is encouraged to attend the Alumni Awards Ceremony. The ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate our most distinguished alumni. This year’s award winners demonstrate outstanding professional accomplishments and loyal leadership to Drake and their communities. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to register to attend the ceremony this Thursday at 5:15 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium.

Relays Distance Carnival

On Thursday, distance runners take the track with the 800-meter race beginning at 4:30 p.m. Don’t miss the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 7 p.m.—think seven-and-a-half laps with hurdles and water jumps.

Meet up with fellow Bulldogs and former students

Catch up with former students, old friends, classmates, and perhaps Griff during one of the many receptions and tent parties. Be sure to attend the All-Alumni Tent Party, for a won’t-want-to-miss Friday night party. You don’t have to be a Drake alumna/alumnus to attend. Other meet-ups include the Greek Reunion, Young Alumni Brunch, LGBTQ+ Reception, and SJMC Alumni Reception.

Spot an Olympian

Keep your eyes peeled for greatness. The Drake Relays attract some of the world’s best athletes. On Saturday, catch a glimpse of Andre De Grasse, a three-time Olympic medalist, set to compete in the men’s invitational 100 meters. In 2016, De Grasse won three medals at the Rio Olympics, including bronze in the 100 meters, behind Usain Bolt.

View a full list of 2018 Drake Relays events. Faculty and staff may visit the Drake Athletics Ticket Office and show valid Drake ID to receive a discounted ticket price to track and field events.

— University Communications

Campus Announcements Archive, For Students Archive

Relieve stress and stay fit with GroupX

The end of the semester can bring many challenges and stressors. Exercise has been shown to increase energy and release stress-reducing endorphins. Attend GroupX classes at the Bell Center now through the end of the semester to ramp up your energy, focus, and eliminate stress. If you attend 15 classes, you’ll get a free T-shirt or tank top. Sign up for classes on the free IMLeagues app or online at imleagues.com.

— Drake Wellness

Campus Announcements Archive

Online Programs update

This month, Online Programs welcomed 13 new online graduate students to the second part of term for the spring semester, bringing its total number of students to 27. The program has also received more than 150 applications. These numbers surpass initial enrollment projections for the program’s first semester.

Other highlights of the month include preparation for the online launch of the Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration programs. Online Programs has been working closely with the College of Business and Public Administration to ensure that everything is ready for its newest online students. There is a tremendous amount of work necessary to ensure that online students receive the support they need throughout the admissions process. This work involves collaborating with several offices on campus, including Graduate Admissions, the Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, University Communications, and Information Technology Services.

Saving the best news for last, our new website, online.drake.edu, is live. Although the website will be in a constant state of evolution, as most sites are, our foundational pages are live. Our next steps are to include student success and support information and faculty resources.

Don’t forget that you can visit with Online Programs at the Olmsted Coffee Shop on the third Thursday of every month between 1 and 2 p.m. If that time doesn’t work, please feel free to contact Christina Trombley at christina.trombley@drake.edu or at extension 2506.

— Christina Trombley, Online Programming

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake to gather sustainability metrics

Members of Drake’s Sustainability Committee have begun gathering data to measure the University’s current sustainability performance and compare it to peer institutions. Using the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™(STARS), the committee will explore a wide variety of sustainability elements—from energy and waste to curriculum and research to campus and public engagement to purchasing and investment—and will require information from a wide variety of faculty and staff. Learn more. For questions, contact David Courard-Hauri, david.courard-hauri@drake.edu.

— David Courard-Hauri, Environmental Science and Policy

Campus Announcements Archive

Summer program for high school students interested in health careers

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ BullD.O.G.S. in Healthcare program will take place June 28-30 on Drake’s campus. All high school students in grades 10-12 during the 2018-2019 academic year are welcome to attend.

BullD.O.G.S. (Drake Opportunities for Gaining Skills) in Healthcare introduces students to careers in healthcare by educating them on opportunities in health sciences and inspiring them to explore different pathways.

Students will participate in hands-on laboratory experiences, educational sessions, and interactive discussions with students and faculty in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to understand how to best prepare for a career in healthcare. A special emphasis is placed on promoting careers in athletic training, occupational therapy, and pharmacy.

The overarching goal of the program is to expose students to a wide variety of healthcare opportunities and educate them about how they can best prepare for a career in the health professions.

If you know of a high school student interested in a career in healthcare, please encourage them to register. Registration closes Friday, May 25, at 12 p.m. Due to the costs involved in providing an overnight experience on campus, there is a $185 registration fee. Financial assistance may be available to students who qualify. Payments will be accepted through Monday, May 28, at 12 p.m. Participants who have not paid the registration fee by this date will forfeit their spot in the program. Refunds will not be granted for cancellations made after May 28.

For more information about the program’s goals, activities, and requirements, visit the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences website, or contact Jessica Lang, director of enrollment services, at jessica.lang@drake.edu or 515-271-3018.

— Jessica Lang, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Campus Announcements Archive

Paul Morrison Service Week: April 18-25

Paul Morrison Service Week will be celebrated April 18-25 to honor the legacy of the late Paul Morrison. Stop by the Olmsted Breezeway during the week to pick up some swag and let us know why being involved in the community is important to you. Service projects and community events will be happening all week, including a Drake Neighborhood Spruce-Up and Social at Drake Park on Wednesday, April 25.

Drake Neighborhood Spruce-Up and Social

Hosted by the National Alumni Scholars, LEAD 100 students, and the Drake Neighborhood Association, the event will begin at 5:30 p.m. on April 25 in the Walgreens parking lot on 31st Street and University Avenue. Trash bags and gloves will be provided. Students hope to clean-up Greek street, campus, and the neighborhood. This is a great opportunity to serve with friends, connect with community members, and create positive local change while preparing for Relays. After the clean-up, participants are invited to a social with neighborhood residents at Drake Park. Everyone planning to attend is encouraged to register. Students who register in advance will receive a free T-shirt, while supplies last.

View a full list of events during Paul Morrison Service Week. Many require pre-registration. Thanks to the many groups on campus and in the neighborhood who are collaborating to hold this weeklong celebration.

For questions, contact Layne Burdette at layne.burdette@drake.edu, Amanda Martin at amanda.martin@drake.edu or Christina Teufert at christina.teufert@drake.edu.

— Layne Burdette, Class of 2021, & Amanda Martin, Community Engaged Learning & Service

Campus Announcements Archive

Work to begin on The Quads April 30

A ventilation project will begin April 30 on The Quads. The electrical contractors will begin electrical work on the exterior of Carpenter, Crawford, Herriott, and Stalnaker Halls. This work will close a couple of sidewalks near the residence halls. Please review the attached maps for locations of closed sidewalks. The contractors will be working on this part of the project until May 11. The contractors will not be working on the exterior electrical services of the Quads during finals week. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Jolene Schmidt, director of capital projects, at jolene.schmidt@drake.edu.

— Jolene Schmidt, Facilities Planning and Management